2012 NBA Draft: Power Ranking the Riskiest Prospects in the Class

The 2012 NBA Draft offers one of the deepest rookie classes in years...but that's not to say it's without a few red flags.

Thursday's Draft is full of dicey prospects. Some stocks are clouted by questionable attitudes, others may seem to lack the size and strength to assimilate to pro life; a few, such as Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger (pictured), are presaged by a history of injuries.

Check out Bleacher Report's ranking of the riskiest players in the 2012 class.

10. Tomas Satoransky, PG/SG, Spain

The Risk: Satoransky's playing time paucity is concerning: he played just over 17 minutes a game last season for Spain's Sevilla.

At 6'7", he doesn't quite fit in an NBA backcourt, and scouts are weary of his lack of speed and explosiveness around the rim.

The Reward: He likely won't be a first-rounder, but possesses the jump shot to make an impact for any team.

Satoransky's 7'7" wingspan is certainly enticing as well.

9. Leon Radosevic, PF, Italy

The Risk: Slated as a late second-round pick in consensus mocks, Radosevic lacks the frame to be a competitive paint player in the NBA.

Scouts have also noticed his dearth of post moves that could hinder his offensive impact. Radosevic suffered an ACL tear in 2011 and after averaging 12.9 points a game in 2010-11, he stumbled to just 3 a night with EA7 Milan.

The Reward: Radosevic's work ethic and jump shot are encouraging, and he could be a steal at the tail-end of the Draft for a team needing some size. 

8. Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut

The Risk: Lamb is a surefire lottery pick, but his pencil-thin frame garners concern. His three-point percentage dipped from 2010-11 to 2011-12, and scouts cite him as a serious liability when forced to go right.

The Reward: Lamb's risk is overshadowed by his ability to score in bunches. His mid-range shot is on point, and he can immediately re-sculpt a struggling NBA offense. Lamb is also a proven winner on a national stage. 

7. Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

The Risk: Teague is a projected first-rounder, but spent just one season in college, and could have used more time to develop his offensive game. His 3.3 turnovers per 40 minutes is one of the highest rates of all incoming point guards.

Scouts have questioned his decision making at times, and aren't sold on his NBA-readyness. Rushing into the league this quickly may stunt his progression.

The Reward: Teague is a gifted athlete and a national champion. He could resemble his older brother, point guard Jeff Teague, who shot over 47% from the field last year with Atlanta.

6. Evan Fournier, PG/SG, France

The Risk: Fournier will likely go in the first round, but he lacks a complete perimeter game. Arriving overseas at just 19 years old, he'll have a huge transition to make at the pro level. Fournier is the only foreign import expected to fall in the first, subsequently making him the biggest risk as well.

The Reward: The Poiters prospect has huge upside, and if his European production transfers over to the NBA, watch out: Fournier averaged 14 points a game in just 26 minutes of playing time. He's been scouted as a great pick and roll player, and has perfect wing size, at 6'7".

5. Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

The Risk: At 19, Rivers is an unfinished product on the offensive end. He's fairly one-dimensional, and averaged more turnovers than assists last year.

Billed as a combo guard, Rivers has been known to set up his own shot and run his own offense, and if he's not surrounded by the right pieces, he could struggle to produce. He's already one of the most scrutinized young players in all of basketball.

Rivers' ostensible attitude problem may be the biggest red flag here. Is the Duke phenom coachable? There's a dangerously fine line between confidence and arrogance.

The Reward: Rivers has the talent to make a splash in the NBA. He has a penchant for knocking down clutch shots, and can completely take over a game at times. Rivers' star power potential is undeniable.

4. Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois

The Risk: Centers often have the most trouble adapting to the pro level (shudder as you recall Darko Milicic). Leonard had no trouble posting up in college, but his lanky frame may be troublesome against NBA bigs.

Scouts have noticed his inconsistency on the glass, and—like many players on this list—he spent just one season as a starter before gunning for the Draft. Leonard has also admitted to grappling with confidence issues, and can appear flustered at times.

The Reward: Leonard's 1.9 blocks per game are impressive, while his .584 shooting percentage is promising as well. Towering at 7'1" and offering plenty of interior athleticism, he could be a star for years.

3. Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor

The Risk: He's far from polished at 19, and after suffering an ACL tear in high school, his explosiveness has been greatly diminished. He sports an impossibly thin frame, and without separation speed, he could struggle to break from defenders in the pros.

His athleticism has been called average at best by scouts, and his shot selection needs to improve. Miller doesn't get much elevation on his shot, which could be a serious problem against NBA defenders.

The Reward: Miller makes up for his lack of speed with a mechanical shot and solid defense. He could be a nice fit for a mid-round team. He creates his own offense off the dribble, and shot almost 45 percent from the field in 2011-12.

2. Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut

The Risk: Drummond has the "unpolished offensive repertoire and suspect motor of Kwame Brown." Lacking a consistent low-post game, Drummond will be a lottery pick on upside alone.

With just one year of college ball and a heap of unrealized potential, he's one of the Draft's biggest risks.

The Reward: You can't argue against Drummond's athleticism, evidenced by his 6'10", 270 pound frame and his 2.7 stuffs per night. A natural shot-blocker and rebounder, Drummond's defense could be on par with that of Orlando center Dwight Howard.

1. Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

The Risk: Sullinger was locked in as a top-ten selection...before being red flagged by NBA doctors.

There's no denying Sullinger's low-post skill set, but his lingering back issues have his Draft stock free falling. If Sullinger can't stay healthy, his career could be sliced in half.

The two-time All-American bears eerie resemblance to former number-one pick Greg Oden. He's a risk that many teams aren't looking to take.

The Reward: Sullinger had a decorated career in Columbus, and has a pro-ready frame. If he can stay healthy, his .519 shooting percentage and 9.3 boards a night could translate to a prosperous NBA career.