It’s finally here. The 2012 NBA Draft is in less than 24 hours, and here is your guide. These aren’t the players I necessarily would draft with each pick, but it’s a combination of who I feel would be the best pick and what I’ve been hearing about each team.

1		Anthony Davis
		PF	6’11”	222 lbs	Kentucky	19 Years Old

There’s nothing more I can really add about Anthony Davis. He’s just really, really good. The only interesting thing I can add is this question: would it be more of a surprise for Anthony Davis or Andrew Luck to be a total and utter schlub in the pros?

2		Harrison Barnes
		SF	6’8”	228 lbs	North Carolina	19 Years Old

Surprise! In a very Bobcatsian move, Charlotte takes another Tar Heel. But this move isn’t so bad, Barnes has a high ceiling as a potential 20 point per game scorer. GM Rich Cho loves Barnes, but Michael Jordan prefers Thomas Robinson. I actually believe that the Bobcats will swap picks with the Cavaliers, so Cleveland can draft Bradley Beal, and Charlotte can pick up the 24th pick and potentially a second rounder. There they can choose between Barnes and Robinson again.

3		Bradley Beal
		SG	6’5”	202 lbs	Florida	18 Years Old

Beal would immediately form one of the most dangerous backcourts in the league with John Wall and bring some much needed offense and shooting to Washington. But I’m not so sure Beal will be here if they don’t trade up. Reportedly, Washington, Oklahoma City, Portland, and Minnesota are all interested in trading up for Beal, and the Bobcats need as many players as possible.

4		Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
		SF	6’7”	233 lbs	Kentucky	18 Years Old

If they don’t trade up for Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a helluva consolation prize. He played high school ball with Kyrie Irving, and is one of the surest things in this draft. He’s an extremely hard worker who can guard nearly any position on the floor and rebound well above his size.

5		Thomas Robinson
		PF	6’9”	244 lbs	Kansas	21 Years Old

Sacramento is full of–as Bomani Jones would call them–Jack ‘Em Joes. They have six players who need more than their fair share of shots, and none seem to be concerned with their teammates. That’s why Sacramento has been trying to trade this pick for a veteran. The two players who the Kings really want are MKG and Thomas Robinson–polished college players who can be effective without the ball in their hands.

6		Andre Drummond
		C	7′	279 lbs	UConn	18 Years Old

A risky young big man with crazy athleticism and all the talent in the world. Sounds like a broken record, eh Portland? Well although Portland hasn’t had much luck with big men over the years, the risk is seriously dampened six picks into the draft. Now the Blazers also really love Damian Lillard–who all but definitely won’t be around for their #11 pick–and may reach for him with this pick.

7		Dion Waiters
		SG	6’4”	221 lbs	Syracuse	20 Years Old

Golden State is in an awkward position. After Anthony Davis, there’s a clear five-player second tier. They’re at the start of the third tier. Their owner stressed drafting high-motor “winners,” so that may take them out of the Drummond and Perry Jones III sweepstakes. Although they still have young Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, Dion Waiters makes the most sense here. He may never have started at Syracuse, but he has the potential to be Dwyane Wade-lite.

8		Damian Lillard
		PG	6’3”	189 lbs	Weber State	21 Years Old

Toronto is in dire need of a scoring wing player, but Dion Waiters won’t be on the board at this point unless Portland takes Lillard. If this scenario plays out, the Raptors will settle on Lillard–who follows the Derrick Rose/Russell Westbrook model of a shooting point guard. Toronto could reach for Moe Harkless or even Evan Fournier if GM Bryan Colangelo wanted to continue drafting foreign players (kidding).

9		Meyers Leonard
		C	7’1”	250 lbs	Illinois	20 Years Old

I still think Jared Sullinger would be the perfect fit here, but teams are scared off by his ailing back. Detroit wants to move Greg Monroe to power forward, and drafting an athletic center like Meyers Leonard would ease that move. He’s a little immature, but he’s shockingly athletic, but as one assistant GM put it: If Meyers Leonard were black, he’d be the #2 pick. I don’t necessarily think that’s true, but he’s certainly a bit underrated.

