Mock Draft, Version 5.0
Originally Published: May 30, 2012
By Chad Ford | ESPN.com
The lottery results are in and the New Orleans Hornets are the big winners of this year's draft lottery. That means it's time for Mock Draft 5.0.
At this point very little is set in stone, so expect our mock draft to fluctuate greatly over the course of the next four weeks. The Chicago NBA predraft combine, the adidas Eurocamp and hundreds of team workouts will dramatically alter the face of the draft.
But here's our best stab for now, after talking to numerous NBA team sources, on how the draft might play out on June 28.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
New Orleans
Anthony Davis
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 220 pounds
Age: 19
School: Kentucky
Analysis: What a huge win for the Hornets. They lost a superstar this year (Chris Paul) and then replace him with Davis. Pair him with Eric Gordon and New Orleans has a very strong foundation to build upon.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Charlotte
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 18
School: Kentucky
Analysis: This is a major blow for the Bobcats. Kidd-Gilchrist is the second-best player in this draft and will add toughness and leadership. Michael Jordan wants winners and Kidd-Gilchrist is a winner.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Washington
Bradley Beal
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 195 pounds
Age: 18
School: Florida
Analysis: Beal is a great get for the Wizards. The team could really use a dominant 2-guard to pair with John Wall. Beal is a very good fit who should be able to step in and contribute right away.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Cleveland
Harrison Barnes
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 19
School: North Carolina
Analysis: Thomas Robinson may be the best player left on the board but he's not a great fit with Tristan Thompson. The Cavs loved Barnes last year and I think they'll roll the dice on him again this year.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Sacramento
Thomas Robinson
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 237 pounds
Age: 21
School: Kansas
Analysis: The Kings need toughness and athleticism on their front line and Robinson delivers both. He could help Sacramento turn around its culture.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Portland (via Nets)
Andre Drummond
Position: C
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 275 pounds
Age: 18
School: UConn
Analysis: The Blazers need size and Drummond is huge. He's a major project, but in the right team environment, Drummond could be another Andrew Bynum.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Golden State
Jared Sullinger
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 280 pounds
Age: 20
School: Ohio State
Analysis: The Warriors may be tempted by Perry Jones III, but I think they will instead go with a more proven player to help them on their front line. I hear the Warriors are quite high on Sully.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Toronto
Dion Waiters
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 20
School: Syracuse
Analysis: The Raptors are filled with a roster of mostly soft jump shooters. What they really need is a tough player who can get to the basket and get his own shot at the end of games. They need a true scorer. DeMar DeRozan might get there someday, but Waiters is there right now. The fact that Waiters can also play some point guard is a bonus. He could go anywhere from No. 6 to No. 15 on draft night.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Detroit
John Henson
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-10
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 21
School: North Carolina
Analysis: Greg Monroe has been a revelation in the middle for the Pistons, but they really need to pair him alongside an athletic shot blocker. Although Henson is painfully thin, he rebounds, blocks shots and defends multiple positions. It wouldn't be a perfect solution in Detroit, but the Pistons don't have a lot of other options here.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
New Orleans
(via Wolves)
Damian Lillard
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 21
School: Weber State
Analysis: The Hornets lost their star point guard to the Clippers in a trade at the beginning of the season and had to piece it together this season. While Lillard is no CP3, he's the best point guard int he draft and should be a terrific pick. Lillard could go as high as No. 6.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Portland
Jeremy Lamb
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 185 pounds
Age: 19
School: UConn
Analysis: The Blazers really need a center or a point guard. But with Lillard off the board, I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled the trigger on Lamb, who could go anywhere from No. 6 to No. 13 on draft night. Portland's scouting staff has been high on him all year and, while he wouldn't fill a primary need, he has the talent to eventually earn a spot as the team's starting 2-guard.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Milwaukee
Perry Jones III
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 20
School: Baylor
Analysis: The Bucks gambled a few years ago on Brandon Jennings and it paid off big time. At this point in the draft, Jones is less risk and more reward.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Phoenix
Terrence Ross
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 21
School: Washington
Analysis: The Suns need a little bit of everything, but they have a major hole at the 2-guard position. Ross has potential star power -- he is a great athlete, has good size and can really stroke the basketball. He'd be a nice addition in Phoenix.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Houston
Tyler Zeller
Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 22
School: North Carolina
Analysis: The Rockets' biggest need is in the middle and Zeller should be a solid option. Scouts don't think Zeller is going to be an All-Star someday, but he's big, he runs the floor very well and he has a great touch around the basket. Zeller should ultimately land somewhere between picks 8 and 14.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Philadelphia
Arnett Moultrie
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 225 pounds
Age: 21
School: Mississippi State
