2012 NBA Mock Draft: Full First-Round Picks, Will Harrison Barnes Go No. 1?

One of my favorite parts of the NBA offseason is what happens shortly after the close of the postseason.  I'm talking about the NBA draft, when the country's best college players and some of the best international stars come one step closer to their dreams of stardom.  Last year, fans roared as the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Kyrie Irving with the first-overall pick.

Next year's draft class could be even better than that of 2011, as North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes is expected to be a top pick, perhaps the No. 1 player overall.

Yet, the situation for next year's draft is unclear.  The NBA is currently in the middle of a senseless lockout that has already resulted in the first two weeks of next season being canceled and this could result in complete and utter chaos.  Without a season, there is no way to determine the draft order.

Thus, let's do a 2012 mock draft and use the draft order from 2011.

No. 1: Cleveland Cavaliers: Andre Drummond, C, UConn

Now that the Cavaliers have taken care of their needs at point guard and small forward with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, it's time to bring in a top center to replace the ineffective Ryan Hollins.  Team owner Dan Gilbert will take yet another gamble and draft freshman center Andre Drummond out of UConn.

A highly touted high school prospect, Drummond already has great size at 6'11" and 275 pounds.  His offensive game may need some work, but there is no doubt that his defense is top notch and will be welcome on the young Cleveland team.

No. 2: Minnesota Timberwolves: Harrison Barnes, G/F, North Carolina

The Minnesota Timberwolves already have some excellent forwards in Kevin Love and Derrick Williams, so they will draft Harrison Barnes to play shooting guard.  Though he may have been primarily a forward for the Tar Heels, Barnes' shooting touch will be a welcome addition to the ever-developing Minnesota team.

Throw in the fact that he can also play decent defense, and this is a slam-dunk pick.

No. 3: Utah Jazz: Jeremy Lamb, G, UConn

The Utah Jazz need a shooter in case the Gordon Hayward experiment fails, so why not select Jeremy Lamb?  Unlike Hayward, he can drive hard to the basket as well as shoot effectively and is just a tougher player in general.

He's 6'5" and a bit skinny at just 185 pounds, but some time in the weight room could easily turn Lamb into a top NBA guard.  Be it in the lineup or off the bench, this young man has a bright future.

No. 4: Cleveland Cavaliers: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Now that Drummond is manning the middle, the Cavaliers just need someone to handle the No. 4 spot.  Enter Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis, who has shown great ability to play defense as well as handle other big men by faking them out with his outside shot.

Davis has great size at 6'10", but is a little thin at 220 pounds.  He'll need to improve his play down low and put on some weight if he wants to make it in the league.  Once he does that, then he could be part of a potential Cavaliers dynasty.

No. 5: Toronto Raptors: Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

After the epic failure that was giving Linas Kleiza a long-term deal, the Toronto Raptors will look to right that ship with Baylor freshman Quincy Miller.  He has decent size for a small forward at 6'9" and 210 pounds, and I've honestly never seen such a versatile style of play from someone his age.

Miller can shoot, block, drive to the basket and dunk.  In watching footage of him, I see moves very similar to Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers.  If his skills translate well to the pros, expect him to make an immediate impact north of the border.

No. 6: Washington Wizards: Bradley Beal, G, Florida

The Washington Wizards could potentially lose shooting guard Nick Young to free agency.  If that happens, they will be without a shooter to complement young point guard John Wall.  That being said, it wouldn't hurt team management to take a look at Bradley Beal.

The freshman is young, but his 6'5" build is perfect for a 2-guard.  His outside shot is reported to be deadly and if he can accumulate enough minutes and become a star for Billy Donovan in Gainesville, then perhaps we'll be hearing his name come next summer.

No. 7: Sacramento Kings: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

The Sacramento Kings are very close to becoming contenders again.  The one piece of the puzzle that's missing is an electrifying power forward who brings back memories of former Kings star Chris Webber.

