2012 NBA Mock Draft

A young Michael Schneid, our NBA Draft analyst, at the draft where it all began for the OKC Thunder (then-Sonics)


During the NFL Draft time, ESPN has Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay battle and argue over who should go where.

At MotleySports, we have our own analysts. Jordan Rappaport and Michael Schneid are two avid college basketball fans, giving them the additional knowledge of the players involved in the draft, while also being big NBA fans. Michael and Jordan project the first round of the NBA draft, which takes place Thursday June 28th.

Back in April, our Michael Schneid put together a very successful NFL Mock Draft. So successful, in fact, some of the numbers were better than "experts." Schneid takes his crack at the NBA draft this time with some in-house competition. Former Indiana Hoosier intramural basketball star, Jordan Rappaport, gives his opinion on the picks as well.

You might remember Jordan for his NBA Lottery article. After a mildly successful attempt at previewing the draft order, Jordan tries to preview the draftees, in order.

The arguing between these two could reach Kiper-McShay levels within the next week. They only agree on a few picks. So who will come out on top in this mini-competition? And feel free to share your own thoughts with us on Twitter or in the comments section below.

	Team	Jordan Rappaport	Michael Schneid
1	New Orleans Hornets	Anthony Davis	Anthony Davis
		Never a more obvious pick since LBJ. Franchise-changer.	Davis is considered a franchise player. Hornets need new face after trading Chris Paul
2	Charlotte Bobcats	Thomas Robinson	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
		Missing Davis hurts, but T-Ro showed and NBA-body to pair with guards Augustin, Kemba for a nice inside-out game. Young forwards Biyombo, DJ White and Derrick Brown need help.	Bobcats missed out on Davis but settle for MKG, an athletic wingman who is considered the second best prospect in the draft
3	Washington Wizards	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	Bradley Beal
		MKG might be the hardest worker in the entire draft. Great fit for a young blue-collar cavs team.	Originally had Robinson but after acquiring Nene last February and Okafor today, the Wizards will look at the best SG to pair next to John Wall
4	Cleveland Cavaliers	Harrison Barnes	Harrison Barnes
		Barnes has been hyped as top-3 pick since HS. Needs more of a motor at times, but his upside is too high to pass up.	Barnes will fit well with last year's top five picks Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson
5	Sacramento Kings	Bradley Beal	Thomas Robinson
		Although Thornton has been serviceable at SG, Beal brings versatility to a backcourt that has some question marks with Isaiah Thomas and Jimmer.	For the second time in three years, one of the top big men falls to the Kings at five (Demarcus Cousins, 2010). With Cousins at center and Robinson at PF, the Kings could have a scary front-court
6	Portland Trail Blazers	Andre Drummond	Damian Lillard
	**Pick acquired from Nets in Gerald Wallace trade**	I still think Drummond will be a bust, but a 9+ Feet standing reach is perfect for a backcourt in need of some serious help. Przybilla doesn't cut it at center. Neither does Thabeet (oh, that's where he is now)	Lillard has rocketed up the boards recently and with Portland in desperate need of a PG, Blazers take the Weber State prospect
7	Golden State Warriors	Jeremy Lamb	Andre Drummond
		Moving to San Fran, Warriors take best player available. Lamb still needs to put on muscle but is a threat from the outside every time. Still only 179 lbs Jeremy?	I agree with Jordan that Drummond will be a bust, but the Warriors will take him to ultimately replace Biedrins and as insurance if Andrew Bogut cannot stay healthy
8	Toronto Raptors	Austin Rivers	Dion Waiters
		Another product of the hype-machine, but his combo-guard ability and long-range clutch shooting should take some pressure off former 1st rounder Demar Derozan at shooting guard.	It seems like Waiters has been overlooked throughout most of this process. He averaged 12.6 ppg in 24 minutes per game in the Big East. Toronto needs a PG, but it will be hard to pass on the best SG available
9	Detroit Pistons	John Henson	Meyers Leonard
		Detroit in need of a big man to pair with Monroe and play true 5. Henson shows more length than Leonard or Zeller here, but still raw and needs to add muscle.	Putting a big man next to Monroe can help Detroit on their long road back to the playoffs. A lot of options here but we see them taking Leonard
