2012 NBA draft
The 2012 NBA Draft was the National Basketball Association's annual player selection event, held on June 28, 2012, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.[1][2] The draft consisted of 60 picks across two rounds, with the New Orleans Hornets selecting power forward Anthony Davis from the University of Kentucky as the first overall pick.[1] Notable early selections included Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (second overall, Charlotte Bobcats, from Kentucky), Bradley Beal (third overall, Washington Wizards, from Florida), Dion Waiters (fourth overall, Cleveland Cavaliers, from Syracuse), Thomas Robinson (fifth overall, Sacramento Kings, from Kansas), and Damian Lillard (sixth overall, Portland Trail Blazers, from Weber State).[1] Later in the first round, the Detroit Pistons picked center Andre Drummond ninth overall (from UConn), while the Golden State Warriors selected forward Harrison Barnes seventh overall (from North Carolina).[1] The 2012 draft class is recognized for its exceptional depth and long-term impact, yielding six All-Stars—Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Draymond Green (selected 35th overall by the Warriors), and Khris Middleton (selected 39th overall by the Pistons, later traded to the Milwaukee Bucks)—along with multiple NBA champions, including Green's four titles with the Warriors and Davis's 2020 championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.[1][3] This talent pool contributed to the draft's reputation as one of the league's strongest in the 21st century, with players combining for significant accolades such as All-NBA honors, and defensive team selections.[3]Background and Context
Event Overview
The 2012 NBA draft took place on June 28, 2012, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.[1] The event featured two rounds comprising 30 selections each, for a total of 60 picks across all 30 NBA teams.[1] The draft order was primarily determined by the reverse order of the previous season's regular-season standings, with the top 14 picks adjusted via the NBA draft lottery process. Broadcast live on ESPN starting at 7:00 p.m. ET, the draft highlighted the league's annual influx of new talent amid a transitional period for several franchises.[2] It marked the first draft for the Brooklyn Nets following their relocation from New Jersey ahead of the 2012-13 season, as well as the final one under the New Orleans Hornets moniker before the team's rebranding to the Pelicans after the conclusion of that campaign.[4][5] Historically, the draft stood out for its concentration of talent from the University of Kentucky, which became the first school to supply the top two overall picks—both Wildcats—who were joined by four more teammates in the selections, totaling six draftees from the program.[6][7] This influx underscored Kentucky's dominant 2011-12 college season under coach John Calipari, setting a benchmark for one-and-done prospects entering the professional ranks.Draft Lottery
The 2012 NBA Draft Lottery was conducted on May 30, 2012, at the Disney/ABC Times Square Studios in New York City, marking the first time the event was held there instead of the traditional NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.[8] The lottery involved the 14 teams that failed to qualify for the 2011–12 NBA playoffs, determining the order of the first 14 selections in the upcoming draft. It was broadcast live on ESPN from 8:00 p.m. ET, with NBA Commissioner David Stern announcing the results on stage.[8] The selection process used the standard NBA lottery format, where ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14 were drawn from a machine to create unique four-ball combinations assigned to each team based on their reverse regular-season records. Odds for the No. 1 overall pick were calculated inversely to performance, with adjustments for tied records via tiebreaker drawings conducted earlier. The Charlotte Bobcats, with the league-worst 7–59 record, entered with a 25% chance. The Washington Wizards (20–46) had 19.9%, while tied teams shared averaged probabilities: Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Hornets (both 21–45) received 13.8% and 13.7% respectively after Cleveland won their tiebreaker for the third-worst slot; Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets (both 22–44) got 7.6% and 7.5% after Sacramento's tiebreaker victory. Odds decreased progressively for better records, down to 0.5% for the Dallas Mavericks (36–30).