Top 5 Prospects for 2012 NBA Draft

[ManualRam]

The guy in mufasa's sig is another example of someone who improved his handle after college.

[JamesNaismith]

The guy in mufasa's sig is another example of someone who improved his handle after college.

I appreciate the example of Rudy Gay but funny enough Mufasa likened Barnes to DeRozan in terms of development in the Raptors' forum which I think is a pretty reasonable one...

As with DeMar, I believe the potential to be one of the better players in the league is there but like him and even Gay I don't believe they will ever become truly elite wings. They can become very good players but not what I consider elite...ie/ Gay vs Durant. That's just the feeling I'm getting now with Barnes' potential vs Miller's being similar (not exact) to that of a Gay vs Durant on a lower level....so for me as it stands now I like Miller a lot more then Barnes....again glad you brought up Rudy cuz I think Barnes will hover around Deng to Gay's level from what I see.

[Cineast]

Is expecting around the lines of Sean Elliott's career fair for Barnes? Nice solid 18/5 wing with a good attitude, if he lands on a team with a superstar he could sneak in as the 2nd or 3rd all-star. And tbh I think Washington or Sacramento or the Clippers could use a 3rd option Elliott type as much as another alpha dog anyways

I think Sean Elliott sounds about right. All star a couple of times, solid 2nd or 3rd option on a good team.

[UGA Hayes]

Actually Barnes reminds me of a sane Stephen Jackson-same sketchy shot selection, shaky handle, height, intensity, trouble getting to the line.

[MalonesElbows]

1. Andre Drummond: As good as Barnes will be next year, no one will pass up a 6'11 260 player with the agility, passing, and ball handling skills better than some point guards. A freak of nature like Lebron.

2. Harrison Barnes: We saw previews of what Barnes was capable of in the tournament. His play this summer has reinforced that even more. He was measured at 6'9" at Durant's camp and has the high character and leadership abilities that cause GMs to froth at the mouth.

3. Anthony Davis: Anthony Randolph with a brain. And that is well worth a #3 pick.

4. Jared Sullinger: Doesn't possess elite size or athleticism but extremely talented and uses his mass like a wrecking ball to score easily inside. An old school PF, and a damn good one.

5. Quincy Miller: People have been sleeping on him because of the ACL injury. That is a mistake; he has some Durant like blood in him.

[#1 pick]

So far that's all I see of Barnes is a better version of Deng which btw is a solid damn player just not sure that's really a franchise player yet....imo it's all dependent on developing his ballhandling skills to take him from good to great.


I'm not asking this as loaded question but genuinely interested to know if anyone can recall a player who made some massive strides in their ballhandling after college?!?!


I also just wanted to point out that Barnes was actually at CP3's camp LAST year as well....I'm just saying that because it seems a lot of stock is being put into the fact that he attended it this year as if it was going to clear up a lot of issues. Of course every little bit helps but that's why I proposed the question above because I'm genuinely interested to know.

To me he is closer to Grant Hill than he is to Luol Deng.

[JamesNaismith]

Wow....I'm not sure how you arrived at that conclusion but it would take quite a bit of work to get Barnes at the level Grant Hill was in his prime. Hill was the closest thing to Lebron in the modern area of ball and at one point a better rebounder. I'm not sure if you recall what Hill's game was like or just got Barnes' overstated.

So far I don't see Barnes' passing being anywhere close to GHill's.

[sipclip]

Grant Hill and Barnes are polar opposites when it comes to skill set. Other than having an incredible shooting stroke I don't feel like Barnes is that skilled at all. He is only a decent athlete without a quick first step and an average handle. I see his best case scenario being Danny Granger who is a really good player but not elite like some people talk about Barnes becoming. Grant Hill on the other hand has never had the shooting stroke that Barnes possesses but he did pretty much everything else on the basketball court at a level that I think Barnes can only dream about. Maybe Barnes will prove me wrong and show that he can do other things on the court at an extremely high level but based on last year I saw nothing of it.

[7-Day Dray]

Grant Hill and Barnes are polar opposites when it comes to skill set. Other than having an incredible shooting stroke I don't feel like Barnes is that skilled at all. He is only a decent athlete without a quick first step and an average handle. I see his best case scenario being Danny Granger who is a really good player but not elite like some people talk about Barnes becoming. Grant Hill on the other hand has never had the shooting stroke that Barnes possesses but he did pretty much everything else on the basketball court at a level that I think Barnes can only dream about. Maybe Barnes will prove me wrong and show that he can do other things on the court at an extremely high level but based on last year I saw nothing of it.

+1000

[Dr Positivity]

Grant Hill and Barnes are polar opposites when it comes to skill set. Other than having an incredible shooting stroke I don't feel like Barnes is that skilled at all. He is only a decent athlete without a quick first step and an average handle. I see his best case scenario being Danny Granger who is a really good player but not elite like some people talk about Barnes becoming. Grant Hill on the other hand has never had the shooting stroke that Barnes possesses but he did pretty much everything else on the basketball court at a level that I think Barnes can only dream about. Maybe Barnes will prove me wrong and show that he can do other things on the court at an extremely high level but based on last year I saw nothing of it.

