Top 5 Prospects for 2012 NBA Draft

[5DOM]

Not sure about the "glorified" part. Deng in his freshman year was pretty good. Barnes doesn't even shoot great %'s for someone who's supposed to be a great shooter.

[mid-post]

I think people are forgetting/underestimating how good freshman Luol Deng was.

[Charsace]

Don't you think Barnes is a guy who'd play better in a structured system, using a triple-threat setup, where he can utilize his size, strength, and his uncontestable high-point release fadeaway? I think he'd be awesome playing on the block, where I'm sure he played a lot in Ames, Iowa. Gregg Popovich would have a field day with Barnes - seems perfect for the Spurs with Duncan winding down a great career. Sean Elliot comes to mind.

Based on the answers given (thanks to all who replied) on "who out of this draft is a franchise talent potentially"? It seems like I'm selling Anthony Davis short. I was looking more at his offensive game, but it could be that his defensive impact offsets any shortcomings he has offensively. I agree re: Jeremy Lamb. Dude has that Brandon Roy look to him, albeit with long-*** arms. Roy has the edge with his strength though.

Then, there are some wildcards - Perry Jones and Quincy Miller. These guys could go either way imo. Still like Sullinger, if for nothing else, then his post game, and developing perimeter shot. Dude is a great passer out of double teams as well (remains to be seen if he'll be good enough at the next level to warrant double teams) I can see the Kevin Love comp. to a degree, vc4p - Love being the better rebounder, however.

Beal could be a monster utilizing screens, seems smart enough to do so anyway. Very impressed with his rebounding numbers, and defence early on.

I don't see Barnes being successful doing that. He just doesn't have the handles or speed to go with his strength so I just don't see him being good in isolation. He has problems isolating against college defenders. To this day I don't understand how people could compare him to Kobe. Its like people decided Barnes is a top prospect and so they aren't going to change it. He must be a basketball god non-UNC games.

Yeah, I mean I saw him struggle a lot tonight trying to get by defenders. But, the interesting thing about Barnes, is that he seems more comfortable down there than on the perimeter. Again, maybe it's due to the fact that he played a lot inside in high school, but he appears to know how to maneuver to get his shot, as opposed to on the perimeter, where he simply resorts to a pull-up/fadeaway, a shot that would be much more high percentage for him if he were to take it near the free-throw line, as opposed to further out.

Okay, I'm getting way too analytical on this I'll just say, I see potential in his post game. Perimeter game does make him look like a glorified Luol Deng (as vc4p and ManRam have said), with more variety in his jumpshot.

I also see great potential in his post game. I was thinking that he could be a Bonzi Wells type of player, but with good defense and without the crazy? Or if he improves is ball handling a poor man's Carmelo?

[vincecarter4pres]

I think people are forgetting/underestimating how good freshman Luol Deng was.

Yup.

And that's why I wonder why Ram says a rich man's Deng and not just Deng.

[ManualRam]

I think people are forgetting/underestimating how good freshman Luol Deng was.

Yup.

And that's why I wonder why Ram says a rich man's Deng and not just Deng.

Because i think he has more potential offensively than deng.

People are saying that he struggles scoring 1on1 even against college defenders, yet this yr he's scoring the overwhelming majority of his buckets off of 1on1 moves, not catch and shoot or just finishing plays.
He's shown the ability to shoot out of face up situations, he's shown the step back jumper, the one dribble pull up, the strength and footwork to post. Again, he will never be a guy who can just catch the ball 3 pt line extended and beat his man off the dribble, but he has shown the ability to catch and go to work from other areas of the floor.

[DetroitPistons]

Im with Ram on Barnes. hes getting a lot more hate than is warranted. also, keep in mind its going to be harder for him to "light it up" when he has such a stacked team to share the ball with. As of right now hes only behind Drummond and Davis imo but that could change.

[MalonesElbows]

Tentative top 5:

1. Drummond: 6'11" 270 athletic as hell will simply not be passed on by any GM.
2. Davis: Amazing, game changing defender. Superstar potential.
3. Lamb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMFTEiej0mY
4: Sullinger: A low block beast with smarts but can never be a game changing defender.
5. Barnes: Eeks out this spot over Miller. Not a #1 option in the NBA.

[Charsace]

I think people are forgetting/underestimating how good freshman Luol Deng was.

Yup.

And that's why I wonder why Ram says a rich man's Deng and not just Deng.

Because i think he has more potential offensively than deng.

