NBA Draft 2012 Results: 5 Players Who Will Struggle to Transition to NBA

The NBA draft 2012 has matched several players to situations that will allow them to thrive for seasons to come. However, there are some who will struggle to make the transition from the collegiate game to the NBA.

This article will ignore several foreign players who are questionable to even report to their NBA teams.

Instead, here are five collegiate players whose type of game puts them at risk to not live up to their draft status.

Players are listed according to their draft position.

7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

Barnes is a difficult player to peg. He seemed to have a breakout performance against Duke, showing the ability to score in the paint, in transition and with his jump shot.

He followed that with a relative collapse, seeing his scoring average drop and raising questions about his mental toughness.

Barnes can score, but it seems to be under the right circumstances. However, instead of that being game circumstances, it is when his confidence allows him to breakout. 

The Warriors will use him in a starting role and he will likely be adequate to keep his job. However, the pressures of the NBA will make him an inconsistent performer.

With the concerns in Barnes' game, he simply can't be trusted to lead a team to victories.

Fortunately for him, he was drafted by Golden State. There will be few expectations placed on him to win games, at least early in his career.

9. Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond, Connecticut

Some players choose basketball for the love of the game, while others play simply because they have natural abilities. While both can succeed in the NBA, to be great one also has to love the game and be a dedicated student and work at their craft.

This is what concerns me with Drummond. He seems too methodical and lacks the passion needed to excel in the NBA.

One also has to wonder what drove Drummond to leave Connecticut after one season. He has the athleticism to be a factor in the NBA, but the production just wasn't there in college.

Questions with Drummond have been two-fold. His work ethic is absent and his skills need to be improved.

Despite his size and athletic ability, Drummond averaged just 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

It doesn't help when a teammate openly questions a players work ethic and dedication. 

This is what Jeremy Lamb had to say in a post-workout media session:

"

It depends on if he wants to work. He's a great athlete. He can jump. He can block shots. He can rebound. I always say, it's funny, we will have an early practice at like 8 AM, and everyone is trying to get warmed up and stuff. He'll just come out and do a windmill to warm up. His bounce is amazing. I believe he's going to work hard, develop post moves, I think he can be a great pro.

"

At a minimum, Drummond will need time to develop. Instead of learning at the college level, he's opting for on-the-job training, and the Pistons are willing to take the chance they can get some production out of the 18-year-old.

He'll need to work on his post moves and learn how to shoot with pressure. Athleticism and passing won't get it done in the NBA.

Perhaps Drummond did know what he was doing. Another year or two at U-Conn could have exposed his lack of dedication and undeveloped skill set.

21. Boston Celtics: Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

Sullinger was a very good player in college. He was able to use his size to score in traffic and can shoot from the outside.

However, he lacks the build and athleticism he'll need to make an impact in the NBA.

Sullinger simply didn't seem to progress in college and could have hit his ceiling. He would have been a high draft pick in 2011 but saw his draft status fall when he couldn't progress as a sophomore.

There are also concerns with Sullinger's back, which puts him at risk with the physical nature of the post in the NBA.

Sullinger will struggle to keep up with the new, faster pace of the NBA and is at risk to sit deep on the bench as situational player.

25. Memphis Grizzlies: Tony Wroten, Washington

As flashy as Wroten looked as a freshman, Husky fans were surprised he opted to leave college after just one season. 

My Washington allegiance aside, I struggle putting Wroten on this list. Not because I believe he'll be a good NBA player, but because I'm not convinced he was a good enough collegiate player to validate discussing his transition potential.

To be fair, Wroten is a great athlete. He moves very well for a 6'5" guard, even if he barely exceeds 200 lbs.

While some have criticized Wroten for leaving college early, it was a very shrewd move.

Other players on this list saw their draft status drop after returning to school. If the same happened to Wroten, he'd fall out of the first round, if not out of the draft altogether.

Yes, Wroten has poor shooting skills and is an even worse defender. That is why he left college early.

Entering the draft in 2012 allowed him to somewhat mask his deficiencies and grab a single NBA payday before watching his playing career end.

Like Drummond, had Wroten decided to wait a year or two, he might not have a guaranteed contract waiting for him.

28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Perry Jones III, Baylor

I love this pick for Oklahoma City. I see Jones as the perfect addition to the Thunder lineup, and he will help close the gap on the Miami Heat should the two meet in the NBA Finals again in 2013.

However, there is a bust risk with Jones.

Similar to Drummond, Jones saw his draft status drop after returning for another year of college. 

Jones has the size, athleticism and skill to succeed in the NBA. At times he played well enough to be considered a top-five pick. 

Then he would disappear for long periods of time.

Jones' biggest advantage is he will have time to transition to the NBA. He wasn't taken to step in and be an immediate starter.

Instead, he'll have time to learn the professional game and build the confidence he needs to transition his game.

Now the only question remaining is if he'll embrace the opportunity.