NBA Draft 2012: Second-Round Picks That Will Provide Immediate Help

The 2012 NBA draft is over, but now the prospects have to work their way onto their teams and into  rotations.

While there will be more than a few busts, there are also a bunch of late picks that will be better than expected. The second round featured players with lower ceilings, but that does not stop them from contributing right away.

These selections will pay large dividends to the teams that drafted them, even though they were taken after the first 30 picks.

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

He fell in the draft due to lack of elite athleticism, but Draymond Green is the type of player any coach would want on his team. When he is on the floor, he does all of the little things necessary for his team to pull out the win.

The Michigan State forward can move very well for his size and passes like a point guard. This year he joined Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson as the third player ever to have a triple-double in two NCAA Tournaments. 

Although he is not the type of player to turn a team around on his own, he can make any team better and should do just that in Golden State.

Will Barton, Portland Trail Blazers

There is no doubt that Will Barton should have been a first-round selection, but falling to the 40th pick in the draft could only motivate him to make himself even better.

Barton is a solid scorer that can get his points in multiple ways. He is above average from deep, but his real skill is getting to the basket and finishing at the rim.

Portland is currently in a rebuilding process and are in need of a wing that can spread the floor. Barton should be able to step up and help put points on the board.

Darius Miller, New Orleans Hornets

One of the biggest problems that rookies taken outside the lottery have is transitioning to their new roles at the professional level. Players who have been stars their entire careers do not always perform well in short doses off the bench.

That will not be a problem for Darius Miller, who already has plenty of experience as a role player. Miller was Kentucky's sixth man behind a plethora of talented starters. Still, he was an experienced leader that helped get the team over the top to win a national championship.

The Hornets are quickly on their way back up with No. 1 pick Anthony Davis. With Miller, they are starting to fill out their team with the necessary pieces to contend for a title.

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