2012 NBA Mock Draft 1.0

*draft order accurate as of 4/5/2012

1. Charlotte Bobcats - Kentucky PF/C Anthony Davis (Fr)
Davis was the NCAA Division I Player of the Year, and is an athletically gifted big man with great defensive instincts and an emerging offensive game with a jumper that could eventually stretch to three-point range. The biggest question is whether the 'Cats would be better served trading down with a team like Portland or Utah, who could each have two lottery picks.

2. Washington Wizards - Kansas PF Thomas Robinson (Jr)
After drafting small forward prospects Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton last season, the team will likely try to fortify it's frontline. Robinson is a high-energy player that uses his strength and athleticism to attack the boards, and will form a nice front line with Nene, as Andray Blatche has fallen out of favor.

3. New Orleans Hornets - Kentucky SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Fr)
Should he decide to declare for the draft, Kidd-Gilchrist is an athletically gifted player who will be an immediate help on defense. While his jump shooting needs work, Kidd-Gilchrist should be able to become one of the better two-way players in the league, and will have time to develop with the rebuilding Hornets.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers - North Carolina SF Harrison Barnes (So)
The Cavaliers need help at both the '2' and '3'. Barnes is a well-rounded offensive player with an NBA-ready body. While he's not a great outside shooter (35.8% this season), he will remind some of Chicago Bull Luol Deng, and should pair nicely with 2011 selections Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson.

5. Portland Trail Blazers (via Nets) - Connecticut PF/C Andre Drummond (Fr)
While Drummond could use another season in college to work on his offensive game, he's a physical specimen with very good athleticism and defensive instincts. Even if the Blazers retain waiver-wire standout J.J. Hickson, the team will still need a true big man to play alongside LaMarcus Aldridge. Drummond could follow a similar career path to Andrew Bynum, who took two years before becoming a consistent NBA player.

6. Toronto Raptors - Florida SG Bradley Beal (Fr)
The Raptors have depth in the frontcourt, but lack depth behind starting guards Jose Calderon and DeMar DeRozan. With Jerryd Bayless becoming a restricted free agent, the team will need a scoring threat off the bench. Beal's jump shot wasn't as good as many had predicted, but has the size and athleticism to become a great player in the NBA, and could eventually unseat DeMar DeRozan as the starter.

7. Sacramento Kings - Baylor SF Perry Jones III (So)
The Kings have a need for a small forward, and Jones is among the most physically gifted players in this draft. While he lacks consistency, his height (6'10") and ball-handling skills make him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. One of the boom-or-bust prospects in this draft.

8. Detroit Pistons - North Carolina PF/C Tyler Zeller (Sr)
The team will need a true frontcourt mate to pair with the emerging Greg Monroe, and could potentially use the Amnesty clause on Charlie Villanueva. Zeller has a good post game with a solid jump shot out to around 18 feet, and also has above-average quickness for a big man. While his upside isn't high, he'd likely jump in and start early on.

9. Utah Jazz (via Warriors) - North Carolina PG Kendall Marshall (So)
Devin Harris' play has been disappointing this season, and both he and Jamaal Tinsley have only one more year left on their contracts. Marshall won't blow you away with his athleticism or scoring ability, but does a great job distributing while limiting turnovers (over 3-1 assist-turnover ratio this past season), and would get rotation minutes in his rookie season.

10. New Orleans Hornets (via Timberwolves) - Ohio State PF Jared Sullinger (So)
The Hornets will likely lose Carl Landry in free agency after the season, which will leave the team with a desperate need for frontcourt scoring. Sullinger is an absolute beast on the block, and has flashed a respectable jumper this season. While injuries will raise some red flags, he'd present the Hornets with real value at a position of need.

11. Portland Trail Blazers - Weber State PG Damian Lillard (Jr)
Raymond Felton will likely play elsewhere next season, and while Jonny Flynn has shown flashes since being acquired from Houston, his better long-term fit is as a reserve. Lillard will have some growing pains transitioning from the mid-majors to the NBA, but is a talented offensive player that has an NBA-ready body.

12. Milwaukee Bucks - Connecticut SG Jeremy Lamb (So)
The Bucks may not be able to retain sharpshooter Carlos Delfino after the season, and will need a backcourt scorer off the bench. Lamb has a solid mid-range game, and is willing to take (and make) big shots in late-game situations. He'll likely back up Monta Ellis and see 15-20 minutes as the third guard in the rotation.

13. Phoenix Suns - Duke SG Austin Rivers (Fr)
The Suns could lose their entire starting backcourt this offseason, as both Shannon Brown and Steve Nash will be unrestricted free agents. Aaron Brooks will likely be retained (he's a restricted free agent this offseason), so the team will badly need a shooting guard to pair with him. While Rivers needs to add strength, he should develop into a solid #2 scoring option in the future.

14. Utah Jazz - St. John's SF Moe Harkless (Fr)
Harkless has solid rebounding and defensive ability, but will need some time to develop his offensive game. With the team potentially losing both C.J. Miles and Josh Howard to free agency this summer, Harkless is a high-upside player that could push Gordon Hayward for the starting small forward job by mid-season.

15. Houston Rockets (via Knicks) - Illinois C Meyers Leonard (So)
Marcus Camby is in the final year of his contract, and at 38 years old could retire after the season. The team will still have Samuel Dalembert on the team, but will need depth behind him after trading away Jordan Hill. Leonard has a solid offensive game with a respectable mid-range jumper, but had some character issues while at Illinois that could cause him to slide some.

