Harrison Barnes: Just the Player the Detroit Pistons Need

If you're a Detroit Pistons fan, you can't be excited about your team's lousy 4-14 record.

But don't be too depressed. You have something to look forward to: the 2012 NBA Draft, which takes place this June.

Unless there's a miracle, the Pistons will likely land a top-five pick and get the opportunity to select from players like Andre Drummond, Anthony Davis, Jared Sullinger or Harrison Barnes. 

Drummond, Davis and Sullinger would each form a nice big man duo with Pistons center Greg Monroe, but Barnes is really the guy who the team should take.  

Barnes, the 6'8" North Carolina forward, would add a scoring punch to the Pistons' lineup—something the team desperately needs. The Pistons currently rank dead last in the NBA in scoring, averaging just a tad under 85 points per game. Monroe is their leading scorer with 15.2 PPG.

Yikes.

Barnes is the type of player who could average 20 points as an NBA rookie, especially on a severely-offensively challenged squad like this year's Pistons. 

Rated as the top high school player in the class of 2010, Barnes was expected to become a big time star right off the bat at North Carolina.

However, he would struggle mightily through the first half of his freshman season, failing to meet expectations. In fact, Barnes didn't reach double figures in scoring in six of his first 15 contests.

But later on he would finally find his shooting touch and averaged 19.9 points over the final 17 games and 21 points in the NCAA tournament.

Barnes poured in 40 points versus Clemson in the ACC tournament. In that game, he was 12-for-17 from the field, including 6-for-8 from three-point land and 10-of-11 from the free throw line.

Barnes could've been one of the top picks in last year's draft, but he decided to return for his sophomore season.

So far this year, he's putting up 17 PPG and has led the Tar Heels to a top-10 ranking.

Barnes is a gifted shooter. He isn't the world's most explosive player like a LeBron James, but he has the skills to develop into a first-class NBA scorer.

If Barnes decides to declare for the 2012 draft and he's available when the Pistons are on the clock, Joe Dumars needs to grab this future All-Star.