Steve Ungrey NBA Mock Draft – 26 June 2012

June 26, 2012 · Steve Ungrey
1. Anthony Davis 2. Harrison Barnes 3. Michael Gilchrist 4. Bradley Beal 5. Thomas Robinson
Round 1
1 New Orleans Anthony Davis PF Kentucky
If the Hornets don’t take this Wildcat standout, who could be one of the best players the NBA has seen in years, there will be a riot in the French Quarter.
2   Charlotte Harrison Barnes SF North Carolina
Sure, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could go here, but I have a feeling the Bobcats will try and go local to lure die-hard Tar Heel fans to future NBA games. 
3   Washington Michael Kidd-Gilchrist SF Kentucky
This will leave Kidd-Gilchrist to head to the nation’s capital and give the Wizards a little more help where it is needed most. 
4   Cleveland Bradley Beal  SG Florida
The Cavaliers got some front-court help when they picked up Kyrie Irving last year, now the backcourt might get a little love. 
5   Sacramento Thomas Robinson PF Kansas
Sacramento desperately needs a big gun down low, and Robinson should be around at the fifth pick for the Kings to make a statement. 
6   Portland (from BRK) Damian Lillard PG Weber State
This guy has been shooting up draft boards thanks to strong workouts, and Trailblazer fans should be familiar with Lillard’s work from Weber State’s western presence. 
7   Golden State John Henson PF North Carolina
Golden State’s defense will get a workout if Henson comes to the Bay Area. The Warriors need help down low, and he should provide it. 
8   Toronto Jeremy Lamb SG Connecticut
Lamb was a big reason why the Huskies did so well last year, and the Raptors need help badly at this position. Should be a good fit. 
9   Detroit Tyler Zeller C/F North Carolina
This would make three Tar Heels in the top nine, and for good reason. Zeller can play either position with aplomb, and the Pistons need a big man among other things. 
10   New Orleans (from MIN) Andre Drummond C Connecticut
Conventional wisdom says the Hornets need a center to make sure Davis has protection. Yeah, this should do it. 
11   Portland Perry Jones PF Baylor
Should the Blazers pick a guard with the first selection, this pick would make more sense. Jones got plenty of recognition in the Big 12 with his strong game. 
12   Milwaukee Meyers Leonard C Illinois
Seven feet tall? Yup, he has height. Shooting game? Well, he’s still working on that. Leonard, if taken here, will be instantly familiar to Big Ten fans. 
13   Phoenix Austin Rivers SG Duke
The Suns need help at the shooting positions. Assuming Phoenix goes for a guard, he’d be the best one remaining on the board. 
14   Houston Jared Sullinger PF/C Ohio State
I have a sneaking feeling Sullinger’s back problems will cause him to slide down the board. If he’s around here, Houston needs a big man. Snatch him up. 
15   Philadelphia Terrence Jones PF Kentucky
The Sixers came within one whisker of going to the Eastern Conference finals, and this selection might be the one that gives them a fighting chance. 
16   Houston (from NY) Dion Waiters SG Syracuse
Assuming the Rockets fill the first need with a big man, they should go to the well and pull out someone to help out in the backcourt. 
17   Dallas Kendall Marshall PG North Carolina
The Mavericks’ most pressing need comes at the point, and behold… here is another Tar Heel to fit the bill. Assuming Mavs take him it would be a great fit on paper. 
18   Minnesota (from UTAH) Jeffrey Taylor SF Vanderbilt
Taylor ended up on a lot of teams’ draft radars thanks to the Commodores’ strong Southeastern Conference showing. He’ll be an excellent fit with free-throw shooting and baskets. 
19   Orlando Fab Melo C Syracuse
I’m assuming Dwight Howard gets his way and punches a one-way ticket out of Florida, putting an end to this nightmare. However, by drafting Melo, does the team have another bad dream? 
20   Denver Andrew Nicholson PF St. Bonaventure
The Atlantic 10 made a big splash in the college basketball season, so there’s no reason why this player shouldn’t make a splash himself. 
21   Boston Doron Lamb SG Kentucky
A reach? Not at all. You just didn’t hear his name much during the NCAA tournament, but when you did it was always good. He’ll have a strong cast of characters around him. 
22   Boston (from LAC) Moe Harkless SF St. John’s
East Coast basketball aficionados will recognize the name right away, as the Big East got plenty of play in the New York/New Jersey area. Big board presence. 
23   Atlanta Arnett Moultrie PF/C Mississippi State
The Hawks need a presence up front and they need it right now. This pick might be a reach, especially at No. 23, but aren’t all first-round picks outside the lottery a reach in some way? 
24   Cleveland (from LAL) Quincy Miller SF Baylor
Assuming the Cavaliers filled the guard role up front, they will go back to the frontcourt with the next pick, and this Big 12 standout could be there waiting for him. 
25   Memphis Evan Fournier SG/SF France
If Memphis goes for guard help, this might be the best presence left in the draft for the Grizzlies. As with all international players, this IS a risk. 
26   Indiana Miles Plumlee C Duke
May draw some boos from die-hard Indiana basketball fans who can’t stand Duke, but don’t take it out on Plumlee. At 7-0, he’s pretty strong and should give Pacers a big presence underneath.