Dead on, on both the inanity of the Hill comparison and Granger as resembling his upside

[Geaux_Hawks]

Mcadoo would seem more of a PF, but he has such good instincts in the paint that he basically can just rely on that for offense instead of shooting jumpers, much like Josh Smith can. Same can be said about Worthy. Of course he had more to his game like a great handle, good shot, & able to run in transitions, etc, but Mcadoo has potential to develop that part of his game. Josh Smith came into the league as a 3, but management told him to bulk up into a 4 with Horford at center. Josh Smith was 230 a couple years ago, and played a lot inside and blocked plenty of shots, while playing the 3.


I still think him, Drummond, & Anthony Davis are better top 3 talents than Barnes. Barnes will a better Deng( which is great). If he shows progress from that camp then that's great, but only way I would consider taking him over Mcadoo or Davis is if they underachieve in their freshman years.

[S.W.A.N]

Mcadoo would seem more of a PF, but he has such good instincts in the paint that he basically can just rely on that for offense instead of shooting jumpers, much like Josh Smith can. Same can be said about Worthy. Of course he had more to his game like a great handle, good shot, & able to run in transitions, etc, but Mcadoo has potential to develop that part of his game. Josh Smith came into the league as a 3, but management told him to bulk up into a 4 with Horford at center. Josh Smith was 230 a couple years ago, and played a lot inside and blocked plenty of shots, while playing the 3.


I still think him, Drummond, & Anthony Davis are better top 3 talents than Barnes. Barnes will a better Deng( which is great). If he shows progress from that camp then that's great, but only way I would consider taking him over Mcadoo or Davis is if they underachieve in their freshman years.

http://asubstituteforwar.com/2011/10/09 ... ojections/


While I don't agree with the upside they suggest (I think you will see a better handle this season which expands his game) the type of player comparisons they suggest are pretty good.

Deng
Granger
Sean Elliot
Shane Battier (I don't like this comparison as Battier never used his 3 pointer enough)

But when you think about a better Deng or a Granger with Deng's defense you could have an exceptional player. At worst you have a Solid above average starting forward for a decade.

Which unless someone else has a phenomenal rookie season is enough reason for him to go number 1.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Like that article says, I hope he doesn't go #1 or top 3. People will look for him to be that Paul Pierce/Brandon Roy player he garnered in high school. 18/7 with Deng D is about the most he will be and a few assists. Only way he becomes Granger is if the Cats draft him.

If he gets picked 6 or 7, then he will be a fine choice, but 1-5 have better players potential wise available with Drummond, Mcadoo, Sullinger, Miller, and Anthony Davis.

Why miss out on taking the center version of Amare, Worthy, Bosh, Love, or Ray Allen for a guy who looks just like the better version of Luol Deng?! Now if you are a team that doesn't need a PF, then take him, but then again, I think Jeremy Lamb & Bradley Beal will have a breakout season to make them worth picking.

[teamjosh04]

my top 5

Anthony Davis
Andre Drummond
Harrison Barnes
Michael Gilchrist
Qunicy Miller

a little late to this discussion, ill try to read it later

[Rapsfan07]

Barnes is underrated on here.

He is DEFINITELY a Top 5 pick unless he has a total breakdown in college..and even then, he could still be a very good pro. I think his ceiling is Rudy Gay with a floor of Luol Deng. Point is - he will be one of the better SFs in the league, much like Granger. I just don't know if he'll be that guy like LeBron, Durant or Carmelo or something but he's very worth a Top 5 pick. If anyone drops out of the Top 5, I think it will be either Quincy Miller (ACL injury could scare executives if he doesn't have as good a season as people expect) and Jared Sullinger (highly doubt he falls out but if someone else has a STELLAR season, he'd drop before anyone else). Either way, this draft looks to be a solid one and even a pick as late as #14 could yield astounding value.

Btw, anyone that take Gilchrist in the Top 5 will be very, very sorry. He is a lottery pick though.

[JamesNaismith]

Not sure how you can say Barnes is being underrated then make the SAME comparison a good bulk of posters have made of him being like Granger?!!? lol

[Rapsfan07]

Not sure how you can say Barnes is being underrated then make the SAME comparison a good bulk of posters have made of him being like Granger?!!? lol

Well...it's pretty simple. You misunderstood my post.

When I said "much like Granger" I was referring to his "stardom", if you will in that he will be an upper echelon small forward (like Granger, Rudy, Deng etc) but not a "superstar" like Melo, Durant, LeBron etc. I wasn't referring to his skillet. And when I said underrated, I was referring to those posts and poster who believe that Barnes will far out of the Top 5.

[Ruzious]

My top 5 right now (and I'm sure it'll change) is:
1. Andre Drummond - barring injury - he's in a class by himself as the top prospect.
2. Anthony Davis - he's got to get stronger to hold this position.
3. Michael Gilchrist - needs to show he's as good offensively as I think he will be, but I just love his demeanor - especially on defense.
4. Austin Rivers - I really believe his demeanor has been misunderstood - a lot of people are criticising his attitude, and I think his competitiveness sets him apart from similarly gifted players.
5. Harrison Barnes - He is as good as his point guard makes him. He is NOT a creator, BUT... when he has a good PG setting him up, he's outstanding. And he plays both ends.

[Silk Wilkes]

Ultimate potential seems to be:

Drummond - Amare
Davis - KG
Gilchrist - Artest
Rivers - Jamal Crawford
Barnes - Granger

[Geaux_Hawks]

Ultimate potential seems to be:

Drummond - Amare
Davis - KG
Gilchrist - Artest
Rivers - Jamal Crawford
Barnes - Granger

Gilchrist is probably more Iggy than Artest, while Rivers is more Mayo than Crawford.