10	New Orleans Hornets	Damian Lillard	Kendall Marshall
	**Hornets acquired pick from Wolves via Clippers in Chris Paul trade**	New Orleans drafts best PG available to dish to Davis. Lillard crushed all measurables at the combine, showed strength, speed, awareness.	With their big man taken care of, the Hornets officially replace CP3 with Marshall. Marshall has great vision and averaged 9.7 apg for UNC in 2011-12.
11	Portland Trail Blazers	Terrence Ross	Terrance Jones
		The "other" T-Ro, Portland still needs more scoring. Shooting guard need makes most sense at 11. Might reach for Dion Waiters here.	Portland got their PG at 6 and now take their big man. Jones is very athletic and talented. He still has a ways to go, in terms of development
12	Milwaukee Bucks	Meyers Leonard	Perry Jones
		Bucks have been public about their need for a center. Although most have Zeller slotted here, I believe they go with the Illini product who shows more upside to fulfill the role of Bogut replacement.	With Ersan Ilyosava a free agent and the trade of Andrew Bogut last year, the Bucks restock their front court with Jones, who averaged 14 ppg, 7.7 rpg. Another raw, but talented player
13	Phoenix Suns	Dion Waiters	Jeremy Lamb
		Waiters has the promise from Phoenix. Lucky for them, he falls to 13.	SG is the Suns biggest need and Lamb has the potential to be a star
14	Houston Rockets	Tyler Zeller	John Henson
		True centers are hard to find. This is the next best thing. Houston takes best big-man available, assuming Leonard is taken by Milwaukee, they luck out with the Senior Tar Heel landing at 14. Needs more polish around the rim. Size 19 shoes help slog the paint.	The Rockets must improve their front court and taking Henson is a good first step. With a handful of guards, Houston can pair Henson next to Chandler Parsons, Marcus Morris, and Patrick Patterson along with Donatas Motiejunas, last year's first round pick.
15	Philadelphia 76ers	Arnett Moultrie	Tyler Zeller
		Sixers built a nice backcourt in the last few drafts with Meeks, Turner, Holiday. It's time to add some new bigs.	Lavoy Allen should not be playing big minutes in a playoff game. Zeller will fit right in to what Philly is building
16	Houston Rockets	Marquis Teague	Austin Rivers
	**Acquired pick from Knicks in trade involving Tracy McGrady**	Kyle Lowry had a great year at pg, but Teague provides an additional threat to score at the rim, and will have time to develop his pg awareness under Lowry.	Despite good play from Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic, both men could be gone in 2012 and Doc Rivers' son would be the perfect addition. Rivers is listed as a PG but is really more of a combo guard, he is good shooting ability
17	Dallas Mavericks	Kendall Marshall	Moe Harkless
		With Jason Kidd gone, Dallas takes best PG available, and lands a gem in Kendall Marshall. He has proven his strengths to run in transition and push the ball forward. Will compliment Terry and Dirk nicely.	The Mavs are in need of youth, athleticism, and help pretty much everywhere. Harkless is talented and athletic. He played just one year of college (at St. John's) but could be an instant factor for Dallas
18	Minnesota Timberwolves	Moe Harkless	Quincy Miller
	**Pick acquired from Jazz for Darius Songalia**	T-Wolves are stuck with a lot of college talent that never lived up to he hype (Wes Johnson, Beasley, Ellington). Harkless may just keep the trend going, or provide a nice combo-forward threat. I still think Hark left too early, but NBA scouts seem to agree with his decision	Miller can play both forward positions and would provide the Wolves with more youth and athleticism on the floor. With Miller's versatility, Minny can spread the ball with Rubio running and point, Love down low, and Miller running around on the wing
19	Orlando Magic	Perry Jones	Jared Sullinger
		Orlando's new system without Van Gundy may change, with a focus on the interior. He offers a true non-3pt shooting PF option for the Magic. Perry Jones is a fantastic athlete and should be an immediate threat if he can get himself motivated out on the court.	Sullinger has dropped recently due to reported back issues. IF Sully does indeed fall, this would be a great spot for him. Sullinger can help replace Dwight Howard and provide the Magic with size and scoring down low. Put next to Daniel Orton, and the Magic have a new, respectable front court
