2012 NBA Draft: Predicting the Draft Order for Next Year

With the NBA lockout in full swing and no end in sight, is it possible that the next time a roster related transaction takes place is at the 2012 NBA Draft?

It's possible, but we sure hope it doesn't come to that. This year's draft was deemed to be shallow in talent, but enthusiasm surrounded its coverage anyway because of the looming lockout and the thought of the struggle that was to come.

However, for the sake of analysis, and our sanity, we are going to go on the assumption that this year's draft is not the last of relevant action we will see and that there is going to be an NBA season. And with an actual season, teams possess some control over the 2012 draft order and based on the currently constructed rosters, it is bound to be much different than the one from this year.

Which teams will find themselves in the lottery? 

What organizations may surprise us by winding up in the later 16?

Who will control the highly volatile No. 1 pick?

Let's take a shot at predicting what the 2012 draft order will look like.

No. 30 Overall Pick: Chicago Bulls

Despite losing to the Miami Heat in this year's Eastern Conference Finals, the Chicago Bulls are going to pick up where they left off in the regular season, playing their way to the best record in the east.

Reigning MVP Derrick Rose is only going to get better and key players Joakim Noah and Luol Deng are at the very least going to stand pat. Carlos Boozer, despite having a less than impressive postseason is still going to be able to be effective, and even if he isn't, the younger Taj Gibson is more than capable of filling in.

The shooting guard position is of major concern for the Bulls, and should they fail to move Boozer for an effective swingman, rookie Jimmy Butler could get some major minutes ahead of both Keith Bogans and Kyle Korver. And while Butler is not set to be the rookie of the year, he is more than capable of knocking down the open shot.

Chicago will not prove to be a one-year wonder. Rather look for them to once again have the best record in the East, and quite possibly the NBA, which puts the 30th overall pick in their lap.

The last pick of the first round rarely amounts to anyone impressive, but the path the Bulls take to get that spot will be impressive enough.

No. 29 Overall Pick: Miami Heat

The Cleveland Cavaliers possess the right to swap first round picks with the Miami Heat next season, but such a consideration would be more than a joke on Cleveland's part.

Miami may have fallen to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals as a result of their lack of depth, but the "Big Three" still make the Heat one of the best teams in the NBA. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, like it or not, proved that their situation could work, and while many would love to see them trade one member of the trio in a package for Dwight Howard, it is not going to happen.

Next season, the Heat are going to address their depth issues the best they can and return as prolific as ever, and while they will still finish as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, it will not be as close a race against the Boston Celtics as it was last year.

Unless all three of Miami's superstars suffer season ending injuries, the Heat are poised to have the second best record in the NBA, and the second to last first-round draft pick that comes with it.

No. 28 Overall Pick: Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers will wind up with the 28th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. In this case that also means they will finish atop the Western Conference, something many may not be able to imagine after a disappointing postseason display.

Kobe Bryant may be aging, but he is still Kobe Bryant, and this is the same team that won the championship a little over a year ago, and while some maintain that is the problem, the Lakers still have plenty of fight left in them.

Kobe was hurting in the postseason and while this is partly him showing his age, it is also him simply being injured. After having extensive time to rehabilitate there is no reason to think that Bryant will be anything except prolific next year. Additionally, Lamar Odom may not be the youngest of guys, but he is the best role player in the league. And Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are a more than capable low-post tandem.

Like it or not, the Lakers, age and all, are one of the best teams in the league and still very capable of nabbing the top seed in the Western Conference, and an NBA title is not out of the question either.

If one thing is certain, it's that the Lakers are not a team preparing to descend into mediocrity, thus ensuring they will have a very late first-round pick next summer.

No. 27 Overall Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder had quite a season in 2010-2011 finishing 55-27 and grabbing the fourth seed in the Western Conference. They also came very close to the NBA Finals, falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the Conference Championships.

