2012 NBA Mock Draft: Harrsion Barnes and Top Candidates to Lead NBA in Scoring

One of the easiest skills to pick out when evaluating a prospect is their scoring ability.

You either have it, or you don’t.

This year the draft is loaded with big men ready to make an instant impact on the defensive end of the floor, but there are only a few that have the potential to be scoring machines.

We’re talking players that can score in the paint and fill it up from downtown. Guys that are incredibly athletic and able to create their own shot off the dribble.

As we go through the latest mock draft, we focus on the top contenders to one day lead the NBA in scoring.

(Candidates highlighted in italics)

1. Charlotte Bobcats - Anthony Davis, PF - Kentucky

Davis has the potential to lead the league in blocks and rebounds one day, but his offensive game is still a work in progress.

At the age of 19 he will certainly become more polished down the line, but not to the point where he’s scoring more than Kevin Durant in a season.

2. New Orleans Hornets - Andre Drummond, PF/C - UConn

Just because your 6’10’’ and 270 pounds doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed NBA success. Drummond officially declared for the draft on Thursday and in my eyes will be the biggest bust of the entire draft.

Buyers beware.

3. Washington Wizards - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF - Kentucky

Kidd-Gilchrist was incredibly unselfish at Kentucky so don’t be fooled by his 11.8 ppg average. At 6’7’’ and 235 pounds, he has the size to bully smaller opponents in the paint.

His strength allows him to finish in traffic with ease even amongst the trees. Nobody was scarier in the open court this season as he possesses a strong handle and is a great decision-maker as well.

While his jumper is shaky beyond 15 feet, that shouldn’t worry scouts. He is a tireless worker and will spend endless amounts of hours developing a reliable three-point shot.

The Wizards need a high-character guy that can run with John Wall and with the frenetic pace Washington incorporates, Kidd-Gilchrist is capable of being an offensive star in the nation’s capital.  

4. Sacramento Kings - Harrison Barnes, SF - North Carolina

The buzz on Barnes has subsided after registering a so-so NCAA tournament, but blame the Kendall Marshall wrist injury for that.

Barnes is a pure scorer in every sense of the term. He runs the floor like a gazelle and is able to finish strong with both hands.

He can be a volume shooter at times, which is a perfect fit for the system Sacramento runs. Barnes is going to average double-digits in his rookie season; from there it’s only a matter of time before he improves his jumper and is pouring in 20-plus points per game.

Remember, this was the No. 1 recruit coming out of high school and a somewhat rocky four game stretch shouldn’t change your opinion on him.

5. Toronto Raptors - Thomas Robinson, PF - Kansas

The undersized Robinson may not be a prolific scorer at the next level, but his high motor and outstanding energy level make him worth a high pick.

Robinson rose through the collegiate ranks thanks to hard work and hustle. That’s how he’ll make a living in the NBA. A finesse team like the Raptors could use just that.

6. Utah Jazz (from Golden State)-  Kendall Marshall, PG- North Carolina 

The broken wrist proved to America just how important he was to the second-best offense in the country.

His speed, vision and playmaking ability make him hands down the best pure point guard to come along in a very long time. Marshall is a shoe-in for NBA success.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers- Bradley Beal, SG- Florida

Pairing up the 6’4’’ sharpshooter with star point guard Kyrie Irving will give the Cavaliers a deadly backcourt for the next 10 years.

If the Cavs nail this pick they may be playoff bound in 2013.

8. New Orleans (from Minnesota) - Meyers Leonard, C - Illinois

With Chris Kaman likely to bolt via free agency, the Hornets need a seven-footer that has the length to dunk the ball in his sleep. Leonard fits the bill.

9. Portland Trail Blazers (from New Jersey) - Jeremy Lamb, SG - UConn

At 6’5’’ with the shooting abilities of Lamb, he’s only going to be a one-dimensional player until he hits the weight room hard.

His silky smooth jumper will allow him to score in bunches, but not to the point where he is among the elite in the NBA. Consider Lamb a project.

10. Portland Trail Blazers - Dion Waiters, SG - Syracuse

The 6’4’’ and 215-pounder is a finisher.

Few players of his stature are able to endure contact and still finish the play like Waiters. His play in transition is another highlight for a guy that has a sky-high ceiling.  He shot 48 percent from the floor this past season to round out one of the most complete offensive players in the entire draft.

One of the main factors for Waiters potentially being the scoring champ is landing on a team like the Blazers.

The guard play is atrocious and the lack of scoring threats is the main reason they are enduring such a bad season. In the right place, Waiters can be an explosive scorer that could become one of the best in the NBA.

11. Detroit Pistons - Jared Sullinger, PF - Ohio State

Sully is a safe pick.

He won’t be winning any scoring titles, but he’ll bring strong defense and a winning attitude to a team that could certainly use both.

12. Phoenix Suns - Perry Jones III, PF - Baylor 

Jones III has the biggest risk/reward label in the entire draft.

He played with maddening inconsistency his sophomore season, scoring 20-plus some nights only to register two the next.

He’s an efficient shooter that left college shooting 53 percent. Jones III is strong with the ball and at 6’11’’, has the length to be an elite post-up player with the right coaching staff teaching him.

