Highlights From the Lottery

The 2012 NBA Draft is a wrap.  Who won and who dropped the ball?  Well, it’s way too early to know exactly how each team did last night and we won’t know until these guys start playing real games.  What we do know, is that no major trades went down the entire night. 

Dwight Howard didn’t end up in Houston and the Bobcats stood firm at No. 2.  The Wizards got who they wanted in Florida guard, Bradley Beal, and can start right away alongside point guard John Wall. The Cavaliers did the same by drafting Syracuse guard, Dion Waiters, who some feel was the most “NBA ready” player in last night’s draft. 

No surprise at NO. 1.  The Hornets selected Anthony Davis who was followed by Kentucky teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the Bobcats nabbed with the second pick. 

The Sacramento Kings got exactly who they wanted at NO. 5.  The Kings had reportedly been in trade talks, trying desperately to move up, in hopes to potentially land Kansas “big man,” Thomas Robinson.  They didn’t have to move an inch however.  Robinson was there, waiting to be taken with the fifth pick.  The 6’9”/237lb Robinson will be a force playing in the post with Kings center, DeMarcus Cousins.

Last season, as a junior at Kansas, Robinson averaged 17.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game.  He racked up 42 steals total, showing he has a knack for forcing turnovers.  His numbers indicate that he’s not a shot blocker, but his size and defensive mindset demonstrate that he has the talent to improve that skill at the next level. The numbers that do stand out however, are his ability to score and rebound.

Robinson’s most telling stats came against Big 12 power-houses; Baylor, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. He averaged 21.1 points and 12 rebounds per game in nine meetings against those conference foes.  This is telling because he put up his best numbers against teams that are most familiar with him.

In his first match-up against Anthony Davis and Kentucky in Hawaii, Robinson dropped in 11 points and pulled in 12 rebounds, a double-double none-the-less, but he later proved to be a more polished player come national championship time.  Robinson stepped up with 18 points and 17 rebounds against Kentucky on college basketball’s biggest stage.  Despite the loss in the championship, Robinson led Kansas to a 32-7 record and indeed led his squad in scoring and rebounds through 39 games.

The Portland Trail Blazers filled huge voids in the draft.  They got a solid point guard in Damian Lillard out of

Weber St.

and a guy that will fit in nicely in Rip City.  Portland also helped out their lack of depth in the post by adding Illinois center, Meyers Leonard.  Leonard weighs in at 7’1”/250 and will be a major asset for All-Star forward, LeMarcus Aldridge. 

The Golden State Warriors got another scorer and a really good small forward in Harrison Barnes from UNC.  Barnes solidifies that line-up and can be a starter right away for Golden State.

Barnes was rated as the third best player in most mock drafts and the Warriors got him at 7.  He averaged 16.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in two full seasons at UNC.  People around the league are saying that Barnes could be a better pro than college player.  A scary thought, considering his ability to grow as a scorer. 

Let's not forget who the Hornet's took at 10.  The Hornets got a very talented player in Duke guard, Austin Rivers.  Many believe that Rivers can play in the backcourt with guard Eric Gordon (if he resigns) as a true point guard.  Comparisons to Nets point guard Deron Williams have been made.  Williams, like Rivers, was not considered to be a true point coming out of college.  His size and ability to score has made Williams an All-Star point guard in the NBA.  Rivers has a lot of those same attributes.  He's 6'5" can score and handle the ball.  Look for the Rivers/Gordon combo to be ruthless next season.

That completes the highlights from the lottery portion of the 2012 NBA Draft.