27   Miami Marquis Teague PG Kentucky
The Heat don’t need much in the way of help at any position except the 1 and 5 spots. That leaves guard and center. Welcome Teague to the Heat if that’s the case. 
28   Oklahoma City Tu Holloway PG Xavier
The Thunder need help in the assists department. The only problem with this pick is Tu’s immaturity showed through in the Cincinnati rivalry. OKC will take care of that. 
29   Chicago Tony Wroton Jr.  PG Washington
Backcourt help sorely needed to give the Bulls some more all-around presence away from Derrick Rose, who may need time to recover entering 2012-13.
30   Golden State (from SA) Festus Ezeli C Vanderbilt
Big presence down low filled with Henson and Ezeli, who could make Golden State instantly better if both are selected and both fire up offense at the same time. 
Round 2
31   Charlotte William Buford SG Ohio State
One of the top cogs in the Buckeyes’ offense, many times Ohio State faltered if Buford wasn’t on the floor. That should tell you how valuable he is. 
32   Washington Tyshawn Taylor PG Kansas
Kidd-Gilchrist’s presence would fill a hole down low, so the Wizards would need backcourt help and should get it here if Taylor is available. 
33   Cleveland Draymond Green PF Michigan State
He’ll fit in well as a Cavalier, considering the area should be very familiar with him already thanks to his Big Ten presence. 
34   Cleveland (from NO) Will Barton SF Memphis
If the Cavaliers follow this draft pattern, they might be saying “LeBron WHO?” three or four years down the road. 
35   Golden State (from BRK) Scott Machado PG Iona
New York’s loss is the other coast’s gain. The Warriors should have filled needs in the frontcourt already. 
36   Sacramento Ashton Gibbs PG Pittsburgh
With the Kings having filled some needs up front, Sacramento would do pretty well to select Gibbs at this pick. 
37   Toronto Kevin Jones PF West Virginia
Not a bad selection if he falls to this position; he’s projected as a mid second-round pick already. 
38   Denver (from GS) Hollis Thompson SF Georgetown
Nuggets would have help at power and small forward if this draft pans out. 
39   Detroit Kim English G/F Missouri
One of the best teams throughout the regular season before early NCAA flameout. That may have cost English a bit. 
40   Portland (from Minn) Mike Scott PF Virginia
Scott often got lost in the shuffle last year because the ACC focused on non-Virginia teams. 
41   Portland J’Covan Brown PG/SG Texas
Blazers can complete the draft by filling a backcourt need, and Brown’s Big 12 presence was pretty good. 
42   Milwaukee Bernard James C Florida State
Seminoles made a big splash in the ACC a year ago, and James will give an intimidating presence on court to whoever selects him. 
43   Atlanta (from PHO) Jae Crowder SF/PF  Memphis
I have him falling far down the board, so he may not even be around here. If he is, Hawks need strong presence. 
44   Detroit (from HOU) Royce White SF Iowa State
Not exactly Big 10 territory, but Iowa State is still strong in the Big 12 and White was Cyclones’ go-to guy.
45   Philadelphia Kris Joseph SF Syracuse
One of the Orange’s go-to guys will give the Sixers a broad boost here. 
46   Washington (from DAL) JaMychal Green PF Alabama
Crimson Tide’s top player gave the team a huge boost last season. 
47   Utah Trevor Mbakwe PF Minnesota
The Gophers did a decent job in the Big 10 last year thanks to Mbakwe, and the Jazz will benefit nicely. 
48   New York John Shurna PF Northwestern
Shurna will provide a solid presence down low to bolster an improving Knicks squad. 
49   Orlando Drew Gordon PF New Mexico
Assuming Melo is selected by the Magic, they would not need another center, so look for the Magic to fill a frontcourt slot. 
50   Denver Robert Sacre C Gonzaga
Gonzaga’s latest entry into the NBA will do fine here if selected. 
51   Boston Ricardo Ratliffe PF Missouri
Will help the Celtics get younger and stronger overnight if his shooting pans out. It did in Columbia.
52 Golden State (from ATL) Darius Miller SF Kentucky
Warriors could be one of the most improved teams in the NBA next year if draft works to their expectation.
53   L.A. Clippers Jared Cunningham SG Oregon State
Cunningham will be familiar immediately to Pac-12 basketball fans. Not a strong conference, but solid individual players were there. 
54   Philadelphia (from MEM) Darius Johnson-Odom SG Marquette
From his play in the Big East, Johnson-Odom will be a familiar face to Philadelphia’s crazed college basketball faithful. 
55   Dallas (from LAL) John Jenkins SG Vanderbilt
Needs guard help, and this selection should work fine. 
56   Toronto (from IND) Khris Middleton SF Texas A&M
Would have been fine if he’d fallen to Dallas, but Mavericks don’t need forward help after the first couple picks. 
57   Brooklyn (from MIA) Henry Sims PF/C Georgetown
Should be instantly recognizable to Big East fans; Sims will be a solid addition to the Nets. 
58   Minnesota (from OKC) Orlando Johnson SG UC Santa Barbara
Solid scoring presence and ability to stay on court. 
59   San Antonio Kyle O’Quinn PF/C Norfolk State
Instant draft pick following Norfolk State’s strong NCAA tourney. 
60   L.A. Lakers (from CHI) Eric Griffin PF Campbell
Griffin made his presence known in the Big South, and he should be a good fit for the Lakers.