Nobody is harder to gauge than Jones III, he could be the biggest bust of the draft or the NBA scoring champion. A complete roll of the dice.

13. Milwaukee Bucks - Arnett Moultrie, PF - Mississippi State

With the trade of Andrew Bogut the Bucks have to beef up their rebounding. Moultrie has an extremely wide frame at 6’11’’ and 230 pounds that makes him a load to move in the paint.

After averaging a double-double as a junior (15.8 and 10.6), he can help the Bucks right away.

14. Utah Jazz - Austin Rivers, SG - Duke

Rivers displayed enough during his freshman year to warrant a top 15 pick. He can handle the rock if needed in addition to being one of the best shooter’s in the entire draft.

He didn’t leave his mark at Duke, but he will in the NBA.

15. Houston Rockets (from New York)- Damian Lillard, PG- Weber State

With Goran Dragic likely to cash in via free agency, the Rockets need to beef up their backcourt.

Lillard is the first player from the Big Sky conference to be named an AP All-American, landing third team honors.

He led the nation in scoring for large chunks of the season because of his quickness against Big Sky opponents. He won’t be able to take advantage of that in the pros.

16. Denver Nuggets - Moe Harkless, SF - St. John’s

I have a feeling Harkless is going to be jumping up the board during all of the pre-draft workouts. The 6’8’’ guard averaged an eye-popping 15.3 points and 8.6 rebounds as a freshman. In the Big East. With little help around him.

It was one of the more incredible stat lines of the year and when you toss in his tenacity on the defensive end, you have yourself a premier prospect.

17. Philadelphia 76ers - John Henson, PF - North Carolina

With Elton Brand lumbering up the floor like he has a polar bear strapped to his back, the 76ers have to start grooming his replacement.

Henson is a reliable rebounder that with time can become an efficient scorer in the post.

18. New Jersey Nets (from Houston Rockets) - Tyler Zeller, C - North Carolina

Don’t expect Zeller to be a star. At 7’0’’ and 235 pounds, he runs the floor like a guard and can be a 10-rebound-a-guy player if given the opportunity, but his ceiling is very limited. He lacks the athleticism and power to be a major force down low.

19. Houston Rockets (from Dallas) - Royce White, SF/PF - Iowa State

When you score 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting while grabbing nine rebounds and three steals against Kentucky in the tournament, you are automatically a first-round pick. It’s a new NBA rule I believe.

20. Orlando Magic- Tony Wroten, PG- Washington

Wroten is a dangerous pick, but has the potential to be an elite scorer in the NBA.

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year averaged 16 points a game and is now the recipient of all sorts of Huskie rookie records. He has the quickness to create his own shot at the next level, but needs to do some serious work on his three-point shot.

If Wroten is willing to put in the work and improve his jumper, he has the natural talent and athleticism to averaged 10-plus foul shots a game in route to a scoring title.

21. Atlanta Hawks - Terrence Jones, SF - Kentucky

The 6’9’’ hybrid can play with any sort of lineup, even the funky one the Hawks incorporate. Jones can do whatever is asked of him as one of the most versatile players in the entire draft.

Jones is going to have a long NBA career because of it.

22. Memphis Grizzles - Will Barton, SG - Memphis

After shredding the nets for Memphis, why not stay in town and do something similar for the same cities professional team?

Barton is a prolific scorer that would be a perfect running mate for point guard Michael Conley Jr.

23. Boston Celtics - Terrence Ross, SG - Washington

The Celtics will be losing a Hall of Fame shooter in Ray Allen to free agency and need a guard that can take over his role.

While Ross certainly doesn’t have the efficiency of Allen, he is capable of scoring plenty of points with Rajon Rondo on his side.

24. Boston Celtics (from LA Clippers) - Andrew Micholson, PF - St. Bonaventure

The Celtics need rebounders and at this point Micholson is the best available on the board.

25. Indiana Pacers - Marcus Teague, PG - Kentucky

The Pacers are extremely close to being deemed championship contenders but still need a point guard. Teague had a wonderful freshmen season at Kentucky but was overshadowed at times by the lottery picks littered all over the team.

This is a great value pick.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from LA Lakers) - Jeffery Taylor, SF - Vanderbilt

Taylor is a terrific shooter that is NBA-ready now. The Cavs are on the cusp of something special and need a role player like Taylor to ensure they have the shooters to help out Irving when he drives.

27. Golden State (from San Antonio Spurs) - Fab Melo, C - Syracuse

Melo is going to make his mark on the league by playing shutdown defense in the post. The Warriors are consistently one of the worst defensive teams because they have nothing but stiffs in the paint.

Melo and his 7’0’’, 255-pound frame can change that.

28. Miami Heat - BJ Young, PG - Arkansas

In the endless search to find a more reliable point guard, the Heat take the next best available option and that winds up being Young.

I have a feeling the Heat point guard issues may be a problem for a loooong time.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder - Draymond Green, SG - Michigan State

The All-American is a premier rebounder for a player of his size and that’s a skill that will surely roll-over to the next level.

Having Green come off your bench for 15 minutes a night would be a dream scenario for the Thunder.

30. Chicago Bulls - John Jenkins, SG - Vanderbilt

Depth at shooting guard is priority No. 1 for a team that is trying to win a championship now.    

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