My 2012 NBA Mock Draft 6/20/2012 First Round
Blake Arnold
1) New Orleans Hornets Select Anthony Davis, Power Forward/Center, Kentucky.
Reasoning: The Hornets need a dominating big man to get them started and Anthony Davis is no chump, I believe he can be a top 5 big man in the NBA in a few years, also they need a man to rebound and block shots to create offense for this squad.
2) Charlotte Bobcats Select Andre Drummond, Center/Power Forward, Connecticut.
Reasoning: Not only is Andre Drummond stronger and bigger than Anthony Davis, He can rebound and adjust to body to any ally oop or a post, He will be a very physical and powerful presence for years to come.
3) Washington Wizards Select Michael Kid-Gilchrist, Small Forward, Kentucky.
Reasoning: John Wall needs a presence that can go up, score and also finish at the rim, John Wall and MKG will make a nice duo for years to come in Washington.
4) Cleveland Cavaliers Select Bradley Beal, Shooting Guard, Florida.
Reasoning: Let’s face it Kyrie Irving can’t dish the ball and score all himself, Beal will be a great asset to this team and with unlimited range and dangerous moving with and without the ball, also he can make about any shot, this will set up the Cavs nice on the way to I believe the first playoff year since Lebron James left for Miami.
5) Sacramento Kings Select Thomas Robinson, Power Forward, Kansas.
Reasoning: DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans are perfect together, add another big man that can dominate the boards and also dominate and we may see The Kings make their first playoff appearance since the 2005-2006 season and lets face it he is a big upgrade over Jason Thompson.
6) Portland Trailblazers Select Jared Sullinger, Center/Power Forward, Ohio State.
Reasoning: Greg Oden has never panned out to be the player he was suppose to be, he has had an injury plagued career, Jared Sullinger can rebound, score, and make free throws, I believe the Trailblazers will play him at center which will complement Aldridge and Hickson very well, and regardless of the red flag from medical doctors saying he has a bad back ignore it, he will dominate the boards and some team will take a chance on him, even if the Trailblazers didn’t do so good with another injurt plagued Ohio State player, Sullinger is fine just watch the tape and how he dominated, he didn’t miss much games either.
7)Golden State Warriors Select Harrison Barnes, Small Forward, North Carolina.
Reasoning: The Warriors need some offense and transitional offense along with some defense, and Barnes can do it all, dish the ball, score the ball, and with his strength he should be able to guard small forwards well.
8)Toronto Raptors Select Terrence Jones, Small Forward/Power Forward, Kentucky.
Reasoning: Terrence Jones can rebound and score, plus he is a huge upgrade over James Johnston, He will be a great defender at the top level I believe, and maybe even a Elite defender.
9) Detroit Pistons Select Jeremy Lamb, Shooting Guard, Connecticut.
Reasoning: Detroit already has decent bigs they need some scorers and that where Lamb can step into, he will pair well with Brandon Knight and they will be a great tandem for years to come, make a free agent signing or two and Detroit will be back in the playoffs, Lamb is extremely explosive and can score from anywhere on the court, this is an absolute steal.
10) New Orleans Hornets Select Austin Rivers, Shooting Guard, Duke.
Reasoning: The Hornets do need some scoring Jack Jarrett can’t do it all, Rivers will be able to score and he can dish the ball, I believe he and Anthony Davis will pair up well, let the ally oops begin in New Orleans.
11) Portland Trailblazers Select Kendall Marshall, Point Guard, North Carolina.
Reasoning: Portland badly needs a leader and passer, and Kendall Marshall will be excellent there, this pick I believe completes the team and makes it not only a playoff team,but a dangerous one.
12) Milwaukee Bucks Select John Henson, Power Forward, North Carolina.
Reasoning: Milwaukee has a good scorer in Brandon Jennings, and also a good big man in Andrew Bogut, but they need another big man and another scorer, good thing John Henson is available and can do both, John Henson can rebound, guard, block, and also score efficiently.
13) Phoenix Suns Select Damian Lillard, Point Guard, Weber State.
Reasoning: Steve Nash is a free agent, I don’t believe he is coming back, He wants to win a championship before he retires, Damian Lillard has passing skills and scoring skills, He may not replace Nash but he will be good if his bigs play good.
14) Houston Rockets Select Tyler Zeller, Center/ Power Forward, North Carolina.
Reasoning: Yao Ming retired, The Rockets have no rebounding big man and they desperate need one who can step in and I think Zeller can be a dominating rebounding/defensiveman.
