2012 NBA Draft Results: From Anthony Davis To Robert Sacre

Even with 60 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft, there’s enough players out there that one or two can still slip through the cracks of the process.

For players like Marquis Daniels, Wesley Matthews and Raja Bell, the difference between making the league and playing overseas can come down to being at the right place at the right time. In a way, then, being undrafted can be a blessing in disguise, especially compared to players taken in the 50’s who show up to camp competing against a full roster.

Another successful NBA Draft is in the books, unless you are the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which case another NBA Draft is in the books. Andrew Sharp covered the East draft grades, and we’re handling the West. Let’s start from the top!

New Orleans Hornets

Needless to say, this was a surprise to Cleveland fans. Let’s take you inside the five stages of grief that the fans who frequented the draft threads on SB Nation’s Cavaliers blog Fear The Sword went through on Thursday night.

1. Denial

“I’m hearing teams are trying to trade up, teams that I haven’t even worked out for,” Beal said. “I don’t even know their systems or what type of people they are. So it’s really nerve-racking,”

“We kind of had a clue, a little bit,” he said when asked when he knew the Wizards would take him.

We know Jay Bilas was purposely messing with people when he repeatedly used “wingspan” during the NBA Draft on Thursday night. But he was a lone ranger, approaching things in the lighthearted way he always does. Even still, there were plenty of superlatives to go around, making it pretty easy to cut them all up into one easy-to-digest video.

The premise is simple: Around draft time, the same words and phrases are used to describe prospects. The words are like stock photos and quotes. For instance, “high-motor,” “upside” and “length” are among the buzzwords commonly used.

Another NBA Draft has come and gone, and because we were dealing with one of the deepest draft classes we’ve seen in years, this one was more fun than most. But it’s over now, and Mock Draft Season is officially dead, too. But that just means it’s time for ... Draft Grades Season!

Two quick notes before we get started:

The NBA Draft is a well-reputed haven for truly awful suits. You give teenagers a little bit of money, the promise of camera time and a little bit of sartorial freedom, and you often end up with outfits that make Russell Westbrook look like James Bond.

How did the 2012 class do in the fashion department? We have a photo rundown of 16 players who shook David Stern’s hand on Thursday night, ranking from No. 1 on down to ... well, you’ll see. Enjoy!

Newark, NJ was the site for the 2012 NBA Draft, and even though the state no longer has a professional basketball team, it still housed quite a few professional basketball fans on Thursday night. SB Nation’s own Dan Rubenstein was able to interview those fans for some behind the scenes insight.

SB Nation Studios always does excellent work (see Amy K. Nelson, Bomani Jones and Clyde Frazier’s draft fashion critique), but the video embedded has to be near the top of the list.

Jay Bilas knows exactly what goes on during the NBA Draft. He knows viewers have drinking games and took full advantage of it once again. Mr. Bilas is Internet savvy, of course, and decided to have a little fun with the word “wingspan” throughout the draft.

So we went ahead and made a supercut of Bilas trolling the viewing audience.

The 2012 NBA Draft took place on Thursday night. SB Nation has a complete rundown of everything that happened as far as the picks and transaction were concerned in this StoryStream, but the lasting memories from Thursday night will be based on what the new rookies wore.

Their analysis of what Meyers Leonard wore might have been the most entertaining, but the whole thing is great, considering it’s always entertaining when an NBA legend dishes on the current state of the (fashion) game.

For all of the pre-draft speculation, the 2012 NBA Draft came and went without a blockbuster trade. No current NBA superstars switched teams and despite plenty of rumors, no top-10 picks were traded. However, despite the lack of a blockbuster move, there were still plenty of draft day trades on Thursday.

Miami tades Arnett Moultrie to Philadephia for Justin Hamilton and a future first-round pick:

Heading into Thursday’s NBA draft, only one thing was for sure. We knew New Orleans would select Anthony Davis, but between trade rumors and other speculation the other 59 picks were a toss up. The NBA draft didn’t disappoint with plenty of wheeling and dealing and even a shocker pick or two. Below is the full list of all 60 players selected.

First round:

While many agents would rather their players go undrafted and pick their team rather than go at the end of the second round, being drafted is still something the players can tell their grandkids about one day.

Sacre, a 7’0”, 260-pound center who is reasonably coordinated and not completely unathletic, has a decent chance to make an NBA roster. Yes, these are the standards that 7’0” have to meet to play in the best basketball league in the world.

Portland used the No. 6 pick to select Damian Lillard and took Meyers Leonard with the No. 11 pick. Judging by reaction on SB Nation’s Trail Blazers blog Blazers Edge, their fans were less than satisfied.

On the Lillard selection:

The 2012 NBA draft is nearing a conclusion with the last few picks coming off the board. While not all of these players will make NBA rosters or even come over from Europe, hearing their name called is still a thrill of a lifetime.

Follow our 2012 NBA Draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. Check out our NBA Draft hub for analysis, draft grades, videos and more.

Can’t really blame this young man for looking all confused when the Nets pick was announced. It was a tough name to pronounce and there’s not a chance in the world the kid had ever heard of Ilkan Karaman. But the young man was excited anyway.

Oh to be a kid again.

With the pick, the Lakers added Darius Johnson-Odom, a shooting guard from Marquette.

Follow our 2012 NBA Draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. Check out our NBA Draft hub for analysis, draft grades, videos and more.

Boston took their second Syracuse player in this draft, although Joseph will have an uphill climb to make their Opening Day roster. He has decent size for a small forward (6’7”, 215 pounds) and he can shoot from the outside (34.5%), but he doesn’t bring much else to the table.

Pass.

The Knicks may have made a very good pick and Kostas Papanikolaou might very well end up being a sleeper, but New York’s finest did not seem pleased with their team’s second round pick.

They did seem really pleased with being at the Draft in general, though ... and if you don’t believe us, then off to the gifs we shall go.

The second round of the 2012 NBA draft continued and there was some history made with the No. 46 pick.

Follow our 2012 NBA Draft results StoryStream for live pick-by-pick coverage. Check out our NBA Draft hub for analysis, draft grades, videos and more.

There weren’t many major trades during the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft, but a couple of second-round moves have already happened midway through the second round. They aren’t franchise-changing moves, of course, but they are worth keeping an eye on.

Yikes.

It’s the middle of the second round of the draft, where the contracts aren’t guaranteed and the draftees may need to keep their passports handy.

Taylor is an athletic 6’3 guard who can defend both back-court positions and projects as a solid combo guard off the bench at the next level. He’ll need to become more consistent offensively, as a decision-maker and a shooter. The Nets apparently paid “straight cash homey” for this pick.

The Sixers fans aren’t exactly disappointed with the Harkless pick, though, because they’ve decided to take a glass half-full approach:

The readers weren’t quite as optimistic, however:

This is despite the fact that the Maloofs have in their employment one of the lowest-paid general managers, one of the thinnest basketball operations departments and one of the lowest-paid coaches in the entire league.

This is despite numerous offers from Very Wealthy Men to purchase the team and keep it in Sacramento.

The picks keep coming fast and furious in the second round, where the contracts aren’t guaranteed and the draftees might need to start updating their passports.

No. 40: Will Barton; Memphis - Look out, Portland, y’all might have just gotten a steal here in the second round. The Tigers disappointed last season, but Barton quietly was a stud. He can create on his own and plays with passion.