With the 2011-12 college basketball season in full swing and the NBA back in business, it's time to start taking a look at the players and prospects around the world that will make up the next draft class.
The order for the 2011 NBA Mock draft was determined using the overall winning percentage of all NBA teams for the 2010-11 season and reflects traded first-round draft choices.
Check out previous, weekly 2012 NBA mock drafts here.
Now, on to this week's 2012 NBA mock draft.
First Round
1. New Orleans Hornets – Anthony Davis (PF/C, Kentucky)
NOH's drafting over Davis over Drummond will likely be tied to the health of Emeka Okafor (on the books until 2014) and what the team ultimately decides to do with Chris Kaman (unrestricted FA in 2012). Either way, the team gets the premier shot-blocker available and a nice chip moving forward.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Andre Drummond (PF/C, Connecticut)
Cavs could opt for a scorer in Jeremy Lamb or a small forward here, but pairing a franchise point guard in Kyrie Irving with a potential franchise center in Drummond should give Cleveland the building blocks for an elite team.
3. Toronto Raptors – Jeremy Lamb (SG/SF, Connecticut)
The Raptors pursuit of an impact guard has proven futile over the past few years. Lamb has been having his way with defenders in 2011-12 and gives Toronto its first impact scorer since the days of Vince Carter.
4. Washington Wizards – Jared Sullinger (PF, Ohio State)
Sullinger is a wide body and proven scorer. Athleticism issues aside, he not only gives Washington a double-double player at the four, he allows the team to wash its hands of the perennial headcase that is Andray Blatche.
5. Sacramento Kings – Harrison Barnes (SF, UNC)
A three-headed monster of Tyreke Evan, Marcus Thornton and Barnes, with Jimmer Fredette reigning threes in a swing roll off the bench? Yes, please.
6. New Jersey Nets – Thomas Robinson (PF, Kansas)
Beyond Brooke Lopez and Kris Humphries, who will be an unrestricted free-agent at season's end, New Jersey's front court is porous. Robinson gives the team an athletic forward and potential trade chip should the team make another run at Dwight Howard.
7. Detroit Pistons – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF, Kentucky)
The Kidd-Gilchrist style of play screams 'Bad Boy' era Pistons basketball. Sure, Detroit has a glut of small forwards, but the Kentucky freshman gives maximum effort and hustle on every play.
8. LA Clippers - Austin Rivers (PG/SG, Duke)
How the Clippers manage to trade away the Timberwolves' first-rounder, get Chris Paul and still manage to land a potentially dominating combo-guard in Austin Rivers is beyond me; however, he's the type of heady guard that could transition right into the starting five should the team opt to not retain the services of Chauncey Billups.
9. Charlotte Bobcats – Perry Jones (SF, Baylor)
The pick here is either Jones or Washington's Terrence Ross, as the Bobcats could very much use an impact player along the perimeter. My guess is Charlotte pulls the trigger on the more dynamic of the two and a player who could be a star in the making in PJIII.
10. Milwaukee Bucks – John Henson (PF, UNC)
Long and lean, Henson is a shot-blocking machine who could develop with Larry Sanders as the NBA's most athletic power forward tandem.
11. Utah Jazz - Terrence Ross (SG, Washington)
The young guns of Utah have a roster brimming with talent, and while the team drafted Alec Burks, he's more a slasher than a true outside shooter. Ross gives the Jazz a nice mix of offense and defense at the two.
12. Utah Jazz - Meyers Leonard (C, Illinois)
With Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, the have the luxury of burning a pick on a project. Meyers Leonard is certainly one of the more boon-or-bust projects of the '12 draft.
13. Phoenix Suns - Kendall Marshall (PG, UNC)
Kind of fitting the Suns transition away from the Steve Nash era with one of the purest passers on the planet in Kendall Marshall.
14. Houston Rockets – Bradley Beal (SG, Florida)
With no real impact centers on the board, look for the Rockets to roll the dice on an exciting young guard. Plus, Courtney Lee will be a restricted free-agent at the end of the year.
15. Indiana Pacers – Terrence Jones (SF, Kentucky)
Indiana has not hesitated to add a talented player with maturity issues and Jones certainly fits that bill.