Enter Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger.  Here is a man who has tremendous size at 6'9", 280 pounds and, quite possibly, could have been the first overall pick in the draft this past June had he chosen to declare himself eligible.

If Kings management drafts Sullinger and moves DeMarcus Cousins from power forward to center, then this is a team that has a top, young core at its fingertips.  With Jimmer Fredette feeding everyone the ball, Sullinger included, it's hard to believe that this team wouldn't do well.

No. 8: Detroit Pistons: James McAdoo, F, North Carolina

The nephew of Hall-of-Famer Bob McAdoo, North Carolina freshman James McAdoo has more than just genetics on his side.  He may seem small at 6'9" and 220 pounds, but he has exhibited tremendous ability to play in the low post.  On top of that, he has great character and is very coachable.

He'll be on a competitive UNC team looking to make strides in the ACC, particularly with Harrison Barnes returning.  If he can build a strong relationship with head coach Roy Williams, expect him to get some minutes.

If he enters the draft, I see the Detroit Pistons taking him so center Greg Monroe will have some support on the inside.  The team in the Motor City needs some youth, and McAdoo will provide them with that plus decent leadership.

No. 9: Charlotte Bobcats: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

At 6'11" and 235 pounds, there's no doubt Perry Jones has size.  As a freshman for the Baylor Bears last year, he averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds before being ruled ineligible due to receiving improper benefits from his AAU coach prior to his Baylor days.

Still, Jones has unquestionable talent.  His only problem is that his defensive talent is extremely raw and in order to make it in the NBA, someone his size needs to be an absolute monster on the boards.  I see him now as an Amare Stoudemire type, minus the physicality.

Still, the Charlotte Bobcats could be in the market for a big man in the next year and Jones could be the one to fill that void.  This team could be ideal for him as he will already be working with a young group of players and on top of that, he is insurance in case Bismack Biyombo doesn't pan out.

No. 10: Milwaukee Bucks: Austin Rivers, G, Duke

Now that Michael Redd is definitely leaving the building and Stephen Jackson will surely depart via free agency or a trade, the Milwaukee Bucks will be in need of a shooter come next year's draft.  What better man to fill that role than Duke freshman Austin Rivers?

He may not have a college game under his belt yet, but Rivers already has the competitive fire of a seasoned veteran.  His shot is clean and his footwork effective, so chances are that Rivers could emerge as one of the nation's top shooters.

Also, let's not forget that he has had a great coach in his life for many years.  You see, Rivers' father is Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers.

No. 11: Golden State Warriors: John Henson, F/C, North Carolina

At long last, we have an upperclassman being selected.  The Golden State Warriors will look to mend their defensive woes by drafting North Carolina forward John Henson to be the solution at power forward and/or center.  The team already has David Lee, Jeremy Tyler, Ekpe Udoh and Andris Biedrins at those positions. Let's be honest, none of these guys have lived up (or will live up) to the hype.

Henson has ridiculously long arms that coaches dream about having under the basket.  Last season, he averaged an astounding 3.2 blocks per game.

The only concern with Henson is his size, as he is 6'10" but weighs just 210 pounds, right around the same size as failed Warriors forward and former Tar Heel (talk about irony, huh?) Brandan Wright.  Yet, Henson has more of an upside than Wright and with his determination he'll find a way to make a place for himself in the NBA.

No. 12: Utah Jazz: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

The Utah Jazz already have Devin Harris starting at point guard, but let's assume that they decide to draft a backup who will eventually replace him once he hits free agency.  The man they pick will be Kentucky point guard Marquis Teague, who is built like a point guard at 6'2" and 165 pounds, but plays like someone much bigger.

Looking at video of Teague, I'm honestly flabbergasted.  He has the footwork of Kemba Walker, passing ability of Jason Kidd and dunking power similar to Nate Robinson.

Simply put, this man's athleticism is going to put him on the map both in college and wherever he may end up at the professional level.  He needs to beef up a bit, but his talents are undoubtedly ones that should not go unnoticed.