10		Perry Jones III
		PF	6’11”	234 lbs	Baylor	20 Years Old

New Orleans could walk away from this draft with the two best players in the class. Perry Jones has center size and perimeter skills, but he hasn’t shown consistent effort throughout his two years at Baylor. He was miscast as a center at college, so maybe playing next to a tenacious big like Davis can free him up to be effective on the perimeter.

11		Austin Rivers
		G	6’5″	203 lbs	Duke	19 Years Old

Lillard is off the board at this point, but the Blazers still need frontcourt help. Jeremy Lamb could be an option, but I think they’d prefer someone with more star power like Austin Rivers. If he can ever learn to get his teammates more involved, Rivers can become one of the best point guards in the game. But if he can’t he’ll likely be limited to a 6th man change-of-pace guard.

12		Tyler Zeller
		C	7′	247 lbs	North Carolina	21 Years Old

Assuming Houston keeps the pick, they’ll want to add size in the form of Zeller. But assuming Houston will keep this pick is foolish. They’re trying to trade up to a top-10 pick to land Dwight Howard, and everyone in the league knows it.

13		Jeremy Lamb
		SG	6’5”	179 lbs	UConn	20 Years Old

Phoenix gave a promise to draft Dion Waiters, but there’s just no chance he lasts this long. Lamb isn’t such a bad alternative, but his stock has been falling ever since the last NCAA tournament. He hasn’t been as effective without Kemba Walker, but he’s freakishly athletic with a steady shot.

14		Terrence Ross
		SG	6’7″	197 lbs	Washington	21 Years Old

The Bucks moved back two spots to add size in Samuel Dalembert, so now they can look for more perimeter help. While Ross doesn’t quite have small forward size, Milwaukee can play small with him, Brandon Jennings, and Monta Ellis, after they bring Ross off the bench. Then again, more size wouldn’t hurt, and John Henson or Jared Sullinger would be great alternatives.

15		John Henson
		PF	6’10”	216 lbs	North Carolina	21 Years Old

Elton Brand hasn’t been worth his $82 million contract in any sense–now he’s an amnesty candidate. Jared Sullinger would be a better replacement for Brand, but John Henson would be a safer pick and much needed provide interior defense.

16		Moe Harkless
		SF	6’9”	207 lbs	St. John’s	19 Years Old

Again, Houston is unlikely to keep this pick, but after trading Chase Budinger, the Rockets could use a high-upside small forward.

17		Jared Sullinger
		PF	6’9”	268 lbs	Ohio State	20 Years Old

Back injury or not, Jared Sullinger is way better than the 17th best player in this draft. He dominated college basketball for two years and has the big body to compete in the NBA right away. Even if his career is cut short a few years, Sullinger can provide a powerful presence down low for a contending team like Dallas, Orlando, or Boston.

18		Arnett Moultrie
		PF	6’11”	223 lbs	Mississippi St.	21 Years Old

Do I even need to say it again? Houston probably won’t be picking 18th, but they like Moultrie, and they can always use more size.

19		Terrence Jones
		PF	6’10”	250 lbs	Kentucky	20 Years Old

Orlando would love to pair Sullinger with Dwight Howard, but Terrence Jones is a very nice alternative. If he can ever keep his head in the game for 30 minutes or so, he can be an All-Star, or at the very least a Lamar Odom-type player. Jones measured bigger than most expected, so it looks like he can play the 4 in the pros. Match him up with Dwight Howard, and he can continue to play along the perimeter to draw out defenders.

20		Kendall Marshall
		PG	6’4”	198 lbs	North Carolina	20 Years Old

The Nuggets have a bunch of very good players, but no great players. Marshall will never be great, but he has great court vision. Bring him off the bench, and his matador defense won’t hurt the team so much. Plus, UNC connections in George Karl and Ty Lawson can’t hurt.

