2012 NBA Mock Draft: Early? Not Really.
by BlackPack-fan on Jan 15, 2012 9:11 PM EST
Email
PrintIt's still quite early to be putting out a mock draft, but I am anyways. Just the lottery, put by current standings by winning percentage. Enjoy.
1. 
Washington- Harrison Barnes SF North Carolina
Washington already got a long, athletic combo forward project in Jan Vesely, so getting another one in Anthony Davis wouldn't make much sense. The Wiz are the worst shooting team in the league so far, and badly need some offense. Barnes has the size, athleticism, and shooting touch to be a 20+ point scorer in the NBA.
2. 
Charlotte- Anthony Davis F Kentucky
The Bobcats are currently running one of the more up-tempo offenses in the NBA, a perfect fit for a pure athlete like Davis. Augustin and Walker often play together, running the fastbreaks. Davis could run with them and finish on the break. He has a long way to go offensively in the halfcourt, but the Bobcats will be patient with him, because the potential is there for the 6'10" forward.
3. 
Detroit- Andre' Drummond C Connecticut
Drummond is probably the top center in this years draft, and he's probably also the best player on the board here. This pick would put an absolute monster in there to protect the paint, and Drummond's offensive skills are surpisingly advanced (although they still need work and refinement). Greg Monroe might be better suited play PF too.
4. 
New Jersey- Perry Jones F Baylor
Assuming Howard isn't traded, the Nets will likely avoid a Center and try to sign Howard while trading Brook Lopez, and maybe trading this pick as well. The Nets are weak at both forward positions, and Jones can play them both. He's got crazy height/length for a combo forward at 6'11", and he's talented enough to score outside and in.
5. 
New Orleans- Thomas Robinson PF Kansas
Robinson is having a great season so far at Kansas, averaging 17 per game as well as grabbing 12 boards per. Scouts wish he had an extra inch (he's 6'9"), but he's athletic and physical enough for that 1-2 inches to not matter. He's getting better at shooting, making 2-6 3's this season and 66% of his FTs (up from 51% last season), and he could be a mid-range threat in the NBA.
6. 
Golden State- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist SF Kentucky
The Warriors' backcourt is pretty crowded right now, but they could be in the market for a super-athletic Small Forward. Gilchrist will need time to improve his offensive game, but early on he could score in transition and from slicing to the basket. He will be an instant impact on defense and on the boards.
7. 
Sacramento- Cody Zeller PF/C Indiana
Given the mild uncertaintly of Cousins' future in Sac-town, and the lack of other legit talent on the frontlines, the Kings will look at the big men available. Zeller's draft stock is going up fast thanks to a excellent start to his rookie season. If the talented Cousins comitts to the Kings, he and the 6'11" Zeller would form a strong tandem up front.
8. 
Toronto- Bradley Beal G Florida
The Raptors suffer from an extreme lack of offense, and Brad Beal is here to help. He's struggling a bit from 3 so far this season, shooting only 34%, but nonetheless he will be a dangerous shooter in the NBA. Reminds me of Eric Gordon, a bit undersized as a SG with a dangerous 3-pt shot. Beal also rebounds like he's 6'8" although he's only 6'3" (averaging 6.1 this season).
9. 
Milwaukee- Jeremy Lamb SG Connecticut
The Bucks are still looking for a true 2-guard that can score the ball. Lamb is leading the Huskies in scoring at 18.6 per, scoring from 3-pt range, mid-range, and finishing at the rim. He's got good size at 6'5" for SG at the next level.
10. 
Houston- Jared Sullinger C Ohio State
Sullinger drops a bit, partly due to him only being fringe 6'10" and still a bit overweight, and not possessing elite athleticism. Either way, Sullinger is a talented center prospect who knows how to use his width to his advantage.
11. 
Pheonix- Marquis Teague PG Kentucky
This is Nash's last season in Pheonix, probably off to some team in the East. That leaves a gaping hole at PG, which in this case would be filled by Teague. Marquis, the brother of the Hawks' Jeff, has good size and excellent athleticism. He knows how to score, but needs to work on his outside shot a bit.
12. New Orleans (From LAC- from MIN)- Myck Kabongo PG Texas
The Hornets had quick little point guards who were extremely effective in Chris Paul and Darren Collison, but they are gone. Kabongo is alot like Collison, he'll get alot of points and assists on the fastbreak, but for him to be consistently effective in the halfcourt, his jumpshot will need improvement.
13. 
