2012 NBA Rookies Whose Stock Will Soar During Training Camp

Training camps are the perfect time for rookies to show their respective NBA teams what they're made of and what they can bring to the court.

For a vast majority of rookies, training camp will prove that they still have a lot of work today before they are ready to contribute in the NBA.

For a select few, like Jeremy Lamb, Will Barton, Thomas Robinson and Andrew Nicholson, training camp will be a place where their stock will soar and their teams will see the kind of talent they drafted.

Ahead is a list of 10 2012 NBA rookies whose draft will soar during the upcoming 2012-13 training camps. 

Thomas Robinson, PF, Sacramento Kings

Player Profile: 6'10'' and 237 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 50.5 FG%

Thomas Robinson didn't seem all that happy when he fell all the way to the No. 5 spot in the 2012 draft, but that's only because he knew he was deserving of being higher.

Robinson has all the physical gifts of an NBA superstar, now, he just needs a chance to put it all together on the court, and that's where camp comes in.

With DeMarcus Cousins as his frontcourt partner, Robinson is going to bring a much-needed level of physicality to the Kings. In addition to that, he is also going to bring maturity and discipline to a team that desperately needs it, and that's going to be most felt in the locker room, starting with training camp.

Robinson might not transform the Kings into a playoff-caliber team, but he'll certainly help them move in the right direction. From training camp through the end of the 2012-13 regular season, Robinson's impact will certainly be felt on a team looking for a leader. 

Darius Johnson-Odom, SG, L.A. Lakers

Player Profile: 6'2'' and 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 18.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 44.7 FG%

Darius Johnson-Odom was an absolute steal at the No. 55 spot, and the Lakers will see that once he gets out on the court.

Johnson-Odom is one of the most prolific scorers coming out of the 2012 draft class, and as long as the Lakers give him a chance, he'll develop into a productive member of their somewhat underwhelming second unit.

The one thing that Johnson-Odom needs to work on is efficiency, and he'll show that he is going to integrate that into his game in the NBA, starting with training camp. Even with Jodie Meeks ahead of him on the depth chart, Johnson-Odom will make a push to be the second or third player off the bench for the Lakers.

Johnson-Odom is more than a prolific scorer. He's a fearless leader on the court, and that's something the Lakers' second unit will surely benefit from. Don't be shocked when Johnson-Odom impresses the Lakers coaching staff more than Jodie Meeks.

Jeremy Lamb, SG, Houston Rockets

Player Profile: 6'5'' and 180 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 47.8 FG%

Jeremy Lamb is a man of few words, and over the past few months since the 2012 NBA draft, fans have heard next to nothing from the athletic wingman.

Lamb does his talking on the court, and that's why training camp will be so important for his development. He will finally have the chance to show the Rockets and their fans why he was deserving of being an even higher pick than he was at the No. 12 spot.

While the Rockets have a lot of questions entering the 2012-13 season, one thing is sure, and that is that they have one of the most athletically gifted rookies out on the wing. With Lin running the show, Lamb will have a lot of freedom to run in the offense, and that's exactly where he excels.

Once Lamb gets a chance to show everyone the kind of player he can be in the NBA, his name will enter the 2012 Rookie of the Year talk, and that campaign will start the moment camp begins. 

Will Barton, G, Portland Trail Blazers

Player Profile: 6'6'' and 175 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 50.9 FG%

You'll be hard-pressed to find a more prolific scorer coming out of the 2012 draft class than Will Barton. Having his offensive production on the bench will be key to the Trail Blazers' success next season.

With fellow rookie Damian Lillard holding down the point guard spot, Barton has a great chance to work his way into the lineup at either the shooting guard position or behind Lillard.

Just like he did during the 2012 summer league, Barton will impress coaches during training camp with his pure ability to score. The big question will be if Barton can hold his own on the defensive side of the ball.

With a big training camp, Barton can become a key piece of the Blazers' rebuilding process. There's no doubt that he can help lessen the blow of losing Jamal Crawford this offseason because he's a very similar, if not more explosive player. 

Kendall Marshall, PG, Phoenix Suns

Player Profile: 6'4'' and 195 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 8.1 points, 9.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 46.7 FG%

When the Phoenix Suns signed Goran Dragic this offseason, it all but solidified Kendall Marshall as the backup point guard for the next few years.

Once Marshall gets on the court, though, the depth chart won't be that black and white. While Marshall won't beat out Dragic for the starting job this year, there's no doubt that he will push Dragic, and that's going to be great for this new-look Suns team.