21		Royce White
		PF	6’8”	261 lbs	Iowa State	21 Years Old

Here’s maybe my favorite player in the draft. White is as talented as any player in the draft, and is crazy athletic. He’s even a gifted ball handler. But he’s cursed with a crippling anxiety disorder that kept him from playing at Kentucky since he’s afraid of flying on a plane. If he can land in a solid lockerroom with strong leaders–like Boston–he can become a very strong starter. Or even more.

22		Andrew Nicholson
		PF	6’10”	234 lbs	St. Bonaventure	22 Years Old

Boston is looking for lots of size that can help right away, so Nicholson fits in. Fab Melo may have more talent and potential, but he’s years away from helping a contender. Nicholson can stretch the floor with a solid jump shot (not to far off from near-Celtic David West), and most importantly can help from Day One.

23		Tony Wroten Jr.
		PG	6’6”	203 lbs	Washington	18 Years Old

Atlanta would love Moe Harkless, but if he’s off the board, they’ll likely take the best point guard available. Wroten has huge potential since he’s an incredible passer with great size and slashing ability. He’s not going to be Chris Paul or Deron Williams–and his jump shot is pretty broke–but he’s more of a pure point guard than Jeff Teague.

24		Fab Melo
		C	7′	255 lbs	Syracuse	22 Years Old

At this point, the Cavs still need a big man and a shooting guard, but taking a shooter like Will Barton or John Jenkins is a bit of a stretch here. Melo adds more size and athleticism down low, and the Cavs can wait on him to reach his ceiling. If the Bobcats are picking here, they’re likely going with Quincy Miller or Tony Wroten Jr.

25		Quincy Miller
		SF	6’10”	219 lbs	Baylor	19 Years Old

Memphis could use another point guard, and Marquis Teague would be a great steal, but Quincy Miller is an even bigger steal. He’s a top-10 talent, but he didn’t show it at Baylor, partially thanks to an injured knee. Rudy Gay might be leaving the building soon, and Miller can take over at the 3, but if he puts on a bit more weight, he can back up Zach Randolph at the 4, too.

26		Marquis Teague
		PG	6’2”	180 lbs	Kentucky	19 Years Old

Point guard isn’t really a position of need, but the team is looking to deal Darren Collison, and Teague is fantastic value at this point. If Teague isn’t the pick here, a wing like Draymond Green or a big like Festus Ezeli would man great picks.

27		Draymond Green
		SF	6’8”	236 lbs	Michigan State	22 Years Old

Draymond Green is a hero among the stat communities, so it’d take a small miracle for him to last this long in the draft. He’s polished and a great team player, both of which should be key for a Miami Heat pick. If Green isn’t on the board, look for a Commodore to go here: either Jeff Taylor or Festus Ezeli.

28		Evan Fournier
		SG	6’7″	206 lbs	France	19 Years Old

The Thunder don’t have a particular need, so look for them to take a foreign player to stash overseas for a year or two. Fournier is better than the 28th best player in the draft, and he’s very young with room to grow. Plus, with James Harden possibly too expensive to keep, Fournier is great insurance.

29		John Jenkins
		SG	6’4”	212 lbs	Vanderbilt	21 Years Old

Chicago is looking for a guard, particularly a shooter. Will Barton might be the better player available, but John Jenkins is far and away the best shooter in the draft. He may never be a Ray Allen, but at worst he’s J.J. Redick. Who, by the way, has turned himself into a very solid pro.

30		Festus Ezeli
		C	7′	264 lbs	Vanderbilt	22 Years Old

Ezeli may be the third best Vanderbilt prospect in this class, but he can help address Golden State’s need for size. He’s massive with a 7’6″ wingspan and can help make up for where David Lee and Andrew Bogut come up short defensively.

Next Five off the Board: Jeff Taylor, Furkan Aldemir, Will Barton, Tyshawn Taylor, and Kostas Papanikolaou.