Memphis- James McAdoo F North Carolina
McAdoo will be an interesting lottery selection, considering he's currently playing 7th man at North Carolina. But when you consider Harrison Barnes and John Henson are holding his minutes, it makes more sense. McAdoo is a PF right now, but could develop into a SF which his height is more permitent of (6'8" maybe 6'9"). He's a great athlete with a strong body, and good offensive skills that will only get better.
14. 
Boston- Austin Rivers G Duke
It was meant to be. Austin meets up with Dad in Boston, where Allen and Pierce are both on the sharp decline, leaving alot of scoring to be desired in the coming years. Rivers' raw talent/ability would put him in the top 10, but he's still learning the game and has to work on shot selection and decision making.
Thanks for reading.
This is a FanPost, not the work of the author of Ridiculous Upside. The People speak! Questions or comments about this post should be addressed in the comments. To issue a complaint about this FanPost, please email ridiculousupside (at) gmail (dot) com.
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I don’t agree with Barnes at one. I can’t say I’ve gotten the chance to watch him much at all this year, but I have not been impressed with him any time I have seen UNC play. He’s a good player, but I don’t understand where all the hype is coming from. Also, Washington just drafted Vesely and Singleton, plus they still have Lewis (although he’ll likely be amnestied when it suits them). Meanwhile, Andray Blatche is still their PF, which means they need a new one. I’m not sure how well McGee and Davis would complement each other, but IMO Davis is a better player than Barnes and you have to take the better player at #1.
If Barnes is available, CHA might take him at 2. They still aren’t sure what they have in Biyombo, and Davis brings some of the same things as Mack-Bo. I could see them falling in love with Drummond’s potential, but they do have a hole at SF and need some scoring.
Can you imagine a Drummond-Monroe frontline? That would be scary. I think that has to be the pick, although they’ll go Barnes if CHA takes Drummond.
Perry Jones is a good pick for NJ. They have a ton of holes, so they can take him and put him wherever he ends up fitting best.
I like Robinson (double-double machine and appears to have put in a ton of work on developing his all-around skills this summer), but Kidd-Gilchrist would be awfully tempting there. I’d say Carl Landry is a better player than Trevor Ariza, and I think Kidd-Gilchrist could be better than Robinson. Need meets value.
GS is hoping I’m wrong about NO. They certainly would like to upgrade the SF spot and MKG would. If he’s gone, I think they could go Sullinger. Andris Biedrins is not good and I don’t know what’s going on with Ekpe Udoh. They need another big there, and Sullinger’s size and versatility gives him the edge over Robinson. Although Robinson’s athleticism might complement David Lee better if they want to slide Lee over to C full-time. Hmm… I’ll go Sully.
I haven’t seen Lil Zeller play at all. But SAC has Cousins, Thompson, Hickson, Hayes, and Whiteside in the frontcourt. They need a SF. I think Kidd-Gilchrist would be perfect since he doesn’t need the ball all the time, but they’d have to trade up for that most likely. Perhaps they take a chance on someone like Terrence Jones.
I wish Beal would fall to PHX. Would Toronto take him even though they have DeRozan? They need a SF, but there aren’t any more in this range that I can think of unless Jones is still there. Perhaps they slide DeRozan over to SF. I’ll stick with this pick.
Can you imagine Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Lamb on the same team? Yuck. They do need a SG so I can see the pick, but I wouldn’t like it. I think Beal would be a much better fit if he’s still there. They need someone t take hold of that frontcourt spot next to Bogut, so perhaps they can go with someone like John Henson, although he’s somewhat similar to Larry Sanders I suppose. Imagine the shot-blocking on that team though. Jeez. Oh, I forgot about Robinson, didn’t I? I’ll stick him here.
Sullinger is gone by my reckoning. I could see Houston taking a chance on Meyers Leonard to develop behind Dalembert. They are tough though, since they have so many young players.
I don’t want Teague at all. I’m not a fan of the scoring-athlete-with-limited-PG-skills type of PG, nor do I think he deserves to go that high. Even Kabongo might be a better pick because of his style, or maybe Kendall Marshall. But I don’t think the PGs have enough value to pick at 11. Jeremy Lamb is still there according to me, and although I don’t particularly like him, he probably has to be the pick. Terrence Ross could be a possibility as well, but Lamb grades out higher. Henson is still on the board and might be worth taking there.
Since I gave NO MKG with the first pick, I’ll give them Henson here.
I think MEM might be ready to cut ties with Mayo, and if so I could see them taking Terrence Ross here. If not, perhaps a big like Tyler Zeller or Patric Young so they aren’t gutted by injuries like this year.
