NBA Draft 2012: 5 Standout Prospects Destined to Be Reached for on Draft Day
Although the 2012 NBA Draft is a deep one, with loads of talent at each position, there are some prospects who will get picked too early on draft night.
Sometimes teams get overly enamored with the collegiate success, physical gifts or overall potential of players. In the process, they lose sight of the importance of getting the best value and best fit for the franchise.
Certain prospects gain pre-draft momentum that carries their stock a bit too high up the charts, and teams reach for them. For some prospects, getting drafted in the lottery is a reach, and for others, getting picked at all is a reach.
Who are this year's prime candidates to be plucked too early? Here are five standout prospects destined to be reached for on draft day.
Moe Harkless, St. John's Red Storm
1 of 5Moe Harkless' fabulous freshman campaign turned some heads and put him on the first-round radar.
After small forwards Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes are gone, mid-to-late first-round teams like Denver or Boston will be tempted to pick up Harkless.
Anything prior to No. 25 is a reach because Harkless still needs to develop several aspects of his offensive game. He's not a prolific shot-creator and his outside shooting is far from consistent.
I loved watching Harkless at St. John's this past season, but taking him before Terrence Ross or Royce White would be questionable.
Will Barton, Memphis Tigers
2 of 5Memphis Tigers slasher Will Barton is a terrific playmaker with an improved outside shot, but there are two major questions: can he bulk up, and will his brand of basketball work in the NBA?
Barton's ultra-thin build and frame raise doubts that he'll ever be able to handle the physicality of the NBA. Without the ability to drive the ball through pro defense, he would have to become a much better outside shooter.
DraftExpress's Walker Beeken explains that Bartons style of play might not be pro-ready: "His game is very well suited to the up-tempo style at Memphis, but scouts may very well still have questions for how his game fits into an NBA offense in the half court."
Despite these question marks, Barton could get selected in the first round anywhere from 23-30.
Dion Waiters, Syracuse Orange
3 of 5Exceptional athleticism, body control and strength helped Dion Waiters stand out and become one of the best sixth men in college hoops history.
The Syracuse Orange star's breakout sophomore season catapulted his NBA draft stock to lottery level.
He reportedly got a promise from Phoenix that they would select him if he was available at No. 13, but several projections and mock drafts predict he'll be picked sooner.
Even though he's not lottery material, it looks like Waiters will be snagged between No. 8 and No. 13. For an undersized shooting guard with subpar decision-making and facilitating skills, it's a reach.
Tyler Zeller, UNC Tar Heels
4 of 5North Carolina center Tyler Zeller had an exceptional career in Chapel Hill and is a solid pro prospect. He's a mobile center who has a good nose for the ball and can finish with authority.
But he's not a dynamic post player with an array of moves, nor is he physically overwhelming.
His skills won't enable him to be more than an average center or role player in the league, so selecting him in the lottery (as he's projected) isn't worth it.
Teams picking in the top 14 should be looking for great NBA players, maybe even potential All-Stars, and Zeller doesn't fit that billing.
Andre Drummond, Connecticut Huskies
5 of 5I know, you're thinking "but he's too athletic and too strong to not take in the top five."
But the reality is that Andre Drummond is a risk and a reach for the Bobcats (second), Wizards (third) and Kings (fifth) that might be considering picking him.
His court awareness and basketball IQ is poor, he's not assertive enough, and his skills are miles from satisfactory.
There's a decent chance Sacramento takes him at No. 5, and they'll be disappointed if they think he's the piece that will get them over the hump.