No. 13: Phoenix Suns: Seth Curry, G, Duke

Big brother Stephen is already one of the league's top three-point threats playing for the Golden State Warriors, so it's time to start an interconference rivalry.  In need of a shooter, the Phoenix Suns will draft Seth Curry out of Duke in hopes that he will help them get back to being one of the more deadly teams in the Western Conference.

Curry played mostly as a fill-in last year when Kyrie Irving was out with a toe injury, but he showed some great skills.  He only averaged nine points per game, but made 43 percent of his three-pointers.  Considering how Duke just lost three starters in Irving, guard Nolan Smith and forward Kyle Singler, I expect Curry will get plenty of minutes and might even be the man head coach Mike Krzyzewski picks to run the offense.

If he can keep up his shooting and develop a passing game, the Suns could potentially use him not only as an offensive threat, but as the heir to Steve Nash.

No. 14: Houston Rockets: Thomas Robinson, F, Kansas

With the Morris twins now in the NBA, this is Thomas Robinson's time to shine.  The 6'9" forward will surely get a good chunk of minutes in his junior season and his NBA career more or less depends on his production.  In limited minutes last year, he made an impressive 60 percent of his field goals.

Regarding where he's picked in the draft, I see the Houston Rockets taking him at this position to shore up some bench defense.  Robinson may have talent, but the crowded forward situation in Houston leaves this as his only option in the Lonestar State.

Still, the man is a team player and will accept his role no matter how big or small it is.

No. 15: Indiana Pacers: Patric Young, F/C, Florida

Patric Young didn't get much of a chance his freshman year as Florida's frontcourt was led by seniors.  This year, he has an opportunity to show scouts what his 6'9", 245-pound frame can do.

Seeing as how the Indiana Pacers are more than likely to lose larger-than-life (literally) center Roy Hibbert to free agency, Young could prove to be a viable option should he declare for the draft.  He may seem small for a center, but his physicality is just plain ridiculous.

Putting stats aside, Young's best quality as a player is his sheer determination.  He wants to succeed, and badly.  He is very coachable and when it comes time to scout him for the draft, teams will take great note of that.

No. 16: Philadelphia 76ers: Michael Gilchrist, F, Kentucky

He's just a freshman on an already crowded Kentucky team, but mark my words: Michael Gilchrist is going to have an amazing season that could result in him declaring for the draft.

He is a small forward and has great size at 6'7" and 232 pounds along with great character.  Seeing as how the Sixers are rumored to be shopping Andre Iguodala, they could be in the hunt for a small forward.

Gilchrist would be a great addition to a Sixers lineup already bursting with young talent like Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner.  On top of that, the North Jersey native may already have some fans in the city.

No. 17: New York Knicks: Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

Once again, the New York Knicks will do what they do best.  I'm talking about royally messing up a draft pick.  Instead of taking a top young point guard or a talented big man, team management will draft Terrence Jones.  For those who don't know much about him, Jones is a forward for the Kentucky Wildcats and has been called out by coach John Calipari for having a selfish attitude.

The defensive talent is there, as Jones averaged 8.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks last season.  Still, assuming that Knicks management chooses to retain Mike D'Antoni as head coach, Jones is the worst possible player to draft.  Coach D's style is very team-oriented and given Jones' reputation, he'll do nothing but frustrate his coach, teammates and Knicks fans.

Don't get me wrong, Jones has a bright NBA future.  Still, are the Knicks really the right team for him?  Well, guess we'll find out.

No. 18: Washington Wizards: Adonis Thomas, F, Memphis

Don't let the 6'7", 200-pound frame fool you.  Adonis Thomas is a phenomenal athlete.

This young man can shoot, dunk and plays well on both sides of the court.  Seeing as how the Wizards seem to be going in a direction that focuses on men who are great athletes as well as talented players, he could have a future with the team in splitting time with players like Chris Singleton and possibly Rashard Lewis.