Kevin Durant will continue his dominant ways and Russell Westbrook is likely to regain the composure he seemed to lose during last year's postseason. Additionally James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins are solid role players worthy of keeping an eye on.

Looking ahead toward next season, the Thunder seem poised to finish near the very top of the Western Conference, giving them a later draft pick than they had last year.

No. 26 Overall Pick:

Barely anyone expects the Dallas Mavericks to repeat as NBA champions, but that doesn't mean they won't, as they emerged as a team that thrived in the face of adversity last season.

Dirk Nowitzki and company have a lot of question marks headed into next season, specifically regarding the futures of Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler and J.J. Barea, but if it's one thing we all love about the Mavericks it's their ability to stay relevant every year. Mark Cuban is committed to doing whatever it takes to keep his team competitive, and this notion combined with the sheer fact that Nowitzki seems to be getting better with age indicates that this squad is far from mediocre.

Nowitzki is the lone star this Dallas team, but he has already proved he can carry the offensive burden on his back when he has to, and he rarely has to because of the team's extraordinary depth. Are the Mavericks an aging team? Yes, but they are an aging team with options as well as the ability to still produce.

The Mavericks may not finish with the best record in the Western Conference, but the San Antonio Spurs proved just last season that regular season dominance means very little in the postseason. Dallas is nowhere near in danger of landing in the lottery nor are they likely to wind up in the middle of the pack; they are still a top-tier team. Expect a late first-round draft pick for them.

No. 25 Overall Pick: Boston Celtics

Don't expect to see a noticeable improvement in the performance of the aging Boston Celtics, but don't expect to see a major drop-off in it either.

The Celtics may be at a point where Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are not enough to propel them past the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, but they are talented enough to maintain the third best spot in the Eastern Conference.

As currently constructed, the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks are not a major threat to surpass Boston, whose age does provide experience and a knowledge of how to exploit younger teams' weaknesses.

Will the Celtics win an NBA title next year? Probably not, but they are no pushover either and will remain one of the best teams in the league for at least another season.

No. 24 Overall Pick: Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers may just emerge as the most improved NBA team next year, as they seem poised to build upon their 48-34 record from last season.

LaMarcus Aldridge emerged as an MVP-caliber player last season and seems poised to pick up where he left off. Additionally, Brandon Roy, Gerald Wallace and Nicolas Batum are all capable of backing up their performances and then some from last season. And we cannot forget about the recently acquired Raymond Felton, whose aggressive style of play should help propel the Blazers to the next level.

A sixth-seeded finish was impressive in the top-heavy Western Conference last season, but next season expect to see Portland become a member of the top-heavy by grabbing the fourth seed.

No. 23 Overall Pick: New York Knicks

Many mock drafts project the New York Knicks to finish in the middle of the pack next year, but Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and company will scrape a top-four finish in the Eastern Conference, meaning their Top 5 protected pick is likely headed the Houston Rockets' way.

Anthony is going to return next season in better shape and with a familiarity of the team concept. Stoudemire will have had time to heal and Chauncey Billups should prove to remain effective when healthy. Landry Fields will continue to improve and will have developed a better cohesion around Anthony, and Toney Douglas and Iman Shumpert should both prove to excel as they battle for minutes.

The Knicks are not ready to dethrone the Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat, but they are ready to make the postseason with a one-round guarantee of home-court advantage. Are they certain to make some major noise in the postseason? No, but they will emerge as a team worth watching as they distance themselves from the days of mediocrity.

No. 22 Overall Pick: San Antonio Spurs

Tim Duncan may be pictured above as trying to hide from the grueling nature of age, but while he and the San Antonio Spurs stave off its effects last season, next season will prove to be a different story.

The Spurs will not be the top-seeded team coming out of the West, rather dropping down to the fifth seed. Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson are all aging and will not be able to continue to put up the same level of production they have in the past, and the drama around Tony Parker's future could serve as a big distraction for him and the rest of the team.