People are saying that he struggles scoring 1on1 even against college defenders, yet this yr he's scoring the overwhelming majority of his buckets off of 1on1 moves, not catch and shoot or just finishing plays.
He's shown the ability to shoot out of face up situations, he's shown the step back jumper, the one dribble pull up, the strength and footwork to post. Again, he will never be a guy who can just catch the ball 3 pt line extended and beat his man off the dribble, but he has shown the ability to catch and go to work from other areas of the floor.

I said it in my earlier post that he could be a carmelo type of player if he improves those handles. I don't think he has the foot speed to do it on the next level with the handles that he has. If his handles don't improve he will be like Deng who relies on pump faking to get a straight line drive to the basket. Because with the handles he has now he doesn't have the athletic ability to just blow by guys. He looks like slightly lesser version Danny Granger to me in body and athletic ability and Granger doesn't get by guys all that much and he's a better shooter and ball handler than Barnes.

[ManualRam]

Yup.

And that's why I wonder why Ram says a rich man's Deng and not just Deng.

Because i think he has more potential offensively than deng.

People are saying that he struggles scoring 1on1 even against college defenders, yet this yr he's scoring the overwhelming majority of his buckets off of 1on1 moves, not catch and shoot or just finishing plays.
He's shown the ability to shoot out of face up situations, he's shown the step back jumper, the one dribble pull up, the strength and footwork to post. Again, he will never be a guy who can just catch the ball 3 pt line extended and beat his man off the dribble, but he has shown the ability to catch and go to work from other areas of the floor.

I said it in my earlier post that he could be a carmelo type of player if he improves those handles. I don't think he has the foot speed to do it on the next level with the handles that he has. If his handles don't improve he will be like Deng who relies on pump faking to get a straight line drive to the basket. Because with the handles he has now he doesn't have the athletic ability to just blow by guys. He looks like slightly lesser version Danny Granger to me in body and athletic ability and Granger doesn't get by guys all that much and he's a better shooter and ball handler than Barnes.

even if he had improved ball-handling ability he still couldnt be a carmelo type player because he lacks the first step.
i too believe he'll be a pump fake, straight line drive like deng plus the ability to score out of the triple threat and post, to go along with step backs, pull ups, curls and spot ups.
a player can easily be a high teens to low 20s scorer with that type of arsenal.
also, one thing you're not mentioning is his strength. barnes is jacked for a SF already. he'll be able to create space to get off his shot with that body.

[Elden Payton]

^^^^^^^^^^

Agreed wholeheartedly Ram, I think Barnes will be a smooth scorer but without the wow factor which is why the rich mans Deng makes sense.

But a smooth understated 20 points is the same as 20 points full of highlights.

I think Barnes is getting slept on now with the great freshman class garnering a lot of attention.

[Wone]

I think Perry Jones can be Tmac like in the NBA level. Something about him is different...in a good way.

I'm not sold on Barnes, Davis and Sullinger. I think Drummond will be good tho.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Here is my top 5 thus far...

1- Anthony Davis
2- Andre Drummond
3- Perry Jones
4- Jeremy Lamb
5- Bradley Beal

I need to see more of Drummond before I can put him above Davis. Barnes has slipped on my board because I like Lamb more and I'm wondering if he has the star power/potential that a top 5 should have. I would also like to see more of Quincy Miller, I haven't had the chance to see very much of him.

My next 5 would probably look like this:

6- Harrison Barnes
7- Jared Sullinger
8- Thomas Robinson
9- Quincy Miller
10- Terrence Jones

I really like Gilchrist but I need to see how he develops over the season before I put him above any of those guys.

[DirtyDez]

1. Andre Drummond
2. Perry Jones
3. Anthony Davis
4. Jeremy Lamb
5. Quincy Miller

[Steely Reserve]

1. Andre Drummond
2. Perry Jones
3. Anthony Davis
4. Jeremy Lamb
5. Quincy Miller

I appreciate the fact you have your own mind and not just another media parrot like so many others.

[Cammo101]

1. Andre Drummond
2. Perry Jones
3. Anthony Davis
4. Jeremy Lamb
5. Quincy Miller

I appreciate the fact you have your own mind and not just another media parrot like so many others.

It seems more likely that you just appreciate the fact that he has Perry Jones #2.

[Cammo101]

As of right now I would go...

1. Anthony Davis
2. Andre Drummond
3. Jeremy Lamb
4. Harrison Barnes
5. Perry Jones

[Steely Reserve]

Where is Sullinger on all these lists??

[Kirsten19]

Will John Henson be projected as a top 10 pick?

I rate him higher than Sullinger and Thomas Robinson

[boogie-reke]

If Terrence Jones keeps this up, he'll be a top 5.

[ManualRam]

If Terrence Jones keeps this up, he'll be a top 5.

i dont even think he's top 5 at his position in this upcoming draft.