16. Philadelphia 76ers – Arnett Moultrie (PF, Mississippi State)
Marresse Speights take two.
17. New Jersey Nets – Quincy Miller (SF/PF, Baylor)
Perry Jones-lite and one of the most intruiging prospects potentially available.
18. Atlanta Hawks – Tyler Zeller (C, UNC)
A depth move, but one that might expedite Al Horford's transition to power forward.
19. Memphis Grizzlies - James McAdoo (SF/PF, UNC)
Young, talented and the type of swing player off the bench who could create havoc for opposing teams.
20. New Orleans Hornets – Marquis Teague (PG, Kentucky)
Teague is talented, but he's got a ways to go before realizing his full potential. Still, paired with Eric Gordon, that's a solid backcourt as New Orleans moves away from the CP3 era.
21. Portland Trail Blazers – Myck Kabongo (PG, Texas)
Like Teague, Kabongo is another player that will need a little seasoning before putting his stamp on the league. Still his athleticism and unselfish play would be a steal this late in the 2012 draft game.
22. Denver Nuggets – Patric Young (PF/C, Florida)
With a solid core in place, the Nuggets need size to fortify the front court. Young's physically ready to play, but is he mentally?
23. Orlando Magic – Doron Lamb (SG, Kentucky)
Smart, efficient and a solid defender from the outside. If the Magic do another roster shakeup (one that involves JJ Reddick), the team will need guys like Lamb.
24. Boston Celtics – Mason Plumlee (PF/C, Duke)
Your 'Sheldon Williams' player of the 2012 draft.
25. Boston Celtics – William Buford (SG, Ohio State)
An excellent college veteran who knows when to turn it up a notch or play second-fiddle (to Jared Sullinger).
26. Los Angeles Lakers – Jeffery Taylor (SF, Vanderbilt)
Incredible athlete and perimeter defender, two qualities that have long since passed Metta World Peace.
27. LA Lakers – Kris Joseph (SF, Syracuse)
See No.26.
28. Miami Heat – Alex Oriakhi (PF/C, Connecticut)
Some inside muscle on the cheap.
29. San Antonio Spurs – John Jenkins (PG/SG, Vanderbilt)
Just the type of suave pickup in the draft we've come to expect of the Spurs.
30. Chicago Bulls – Khris Middleton (SG/SF, Texas A&M)
A seasoned scorer and the type of three-year college vet that could step right in and give the Bulls a solid role player off the bench.
Traded 2012 First Round Draft Pick
- (1) Sent to New Orleans Hornets via Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Chris Paul trade. Previously: Los Angeles Clippers receive Minnesota's '12 first-round pick via Sam Cassell trade.
- (11) Utah Jazz receive Golden State's '12 first-round pick (top-7 protected in '12 and '13, top-6 protected in '14, else '14 and '16 second-round picks) via Utah (Marcus Williams trade and later from the Deron Williams trade.
- (17) New Jersey Nets receive Houston Rockets' '12 first-round pick (lottery protected) via the Terrence Williams trade. This could mean that the Knicks' pick will be commuted after Houston Rockets received '12 first-round pick (top-5 protected) from New York via Tracy McGrady trade.
- (24) Boston Celtics receives '12 first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Kendrick Perkins trade.
- (27) Los Angeles Lakers receives '12 first-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks via the Lamar Odom trade.
Other Potentially Owed 2012 First Round Picks
- Minnesota Timberwolves receive Utah's '12 first-round pick (top-14 protected in '12, top-12 protected in '13, top-9 protected from right to swap in '14 or'14 second-round pick) via the Al Jefferson trade.
- Oklahoma City Thunder receive L.A. Clippers' '12 first-round pick (top-10 protected through '15, unprotected in '16) via Eric Bledsoe trade.
- Chicago Bulls receive '12 first-round pick (lottery-protected in '12, top-12 protected in '13, top-10 in '14, top-8 in '15, unprotected in '16) from the Charlotte Bobcats via the Tyrus Thomas trade.
- Cleveland Cavaliers can swap first-round picks with Miami via the Lebron James trade.
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© 2011 Neal J. Leitereg -- All Rights Reserved
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