15) Philadelphia 76ers Select Perry Jones III, Power Forward, Baylor.
Reasoning: Perry Jones III is an excellent scorer from the field, rebounds amazingly due to his unnatural athleticism. I think this will help 76ers to the top, They will become a complete and championship caliber team.
16) Houston Rockets Select Terrence Ross, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Washington.
Reasoning: He can step in immediately as a starter and will help this team a lot with scoring and with Zeller, Ross, and Goran Dragic they may be able to get in the playoffs as a 8th or 7th seed.
17) Dallas Mavericks Select Moe Harkless, Small Forward, St. Johns.
Reasoning: Mavs need a Small Forward who can score and shoot well and I believe Moe can step in quickly at this spot, he is explosive and can get past opposing big men with ease and can also finish at the rim.
18) Minnesota Timberwolves Select Dion Waiters, Shooting Guard, Syracuse.
Reasoning: The reason I don’t have Dion Waiters in the lottery is because he is extremely over rated, I’m not hating yes he is very, very explosive player but he is always coming off the bench, I think he, Ricky Rubio, and Kevin Love will be a great team and I think this is a hell of a steal, also Waiters may be the Rookie of The Year and the best player out of this draft but I’m iffy on his starting experience a team with a lottery pick may take a chance and take him like the Suns.
19) Orlando Magic Select Quincy Miller, Small Forward/Power Forward, Baylor.
Reasoning: The Orlando Magic were blown out multiple times and badly need defense, Quincy Miller can step up and help with defense quite a bit, he brings great guarding and shot blocking which will help Orlando a lot and will make them more competitive.
20) Denver Nuggets Select Meyers Leonard, Center, Illinois.
Reasoning: The Denver Nuggets need a center with a rebounding presence, which Leonard can do that and he is also capable of scoring, which he is dangerous off the screen and posting and this will help his team a lot going in and possibly help them make a deeper run in the playoffs.
21) Boston Celtics Select Arnett Moultrie, Power Forward/Center, Mississippi State.
Reasoning: Kevin Garnett is a free agent and probably won’t be back, Arnett Moultrie can score, rebound, defend and will be good in this league in my opinion, I believe he will be a great replacement at the center or power forward position.
22) Boston Celtics Select Evan Fournier, Shooting Guard, International, France, Poitiers.
Reasoning: Ray Allen is a free agent and is most likely gone, Fournier can create his own shots, score efficiently, has great moves and speed to get to the rim and finish, he has great size to help him with these things and could be a steal here.
23) Atlanta Hawks Select Marquis Teague, Point Guard, Kentucky.
Reasoning: The reason I say this, because I think Jeff Teague should move to Shooting Guard, which will help this team a lot with a true point guard like Marquis Teague to dish the ball and help this team back into the playoffs.
24) Cleveland Cavaliers Select Fab Melo, Center, Syracuse.
Reasoning: The Cavs will make the playoffs next year, Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal are going to be nasty, add Fab Melo to the mix a true big man that can block shots and rebound, I believe they can go in as 6th or 5th seed.
25) Memphis Grizzlies Select Tony Wroten, Shooting Guard/Point Guard, Washington.
Reasoning:The Grizzlies need a young shooting guard who can get to the rim and score and Tony Wroten was great last year, he can come off the bench or play right away. He will be great on the pick and roll and isolations.
26) Indiana Pacers Select TyShawn Taylor, Point Guard, Kansas.
Reasoning: The Pacers need help at Point Guard, not a George Hill fan, I believe Taylor can score and also dish the ball well which will help the Pacers become a 3rd or 4th seed.
27) Miami Heat Select Festus Ezeli, Center, Vanderbilt.
Reasoning: For the last few seasons the Heats down fall is no good center, Festus Ezeli can be a good big man and get them over their hump and put them at the 1st seed and finally win them a championship that they have promised.
28) Oklahoma City Thunder Select Royce White, Power Forward, Iowa State.
Reasoning: To me the Thunder are already complete, but some depth will help a lot, I for one love Royce White, he can dominate, great strength, can dominate and score.
29 ) Chicago Bulls Select Doron Lamb, Shooting Guard, Kentucky.
Reasoning: The Bulls need a Shooting Guard bad, Doron Lamb could be a great scorer for the Bulls and will also be a great off the pick and pop, and Curl shooter like Ben Gordan was, he can drain it from anywhere and is excellent on defense.
30) Golden State Select Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure, Power Forward.
Reasoning: Golden State has absolutely nothing at Power Forward, Andrew Nicholson is powerful, he can score, rebound and will be a huge steal here for Golden State.