Marshall is a true point guard. He looks to facilitate first and pass second, and the Suns will benefit greatly from having that coming off the bench.

While Dragic adds offensive production at the point, Marshall will build chemistry with his teammates because of the way he plays and that will pay dividends for the Suns this upcoming season. Seeing Marshall on the court will reassure the Suns that they made the right pick with the 13th overall pick.

Andrew Nicholson, PF, Orlando Magic

Player Profile: 6'9'' and 240 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 18.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 57.1 FG%

The Orlando Magic are going to look like an extremely different team when the 2012-13 season begins. While that means losing Dwight Howard, it also means inserting young talent into the lineup, and that's where Andrew Nicholson comes in.

Nicholson proved that fundamental skill is more valuable than raw, athletic potential during the 2012 summer league. His post moves and tenacity on the glass will carry over well into training camp with the Magic.

During camp, Nicholson will give Jameer Nelson a talented, skilled player in the paint, and while that won't completely make up for losing Howard, it will certainly help.

While the Magic will certainly struggle next season, they will definitely have a formidable frontcourt duo with Nicholson and Glenn Davis, and that will be put on display during the first few days of camp. 

Kim English, SG, Detroit Pistons

Player Profile: 6'6'' and 220 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 52.1 FG%

The Detroit Pistons have a hodgepodge of talent on their roster, and they finally have the one thing they didn't have last season—a lockdown defender.

Kim English can hold his own shooting the ball and on the wing with his athleticism, but where he will impress the Pistons the most is with his maturity on both sides of the ball and his tenacity on the defensive end.

English is going to help a somewhat youthful Pistons team mature, and that will pay dividends for them as a franchise. Once he steps foot on the court, he will become a leader for a Pistons team that desperately needs one.

As the Pistons mature, they will become a much better and more competitive team. English will be a major piece of that process, and that will start the moment training camp begins this season. 

Harrison Barnes, SF, Golden State Warriors

Player Profile: 6'8'' and 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 44.0 FG% 

Harrison Barnes is the most mature and NBA-ready rookie of the 2012 class. There's just no way around that fact.

In addition to his maturity, Barnes is a gifted athlete who will excel in the Warriors' fast-paced offense. What's more important is the defensive focus that he is going to bring to a Warriors team that desperately needs it.

Barnes might not develop into an NBA superstar, but he will be the kind of player who is around for a long time because he says all of the right things and does all the right things on the court and in the locker room.

The moment Barnes steps foot on the court, his presence will be felt. Not only will he prove that he's deserving of being a lottery pick, he will also make his teammates better through practice—that's right Iverson, it can actually happen.

Barnes will be in the running for the 2012 Rookie of the Year award, so don't be shocked when his name is thrown into that conversation. 

Terrence Jones, PF, Houston Rockets

Player Profile: 6'9'' and 252 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game State: 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 50.0 FG%

Right now, Terrence Jones is just one of the five Kentucky players selected in the 2012 NBA draft.

Once training camp starts, though, he will begin to make a name for himself because he's actually one of the most versatile players coming out of the 2012 draft class.

The Rockets have a lot of youth on their roster, and while Jones doesn't help with that, he does add a level of depth to their roster because he can play a number of positions. Jones is strong enough to play at the power forward position, but he has the athletic talents it takes to excel at the small forward spot as well.

As long as Jones plays up to his potential and works hard on the court in the locker room, he can be one of the more productive rookies, and he can also work his way into the starting rotation for the Rockets. Jones needs to prove that he's ready to put the work in that it takes to excel in the NBA, and for him, that process starts once training camp gets under way. 

Kris Joseph, SF, Boston Celtics

Player Profile: 6'7'' and 215 pounds

2011-12 Per-Game Stats: 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 42.1 FG%

Kris Joseph is a player who hurt his draft stock by staying in school a little bit too long. Luckily, for him, that meant being drafted by a team ready to contend for an NBA title in the Boston Celtics.

Joseph is a poor man's Paul Pierce, and that's great news because he will be playing alongside him, starting during training camp.

What Joseph has that Pierce doesn't, though, is a high level of athleticism and verticality to his game. Joseph is going to have to work hard to get significant playing time on a Celtics team with a lot of talent, but his athleticism will help him turn heads when training camp starts.

With some veteran mentoring by Kevin Garnett and Pierce, Joseph has what he needs to work his way up the Celtics' depth chart until he's a consistent part of their rotation. All Joseph needs is a chance to show what he's made of, and he will undoubtedly get that chance during training camp.