Thomas Robinson: Why Kansas Star Isn't Worth No. 2 Pick in 2012 NBA Draft

Thomas Robinson has become a hot name to be the second pick in this year's NBA draft, but the Charlotte Bobcats might want to think twice about selecting the forward with their pick.

A look through the Bobcats' roster reveals a team that lacks any true star or even a player with star potential. 

No Bobcat averaged over 20 points per game last season, and three of their top four scorers shot less than 40 percent from the field.

What that means is that the Bobcats need a savior. The franchise is so bad, selecting a role player won't be enough to keep the team from being the NBA's worst. 

Unfortunately, Thomas is just a role player, and that keeps him from being the player the Bobcats need with the second pick.

To be clear, Thomas is a fantastic player. He is built solidly, and he is NBA-ready as a rebounder. His offensive game, while lacking refinement, is explosive and exciting.

With his lack of polish on offense, Thomas probably shouldn't be a go-to scorer in the NBA, as his post game is just average and his shooting is subpar.

For evidence, look no farther than the NCAA championship game against Kentucky. Facing the best front court in the nation, Robinson was unable to be an impact player offensively. Despite accumulating 18 points, Robinson only managed to hit 35 percent of his shots, as he was unable to carry the offense sufficiently.

His passing is a major problem area, as he lacks control when passing out from underneath the basket. Sometimes, he seems not to know his own strength, as he'll occasionally launch the ball out of bounds.

While Thomas will almost certainly make any team very happy, the Bobcats would not be a good fit for him.

The Bobcats already have an undersized front court with 6'9" Bismack Biyombo at center, and pairing the 6'10" Robinson with him would yield one of the smaller front courts in the NBA.

While Robinson might be the safest player for the Bobcats to pick, Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal or North Carolina small forward Harrison Barnes would both be better options.

Both Beal and Barnes have star potential, with each possessing the range and the ability around the basket to be top scoring options.

Barnes in particular looks like the kind of player that Bobcats' decision-maker Michael Jordan would be interested in.

First of all, Jordan will appreciate Barnes' pedigree from the University of North Carolina. Second, Barnes is a scoring threat from anywhere on the floor, while Robinson is limited to scoring from the inside.

With the second pick in the NBA draft, the Bobcats need to take a big swing to escape from the bottom of the NBA pile.

Taking Robinson would be the safe pick, and he would not disappoint necessarily, but he simply cannot be the star player that the Bobcats need.

Barnes, on the other hand, offers the star potential that could help the Bobcats escape from the cellar.

He would pair well with guards D.J. Augustin and Kemba Walker, and he would give them a true scoring option to go to.

All in all, Barnes, not Robinson, is the player that the Bobcats should key on in this year's draft.