NBA Draft 2012: Ranking This Year's Top Combo Guard Options

The 2012 NBA draft features a balanced class of big men as well as wing players, but there is also a plethora of combo guards that can prove to be deadly mismatches next season.

Combo guards are valuable since they are able to run the point on offense as well as play some shooting guard. However, what truly makes them effective is having the ability to guard multiple positions. If that part of their game is missing, then combo guards become liabilities on defense, which cancels out the mismatches that they are able to create on offense.

Players like Dion Waiters, Bradley Beal and Kendall Marshall are all gifted enough to play both guard positions, despite having distinct playing styles.

Here is a list of upcoming draftees that will assume the combo guard role in 2012.

9. Darius Johnson-Odom

Darius Johnson-Odom is the epitome of a big man trapped in a small body. He plays like a shooting guard despite his 6'3" frame. His mindset to score clashes with his actual skill set, which could get him into trouble in the NBA.

Johnson-Odom's speed and strength give him the potential to be an outstanding point guard since he's able to overpower his defenders or blow past them. 

He's one of the smaller combo guards in this year's draft, which will make it harder for him to get a decent amount of  time at shooting guard. He's also an average passer and creator, so it's difficult to pencil him in at point guard as well.

8 Jared Cunningham

On sheer athleticism alone, Jared Cunningham should be an early selection for most teams, but he has too many holes in his game to be taken so high.

The 6'5" junior from Oregon State has the size to be a  solid shooting guard at the next level. However, size isn't enough. Cunningham needs to add some weight so he won't get pushed around by bigger guards in the NBA.

He's a good passer, so filling in at point guard shouldn't be a problem for him. The issue is Cunningham has a score-first mentality, which is something he'll need to change in order to be a great combo guard. Cunningham still struggles to create open opportunities for others, so he can't be relied upon to run the point guard position for heavy minutes. 

7. Tyshawn Taylor

This 6'3" combo guard from Kansas University lacks the size to be a good shooting guard, but he can play spurts in that position. Tyshawn Taylor is more of a point guard, even though he doesn't rake in the assists. In his senior year, Taylor had 4.8 assists to go along with his 16.6 points.

His combination of poor decision-making and size doesn't make him a valuable combo guard option at this point. Taylor is not dominant in either position, but given his skill set, he can potentially play both roles in the NBA.

On the other hand, Taylor can be a steal in the second round for teams in dire need of an explosive guard to come off the bench.

6. John Jenkins

John Jenkins has arguably the silkiest jump shot in this year's draft. His shot is consistent, dangerous and, more importantly, efficient. Jenkins shot an impressive .439 percent from beyond on the arch in his junior year at Vanderbilt.

He shooting ability makes him a threat on offense, but sadly, that's his only major strong point. His lack of size, athleticism and defensive prowess will cause him to struggle at the next level. Standing at 6'4", Jenkins possesses some traits of a decent combo guard.

Jenkins has good handles, but he's not able to set up his teammates on a consistent basis. That's a huge problem for a combo guard. 

5. Tony Wroten

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year is one of the best combo guards in the 2012 NBA draft. He has the size to be a shooting guard at 6'6'',  but also has the ball-handling and decision-making of a good court general.

His ability to find open teammates in traffic is ridiculous. Wroten sees the court through the eyes of a point guard and is also able to break down defenses and get his own shot just like a shooting guard.

He would appear to be the perfect combo guard, but his streaky jump shot holds him back. He was able to cover this issue in college with his speed and ability to penetrate. However, in the NBA, he won't be able to hide his flaw for long.

4. Doron Lamb

Doron Lamb from the University of Kentucky is an interesting specimen since he has a good combination of point guard proficiency as well as shooting guard skills. He has a smooth jump shot and can score in a variety of different ways, but his size and strength hold him back from being elite.

Lamb falls into the combo guard category because, at 6'4", he is a little undersized at shooting guard, even though he can play that position well. His good handling and passing makes him a potentially good point guard despite averaging less than two assists for Kentucky in 2011-2012.  

Lamb's playmaking ability is shaky at best, so he can't be relied on to run the point for a long period of time just yet. 

3. Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal from the University of Florida is one of the best guards available in this year's draft. At 6'4", he possesses good size and strength to play both guard positions effectively. He is a gifted scorer with decent handles and shows signs of being a suitable option at shooting guard for many lottery teams.

However, he is still unpolished as a point guard because he lacks the creativity to run the floor. This is the main problem that hinders him from becoming a great combo guard.

2. Kendall Marshall

Kendall Marshall was an excellent point guard for North Carolina in both of his seasons. Even though he lacks the offensive prowess to be full-time shooting guard, he definitely has the build for that position. At 6'4", he has the size and speed to defend opposing shooting guards as well as point guards.

His main issue is his shooting touch. Marshall's lack of a solid jump shot makes him easier to guard on defense because teams don't have to worry about him knocking down consistent jumpers. This is what stops him from shifting over to shooting guard more often. 

1. Dion Waiters

Standing at 6'4", Dion Waiters from Syracuse is the most complete combo guard in this year's draft. Waiters is able to switch up his style to go along with the flow of the game. This is the most important aspect for a combo guard, since they blend two positions. He is able to play shooting guard for extensive minutes, and he also has the ball-handling and size that a good combo guard needs.

Waiters is projected to go in the first round because he can play both positions on offense and defense, which makes him a valuable commodity.