No. 19: Charlotte Bobcats: Brandon Davies, F, BYU

Last year was a tough one for BYU forward Brandon Davies.  Easily the best defensive player on the team, he was suspended just before the Mountain West Conference tournament for a violation of the school's honor code.  What was the violation?  Well, Davies was busted for having sexual relations with his girlfriend, strictly forbidden at the devoutly Mormon college.

Sure enough, without him, the Cougars did not do as well as anticipated and did not make it past the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.

That being said, I'm anticipating Davies to have a phenomenal bounce-back season.  He has been incredible in handling the situation and has taken full responsibility and thus, NBA teams will definitely give the 6'9" forward a look when it comes time for draft scouting.

Seeing as how they need to improve their front court, the Charlotte Bobcats seem like the best fit for Davies.

No. 20: Minnesota Timberwolves: Mason Plumlee, F, Duke

After making a good decision in drafting Harrison Barnes with the No. 2 pick, T-Wolves GM David Kahn will go back to his old ways and draft the extremely awkward Mason Plumlee with the 20th pick.  My best guess for this decision is that Darko Milicic's time has run out as the team's center.

That being said, Kahn will choose to gamble on the 6'10", 230-pound Plumlee and install him at center.  Despite his lack of athleticism, Plumlee's long arms could prove to be an asset to himself and NBA teams looking for a big man in the middle.

Then again, this could just be another weird decision in the history of David Kahn.  There's no telling how it will play out until Plumlee steps on the court.

No. 21: Portland Trail Blazers: Tomas Satoransky, G, Czech Republic

I'll admit that when it comes to international prospects being taken in the first round, I'm a skeptic.  Yet, in the case of Czech guard Tomas Satoransky, I think he could have a bright future in the NBA.

Seeing as how the Portland Trail Blazers are without a bench shooter now that Rudy Fernandez has been traded, I wouldn't be surprised if team management decided to fill that void by replacing him with another international player.

Satoransky suits this position because unlike Fernandez, he is more than just a shooter.  He can drive hard to the basket and is a decent passer.  More importantly, he has been known to throw down some rattling dunks.

Still not convinced?  Well, check this out.

No. 22: Denver Nuggets: Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt

A couple of seasons from now, the Denver Nuggets may need some help at small forward and shooting guard.  A man who may be able to fill either position is Vanderbilt forward Jeff Taylor.

This young man has decent size at 6'7", 225 pounds and in each of his three college seasons, he has improved his scoring average.  His three-point shot needs work, but he'll have a great coach in George Karl to help him with that.

More importantly, Taylor's leadership qualities are just what the young Nuggets need now that Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups are gone, not to mention Nene's impending free agency.

No. 23: Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Now that Yao Ming is retired, the Houston Rockets will need a big man.  Marcus Morris is all well and good, but he is not the dominant inside presence that the team will need in the long run.

Enter Tyler Zeller, a seven-footer out of UNC who averaged 15.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in his junior season.  He has one year remaining to impress the scouts and given how he has decent size at 250 pounds, he should improve upon last year, barring injury.

His shot blocking and strength may leave something to be desired, but Zeller's determination and commitment will make him an attractive prospect.  With Kevin McHale starting a new coaching regime in Houston, Zeller could find himself thrust into the spotlight fairly quickly.

No. 24: Oklahoma City Thunder: Khris Middleton, F, Texas A&M

As talented as the Oklahoma City Thunder are, they could use a little help on perimeter defense coming off the bench.  Depending on how next season plays out, I wouldn't be surprised if team management chose to draft forward Khris Middleton.

On paper, Middleton may seem fairly average.  As a sophomore, he averaged 14.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.  While impressive on the college level, he's pretty small for his position on the NBA level, just 6'7" and 215 pounds.

Still, Middleton is one of the toughest players in the draft and while it's debatable how successful he'll be, he could easily provide a defensive spark off the bench for the Thunder.