16. New Jersey Nets (via Rockets) - North Carolina PF John Henson (Jr)
Henson will need to add strength to his 6'10" frame (just 220 pounds), but is a great athlete with well above average defensive instincts. With Kris Humphries hitting free agency, the team will need a solid rebounder to pair with Brook Lopez, who will likely be retained (restricted free agent this summer).

17. Denver Nuggets - Syracuse G Dion Waiters (So)
The Nuggets could lose Andre Miller this offseason, and would lack a backup behind him. While Waiters is more of a two-guard, he has a good shooting stroke and his length and athleticism could lead to him becoming a "plus" defender at both guard positions.

18. Philadelphia 76ers - Mississippi State PF Arnett Moultrie (Jr)
Moutlrie transitioned from small to power forward this season, but is a bit of a tweener, as he needs to develop his outside shot, or add more muscle to compete with the league's power forwards. With both Spencer Hawes and Craig Brackins hitting free agency, the Sixers could look to add frontcourt depth.

19. Dallas Mavericks - Kentucky SG Doron Lamb (So)
With Jason Terry and Jason Kidd both free agents after the season, the team will need backcourt help. While he's not a point guard, Lamb is an excellent outside shooter (46.6% from deep this season), and would be a worthy successor to Terry and an aging Vince Carter.

20. Atlanta Hawks - Kentucky F Terrence Jones (So)
The team is set at power forward (Josh Smith) and center (Al Horford), but Jones is a great athlete with above average athleticism and ball-handling for a small forward or stretch '4'. Jones can drift on the perimeter at times, but when focused, could be a dangerous sixth man or solid starter at small forward.

21. Boston Celtics - Syracuse C Fab Melo (So)
The Celtics could be woefully thin in the frontcourt after the season, as Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal are both free agents, and Brandon Bass could opt out. While Melo likely will never be an All-Star caliber player, he'd give the team size and shot-blocking in the frontcourt, and is a solid rebounder as well.

22. Memphis Grizzlies - Washington G Tony Wroten (Fr)
Wroten is great athlete that is relentless in attacking the rim. At 6'5", 205 pounds, Wroten has the size and power to overwhelm opposing point guards, and the physical strength and length to be effective as a shooting guard. Wroten is a below-average shooter, struggling from both three and the foul line, but should be able to fill O.J. Mayo's spot in the rotation, as the Grizzlies likely can't afford to keep him.

23. Orlando Magic - Michigan State F Draymond Green (Sr)
The Magic could potentially try to rebuild this offseason, as Dwight Howard clearly doesn't want to be in Orlando long-term. Howard could fetch the team some nice parts, and the team would likely want to package either Turkoglu or Jason Richardson's ugly contracts with that for relief. Green is a versatile all-around talent that should provide a team with energy as a sixth man in a Lamar Odom type role.

24. Indiana Pacers - Vanderbilt C Festus Ezeli (Sr)
The Pacers will have plenty of cap space to try and retain big man Roy Hibbert, but could still use depth behind him. Ezeli is a very good shot-blocker, and has an NBA-ready body. While he's not overly athletic, he has a good defensive basketball IQ, and sets great screens on offense.

25. Boston Celtics (via Clippers) - Washington SG Terrence Ross (So)
While Avery Bradley was fairly effective when Ray Allen was out, he's too small to be an effective starting two-guard (6'2"). Ross has an NBA-ready body, and a solid game to match. A good mid-range shooter, Ross is a bit of a slasher, but has a decent three-point shot. With Allen hitting free agency this summer, the team will need a long-term starter at the position should the team decide to rebuild.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Lakers) - Memphis SG Will Barton (So)
The team could use an upgrade over Anthony Parker at the two, and while he needs to add muscle to his frame, Barton makes a lot of sense here. Barton tore up Conference USA this season, and improved in every shooting category. Barton is a great rebounder despite his size (6'6", 175 pounds), and also does a good job of getting to the charity stripe (5.1 attempts/game).

27. Golden State Warriors (via Spurs) - Lehigh G C.J. McCollum (Jr)
Should he declare for the draft, McCollum will likely find himself on the fringe of being a first-round pick. Preferring to attack the basket off the dribble (7.0 attempts/game), McCollum's level of competition will likely raise some red flags, but a great performance in the team's first round upset of Duke in this year's NCAA tournament will offset that. He'll need to work on shot selection and decision making, but could provide the team a solid scorer off the bench should Brandon Rush sign elsewhere.

28. Miami Heat - Kansas C Jeff Withey (Jr)
The Heat should look to upgrade their production at center, and while Withey may not be an elite prospect, he could provide the team a solid shot-blocker and legitimate seven-footer on the frontline. Withey set an NCAA tournament record for blocks, and played great defense on likely #1 overall pick Anthony Davis (1-10 FG).

29. Oklahoma City Thunder - St. Bonaventure PF Andrew Nicholson (Sr)
The Thunder lack much in the way of scoring from their big men, and Nicholson could provide them with that spark off the bench. Nicholson has the length and athleticism to attack the basket, and even showed a great shooting touch from deep this season (43.4%). His blue-collar work ethic and great defensive instincts should make him a rotation player for head coach Scott Brooks.

30. Chicago Bulls - Iowa State SF Royce White (So)
The Bulls don't have much in the way of glaring needs, so will likely go with the BPA (Best Player Available) approach. White will need to improve his shooting, but will be a great rebounder and solid play-maker at small forward playing behind Luol Deng.