Gary Neal is a promising player, but not nearly enough to push the Spurs to the top. It is slightly hard to picture such a reality, as the Spurs have been dominant for so long, but their fall from the top was inevitable, and while they will remain amongst the top teams in the Western Conference, home-court advantage is not a luxury they will have.

No. 21 Overall Pick: Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are a team that always seem to hover in the top five of the Eastern Conference, and next season should prove to be no different.

Josh Smith's and Jamal Crawford's futures with the team are up in the air, but retaining only one of them allows Atlanta to continue to do what they have been doing the past few years. Don't expect to see major improvement from this team (although Jeff Teague seems poised to turn some heads), but expect to see the same tough, scrappy play we have grown to appreciate from the Hawks.

Though the end result next season may prove to be similar to last season, this complacency is acceptable for Atlanta as they continue to determine what direction the team is heading in.

No. 20 Overall Pick: Orlando Magic

Dwight Howard will have plenty more to scowl about if the Orlando Magic stand pat because after last season's playoff display, the team is clearly not headed anywhere special.

Orlando managed to swipe the fourth overall seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to Howard last year, but were eliminated by the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the first round. And with the Hawks' ability to shock people along with the sure-fire improvement of the New York Knicks, the Magic are facing a serious drop in the standings.

Heck, if Deron Williams and Brook Lopez exceed everyone's expectations the Magic could even drop to the seventh seed. But for now, they are poised to take the sixth seed, a finish that isn't going to improve the Magic's chances of retaining Howard next summer.

Jameer Nelson is a promising talent, but other than him, the Magic are thin on potential breakouts. Hedo Turkoglu and Gilbert Arenas are now overpaid and overmatched at their positions, and unless J.J. Redick shocks the basketball world, Orlando isn't likely to improve upon last year's performance at all.

As long as the Magic have Howard they will not be a lottery team, so they are safe in that regard. For now.

No. 19 Overall Pick: Memphis Grizzlies

With a healthy Rudy Gay and finding a way to hold onto Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies would really be a team to watch, even improving upon their 46-36 finish from last season.

Zach Randolph, while aging, will still put up solid numbers and Mike Conley really emerged as a key player for Memphis last season and should be able to build upon that. If Gay stays healthy he will be a force to be reckoned with and the sky's the limit in terms of production for Gasol.

By keeping their core in place, the Grizzlies ensure that they can make some major noise next season, and although they aren't quite there yet, the time for them to overtake teams like the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs is rapidly approaching.

No. 18 Overall Pick: New Jersey Nets

Many mock drafts have the New Jersey Nets still finishing in the lottery next season, but this is not the same team that finished 24-58 this past season. The Nets, on the backs of Williams and Brook Lopez are poised for a playoff appearance in 2012.

Williams was an incredible pickup for New Jersey, and even though it is unclear whether he will remain with them beyond next season, the impact he has will prove to be amazing. And we cannot underestimate Lopez, who should thrive under Williams' presence. 

Rookie Marshon Brooks should prove to be a very impressive offensive weapon and retaining Kris Humphries is essential for this team. Will a seventh-seeded finish be enough to convince Williams to stay? Who knows, but it's a start.

And we cannot forget how ambitious Mikhail Prokhorov is. The Nets could very well move up further in the standings if he lands Josh Smith or, dare I write it, Dwight Howard.

Regardless, the Nets, as is, are no longer a lottery team.

No. 17 Overall Pick: Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are a team that should slightly improve upon their 37-45 finish from last season, but in the end, especially with the improvement of teams around them being more evident, should wind up in the middle of the pack once again.

Danny Granger, Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert give the Pacers a young and competitive core, and Tyler Hansbrough should show some improvement, but they are still just a mediocre team.  Granger is the team's most valuable player, but even he is not at the superstar level just yet and unless one of their key players emerges as one next season we cannot expect anything more than an eighth-seeded finish.

Heading into next summer, the Pacers biggest concern will not lie with the draft, but rather in holding onto free-agent Hibbert.