[9] No team could fall more than four spots from its pre-lottery position, preserving some merit-based ordering. The New Orleans Hornets defied their 13.7% odds to win the No. 1 pick, jumping from the fourth-worst pre-lottery slot to the top selection, a outcome that fueled widespread controversy and conspiracy theories. Critics pointed to the NBA's partial ownership of the Hornets at the time—stemming from the team's financial troubles and pending sale to a New Orleans-based group led by Tom Benson—as evidence of potential rigging to boost the franchise's value with the presumed selection of Kentucky star Anthony Davis. NBA executives and fans speculated the league favored keeping the top talent in a marketable market over the expansion-era Bobcats, who dropped to No. 2 despite their strong odds; Stern dismissed the claims as baseless during post-lottery interviews, emphasizing the random draw's integrity.[10][11] The full lottery results established the following order for the top 14 picks, noting traded rights where applicable:| Pick | Team (Notes) |
|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2 | Charlotte Bobcats |
| 3 | Washington Wizards |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 5 | Sacramento Kings |
| 6 | Portland Trail Blazers (from Brooklyn Nets) |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors |
| 8 | Toronto Raptors |
| 9 | Detroit Pistons |
| 10 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 11 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 12 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 13 | Houston Rockets |
| 14 | Dallas Mavericks |
Eligibility and Participants
Eligibility Rules
The eligibility rules for the 2012 NBA draft were governed by the league's 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), ratified following the 2011 labor lockout.[13] Under these rules, all players had to meet specific age, educational, and professional criteria to participate, ensuring a standardized process for both domestic and international prospects.[13] For United States players, eligibility required being at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft and at least one year removed from high school graduation.[13] College underclassmen could declare as early entry candidates if they satisfied these age and educational thresholds, but doing so necessitated renouncing any remaining collegiate eligibility in writing.[13] Early entrants were required to submit their declaration to the NBA at least 60 days before the draft date.[13] International players, defined as those who had resided outside the U.S. for at least three years, never enrolled in a U.S. college or university, and did not complete high school in the U.S., were eligible if at least 19 years old during the draft year.[13] Alternatively, they qualified if at least 22 years old and not enrolled in a U.S. college or university in the preceding academic year, provided they had completed schooling equivalent to U.S. high school graduation.[13] International players could have prior professional experience outside the NBA but were ineligible if they had signed an NBA contract or were currently bound by a non-NBA professional contract without having completed it.[13] Automatic eligibility applied to players who had exhausted their college eligibility, graduated from a four-year U.S. college or university with no remaining eligibility, or had four years elapsed since their U.S. high school graduation (or international equivalent).[13] It also extended to those who had signed a professional basketball contract with a non-NBA team before January 1 of the draft year, as well as players who were eligible but undrafted in a prior NBA draft (limited to no more than two draft entries total).[13] Early entry candidates for the 2012 draft could withdraw their declarations by June 18, 2012, to retain college eligibility, with a limit of two lifetime withdrawals permitted under the CBA.[14] All rules were enforced uniformly by the NBA Commissioner's office to maintain compliance with the post-lockout CBA framework.[13]Early and Automatic Entrants