20	Denver Nuggets	Terrence Jones	Royce White
		Another Kentucky player off the board! Denver takes yet another multi-scoring threat. Jones, Galo, Faried, Hamilton becomes a dangerous young core of forwards.	White really broke through for Iowa State in the NCAA tournament and caught a lot of people's attention. Him and Kenneth Faried would be a very physical and hard-working duo down low
21	Boston Celtics	Jared Sullinger	Arnett Moultrie
		Despite injury red-flag from doctors, Celtics look to replace interior presence of KG with Sullinger's ability to command space in the paint. Still too small to play a true PF in my opinion.	Moultire averaged 15.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg for Mississippi St in 2011-12. He will provide the Celtics with youth and a bruiser down low
22	Boston Celtics	Royce White	Terrance Ross
	**Celtics receive pick from Clippers via Thunder (Thunder acquired pick from Clippers for a pick LAC used to take Eric Bledsoe, Thunder dealt pick in Jeff Green trade)**	Royce showed enormous potential in the 2nd round against Kentucky. He seems to be over his anxiety issues and should make immediate impact.	Ross can help fill the void Ray Allen will likely leave. Ross can come in and back up Avery Bradley
23	Atlanta Hawks	Andrew Nicholson	Fab Melo
		Nicholson may move to Center for this team, as Josh Smith commands PF. Leads to a very athletic frontcourt.	It is likely that they move Josh Smith soon and pairing Melo and Horford together could be scary.
24	*Cleveland Cavaliers	Doron Lamb	Draymond Green
	**Pick acquired from Lakers in Ramon Sessions trade**	Cleveland adds another shooting threat from 3 in Lamb. Kyrie should command space, and Lamb will have immediate chemistry with MKG from the 4th pick.	This may be high for Green, but he was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2012 and a first team All-American. Plus owner Dan Gilbert is a Michigan State fan.
25	Memphis Grizzlies	Will Barton	John Jenkins
		Barton is another early-entrant who may have jumped too soon, but the Grizzlies take the local product for immediate marketability. Should compliment Rudy Gay and Tony Allen nicely as yet another athletic combo-guard-forward.	Jenkins is a three point shooter, something the Grizzlies need. The have the athletic guys but they lack a depth of shooters, a void Jenkins can help fill
26	Indiana Pacers	Fab Melo	Marquis Teague
		Pacers give Hibbert support down low in a defensive big. I think his academic issues have been overstated, but Hibbert is one of the more intelligent centers in the league, so this makes them average out to a normal-intelligence interior.	Despite having Darren Collison and George Hill, Indy looks at a local prospect (from Indianapolis despite playing for Kentucky). He will ultimately be their PG of the future
27	Miami Heat	John Jenkins	Andrew Nicholson
		Miami continues to build around the formula of placing consistent deep threats around the Big 3. Jenkins proved to be one of the best 3 point shooters in NCAA last season.	The Heat's one weakness may be down low and Nicholson allows them to add depth behind Bosh, Haslem, and Joel Anthony. Or, you know, they could just replace Anthony with Nicholson.
28	Oklahoma City Thunder	Jeffery Taylor	Jeff Taylor
		A senior leader of a very talented Vandy team, Taylor brings experience and the ability to score from mid-range consistently. This will be needed with possible departure of Harden. Look for this pick to potentially be used in a trade.	Taylor can score from all over the floor. Can provide a spark off the bench with James Harden. The Thunder have picked wisely over the years and could also trade this pick for a veteran.
29	Chicago Bulls	Draymond Green	Tyshawn Taylor
		Chicago reaches for Draymond Green, who may very well be the most versatile player in the draft. Big Ten POY can play SG through PF if needed. Bulls need to fill in for injuries at all positions, so this works well.	With Derrick Rose out all, if not most of, 2012-13 season, the Bulls select the most experienced PG available. Taylor, a Kansas senior, started all four years for a team who made the Championship in 2012
30	Golden State Warriors	Quincy Miller	Will Barton
	**Pick acquired from Spurs along with Richard Jefferson for Stephen Jackson**	Golden State takes the young but powerful small forward. Also best available.	Barton can provide a spark off the bench behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as a valuable sixth man