Analysis: The Sixers need big athletes and Moultrie might be a great fit. He's long and athletic, he rebounds and he can stretch the floor with his jumper. Moultrie could be one of the real sleepers in the draft.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Houston (via Knicks)
Terrence Jones
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 244 pounds
Age: 20
School: Kentucky
Analysis: Jones is a bit of an enigma. He could go as high as No. 7 or he could slide to here. No one doubts his talent; they're just not sure what position he would play in the pros and whether he'll be willing to put in the work to be great. At this point in the draft, though, he's worth the risk.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Dallas
Kendall Marshall
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 188 pounds
Age: 20
School: North Carolina
Analysis: With Jason Kidd 39 and a free agent, and Rodrigue Beaubois more of a combo guard, Marshall would bring much of what Kidd brings to the table -- incredible court vision and size -- right away. He's not a great athlete or a great shooter, but he could keep Dirk and company happy.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Wolves (via Jazz)
Austin Rivers
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 199 pounds
Age: 19
School: Duke
Analysis: The Wolves' biggest need is at the 2 and Rivers could be a great get here. He can really shoot the basketball and has a killer crossover. He's going to have to get comfortable playing off the ball, but playing with Ricky Rubio could really help his game.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Orlando
Meyers Leonard
Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 240 pounds
Age: 20
School: Illinois
Analysis: The Magic are in serious danger of losing Dwight Howard in the next year. Leonard is a far cry from Howard, but he's big, he's athletic and he has shown some raw promise, especially on the defensive end.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Denver
Moe Harkless
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 190 pounds
Age: 18
School: St. John's
Analysis: The Nuggets don't have any glaring needs right now, which gives them the luxury of taking the best player left on the board. We've had Quincy Miller here the past few mock drafts, but there seems to be a growing consensus that Harkless might be the better prospect.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Boston
Fab Melo
Position: C
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 274 pounds
Age: 21
School: Syracuse
Analysis: The Celtics are in desperate need of size. While Melo is miles away from being ready, he is big and can block shots and rebound. If he stays focused and in shape, he could be good value here.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Boston (via Clippers)
Andrew Nicholson
Position: PF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 222 pounds
Age: 22
School: St. Bonaventure
Analysis: Nicholson is another draft sleeper who may really rise with workouts. He's big stretch 4 who has drawn some comparisons to David West. He would be another welcome addition to the Celtics' summer makeover.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Atlanta
Tony Wroten Jr.
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 205 pounds
Age: 18
School: Washington
Analysis: The Hawks have been cursed at the point guard position ever since they decided to pass on Chris Paul to draft Marvin Williams. Wroten is no CP3, but he may have the most talent of any point guard in the draft. He's big, he's athletic and he can get to the basket. If his shot wasn't broken, and if he had a better rep as a teammate, he'd be a top-10 pick.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Cavs (via Lakers)
Quincy Miller
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 210 pounds
Age: 19
School: Baylor
Analysis: Miller is an enigma. He began the season as a top-10 prospect, but struggled to overcome the effects of an ACL injury and never quite found his rhythm. If he finds his stride, this could be the steal of the draft for Cleveland.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Memphis
Evan Fournier
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 206 pounds
Age: 19
School: France
Analysis: I'm hearing the Grizzlies are looking to stash a player over in Europe this year. Fournier, a scoring wing from France, is the best European prospect on the board.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Indiana
Marquis Teague
Position: PG
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 178 pounds
Age: 19
School: Kentucky
Analysis: Not only do the Pacers need more help at the point, but Teague is an Indy native who would be a great get here. He's not the pure point guard the Pacers really need, but he can push the ball effectively, get to the basket and create problems as a defender. Picking Teague could make Darren Collison a very interesting trade chip in July.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Miami
Draymond Green
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 235 pounds
Age: 22
School: Michigan State
Analysis: The Heat need players with experience who excel in bringing out the best in their teammates. Green can be a point-forward type who does a little of everything. Think of him as a better-passing Udonis Haslem.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Oklahoma City
Jeff Taylor
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 225 pounds
Age: 22
School: Vanderbilt
Analysis: An elite athlete, Taylor can be a lockdown defender and has range on his jumper. He's probably undervalued at this point, but that happens to seniors. The Thunder will capitalize.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Chicago
John Jenkins
Position: SG
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 21
School: Vanderbilt
Analysis: The Bulls need a shooter and Jenkins has one of the best strokes in the draft. His super-quick release and ability to finish at the basket make him an interesting prospect here.
PICK TEAM PLAYER VITALS
Golden State
(via Spurs)
Royce White
Position: SF
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 240 pounds
Age: 20
School: Iowa State
Analysis: White, on talent alone, is a top-10 pick. But he's slipping a bit as teams worry that his anxiety disorder could disrupt his development. At pick 30, he's worth the risk.
Next five in: Doron Lamb, Festus Ezeli, Tyshawn Taylor, Scott Machado, Will Barton