The 2012 NBA Draft featured a pool of over 200 eligible players, including both early entrants who voluntarily declared and those automatically eligible under league rules. Early entry candidates, primarily underclassmen and younger international players, were officially announced by the NBA on May 3, 2012, totaling 66 individuals: 49 from U.S. colleges and 17 international prospects.[15] These players had until June 18, 2012, to withdraw their names while retaining potential college eligibility, though many had already hired agents, forfeiting NCAA status.[16] Among the U.S. college early entrants, 49 underclassmen declared, spanning freshmen through juniors from various programs. Prominent examples included freshmen Anthony Davis from Kentucky, known for his defensive prowess, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist from the same school, valued for his athleticism and versatility; sophomores like Harrison Barnes from North Carolina and Terrence Jones from Kentucky; and juniors such as Thomas Robinson from Kansas and Damian Lillard from Weber State.[16] These declarations highlighted a strong contingent from powerhouse programs like Kentucky, which produced multiple top prospects. Following the withdrawal deadline, one college player, Raymond Taylor from Florida Atlantic, opted out, leaving 48 remaining.[14] International early entrants numbered 17, all under the age of 22 by December 31, 2012, and primarily from European leagues, representing countries including France, Spain, Turkey, Germany, Lithuania, Serbia, Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, and Poland. Key figures included Evan Fournier from Poitiers in France, a scoring guard; Tomas Satoransky from Cajasol in Spain, a playmaking forward; and Tornike Shengelia from Spirou in Belgium, an athletic wing from Georgia.[16] This group underscored the growing global talent pipeline, with 10 of the 17 ultimately withdrawing before the deadline, reducing the international early pool to seven, such as Furkan Aldemir from Galatasaray in Turkey and Nemanja Nedovic from Crvena Zvezda in Serbia.[14] Automatically eligible players formed the bulk of the draft pool and did not need to declare, encompassing all U.S. college seniors, international players turning 22 by the end of 2012 who had not previously entered the draft, and certain previously undrafted prospects meeting age and professional status criteria. Examples of automatic U.S. entrants included seniors like Tyler Zeller, a skilled big man from North Carolina.[1] On the international side, Kostas Papanikolaou from Olympiacos in Greece, a versatile forward born in 1990, qualified automatically due to his age.[1] Previously undrafted players from prior years, such as those who had played professionally abroad without selection, also entered automatically if eligible, though they rarely dominated selections. Overall, these automatic entrants contributed to the draft's diversity, with representation from more than 20 countries across both categories.Pre-Draft Developments
Invited Attendees
The NBA invites approximately 14 to 20 top projected first-round picks to attend the draft in person at the green room, a designated area at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, for the 2012 event, allowing them to be present for their selections and interact with teams and media.[17] This invitation process involves consultations with NBA team executives to identify elite prospects likely to be chosen early, emphasizing those from domestic college programs in 2012.[18] For the 2012 draft, the league extended invitations to 14 players, all of whom hailed from major U.S. college basketball programs, underscoring the domestic talent pool's prominence that year. The invitees were:| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis | PF/C | Kentucky |
| Thomas Robinson | PF | Kansas |
| Bradley Beal | SG | Florida |
| Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | SF | Kentucky |
| Harrison Barnes | SF | North Carolina |
| Damian Lillard | PG | Weber State |
| Dion Waiters | SG | Syracuse |
| Jeremy Lamb | SG | Connecticut |
| Andre Drummond | C | Connecticut |
| Austin Rivers | PG/SG | Duke |
| John Henson | PF/C | North Carolina |
| Tyler Zeller | C | North Carolina |
| Meyers Leonard | C/PF | Illinois |
| Terrence Ross | SG/SF | Washington |
Pre-Draft Trades
