NBA Draft 2012: Which Forwards Are Most Ready?

This year, there is no uncertainty whatsoever surrounding the top pick in the NBA Draft.

New Orleans will select Kentucky power forward Anthony Davis, and the Hornets will hope their new franchise player continues his shot-blocking dominance at the professional level.

However, while most expect Davis to become a star in the NBA, there is concern about how his slender build will hold up against more physically imposing post players. It's very possible that Davis will one day be an NBA All-Star, but he'll likely need to be gradually molded into his role before he reaches his full potential.

Several other potential lottery picks possess diverse skill sets that will translate to early NBA success even better than the presumed No. 1 pick.

There isn't one common attribute that is shared by these young players to garner the label of an "NBA-ready" player; however, each player appears to have a specific talent that should successfully fill a hole on an NBA roster.

Some are natural scorers who figure to be important assets in a high-octane NBA offensive attack, while others are lock-down defenders whose relentless effort will translate to a specific role as a defensive specialist.

Whatever their individual case may be, several rookies will be expected to fill some big shoes in 2012. Let's take a look at the three most NBA-ready forwards in this year's draft.

1. PF Thomas Robinson, Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks No. 0

Class: Junior

Height: 6' 7.75"

Weight: 244 lbs

Robinson has what people call an "NBA body." While not quite on the same level as NBA super humans Dwight Howard and LeBron James, Robinson's shoulders are built like a Maytag refrigerator, and his impressive build and superior athleticism make up for his somewhat disappointing length.

Nobody believed the Jayhawks' listing of Robinson at 6'10". Most thought he was somewhere around 6'9" before he measured under 6'8" without shoes at the NBA Scouting Combine. Robinson's size is less of a concern due to his 7' 3.25" wingspan that allows him to guard much taller post players. Standing tall in his own skin, Robinson enjoyed a Naismith-caliber junior season at Kansas in which he averaged 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game against stiff Division I competition.

Robinson possesses an adequate mid-range jump shot so he isn't completely reliant on his post game. Although there's a very small sample size, he shot 50 percent from the three-point range on his 14 attempts last season.

If he can continue to improve upon his jump shot, he'll force defenders to respect him away from the basket, and thus open up the middle lane for his teammates. If Robinson plays alongside a dominant center, it could make for a lethal offensive combination and a nightmare for opposing defenders.

Not only did Robinson lead the Jayhawks to a 27-6 record playing in the Big 12 Conference, he took Kansas all the way to the 2012 NCAA Championship Game. Whichever NBA team drafts him in a couple of weeks will certainly hope his presence has the same result on their franchise.

2. SF Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

North Carolina Tar Heels No. 40

Class: Sophomore

Height: 6' 7"

Weight: 227 lbs

Harrison Barnes possesses perhaps the single most important trait for a small forward—the ability to create his own shot and score.

Barnes' sophomore season was statistically similar to his freshman campaign. He averaged just north of 15 points and slightly more than five rebounds in each of his two seasons at Chapel Hill, although he disappointed some when he failed to carry the team on his back in the absence of point guard Kendall Marshall.

Despite drawing criticism following an underwhelming performance in last year's NCAA Tournament, Barnes is an incredibly versatile offensive player, and that figures to be his best asset at the NBA level.

During his time with the Tar Heels, Barnes demonstrated his ability to create his own shot time and time again. When being guarded by slower players, he is able to put the ball to the floor and get to the rim, and when he's guarded by quicker players, Barnes can rise up and shoot right over his counterpart.

If he's drafted by a struggling offensive team such as the Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards or Cleveland Cavaliers in the three picks that follow Anthony Davis to New Orleans at No. 1, Barnes would instantly become the focus of that team's scoring output.

The best situation for Barnes might be to fall out of the top three and go to Cleveland with the fourth overall pick. A backcourt featuring Barnes, a Tar Heel, and last year's Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving, a Duke Blue Devil, would certainly provide reason for excitement for Cleveland fans still healing the wounds after LeBron's departure two summers ago.

3. SF Moe Harkless, St. John's

St. John's Red Storm No. 4

Class: Freshman

Height: 6' 7.25"

Weight: 207 lbs

Although it may be surprising to most, St. John's forward Moe Harkless may very well be one of the most NBA-ready forwards in the 2012 draft class.

Harkless could very well be selected in the lottery, but it's possible that he'll be drafted in the mid-to-late first round. Regardless of where he's drafted, Harkless is a versatile player and his wide variety of skills could make him an impact player as a rookie in the NBA.

Despite only playing one season at the collegiate level, Harkless proved to be a talented scorer and a relentless rebounder with the Red Storm, averaging 15.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest.

Although his build may suggest he's somewhere between a shooting guard and a small forward, the reality is that he's between the small forward and power forward positions. He has a natural toughness about him when attacking the rim, and he uses that to his full advantage against smaller defenders.

In the NBA, players will surely be more physically imposing than in the Big East, but Harkless will be up to the challenge. He has an incredibly quick first step, allowing him to get into the lane almost whenever he wants, and he also has range to about twenty feet from the basket.

One of Harkless' attributes that will surely help him in the NBA is his ability to get contested shots off at awkward angles. It's much harder to get open shots at the professional level than it is at the collegiate level, but Harkless has often demonstrated the ability to create those for himself.

The word "potential" is used ad nauseam. Most consider Harkless a work in progress, but he clearly has some skills that will transform him into an impact player early in his NBA career.

Teams picking late in the lottery such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns should consider drafting Harkless, but it's more likely that he'll fall into the 15-20 range of the draft. Whoever takes Harkless may end up being a real winner down the road.