NBA Draft 2012: Best Fits for This Year's Top Power Forwards
Behind Anthony Davis, there is still a plethora of talented power forwards for any team not named the Hornets to choose from.
This draft may be weak in the point guard department, and it may leave something to be desired in terms of NBA-ready centers, but there are so many 4s with so much upside that even the teams picking at the bottom of the first round have excellent chances of coming away with future stars.
In fact, let's ignore Davis for a moment. We all know he's the top option, hands down. But behind him, here are the top three power forwards, ranked top to bottom, and the teams that could really use them.
Thomas Robinson
During this year's NBA combine, there was a rumor floating around that if Robinson was one or two inches taller, he could have been in the mix as the top overall prospect this year.
Alas, at 6'9", he's a little bit on the small side for an NBA power forward, but he still might be the most complete and NBA-ready player on the board.
In addition to his must-win attitude and his athleticism, Robinson also has a ridiculous 7'3.25" wingspan, which—according to the Sporting News' Sean Deveney—puts him ahead of any of the seven-footers who participated in the combine.
Robinson would especially like to go to his hometown Wizards, but you can't always get what you want, and he's more likely to fall to No. 4 or No. 5 in the draft order.
Best Fits: Charlotte Bobcats (2), Washington Wizards (3), Sacramento Kings (5)
John Henson
There are some big pluses and minuses with regards to Henson, but the scouts seem to think the good outweighs the bad.
Really the only bad thing about Henson is the fact that he's so lanky. He's 6'10" but weighs 216 pounds. Compare that with someone like Jared Sullinger, who's 6'9" and 280 pounds.
Other than that, though, he's an incredibly athletic prospect with three years in Roy Williams' system at UNC under his belt.
His biggest selling point is his defense: He has a 7'5" wingspan, which allowed him to block 2.9 shots and garner 9.9 rebounds last season. Plus, he's managed to shoot an even 50 percent from the field in each of his last two seasons. If he can add some serious muscle, he can quickly evolve into a threat on both ends of the floor.
Best Fits: Golden State Warriors (7), Detroit Pistons (9)
Jared Sullinger
Sullinger is regarded by some as the third-best 4 available, behind Davis and Robinson, but he's also one of the riskier players in the draft because of a history of conditioning issues.
He's a bit undersized for a 4 at 6'9", and he's a very big guy at 280 pounds. According to ESPN.com's Chad Ford, he's had problems staying in shape in the past. He's also not insanely athletic.
The reason Sullinger finds himself among the top four power forwards available is because he's incredibly strong and he's been able to be a physical asset in the paint and on the boards at the college level.
If he's able to stay in shape, those could translate into strengths in the NBA as well—but that is a big if. He's not going to be beating up on undersized 4s in the NBA, like he could in college.
Another plus: Sullinger has a lot of heart and has really used the doubters to fuel himself, so perhaps he'll be extra motivated by current speculation about his upside.
Best Fits: Golden State Warriors (7), Detroit Pistons (9), Milwaukee Bucks (12)