Leading into the 2012 NBA draft, teams executed numerous trades involving draft picks to reposition for targeted prospects, gain salary cap relief under the new collective bargaining agreement following the 2011 lockout, or stockpile future assets. These pre-draft deals, which included more than a dozen first- and second-round selections across the league, often involved lottery-bound teams and reflected strategic adjustments to the league's revamped financial landscape that emphasized flexibility and youth development.[20] A prominent example occurred on March 15, 2012, when the Portland Trail Blazers acquired the New Jersey Nets' protected 2012 first-round pick (top-three protected, ultimately the No. 6 overall selection) in exchange for guard Gerald Wallace, along with center Mehmet Okur and forward Shawne Williams. This transaction stemmed from Portland's efforts to shed Wallace's contract for cap space while gaining a high-value asset; the pick, originally the Nets' own based on their lottery position, enabled the Blazers to draft point guard Damian Lillard, who became a franchise cornerstone. The deal was part of a broader chain, as the Nets had previously obtained equivalent value through earlier asset maneuvers, highlighting how picks could traverse multiple teams pre-lottery.[21] Earlier, on December 8, 2011, the New Orleans Hornets secured the Los Angeles Clippers' 2012 first-round pick (which became No. 10 overall after the lottery) as compensation in the trade sending point guard Chris Paul to Los Angeles, along with other assets including Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, and Al-Farouq Aminu. Motivated by the need to rebuild after losing their star, the Hornets used the pick to select guard Austin Rivers, prioritizing familial and developmental ties despite the trade's primary focus on immediate roster overhaul. This blockbuster exemplified how superstar movements could redistribute lottery odds well before the May 30, 2012, draft lottery. Closer to the draft, the Hornets continued reshaping their assets on June 20, 2012, by trading forwards Trevor Ariza and center Emeka Okafor to the Washington Wizards for forward Rashard Lewis and the Wizards' 2012 second-round pick (No. 46 overall). The move provided New Orleans with expiring salary and an extra selection for depth, aligning with post-lockout incentives to reduce long-term payroll while adding draft capital.[22] The Houston Rockets also engaged actively, trading forward Chase Budinger and the rights to forward Lior Eliyahu to the Minnesota Timberwolves on June 26, 2012, for the Timberwolves' No. 18 first-round pick. Seeking frontcourt versatility, Houston used the selection to draft forward Terrence Jones, while Minnesota gained immediate rotation help to address wing scoring needs. This late swap illustrated teams' final pre-draft positioning to target specific players amid the lottery's impact on pick values. Other notable pre-draft activity included the Cavaliers acquiring additional mid-first-round flexibility through earlier-season deals and various second-round swaps for cash or role players, contributing to the overall fluidity of pick ownership. These transactions not only altered team rosters but also amplified the draft's strategic importance, as franchises balanced short-term competitiveness with long-term building in the lockout's wake.Draft Selections
First Round
The first round of the 2012 NBA Draft consisted of 30 selections, conducted on June 28, 2012, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It featured a strong emphasis on college talent, with only one international player selected, and highlighted the University of Kentucky's exceptional representation, as four of its players were chosen across the round. The selections addressed various team needs, from elite big men to versatile wings and guards, with several picks acquired through prior trades that reshaped the draft order.[1] Notable for its depth in frontcourt prospects, the round began with consensus top pick Anthony Davis, a 6'10" freshman power forward/center from Kentucky known for his defensive prowess and shot-blocking ability, selected by the New Orleans Hornets. Subsequent picks included fellow Kentucky freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a 6'7" small forward valued for his athleticism and defensive intensity, taken by the Charlotte Bobcats. The draft saw trades influence outcomes, such as the Portland Trail Blazers acquiring the No. 6 pick from the New Jersey Nets to select point guard Damian Lillard, a 6'3" senior from Weber State. Kentucky's influence continued with sophomore forward Terrence Jones (6'9") at No. 18 to the Houston Rockets (via a prior trade from the Utah Jazz through the Minnesota Timberwolves) and freshman guard Marquis Teague (6'2") at No. 29 to the Chicago Bulls. The sole international selection was French guard Evan Fournier (6'7"), drafted 20th overall by the Denver Nuggets.[1] The following table summarizes the first-round selections, including player profiles and final team assignments post any pre-draft trades:| Pick | Player | Position | Height | College/Origin | Team | Trade Note (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Davis | PF/C | 6'10" | Kentucky (Fr.) | New Orleans Hornets | None |