No. 16 Overall Pick: Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are set to improve so much that their Top 7 protected 2012 first-round draft pick is going to wind up in the hands of the Utah Jazz.

Golden State was arguably the most underachieving team in the league last year. Boasting talents like Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis and David Lee calls for a better finish than the 36-46 record they posted. Early on in the season it looked as if the Warriors were ready to impress, but apparently they weren't. That being said, their auspicious start did give us a look at what they are truly capable of.

Ellis' future with the team is unclear, but the organization's ability to become a playoff team is anything but. Curry will emerge as the unquestioned leader of this squad and David Lee will continue to be the rebounding machine and versatile low-post player he is. And if Ellis is along for the ride they are that much better. But if not, newcomer Klay Thompson will be able to make a major splash.

Additionally role players like Andris Biedrins, Ekpe Udoh and Dorell Wright should prove to elevate the team's performance even further.

Next season, the Warriors will make it clear they are no longer a destined lottery team, but rather one we will continue to be able to watch in the postseason.

No. 15 Overal Pick: Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are a team that is poised to surprise us next season, and with the imminent downfall of teams like the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Hornets and Houston Rockets, this is a young team that will find themselves fighting for and obtaining the Western Conference's final playoff spot.

Last season, Blake Griffin and the Clippers posted a 32-50 record, a finish that he, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and DeAndre are ready to improve upon. The Clippers are a promising young team, but their performance this season can also be chalked up to underachieving and not strictly youthful exuberance.

Next season, Griffin and Gordon will be a year wiser and ready to lead this team into the postseason. Will they make some serious noise? Probably not, but the precedent will have been set and this core will have proven their worth.

Of course, finishing just outside the lottery means that the Clippers forfeit their draft pick to the Boston Celtics, but after years of disappointment and being completely overshadowed by the Los Angeles Lakers, such an occurrence will be a welcomed improvement.

No. 14 Overall Pick: Houston Rockets

Here is where things get interesting as we charter into lottery territory, beginning with the Houston Rockets, who coincidentally find themselves in the same slot as last year with the 14th overall pick.

This pick is supposed to be headed over to the the New Jersey Nets, but lucky for Houston it is Top 14 protected.

Yao Ming may have not been an integral part of the Rockets' rotation for quite some time, but his official retirement is bound to have some effect on them and who knows how long it will be before 2011 draft pick Donatas Motiejunas is prepared to handle the center duties efficiently. Additionally, Luis Scola is 31 and while his production is still great, the age factor does become a concern.

Kevin Martin and Chase Budinger should prove to be exciting to watch and Houston always seems to find a way to stay somewhat relevant, but they will find themselves hovering near this past season's 43-39 mark and in the draft lottery once again next summer. 

No. 13 Overall Pick: Denver Nuggets

After posting a 50-32 record, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference and posting an explosive end to the season without Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets should be a team who are ready to move to the next level, yet they aren't. 

Raymond Felton is already gone, and Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, Arron Afflalo and Nene Hilario may not be far behind. Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson are promising youngsters, but all of the aforementioned were an intergral part of Denver's post Melo success and losing any one of them could prove to be huge.

Allowing many of their core players to walk may be part of a blueprint for the Nuggets' future, but won't serve them too well in the present, putting them among the teams in the lottery.

No. 12 Overall Pick: Philadelphia 76ers

Here's a team that is going to come as a surprise to many, but going on the assumption the roster stays in the shape it is, the Philadelphia 76ers are not going to find themselves holding the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference but rather the 12th overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Despite what many may deem a transition into the point-forward role, Andre Iguodala's best days are behind him, as are Elton Brand's. Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner should prove fun to watch, but their emergence won't be enough to make too serious a playoff push.

Look for Philadelphia to turn heads next season, in the wrong direction that is, exhibiting some competitive regression that will land them in the 2012 lottery. 

