Redrafting the 2012 NBA Draft

Four of the writers here at ISN decided that it would be fun to redraft the 2012 NBA draft. Dylan Hargis, Justin Hodges, Cody Byers and myself decided that this draft was so full of late talent that it would be interesting to see how it would all pan out if everyone knew how these prospects would pan out. Of course, we needed to set some parameters. We decided that there would be no trading picks to make sure we didn’t stray too far from the real draft. Next, we decided to draft as if we knew how good all of the players we were drafting would end up being, but we couldn’t look into the future of our team. For example, I couldn’t draft for the Cavaliers assuming that Lebron would return home. So, let’s get down to the draft.

Let’s take a look at the first round and why everyone made the pick that they did.

1. New Orleans Hornets (Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky)

Simply put, Davis is the most dominant player in this draft. He also fills a need for them, making this pick a no brainer. Davis will be the future of this organization.

2. Charlotte Bobcats (Andre Drummond, C, UConn)

I know some people might argue with this pick, considering Lillard is widely known as at least the second best player in this draft, but it just doesn’t make sense at this point. The Bobcats have a young point guard with promise in Kemba Walker, so why create a log jam when you can take a monster at a position you need? Drummond will bring defense and low post scoring to this young Bobcats team.

3. Washington Wizards (Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State)

I know, this pick makes absolutely no sense, but considering the sizable talent gap between Lillard and the rest, there’s just no way that Washington can settle for any less. Lillard and Wall would create a strange, warped kind of backcourt. At the very least, they could trade one of them for a good price.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (Bradley Beal, SG, Florida)

The Cavaliers get a perfect pick here. They need a shooting guard, and the best one in the entire draft fell right into their laps. The combination of Kyrie Irving and Bradley Beal will be very hard for defenses to stop.

5. Sacramento Kings (Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky)

The Kings are in dire need of a power forward and Jones has shown to be the physical big man that the Kings would need him to be. Sure, it could be argued that Sullinger is the better player out of the two, but Sullinger hasn’t proven to be the dominating force down in the low post. Jones can be that guy for the Kings.

6. Portland Trailblazers (Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse)

The Portland Trailblazers are missing out on Damian Lillard, but Waiters still gives them an explosive scoring option to try to give this team the spark that it needs. If nothing else, he can sure up the Trailblazers awful bench.

7. Golden State Warriors (Harrison Barnes, SF, UNC)

The Warriors are in dire need of a small forward, and they get the best one available. Barnes is athletic and smart. He is raw with potential and will be a solid player for years to come.

8. Toronto Raptors (Khris Middleton, SF, Texas A&M)

The Raptors need a SF and a PF, Middleton is able to give them both. He’s not going to light it up on offense, but he will provide above average defense and enough offense to be effective.

9. Detroit Pistons (Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State)

The Pistons get lucky here. They need a power forward badly, and Jared Sullinger gives them just that. The only problem now, is the fact that both him and center Greg Monroe are undersized. Regardless, Sullinger will provide solid down low scoring for them that they’ve been missing.

10. New Orleans Hornets (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky)

With this pick, the Hornets continue to improve their defense. With Kidd-Gilchrist and Davis, teams will have a hard time scoring. Gilchrist’s athleticism will also help him score around the rim.

11. Portland Trailblazers (Tony Wroten, PG, Washington)

The Trailblazers missed out on a point guard with their first pick, but they won’t miss out on the opportunity again. They don’t get an all-star, but they get a solid point guard that will consistently spark their offense and provide some big games.

12. Houston Rockets (Terrence Ross, SF, Washington)

Ross will provide an athletic spark plug for their offense. He will fill a need as well as provide energy for the entire team every time he’s on the court.

13. Phoenix Suns (Draymond Green, SF, Michigan State)

The Suns don’t have a ton of big needs, but small forward might be their biggest one. Draymond Green can play defense every night, and will occasionally throw in a big night in the scoring department as well. He’s a great all around player for this Suns team.

14. Milwaukee Bucks (John Henson, PF, UNC)

The Bucks fill a need with this pick, but they also get a great player. Henson is long, meaning he has the ability to block shots with relative ease. He is a pretty good scorer as well. He will fit well with young, athletic shot blocker Larry Sanders as they grow together.

15. Philadelphia 76ers (Evan Fournier, SG, France)

The Sixers pick Fournier knowing that he is a shoot first player, but they also know that in his best games, he can be an all-around player. The Sixers got good value with this pick. Fournier has the ability to turn into a solid all-around shooting guard in their starting lineup.

16. Houston Rockets (Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn)

The Rockets decide to focus on offense with this pick, taking a player that can shoot the lights out. He may not be a consistent starter, but he will be able to come off the bench and provide solid scoring.

17. Dallas Mavericks (Kendall Marshall, PG, UNC)

Jason Kidd is getting older, and the other point guards on the roster just don’t really cut it. Marshall is very much system oriented, but if he’s used right, he can be a solid role player.

