2012 NBA Mock Draft: 1st-Round Draft Locks

Now that the NBA season has gotten underway, we can start looking forward to next season's NBA draft, which is viewed as a very deep one.

Here's a look at the latest mock draft, and the talent at the top is very good.

On a side note, the team's positioning is based on how I feel they will finish the season, which also doesn't reflect the lottery. Some first-round picks that have been traded are unprotected and already accounted for in the mock.

Some traded picks are protected for the 2012 season and beyond and based on how I have the standings, those picks will not exchange hands this season.

So having said that, let's see who's on the clock.

1. New Orleans Hornets

Andre Drummond, PF-C, U Conn

This is the Hornets' pick and not the one they received in the Chris Paul trade. With it they can't go wrong with Drummond, who I expect not to hang around Connecticut for very long.

You can't go wrong with a dominant big guy to build around, and that's what Drummond could be.

He's a physical specimen and a great athlete with a long wingspan. He will be a beast inside the paint and can rebound and block shots.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

Jeremy Lamb, SG, U Conn

Could a pair of Huskies go back to back at the top of the draft? It very well could happen, and the Cavs could get rebuilt fast if they add Lamb to their pair of first-round picks from a season ago in Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson.

He's just a smooth player. Lamb is a great athlete who can run the floor with explosiveness and can leap with the best of them.

The Cavs could quickly turn into a very good, young team.

3. Toronto Raptors

Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

Suddenly the Raptors could have an imposing frontcourt by drafting Davis.

He's versatile and long and a tremendous athlete. Davis was a former guard before growing into a power forward, so he has good ball-handling and passing skills for a guy his size.

His wingspan also makes him a great defender. Davis could be the total package among big guys in this draft.

4.Charlotte Bobcats

Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Speaking of the total package, that brings us to Barnes, who could end up in Charlotte paired with Kemba Walker.

Barnes has great strength and quickness, and his game keeps getting better. He's a tough cover when he has the ball, as he can pull up and hit a smooth-looking jumper just as easy as he can attack the rim.

Wherever he lands, he could make a quick impact in the NBA .

5. Washington Wizards

Perry Jones, F, Baylor

Jones is very athletic and could have more upside than anyone in the 2012 draft.

He's another guy that can do it all and could be a dominant wing player for Washington for some time to come. The Wizards are deep at forward, but Jones is too tough to pass up here.

The Baylor sophomore is so smooth and covers more distance in fewer steps then anyone in the draft.

6. New Jersey Nets

Thomas Robinson, F, Kansas

In this situation, I'm assuming the Brook Lopez injury will hurt the Nets, but ultimately I'm making them the winners of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, so no need for a big man here.

What they do get is an athletic Robinson who can play both the 3 or the 4 at the next level. He probably projects more as a power forward, and that's good for New Jersey.

He's strong and physically gifted. He will do well playing on the block in the NBA, but he's also quick and explosive, so he could play the wing if needed.

7. Sacramento Kings

Jared Sullinger, PF-C, Ohio State

The Kings get a steal here if Sullinger falls to No. 7. Just take a look at all the talent Sacramento has assembled over the past few drafts and it's hard not to get excited about their future.

Sullinger is a bruiser underneath, but he's also very skillful with his variety of post moves. He's a good athlete with a good touch around the rim.

A good athlete for his size, Sullinger can also crash the glass effectively at both ends of the floor.

8. Detroit Pistons

Brad Beal, SG, Florida

Beal can shoot the rock and after landing their point guard of the future in Brandon Knight in last year's draft, they can complete the future backcourt with Beal.

While his shot is his best asset, Beal is a well-rounded player who does many things very well, including being a very solid defensive guard.

9. New Orleans Hornets (through Los Angeles Clippers, via Minnesota Timberwolves

Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

This may be slightly high for Marshall but not by much. With this pick the Hornets need to get their new point guard of the future and while they could elect for Myck Kabongo from Texas or Kentucky's Marquis Teague with this pick, it could be difficult to pass up Marshall here.

He's a natural floor general who understands the game and makes his teammates better. He makes passing the ball look effortless and while he needs to work on his scoring, he can develop that at the next level.

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Terrence Ross, SG, Washington

The Bucks could use some perimeter punch and depending whether or not they decide to extend Stephen Jackson, Ross may be tough to pass on at No. 10.

He's a good athlete and a natural shooter, but he has great leaping ability as well. He's a very talented offensive package that could be a steal at No. 10.

11. Utah Jazz (from Golden State)

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

The Jazz receive the Warriors' pick as long as it's not within the top seven picks as part of the Marcus Williams trade.

Cashing it in on the Kentucky freshman this draft is good timing for Utah, who already have a nice, young core of young players that includes Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks.

He does everything well and if he continues to grow as a player, he could become a go-to guy at the next level.

12. Utah Jazz

Myck Kabongo, PG, Texas

Utah using it's own pick will now select their point guard of the future in Kabongo.

Kabongo is fun to watch and is a playmaker with great ball-handling skills and quickness. He needs some work on his perimeter game, but he's a pure point guard with a ton of talent.

13. Houston Rockets

Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

Houston needs a big man and could turn to one of the Zeller brothers. Cody is a skilled big guy who runs the floor very well and has a great touch around the basket.

He's a good athlete with a high basketball IQ, but he'll need to add some strength to compete at the next level.

14. Phoenix Suns

Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

The Suns will continue to get young with Rivers towards the end of the lottery.

He's a talented guard who can score at any level and should have success right away in the NBA. He has a lot to work on, but not when it comes to scoring. That alone makes him impossible to pass on as a lottery pick.

