NBA Draft 2012: First-Round Locks Who Will Never Produce

The 2012 NBA draft is loaded with talent and some of that talent will produce in the NBA. Of course the yang to that equation's yin is that there will be talented players who, for whatever assortment of reasons, will not be able to turn that talent into results.

In other words, some of these guys are going to be busts. In this article, we'll take a look at the players whose talent is worthy of a look in the first round, but will not produce in the NBA. 

Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

Zeller was a productive big man at North Carolina. Combine this with the fact that he is 7' and there is no way he is sliding past the first round. 

The problem with Zeller is that someone needs to remind him he is 7' tall. Zeller does not like to bang. He has a serious aversion to physical contact, which is kind of important to being a center. 

This is also something that is not going to go away. Zeller isn't going to instantly transform into a guy that dominates the paint, and he doesn't have the game to be a Dirk Nowitzki type of big man. 

His jump shot is inconsistent and does not have great range. He also has a tendency to make terrible passes. 

Zeller is not going to find a role in the NBA, and he will never be a consistent part of a rotation. 

Tony Wroten, G, Washington

Wroten has the tools to be a great NBA point guard, but he is not going to be able to develop them. Wroten needed more time in college. Now he is going to enter the NBA with first-round expectations and a game that is not ready to fulfill them. 

Wroten has great size and quickness. He can get to the lane with ease. However, once he is there he has a hard time finishing, and that's largely because he can't shoot. He can't shoot from anywhere on the court. This is going to make it all too easy for opposing NBA players to defend him.

Wroten also needs to work on his decision making, and he won't get enough playing time to develop in that area. 

Myers Leonard, C, Illinois

Leonard is a lot like Zeller. He has the height and athleticism that makes scouts drool. He also has a decent post game and footwork, but he is not fond of the banging, and it is not surprising. 

At 7'1" and 245 pounds, Leonard has a serious need to add some bulk and muscle, and when does that ever work out? 

Tall, athletic and thin centers are taken all the time in the first round, and they almost always turn into tall bench warmers. 

Leonard will either add bulk and slow down, or he will stay thin and get pushed around. Either way, he will never make much of an impact in the NBA.