No. 25: Boston Celtics: Tu Holloway, PG, Xavier

Before we dive into analysis, let me just say this: I LOVE TU HOLLOWAY.  For someone just six-feet tall, his athleticism is off the charts.  Last year, he averaged 19.7 points, five rebounds and 5.4 assists.

Thus, with Rajon Rondo's future in Boston uncertain, I wouldn't at all be surprised if Celtics GM Danny Ainge chose to draft a similar guard in Holloway.  Both he and Rondo have very similar builds and are phenomenal athletes, something Ainge highly values.

It may take time for Holloway to develop, but just watch as he becomes one of the peskiest point men in the league.

No. 26: Dallas Mavericks: Josh Smith, C, UCLA

He may be on the hefty side at 6'10" and 305 pounds, but Josh Smith is more than just a big man who provides size on the court.  Believe it or not, he actually has decent footwork and moves well despite his large frame.  As a freshman last year, he averaged a fairly impressive 10.6 points and 6.5 rebounds.

That being said, with the team potentially in need of size in the middle, I wouldn't at all be shocked if the Mavs draft Smith.  He has a tremendous upside and if he improves this season, his draft stock could potentially skyrocket.

On top of that, he's built sort of like former Dallas center DeSagana Diop.  If that joke of a player could get a big contract from team owner Mark Cuban, then I like Smith's chances.

No. 27: New Jersey Nets: C.J. Leslie, F, North Carolina State

The New Jersey Nets need help, and a lot of it.  Travis Outlaw is overpaid and ineffective at small forward, so it's time to bring in a new face.  That face belongs to NC State forward C.J. Leslie.

The sophomore has decent size at 6'7" and 206 pounds.  While that may seem small, Leslie is actually a good athlete who can shoot adequately as well as play some defense.  As a freshman, he averaged 11 points and 7.2 rebounds.

He's definitely a gamble but Leslie is the type of player who, if he transitions well to the NBA, the results will speak for themselves.  Considering how Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov seems to like taking gambles considering how he traded a developing rookie in Derrick Favors for veteran point man Deron Williams, this draft choice isn't totally unrealistic.

No. 28: Chicago Bulls: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Besides the obvious need at shooting guard, the Chicago Bulls need an upgrade at center.  If Joakim Noah doesn't improve much this season, team management should look to obtain a new big man via the draft.  I'm talking one that has a dominating presence and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

The man who could fill that void is Vanderbilt big man Festus Ezeli.  The 6'11" Nigerian only played about 23.5 minutes per game last year, but made the most of them.  He averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks.

Noah has been decent at rebounding and blocking, but his body is just too fragile for the position.  Keep in mind he has only appeared in 112 games over the past two seasons.

By unloading Noah and bringing in Ezeli, the Bulls could be setting themselves up for a potential dynasty if Derrick Rose stays on.

No. 29: San Antonio Spurs: Mouphtaou Yarou, F/C, Villanova

On paper, Mouphtaou Yarou's numbers may not seem like much.  Last season, he averaged just 8.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.  Yet, it should be noted that his head coach is Jay Wright, whose offensive schemes tend to favor the guards and small forwards.

He has good size at 6'10" and 250 pounds and with incumbent center Tim Duncan getting older, Yarou could become a potential successor with the proper coaching,  Getting the best out of him will take some time, but the man's size cannot be ignored.

No. 30: Chicago Bulls: LeBryan Nash, G/F, Oklahoma State

Assuming that the team doesn't seek options on the free agent market and the Jimmy Butler experiment doesn't work out, I can see the Chicago Bulls drafting LeBryan Nash out of Oklahoma State to fill their needs at shooting guard.

At 6'7" and 230 pounds, Nash's athleticism is just plain shocking.  Not only does he have a pretty outside shot, but his dunking ability makes him a surefire future participant in the Slam Dunk Contest.

Be it at shooting guard or small forward, Nash could easily be a valuable contributor to the Bulls in the future.