15. Portland Trail Blazers

Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Blazers can try their luck with another seven-footer by taking a shot on Leonard.

Typical with any big man selected in the mid-to-late part of the first round, Leonard needs to get stronger, but you can see why teams could be excited about him.

He's athletic and surprisingly quick for a guy his size and can be a solid scorer.

Defensively, he's a good rebounder and shot blocker as well. He's a project worth gambling on.

16. Orlando Magic

Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

The Magic will likely be in full rebuilding mode after likely trading Howard, so they get the best available player on the board, which at this point could be Jones.

He's got a good face-up game and can score in a variety of ways. Overall, Jones is just a well put-together player who does almost everything well. Whoever gets him this late will be getting a very good player.

17. Philadelphia 76ers

Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Point guard depth here for the Wildcats, but ultimately Teague could become a star.

He's an extremely gifted athlete with a tremendous first step. He's a great slasher that penetrates as easily as he can keep his head up and kick the ball out.

He's the third point guard off the board, but he could wind up being the best of the three.

18. Indiana Pacers

Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Lamb becomes the third consecutive Kentucky Wildcats player off the board.

Indiana needs a 2-guard that can create his own shot after failing twice to acquire O.J. Mayo. Lamb is a perfect fit for them.

He can put the ball on the floor to create his own shot and has a smooth, fluid jumper.

Lamb has the makings of a solid NBA scorer for years to come.

19. Memphis Grizzlies

John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Memphis has its core players locked up, so this is a pick for depth. Adding a guy like Henson to a frontcourt that already features Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph is a very nice proposition.

Henson is an athletic specimen who can absolutely become a game changer on the defensive end of the floor thanks to his length and outstanding shot-blocking instincts.

He's not just a shot blocker, though. He's got a good face-up game and runs the floor very well. He's also a beast on the boards.

Good value pick here by Memphis.

20. Atlanta Hawks

Khris Middleton, SG-SF, Texas A&M

Middleton would be a good pick for Memphis as well, but he slides to Atlanta at No. 20, where he gives them depth at both the 2 and the 3.

He's a very smooth scorer that has a very good mid-range game. But Middleton isn't limited to that, as he can extend beyond the arc as well as attack the rim.

Middleton is still growing and at 6'7", his size on the wing could be attractive to potential NBA suitors.

21. Denver Nuggets

Patric Young, PF-C, Florida

He's built like a rock, and to say his game revolves around power is a huge understatement.

Young plays the game relentlessly and crashes the boards with force. He also has the ability to become a great shot blocker.

He's strong enough to play the center position in the NBA and could be a great fit for the Denver Nuggets.

22. Los Angeles Lakers

Tyler Zeller, C-PF, North Carolina

The other Zeller comes off the board to the Lakers, whose roster will likely not look the same by this time next season, so another big body is a plus.

He runs the floor better than any other center in this class and has great quickness. He has a knack for finding the ball off the glass and could become a very good center prospect.

Zeller is versatile and has a soft touch as well as good instincts defensively.

23. San Antonio Spurs

Mason Plumlee, PF, Duke

For the Spurs, it's about time to look for some Tim Duncan insurance, and you could do a lot worse than Plumlee this late in the draft.

He has the makings of a great power forward prospect. His game is very smooth and he's a very intelligent player.

Plumlee is a great athlete with good leaping skills and explosiveness, and he's also a good catch-and-shoot type of guy.

He's still a project but learning from Duncan for a couple of years will benefit him.

24. Boston Celtics

Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

The Celtics need some size and power, and Moultrie would be a nice pick.

He's long and agile and plays the game above the rim. Moutrie moves like a guard but plays as physical as a power forward. He's got a nice offensive game that could lead to potentially good things in the NBA.

25. Houston Rockets (from New York Knicks)

William Buford, SG, Ohio State

This pick comes to the Rockets as part of the Tracy McGrady trade.

In Buford the Rockets get a very athletic and solid 2-guard with a pretty jump shot and a solid all-around game. He will be a solid pro.

26. Boston Celtics (from Los Angeles Clippers)

Kris Joseph, SF, Syracuse

This is the Clippers' pick that went through the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the Eric Bledsoe trade last year.

It's a top 10 protected pick, but with the Clippers being good, it won't be protected this year, so it could be Boston's.

Kris Joseph is a talent, and the Celtics need to load up on younger players. He's a good athlete with great leaping abilities that just always seems to make things happen at both ends of the floor. He's a Doc rivers type of guy.

27. Los Angeles Lakers (from Dallas Mavericks)

Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan

The Lakers can turn the Lamar Odom trade into a positive with promising young guard Tim Hardaway Jr. He's a very gifted scorer who can handle the ball.

Los Angeles needs better backcourt depth than they have at the moment, and a young talent like Hardaway Jr. helps out with that.

28. Chicago Bulls

Alex Oriakhi, PF, U Conn

The Bulls can add depth to an already talented frontcourt. He's got a great wingspan and can crash the boards effectively.

His offensive game may need some work, but in Chicago he wouldn't be pressed into duty right away, so he would have time.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder

Draymond Green, F, Michigan St.

Green is a versatile forward that the Thunder could use to add depth to their frontcourt. He's a worker with a good game who can play both the 3 and the 4.

He's a decent rebounder with a decent offensive game and since he plays for Tom Izzo, he's going to be smart on the defensive end.

This is nothing more than a pick for depth for Oklahoma City since they don't have many holes to fill.

30. Miami Heat

Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure

Nicholson is a pretty skilled big guy who could be a project for Miami. He's talented at both ends of the floor, but he needs some work.

As a depth player in Miami, what better teaching cast could there be?