It's starting to look like Weber State point guard Damian Lillard has established himself as the top point guard in the 2012 NBA Draft. Most expect Lillard to now be selected in the top ten during Thursday's first round, with the Sacramento Kings' No. 5 pick being the earliest he could conceivably be selected.
Related: 2012 NBA Mock Draft Meta-Analysis, Vol. 3: Rumors Sully Sullinger
The latest mock from Draft Express has the Kings taking North Carolina small forward Harrison Barnes, the Trailblazers tabbing UConn center Andre Drummond at No. 6, and Lillard getting snatched up by the Golden State Warriors with the seventh pick. Here's what Jonathan Givony had to say:
Damian Lillard: PG, 21, 6-3, 189, Weber State, Junior
Breaking the draft down into tiers, it's clear there are a few large dropoffs in value. One is between picks one and two. Another is right here. The player who is picked at seven could very well have been drafted at 17 under different circumstances. The Warriors have a group of about 10 players to choose from, and don't have any type of consensus at this point about who they might take. Lillard appears to be the best long-term prospect on the board in terms of sheer value, and should be able to see minutes alongside Stephen Curry thanks to his excellent size and perimeter shooting ability.
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