2012 NBA Draft Prospects: The 5 Best Enforcers in This Year's Class

During the playoffs, the Clippers faithful fell in love with Reggie Evans. They became enamored not for his jumper (atrocious) or his free-throw shooting prowess (even worse), fans fell in love because he grabbed every offensive board, hustled on ever possession and—above all else—kept Chris Paul and Blake Griffin out of harm's way. 

Evans is, for lack of a better term, an "enforcer," the nice word us writer types give to the equivalent of NBA goons. 

But don't think Evans is without a purpose. If enforcers didn't exist, your favorite NBA star would probably be spending a lot more time on the sideline nursing injuries.

Fortunately for high-hustle, low-skill guys, NBA teams are always looking to find some extra protection for their stars. Who are the guys in this draft who could fit the bill?  Read on and find out...

5. Miles Plumlee, PF, Duke

After coming into the draft process with little to no buzz surrounding his name, the elder Plumlee brother become a second-round lock after impressing teams with his athleticism during workouts.

At Duke, Plumlee was a physical seven-footer who busted his hump down the floor and rebounded. He still needs to develop consistency in his offensive game, but with his "slap the floor" Duke mentality and penchant for physicality, Plumlee is a perfect fit for any team looking for a big man to supply 10-15 minutes of tenacity every night along with a couple of hard fouls.

4. Quincy Acy, SF, Baylor

After spending his time at the power forward spot at Baylor, Acy will have to transition to the 3 or add a lot of bulk to his frame to stick at the NBA level.

He's also a 22-year-old prospect who developed little (if any) translatable offensive skills during his four years in college, so his main contribution as a pro will be at the defensive end. He's a chippy player who pestered elite Big 12 forwards with his nose for the ball and quick hands.  

ESPN's Chad Ford has Acy going No. 52 to the Denver Nuggets, where he and Kenneth Faried could eventually develop into the peskiest defensive forward duo in the league. The only thing that would be missing in Acy's enforcer recipe is a superstar to protect.  

3. Jae Crowder, SF, Marquette

I've already written extensively about Crowder's projected NBA value, so becoming an "enforcer" would be the absolute floor of his potential.

But Crowder fits the mold of just about every enforcer in NBA history. He's undersized for his natural position (power forward), standing at just 6'7" and weighing only 241 pounds. He's a physical defender who uses his hands to annoy players in the post, and his motor is simply off the charts.

In New York (where Chad Ford currently has him going at No. 48), Crowder could combine John Starks' peskiness and an Oakley-lite physicality (no NBA player will ever approach Oakley in toughness) to ingratiate himself with Knicks fans and Carmelo Anthony.  

2. Yancy Gates, PF, Cincinnati

I'm sorry, but when the most memorable moment of your college career is a sucker punch of Xavier's Kenny Frease, you're being put on basically every enforcer list for the rest of your life.  

It's a shame, because if drafted, Gates could stick in the NBA as an offensive rebounding monster who runs the floor and hits the occasional 15-footer.  

But for now? His position is "enforcer" until told otherwise. 

1. Fab Melo, C, Syracuse

The best basketball player on this list, Melo will almost certainly develop into more than "just" an enforcer at the next level.

Though he's only played the game for four year, Melo has immense potential as a huge, physical defender who sends shots back with regularity.

Like Crowder, Melo will almost certainly stick in the league even if he's just a big body who throws his weight around on the defensive end. Any team that drafts the former Syracuse center will certainly expect more, but being your superstar's best buddy isn't an awful worst case scenario.