Boston out of the playoffs, eh? I don’t see it. The EC is too weak IMO. But I’ll go with Rivers as well, although he should go back to school. Other possibilities include Zeller or Young.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
by Omaha Sun on Jan 16, 2012 2:59 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
WAS- I think they need offense
Wall still is a TBD player, but he doesn’t appear to be able to carry a team offensively. Vesely won’t either, and Singleton is a defensive stopper, and Vesely could play PF when he adds weight. I think their putrid offense just speaks too loudly and tells them to take Barnes.
SAC- they have alot of depth of front with all those names, but they are all just role players besides Cousins, who like I said is a bit shifty considering he demanded a trade 3 weeks ago and is immature as can be. Zeller is an upgrade over all those other gyus (Thompson, Hickson, Hayes).
MIL- I don’t really see what you saying with Lamb. I think him and Jennings would be a good backcourt, Lamb handles the ball well so BJ could play off-ball more often which he seems to be comfortable with, and Lamb is a true SG which the Bucks don’t have.
BOS- I have them out of teh playoffs only because of the current standings. These aren’t my projections, I think theyll get it at the 5th seed probably, maybe 4th.
Thanks for the feedback, and your mock in the comment below looks pretty good.
Tajh Boyd and Dre' Ellington are the future.
Brandon Jennings; Just keep waiting people.
by BlackPack-fan on Jan 16, 2012 1:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Washington needs a lot of work. IMO they have to go with the BPA. I can understand the offensive needs, but I don’t see Barnes as a guy that will fix that.
DX seems to think Zeller will be staying in school, but I can see your argument. I just looked them up and Hayes is the only one locked up for sure beyond this year. How far do you think Terrence Jones falls in the draft, since you have him out of you lottery?
I forgot you were a MIL fan. I don’t like Brandon Jennings at all, and since you’re stuck with him I think MIL needs more of a playmaker at SG, sort of a James Harden-esque guy. Neither Jennings nor Lamb have seen a shot that they didn’t like. Ersan Ilyasova is a nice role player, but he should not be starting. Robinson and Bogut would make a really nice frontcourt moving forward.
Why are your thoughts on Terrence Jones, John Henson, Terrence Ross, and Meyers Leonard? Do you think Rivers, Zeller, and McAdoo will come out? What is it about Teague and Kabongo that you like so much to have them that high?
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
by Omaha Sun on Jan 16, 2012 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Im just going to assume they all declare
All the ones projected for teh 1st round Ill just assume, for the purpose of mocking, so I dont have to pick and chose when I dont know anything personal about these guys.
Yeah, Jennings does like to shoot alot, and sadly he’s still a 2-guard in a PGs body, although hes getting better at passing. So I can see why you think Beal is a better fit. But either way I think Lamb would be a good pick, just because the Bucks have such a painful need of a scoring SG, and Lamb is a true SG who will be able to score at the next level.
T. Jones, I think he goes in the next few picks after the lottery, he doesn’t seem to have improved much since last year, and is a bit of a tweener forward. Henson doesn’t excite me, my dad’s a UNC fan so theyre always on the TV, Henson is taking forever to put on weight and his basketball IQ is really low, and his offense is just meh.
Don’t know anything of Ross or Leonard, sorry.
To me, speedy PGs that can run the break are becoming more sought…The Hornets have spent the last 6 (I think) years with Paul, and a few with Collison, I think they’ll go for another one in Kabongo, and his penetration opens up the floor so much.
Tajh Boyd and Dre' Ellington are the future.
Brandon Jennings; Just keep waiting people.
by BlackPack-fan on Jan 18, 2012 6:08 PM EST up reply actions
DX didn't even include Cody in their 2012 mock,
although he went 3rd in 2013. There has to be a reason for that, since most of the other freshmen are included.
I can definitely see Lamb to MIL happening, I just wouldn’t do it.
I really don’t know what to think of Jones. They way UK spreads it around makes it tough to get a great read.
Ross is a6’6" SG from Washington I believe. I haven’t seen him play personally, but he’s getting good reviews. Leonard is a 7’ center from Illinois. Sophomore. Nice skills, but is a bit of a project.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
So, for those of you who don't feel like reading my babbling reasoning, here's my mock at this particular moment, based on his order.