18. Houston Rockets (Miles Plumlee, PF, Duke)

Instead of focusing more on the shooting aspect, the Rockets decide to focus on the frontcourt. Plumlee offers the team lots of physicality in the frontcourt, as well as tons of energy. Who doesn’t want that big man who can get your entire team fired up with one dunk?

19. Orlando Magic (Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas)

The Magic are low on power forwards, and Robinson can fill that need. He may not be the most finished prospect, nor will he ever be a great player, but much like Plumlee, he will bring huge dunks, energy and lots of hustle. Players like this can, at the very least, provide a good spark off the bench.

20. Denver Nuggets (Perry Jones III, SF, Baylor)

The Nuggets try to fix their scoring problems by selecting the forward with the nice stroke out of Baylor. Jones is a big player that uses his size to score at will. He projects as a good bench scorer with potential to be a great sixth man.

21. Boston Celtics (Tyler Zeller, PF, UNC)

The Celtics are majorly lacking big men, but Tyler Zeller eases that hole a bit. He’s a great all around big man that has potential to start somewhere down the road. He is truly a steal at this point.

22. Boston Celtics (Austin Rivers, SG, Duke)

The Celtics look to fill a bench spot with combo scoring guard Austin Rivers. Rivers will come in and try to help the Celtics depleted second unit put up points. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett aren’t getting any younger, they will need some young players to come in and pick up the slack.

23. Atlanta Hawks (Maurice Harkless, SF, St. John’s)

Harkless is the type of player that has potential to be a very good player. He’s not a specialist, he does everything decently, but can’t do one thing extremely well. These players either end up being very good, or end up having little effect. The Hawks take the risk with Harkless.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers (Jeff Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt)

Taylor isn’t the most efficient player, but he’s physical and can score well around the rim. The Cavaliers look to bring some physicality to their otherwise finesse oriented second unit.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt)

The Grizzlies are known as a tough team that will grind for their points and not allow others to score. Big bodied Ezeli fits that philosophy perfectly. He’s a guy that will grind it out down low and fight for every rebound.

26. Indiana Pacers (Quincy Acy, PF, Baylor)

If for nothing else, the Pacers bring in Acy to bring emotion to a team that some could consider to be bland. Acy is an emotional players that won’t take anything from anybody. He could definitely be useful to any team looking for a spark-plug in the second unit and in the locker room.

27. Miami Heat (Mike Scott, PF, Virginia)

Scott may be listed as a power forward, but he’s definitely a stretch four. He’s an athletic big that is more for scoring than banging it out in the post. He’s a bit raw, and may take some time to develop, but he has potential to be a solid role player.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder (Jae Crowder, SF, Marquette)

Crowder is a very athletic forward that has some trouble shooting from the outside. He is more adept at driving to the rim. He is still very young and very moldable, but he will need the right coaching.

29. Chicago Bulls (Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky)

Lamb is known for his shooting, but his shooting isn’t as good as it should be for a player known for shooting. I know that sentence was confusing, but look it over a couple times and I’m sure you’ll understand. Lamb is drafted with hopes that he can eventually pick up his shooting and become the player with the potential that most thought he had.

30. Golden State Warriors (Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor)

The Warriors go with the safe pick here. Miller isn’t ever going to amount to much, but he can be a decent role player, and with the 30′th pick, what more can you really ask for?

 

2′nd Round

1. Charlotte Bobcats (Kent Bazemore, SG, Old Dominion)

2. Washington Wizards (Orlando Johnson, SG, California)

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Robert Sacre, C, Gonzaga)

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky)

5. Golden State Warriors (Kyle O’Quinn, C, Norfolk State)

6. Kings (Tyshawn Taylor, PG, Kansas)

7. Raptors (Darius Johnson-Odom, PG, Marquette)

8. Nuggets (Arnett Moultrie, PF, Texas)

9. Pistons (Darius Miller, SF, Kentucky)

10. Blazers (Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois)

11. Blazers (Hollis Thompson, SF, Georgetown)

12. Bucks (Kostas Papinikolaou, SF, Greece)

13. Hawks (Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure)

14. Pistons (Henry Sims, C, Georgetown)

15. Sixers (Royce White, PF, Minnesota)

16. Hornets (John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt)

17. Jazz (Justin Hamilton, C, Iowa State)

18. Knicks (Fab Melo, C, Syracuse)

19. Magic (Tony Mitchell, SF, Alabama)

20. Nuggets (Will Barton, PG, Memphis)

21. Celtics (Toure’ Murry, SF, Wichita State)

22. Warriors (Jared Cunningham, SG, Oregon State)

23. Clippers (Tornike Shengelia, SF, Country of Georgia)

24. Sixers (Casper Ware, PG, California State)

25. Mavericks (Bernard James, C, Florida State)

26. Raptors (Maalik Wayns, PG, Villanova)

27. Nets (Chris Smith, PG, Louisville)

28. T-Wolves (Izzet Turkyilmaz, PF, Turkey)

29. Spurs (Jorge Gutierrez, PG, California)

30. Lakers (Ognjen Kuzmic, C, Serbia)