| 2 | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | SF | 6'7" | Kentucky (Fr.) | Charlotte Bobcats | None |
| 3 | Bradley Beal | SG | 6'5" | Florida (Fr.) | Washington Wizards | None |
| 4 | Dion Waiters | SG | 6'4" | Syracuse (So.) | Cleveland Cavaliers | None |
| 5 | Thomas Robinson | PF | 6'9" | Kansas (Jr.) | Sacramento Kings | None |
| 6 | Damian Lillard | PG | 6'3" | Weber State (Sr.) | Portland Trail Blazers | Acquired from New Jersey Nets |
| 7 | Harrison Barnes | SF | 6'8" | North Carolina (So.) | Golden State Warriors | None |
| 8 | Terrence Ross | SG | 6'7" | Washington (So.) | Toronto Raptors | None |
| 9 | Andre Drummond | C | 6'11" | Connecticut (Fr.) | Detroit Pistons | None |
| 10 | Austin Rivers | SG | 6'5" | Duke (Fr.) | New Orleans Hornets | Acquired from Minnesota Timberwolves via Los Angeles Clippers |
| 11 | Meyers Leonard | C | 7'1" | Illinois (So.) | Portland Trail Blazers | Acquired from Denver Nuggets |
| 12 | Jeremy Lamb | SG | 6'5" | Connecticut (So.) | Houston Rockets | Acquired from Milwaukee Bucks |
| 13 | Kendall Marshall | PG | 6'4" | North Carolina (So.) | Phoenix Suns | None |
| 14 | John Henson | PF | 6'10" | North Carolina (Jr.) | Milwaukee Bucks | Acquired from Houston Rockets |
| 15 | Maurice Harkless | SF | 6'9" | St. John's (Fr.) | Philadelphia 76ers | None |
| 16 | Royce White | PF | 6'8" | Iowa State (So.) | Houston Rockets | Acquired from New York Knicks |
| 17 | Tyler Zeller | C | 7'0" | North Carolina (Sr.) | Dallas Mavericks | Later traded to Cleveland Cavaliers on draft night |
| 18 | Terrence Jones | PF | 6'9" | Kentucky (So.) | Houston Rockets | Acquired from Utah Jazz via Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 19 | Andrew Nicholson | PF | 6'9" | St. Bonaventure (Sr.) | Orlando Magic | None |
| 20 | Evan Fournier | SG | 6'7" | JSF Nanterre (France) | Denver Nuggets | None |
| 21 | Jared Sullinger | PF | 6'9" | Ohio State (So.) | Boston Celtics | None |
| 22 | Fab Melo | C | 7'0" | Syracuse (So.) | Boston Celtics | Acquired from Los Angeles Clippers via Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 23 | John Jenkins | SG | 6'4" | Vanderbilt (Jr.) | Atlanta Hawks | None |
| 24 | Jared Cunningham | SG | 6'4" | Oregon State (Jr.) | Cleveland Cavaliers | Acquired from Los Angeles Lakers; later traded to Dallas Mavericks on draft night |
| 25 | Tony Wroten | PG | 6'6" | Washington (Fr.) | Memphis Grizzlies | None |
| 26 | Miles Plumlee | C | 7'0" | Duke (Sr.) | Indiana Pacers | None |
| 27 | Arnett Moultrie | PF | 6'11" | Mississippi State (Jr.) | Miami Heat | Later traded to Philadelphia 76ers on draft night |
| 28 | Perry Jones III | PF | 6'11" | Baylor (Jr.) | Oklahoma City Thunder | None |
| 29 | Marquis Teague | PG | 6'2" | Kentucky (Fr.) | Chicago Bulls | None |
| 30 | Festus Ezeli | C | 6'11" | Vanderbilt (Sr.) | Golden State Warriors | Acquired from Utah Jazz |
Second Round
The second round of the 2012 NBA Draft consisted of picks 31 through 60, emphasizing developmental prospects, international talents, and lesser-known college performers who offered teams cost-effective roster depth with minimal long-term financial risk compared to first-round selections. Unlike first-round picks, which receive guaranteed rookie-scale contracts starting at approximately $850,000 for the 30th pick, second-rounders typically sign non-guaranteed standard NBA contracts or similar deals averaging under $800,000 in the first year, contributing to higher roster turnover and bust rates—where only about 25% of second-round picks from drafts in this era logged significant NBA minutes beyond their rookie season, versus over 60% for late first-rounders. This structure encouraged frequent trades, with at least 12 second-round rights exchanged on or before draft night, enabling teams to acquire multiple picks for future flexibility.[1][23][24][25] The round highlighted international and under-the-radar college players, such as Czech guard Tomáš Satoranský (pick 32, Washington Wizards), who brought overseas experience from professional leagues, and UC Santa Barbara's Orlando Johnson (pick 36, Indiana Pacers via Sacramento), a mid-major scorer overlooked in favor of power-conference stars. Trades were particularly active, exemplified by Dallas acquiring picks 33 and 34 from Cleveland in a prior deal involving center Tyson Chandler, using them to select Florida State's Bernard James, a 27-year-old military veteran, and Marquette's Jae Crowder, a defensive specialist. Another notable swap saw Philadelphia trade the 45th pick to Miami for forward Arnett Moultrie (a first-rounder), with Miami then selecting LSU center Justin Hamilton.