1. WAS – Anthony Davis
2. CHA – Harrison Barnes
3. DET – Andre Drummon
4. NJN – Perry JOnes
5. NOH – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
6. GSW – Jared Sullinger
7. SAC – Terrence Jones
8. TOR – Bradley Beal
9. MIL – Thomas Robinson
10. HOU – Meyers Leonard
11. PHX – Jeremy Lamb
12. NOH – John Henson
13. MEM – Terrence Ross
14. BOS – Austin Rivers
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
by Omaha Sun on Jan 16, 2012 3:04 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Haha
I kind of reasoned out my mock as I was typing, otherwise I would have put it before.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
i don't follow the college game too much
i watched a good deal during the lockout tho. i think the only teams i saw more than once were duke, indiana and baylor.
i was real impressed by this one guy on indiana can’t remember his name, black guy either junior or senior, seemed like a combo forward. could have just been a good couple of games, because the announcers didn’t make a big deal out of him. but i think his game would translate on the nba level.
austin rivers is something, but i get the feeling that nba bigs will put him out of commission for trying to be too cute.
and as per everyone on north carolina… i just don’t see it. they are good players, by and large… but i dunno what makes everyone salivate over them. the point guard seems special tho.
but like i said- haven’t seen much of anybody. and i’m definitely not trying to convince anyone that i have some sort of supreme opinion.
/// aighttho.com \\\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\\
Like I said before, I think Rivers would benefit greatly by going back to school. He’s very talented, but his game is not ready for the NBA right now. Heck, it’s barely ready for the NCAA.
I kind of agree with you on UNC. They have first rounders at nearly every position, but I don’t see any superstars. I haven’t studied Barnes in detail like all these guys that claim he’s so great, but I just don’t see it. Lottery pick for sure, but I think it would be a mistake if anyone takes him at #1. Tyler Zeller is a skilled big with a lot of length, although he needs to put on some weight. First rounder, but not a star. John Henson is really intriguing to me. He has freakishly long arms and great defensive instincts, and while he’s still raw he’s shown improvement on offense every step of the way to me. But he’ s just so thin. How will he be able to play inside with NBA bigs? And I really like watching Kendall Marshall play. He’s such a tremendous passer and really knows how to push the pace, but he seems really limited to me in the scoring department, and he;s not all that athletic either, and both of those could hold him back a the next level.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
a pure point guard
that isn’t tiny will always have a spot in the nba. especially now with the big guys really stepping further out on the perimeter more. obviously it can’t work with every team. but there’s teams out there that can use a crafty point guard who can find the open man. and also make the simple passes that allow a play to develop.
i’m a knicks fan, and i tell ya boy, we got toney douglas picking up his dribble with no one to pass to 30 feet from the basket all day. guys up top who don’t make swing passes because they don’t see the assist, guys missing cutters 3 times in a row. i mean… the passing has gotten so bad that we can’t clear out for melo often enough! i think we’ll work thru some of it, and i’m excited for baron davis.
but i’ll be damned if we couldn’t use a guy like marshall. reminds me of andre miller in a way. not really too exciting exactly, but knows how to manage the floor. also- players that have good change of pace dribble tend to throw off the plus-athletes that get credit for being good defenders.
but i dunno…
got any sleeper picks?
/// aighttho.com \/// twitter.com/aighttho \
Eh, not really at the moment.
I haven’t gotten to watch nearly as much college ball as I had hoped so far with school, my job, practice, and the Creighton games.
If you want a sleeper for a couple years down the road, Doug McDermott is amazing. 2nd-leading scorer in the country and just a sophomore at CU.
As for Marshall, I have no doubt he will be an NBA player. I just don’t know how much upside is there, especially if he doesn’t end up in the perfect situation (i.e. what Rondo had when he blew up).
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
As for the lottery,
I really like Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, Robinson, and Sullinger.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
i've seen sullinger play twice
but that was last year. i was left thoroughly unimpressed. i’ll be sure to check into those other fellers.
as per marshall- i feel like he will get drafted to a good team specifically because his upside isn’t ridiculous.
good luck to your bucks. i’m a jennings fan.
/// aighttho.com \/// twitter.com/aighttho \
BPF is the Bucks fan.
I like the Suns. It doesn’t look very good for either one of us at the moment.
I just really like how polished Sully is.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
oh whoops, my bust!
but hey, i like the suns too! big nash fan! grant hill too.
i hope my guys roll on you tonight!
/// aighttho.com \/// twitter.com/aighttho \
Probably will.
Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!
Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com
I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
In Association With
Latest Y! Sports Blogs from Yahoo! Sports
- Marek Vs. Wyshynski Radio: Game Show Friday, Bobby Holik, Game 6 preview, NHL ratings debate
- Giancarlo Stanton misses cutoff man, and Logan Morrison is thankful he did (Video)
- Adrian Peterson blows teammates away in footraces; appears to be on the mend
- Kyle Reifers breaks driver during tee shot, still manages to hit it 315 yards
- Another crazy Little League ump is calling wild strike outs in Spanish