No. 11 Overall Pick: Washington Wizards

John Wall and company are set to improve upon their 23-59 record from last season, and could even make a brief appearance in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but will ultimately find themselves back in the lottery, just without as high a pick.

Wall has already proved to be prolific and his improvement will be interesting to monitor, as will Nick Young's. Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee also showed some promise last year, and the integration of newcomer Chris Singleton should help the Washington Wizards a great deal on defense.

Despite an abundance of young and promising talent though, it is a little too early to project that Washington plays themselves out of the lottery. We are still probably a year away from such a thing, so for now, Washington will have to be content with watching their core develop further.

No. 10 Overall Pick: New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets posted an impressive 46-36 record last year, securing the Western Conference's seventh seed, and giving the Los Angeles Lakers a run for their money in the first round of the playoffs. But don't expect to see an improvement next season.

Chris Paul is as talented and elusive as ever, but there is a very real possibility that key players Carl Landry and David West suit up elsewhere next season. And I know we agreed to leave potential roster shakeups at the door, but what happens if the Hornets decide to trade Chris Paul?

Even if Paul remains in New Orleans for the season's entirety, an enormous amount of speculation is guaranteed to ensue, which could prove to be a major distraction for him and the rest of the team.

Unfortunately for the Hornets, it looks as though they are headed for the 2012 lottery.

No. 9 Overall Pick: Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns are team without a clear direction at this point. Are they rebuilding? That's what we assumed, but then why are they holding onto veteran Steven Nash?

Marcin Gortat and Channing Frye will prove to be bright spots for the Suns next year, and even though age is bound to catch up with Nash he will make a major impact as always. The same cannot be said for Vince Carter though, and newcomer Markieff Morris was a selection Phoenix should not have made. And then we have the ever underachieving Josh Childress, who cuts a paycheck that far exceeds his talent level.

Don't expect the Suns to improve upon their performance next season, rather look for them to drop even further in the standings. Hopefully the ninth overall pick will be a good enough consolation prize.

No. 8 Overall Pick: Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks placed just outside the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, a finish they are not poised to improve upon.

Brandon Jennings is a solid young star and Andrew Bogut will continue to do what he does best, and even Stephen Jackson will provide an extra scoring punch, but this team is not poised to make any real noise.

Hopefully Tobias Harris will prove to exceed expectations, but even that won't prevent this team from returning to the draft lottery. Look for the Bucks to struggle more than they did last year, securing a better than Top 10 pick for 2012.

No. 7 Overall Pick: Toronto Raptors

The good news for the Tornoto Raptors and their fans is that they are poised to show some improvement looking ahead to next season. The bad news though is that it will prove to be only minor and not enough to propel them into the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.

Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan should continue and improve upon their prolific offensive ways, but defense is a major concern for this young team. Toronto may be able to scrape a few impressive wins next season, but outside of that there won't be much else to look forward to.

Unless the lottery pool is something the Raptors and their fans have come to embrace at this point.

No. 6 Overall Pick: Sacramento Kings

Jimmer Fredette should prove to be an interesting story for us to follow, but the Sacramento Kings as a whole won't show a large enough of improvement to keep themselves out of the lottery. Or much improvement at all for that matter.

What's the good news? The Kings' 2012 first-round pick will no longer belong to the Cleveland Cavaliers as it is Top 14 protected. Not exactly a ball of hope, but it is something at least.

Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins are two players that could emerge as bonafide stars next year, but the Western Conference is latent with too much other physical fire power that Sacramento won't be able to keep up with. If Fredette can knock down 15-20 three-pointers per game it may be a different story, but that is unlikely.

Ultimately, the only major improvement the Kings are poised to make is in the tickets and memorabilia sales departments. I guess Sacramento should thank Fredette in advance for that.

No. 5 Overall Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves should exhibit some improvement next season, but it won't be enough to keep themselves out of the lottery and unfortunately for them this year's draft pick belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers. Oh, and it's unprotected.