[1][26][25] Golden State's selection of Michigan State's Draymond Green at 35th stood out as a value pick for a versatile forward with elite passing and rebounding from a major program, while Baylor's Quincy Miller (38th, Denver) represented a high-upside wing with injury concerns from a top college team. International selections proliferated late in the round, including Greek forward Kostas Papanikolaou (48th, New York Knicks) and Turkish center Furkan Aldemir (53rd, Los Angeles Clippers), underscoring teams' strategy to stash prospects abroad for development without immediate roster pressure. Overall, the round's fluidity, with picks like 41st overall Tyshawn Taylor (Brooklyn Nets via Portland) flipping multiple times, reinforced its role in team building through low-stakes asset accumulation.[1][26]| Pick | Player | Position | College/Country | Selecting Team | Trade Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Jeff Taylor | SG | Vanderbilt | Charlotte Bobcats | None |
| 32 | Tomáš Satoranský | PG | Czech Republic | Washington Wizards | None |
| 33 | Bernard James | C | Florida State | Dallas Mavericks | Via Cleveland[26] |
| 34 | Jae Crowder | SF | Marquette | Dallas Mavericks | Via Cleveland[26] |
| 35 | Draymond Green | PF | Michigan State | Golden State Warriors | None |
| 36 | Orlando Johnson | SG | UC Santa Barbara | Indiana Pacers | Via Sacramento (cash considerations)[26] |
| 37 | Quincy Acy | PF | Baylor | Toronto Raptors | None |
| 38 | Quincy Miller | SF | Baylor | Denver Nuggets | None |
| 39 | Khris Middleton | SF | Texas A&M | Detroit Pistons | None |
| 40 | Will Barton | SG | Memphis | Portland Trail Blazers | None |
| 41 | Tyshawn Taylor | PG | Kansas | Brooklyn Nets | Via Portland (cash considerations)[26] |
| 42 | Doron Lamb | SG | Kentucky | Milwaukee Bucks | None |
| 43 | Mike Scott | PF | Virginia | Atlanta Hawks | None |
| 44 | Kim English | SG | Missouri | Detroit Pistons | None |
| 45 | Justin Hamilton | C | LSU | Miami Heat | Via Philadelphia (for Arnett Moultrie and future second-rounder)[26] |
| 46 | Darius Miller | SG | Kentucky | New Orleans Hornets | None |
| 47 | Kevin Murphy | SG | Tennessee Tech | Utah Jazz | None |
| 48 | Kostas Papanikolaou | SF | Greece | New York Knicks | None |
| 49 | Kyle O'Quinn | C | Norfolk State | Orlando Magic | None |
| 50 | İzzet Türkyılmaz | C | Turkey | Denver Nuggets | None |
| 51 | Kris Joseph | SF | Syracuse | Boston Celtics | None |
| 52 | Ognjen Kuzmić | C | Serbia | Golden State Warriors | None |
| 53 | Furkan Aldemir | PF | Turkey | Los Angeles Clippers | None |
| 54 | Tornike Shengelia | PF | Georgia | Philadelphia 76ers | Traded to Brooklyn (cash considerations)[26] |
| 55 | Darius Johnson-Odom | SG | Marquette | Dallas Mavericks | Traded to Los Angeles Lakers (cash considerations)[26] |
| 56 | Tomislav Zubčić | PF | Croatia | Toronto Raptors | None |
| 57 | İlkan Karaman | PF | Turkey | New Jersey Nets | None |
| 58 | Robbie Hummel | SF | Purdue | Minnesota Timberwolves | None |
| 59 | Marcus Denmon | SG | Missouri | San Antonio Spurs | None |
| 60 | Robert Sacre | C | Gonzaga | Los Angeles Lakers | None |
Draft-Day Trades
During the 2012 NBA Draft on June 28, 2012, in Newark, New Jersey, approximately 10 trades were announced live on the broadcast, with the majority occurring in the second round and focusing on pick swaps or cash purchases to facilitate team needs for depth or salary cap flexibility.[27] These deals often involved cash considerations, allowing cash-flush teams like the Brooklyn Nets to acquire late picks without surrendering significant assets, while others, such as multi-pick exchanges, enabled positional maneuvering in real time.[25] One prominent first-round trade reshaped selections late in the evening: the Dallas Mavericks selected North Carolina center Tyler Zeller with the 17th pick and immediately traded his rights to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for the rights to the 24th pick (Oregon State guard Jared Cunningham), 33rd pick (Florida State center Bernard James), and 34th pick (Marquette forward Jae Crowder).[28] This multi-asset swap allowed Cleveland to secure a starting-caliber big man to pair with their young core, while Dallas amassed three second-rounders to bolster their roster post-lockout.