NBA Draft Focus: Whose Draft Stock Is Falling?

On June 28, the 2012 NBA draft will commence, and NBA teams are searching high and low for that next superstar player who will take them to the next level. But which players' projections are crashing like the stock market during a depression?

The impact of the NCAA tournament usually affects the stock of several players, though that impact is often oversold. Kentucky won the national title, which only served to boost the almost unanimous No. 1 projection for Anthony Davis.

Likewise, Wildcats freshman versatile wing defender Michael Kidd-Gilchrist solidified his place among the top selections.

Meanwhile, other players aren't so lucky. Kendall Marshall of North Carolina was moving up the draft charts until he broke his wrist. Still, he should go no later than mid-first round.

So, with less than two months to go before the big day, let's take a look at the players whose draft stock is falling and examine the reasons behind their slide.

Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

While some team just outside the top 10 might find the chance to grab a scorer on the wing too good to pass up, Barnes hurt his stock with his struggles in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.

He is too good to pass up at this point for a team sorely needing a perimeter scorer, but his stock isn't as high as it was before those bad performances.

Darius Johnson-Odom, SG, Marquette

Odom is a quality shooter, but his lack of size will drop him out of the first round. He can score, so someone will take him in Round 2.

Johnson-Odom still has yet to show much in the way of point guard instincts or the ability to create for others, and at 6'3", that is a concern.

Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

Lamb was one of the breakout stars of last year's NCAA tournament, and he played an integral role in Connecticut's surprising run to a National Championship. He played very well, especially towards the end of his freshman season, which made him a hot commodity among NBA draft experts as he entered his sophomore season.

But his Huskies struggled for most of the season. While Lamb was their leading scorer, the team had bad chemistry, which only furthers the previous questions that had been surrounding Lamb's game.

Despite a great wingspan and ability to shoot, he often settles for low-percentage shots and does not get to the free throw line.

Meanwhile, it's Lamb's frail frame that is the most obvious thing concerning NBA scouts, however, which is part of the reason why he often avoids contact in the paint.

His laid-back demeanor also doesn't help his stock. He is sometimes viewed as lacking intensity and not hustling on the floor.

Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky

His size alone will make him a first-round pick, but Jones is a lottery talent who has yet to harness the potential or consistent energy.

A 6'8" small forward, Jones is thought of as a sort of "tweener," or a mismatch for defenders, depending on how teams look at it. His tendency to rush the shot limits his effectiveness on the perimeter.

However, among his multi-faceted set of skills is the fact that he is a southpaw.

Perry Jones III, SF/PF, Baylor

Jones surprised a lot of people when he bypassed the draft last year to return for his sophomore season. Although he was projected as a top-five pick, he wanted to experience more college life.

Well, I'm not sure if he had the fun he was seeking, but his second college season was somewhat disappointing, and scouts were expecting improvement, which did not materialize.

His motor is in question, and he either was a poor fit at Baylor or he lacked motivation. But his talent is never in question—Jones has a great combination of size, athleticism and ball skills.

In fact, his pure talent level may be his biggest problem in a sense. Since he seemingly can do anything he wants on a basketball court, the questions of why he didn't improve and make more of an impact will likely send his draft stock dropping a bit.

He's still a first-rounder, and someone will take a chance on all of that talent. But right now, he will not go as high as he was expected to go last season.

Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

His freshman year was uninspiring, as Leonard did not play a lot, but he was still expected to have a breakout year as a sophomore at Illinois. He has terrific physical tools and he also played well over the summer.

And Leonard did make some positive strides. Plus, his size alone will get him drafted in the first round, as he is seven feet tall with a huge wingspan.

But he's a work-in-progress with his back to the basket, as he he lacks assertiveness. Not the most confident player, Leonard is a bit mechanical and doesn't have great footwork.

Still, seven-footers with his mobility and agility are extremely hard to find and always highly coveted, so he should go somewhere in the first round.

Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State

Moultrie is a 6'11" power forward/center whose junior year was spent trying to make up for having lost a season while transferring from UTEP.

But he doesn't play defense or block shots. He has an inconsistent motor, and since he's not a true post player, teams are questioning how he will fit at the next level.

For some, they consider him versatile, but for others, being caught in-between can be viewed as a negative.

But he's nimble and moves like a guard on the court. He's also very agile. But like many big men in this draft, he needs to add more bulk.

Tony Wroten Jr., PG/SG, Washington

If Wroten had a better shot, he would be a top-10 pick potentially. As it is, his stock has fallen to the late first round despite having as much talent as any point guard in the draft.

Wroten has size and athleticism and can get to the basket, but his reputation as a poor teammate also hurts his draft stock.

Moe Harkless, SF, St. Johns

Another 6'8" small forward, Harkless is athletic with a huge wingspan, but these "tweeners" make NBA execs nervous. His skill level is in between the 4 and 3 positions, and he struggles to create his own shot in the half court.

Harkless is very talented, but could have used another season at St. Johns. He could still end up moving up into the top 10 of the draft boards with solid workouts, but for now, his stock has slipped.

Royce White, SF, Iowa State

White is difficult to project, as he obviously has a ton of talent and will go in the first round. But at the same time, there are serious concerns about an anxiety disorder and fear of flying that have lowered his stock.

White is certainly a high-risk/high-reward type of player, so all it would take is one gambling team to pick him up high, but instead, I feel that he will fall into the mid-to-late first round.

He has had a number of off-court issues in the past, but if he puts them behind him, he could be the steal of the draft.

Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

Lamb is falling to the late first round or early second at this point in large part because he's another one of those "tweeners" despite an ability to shoot the rock.

Lamb lacks the ability to handle full-time playmaking duties as a point guard and also lacks the strength to defend the NBA's two-guards.

He's better in the mid-range game, but he shot the three-pointer at a 52 percent clip last season.  

JaMychal Green, PF, Alabama

Based on his talent level, he could have been an easy first-round pick, but Green seemed to lack motivation at times, and he was outplayed in the tournament.

He's likely a second-round pick at this point.

Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

Melo is a big man with enormous potential, so there will be no shortage of teams interested in drafting the Brazilian. But the reason his draft stock has fallen is that he was ineligible to play in the tournament, yet his team made a run without him.

Plus, Melo averaged only eight points per game last season. Still, he excels at shot blocking, so someone will take a chance on him. But not as early a chance as if he had a better offensive game.

Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

Despite's Kentucky's run to the title, NBA scouts know that there are holes in Teague's game. Sometimes being under a microscope can help, and sometimes, it allows the discovery of things like Teague's lack of good decision-making.

His first instinct is to create, but in the process, he does not get his teammates involved as much. And a player like that won't make a good point guard at the next level.

Mike Moser, PF, UNLV

Rounding out our list of players whose draft stock is falling is Mike Moser. Moser's poor performance in the tournament has likely cost him any chance of being a first round pick.

He rebounds the ball well, but was just 4-of-15 from the field against Colorado. He also fouled out and didn't get to the free-throw line.

This comes on the heels of a lousy performance in UNLV's Mountain West Conference tournament loss to New Mexico. Moser shot just 5-of-15 for 11 points.