Love should continue his dominant rebounding and scoring ways, but outside of that the Timberwolves do not have much guaranteed production. Michael Beasley, Anthony Randolph, Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams are all promising players, but are unproven and need further developing.

Minnesota is still a top five lottery team, and it will be at least another year before we can say otherwise. And unfortunately for them, next summer's pick is not theirs to make.

Maybe the Timberwolves will be able to find solace in knowing they aren't poised to hold the league's worst record next season. 

No. 4 Overall Pick: Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats' 2012 first-round pick belongs to the Chicago Bulls, but luckily for them it is top 14 protected, as they are poised to own one of the first five picks in the draft.

After finishing 10th overall in the Eastern Conference, some may be wondering how the Bobcats will drop this far, and it is a valid inquiry to make. D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson will be very bright spots for Charlotte, and Kemba Walker's ability to make a contribution will be interesting to watch, but outside of this there is not much else to look forward to.

The Bobcats are officially backcourt heavy while shallow in the front court. Joel Przybilla may wind up on another team, Corey Maggete is aging rapidly and unless Boris Diaw and DeSagana Diop have more than career years, Charlotte is going to get walked all over by the rest of the frontcourts in the Eastern Conference.

Hopefully Michael Jordan is wise enough to draft someone with more potential than Bismack Biyombo with this high of a pick next year.

No. 3 Overall Pick: Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a franchise in turmoil, and things are only going to get worse next season.

Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince may wind up with another team and Detroit is fielding offers for the aging Richard Hamilton. Additionally, Ben Gordon is proving to be a near bust signing, giving the Pistons almost nothing to look forward too.

On the bright side for Detroit, they have Brandon Knight's development to look forward to. On the not-so-bright-side though, many believe he will prove to be a non-factor.

Maybe Kyle Singler could prove to be a pleasant surprise for the Pistons because their 2012 finish sure as hell won't be.

No. 2 Overall Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers

Let's be honest, the Cleveland Cavaliers have an array of perimeter players that have the potential to shock the basketball world, yet it is their lack of depth in the frontcourt that is bound to seriously hurt them and hinder the potential for a significant improvement upon last year.

Kyrie Irving, Baron Davis, Omri Casspi, Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson should be able to adequately hold down the perimeter, but the aging Antawn Jamison is the brightest spot for the Cavs down low.

Yes, you read right. Anderson Varejao may be a rebounding machine but is still a career underachiever, and let's not even acknowledge the Tristan Thompson selection.

Hopefully the Cavaliers will be able to pile up some more wins compared to last season, but don't hold your breath as they will be most likely wind up hoping to become next year's lottery winner again. And even that's an achievement Cleveland will probably miss out on.

No. 1 Overall Pick: Utah Jazz

Most 2012 Mock Drafts have Utah landing outside the Top 10. But this is not most mock drafts.

This is a projection that the Minnesota Timberwolves and their fans might embrace since they own the rights to the Utah Jazz's 2012 first-round draft pick. Such elation is bound to disappear though since it is Top 14 protected.

After the departure of both Jerry Sloan and Deron Williams, the Jazz are a team with many questions surrounding them. And don't expect next year's performance to answer many of those questions.

Al Jefferson will continue to be a force in the low post and Utah has high hopes for Derrick Favors, giving the Jazz potential down low. And Alec Burks' lights-out shooting may prove to be a bright spot for Utah, but aside from that, there won't be much else to see.

Many may feel the Jazz will not wind up falling this far, but make no mistake this is a team encountering an identity crisis similar to the one of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the power heavy Western Conference, the Jazz are poised to get lost in the shuffle. They finished 39-43 last year, and are only poised to fall further in the standings without Williams.

Utah may also still be reeling from missing out on Jimmer Fredette in this year's draft.

Regardless, look for the Jazz to have a surprising finish next season, one that may make Utah fans despise surprises from now on.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @DannyFavs2033.