[28] In the second round, several transactions highlighted the market for affordable talent: the Philadelphia 76ers traded the rights to the 45th pick (Marshall center Justin Hamilton) and a protected 2013 first-round pick to the Miami Heat for the rights to the 27th pick (Mississippi State forward Arnett Moultrie), enabling Philadelphia to add frontcourt depth despite their recent Finals appearance.[29] The Heat, focused on luxury tax avoidance, flipped the pick to acquire future value without committing to a rookie contract.[29] Similarly, the Indiana Pacers acquired the rights to the 36th pick (UC Santa Barbara guard Orlando Johnson) from the Sacramento Kings for cash considerations, targeting a shooter for bench scoring.[30] Cash-driven deals dominated the latter stages, as rebuilding teams sold picks to contenders: the Brooklyn Nets purchased the rights to the 41st pick (Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor) from the Portland Trail Blazers for cash, adding backcourt speed.[31] The Nets followed by buying the 54th pick (Belgian forward Tornike Shengelia) from the Philadelphia 76ers for cash, further enhancing their international scouting pipeline.[27] The Los Angeles Lakers also entered the market, acquiring the 55th pick (Marquette guard Darius Johnson-Odom) from the Dallas Mavericks for cash to address perimeter defense.[32] These trades contributed to draft-day surprises by altering pick ownership in real time, often prioritizing immediate roster fits over long-term assets and leading to unexpected selections like Zeller's ascent and multiple second-rounders landing in Dallas.[28] The prevalence of cash deals underscored the post-lockout emphasis on cost control, with teams like the Nets leveraging ownership wealth to outmaneuver salary-constrained rivals.[25]Chronological List of Key Draft-Day Trades
The following table summarizes major trades by approximate announcement order, based on affected pick numbers:| Affected Picks | Teams Involved | Details |
|---|---|---|
| No. 17 (1st Round) | Dallas Mavericks → Cleveland Cavaliers | Rights to Tyler Zeller for rights to Nos. 24 (Jared Cunningham), 33 (Bernard James), and 34 (Jae Crowder).[28] |
| No. 27 (1st Round) | Miami Heat → Philadelphia 76ers | Rights to Arnett Moultrie for rights to No. 45 (Justin Hamilton) and a protected 2013 1st-round pick.[29] |
| No. 36 (2nd Round) | Sacramento Kings → Indiana Pacers | Rights to Orlando Johnson for cash.[30] |
| No. 41 (2nd Round) | Portland Trail Blazers → Brooklyn Nets | Rights to Tyshawn Taylor for cash.[31] |
| No. 54 (2nd Round) | Philadelphia 76ers → Brooklyn Nets | Rights to Tornike Shengelia for cash.[27] |
| No. 55 (2nd Round) | Dallas Mavericks → Los Angeles Lakers | Rights to Darius Johnson-Odom for cash.[32] |
Post-Draft Outcomes
Notable Undrafted Players
Several players from the 2012 NBA draft class went undrafted but signed free agent contracts and carved out meaningful professional careers in the league, demonstrating the ongoing value of post-draft opportunities like summer leagues, training camps, and G League assignments. These individuals met the criteria of appearing in at least one NBA regular-season game after securing an undrafted free agent deal immediately following the draft.[33] Key examples include the following notable players, who transitioned from undrafted status to rotation roles across multiple teams:| Player | Position | College | Signing Team | Career Entry Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent Bazemore | SG/SF | Old Dominion | Golden State Warriors | Signed to summer league roster; made opening night roster as a defensive specialist; contributed to one NBA championship (2015) with the Warriors, appearing in 642 games over 11 seasons.[34] |
| JaMychal Green | PF | Alabama | San Antonio Spurs | Joined summer league; spent initial seasons in G League before multi-year deal with Grizzlies in 2015; became a reliable frontcourt contributor in 645 games over 10 seasons, including playoff appearances.[35] |
| Jonathon Simmons | SG | Houston | San Antonio Spurs | Paid $150 for G League tryout with Austin Toros in 2013; signed a standard contract in 2015 after summer league MVP performance; developed into a dynamic scorer in 289 games over five seasons.[36] |
| Hollis Thompson | SF | Georgetown | Philadelphia 76ers | Signed post-draft; earned rotation spot as a 3-and-D wing; played 229 games over four seasons, averaging 5.3 points per game. |