How Every Top 15 2012-13 NBA Rookie Fits into His Team's Long-Term Plan
The 2012 NBA draft class will soon hit the hardwood as the new season quickly approaches, bringing with them high expectations and a great deal of pressure.
First rounders are always under the microscope, especially those taken with the top 10-15 picks overall.
These are the picks that carry the highest expectations. Some were chosen to be the new face of a franchise, while others will merely be counted on as a role player off the bench for now.
So which of the top 15 picks falls under what category? Which will delight fan bases right away as a star and which will be warming pine to start their careers?
Let's take a look.
15. Maurice Harkless, Orlando Magic
1 of 15Future Role with Team: Above Average Role Player
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, Harkless now finds himself in Orlando as part of the Dwight Howard trade.
Currently listed third on the Magic depth chart on ESPN.com, Harkless should get plenty of opportunities to prove himself with a rebuilding Orlando team desperate for their next star.
While there's some star potential there, it likely won't come out, at least not right away.
Only 19 years of age after spending just a season at St. John's, Harkless will need a little more time to develop than most rookie first rounders, but could prove to be a strong starter in the NBA for years to come.
14. John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks
2 of 15Future Role with Team: Starting Power Forward
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.9 blocks
Henson is a phenomenal defensive talent but will likely have to wait a bit to crack the Bucks starting lineup.
Fighting with Drew Gooden, Ekpe Udoh and Ersan Ilyasova for minutes to begin his career, Henson will likely see sporadic playing time at first in Milwaukee. Ilyasova was just signed to a new long term deal, but can also play small forward. Gooden is best suited as a backup power forward/center.
Henson should set a goal to be the teams starting power forward by seasons end. He was drafted too high for Milwaukee to leave on the bench for long, and if he continues the rebounding tear of his college days, they may not have much of a choice.
Henson should be a solid starter in the league, but will never be a star or face of a franchise.
13. Kendall Marshall, Phoenix Suns
3 of 15Future Role with Team: Backup Point Guard
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 9.7 assists
Set to take over the starting point guard job from the legendary Steve Nash in Phoenix, the Suns went out and did a funny thing; they signed a starting point guard.
The Marshall Project will be on delay in Phoenix, with Goran Dragic inked to a four year contract. The best Marshall can hope for now is to sit and wait and do the best job he can as a backup.
Often thought of as the best play-maker in the 2012 draft class, it's somewhat puzzling the Suns were so quick to throw so much money ($36 million) at Dragic.
Maybe in the future a starting point guard job will be in order, but for now the plan is for Marshall to sit, watch and learn.
12. Jeremy Lamb, Houston Rockets
4 of 15Future Role with Team: Potential Star
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists
Lamb has an ideal shooters body and will get to learn from one of the best in Kevin Martin during his rookie season in Houston.
Make no mistake, however, as the Rockets should and likely do expect star production from Lamb in the not-so-distant future.
With so many young and inexperienced players currently fighting for roster spots on Houston's crowded court, someone will need to step up in a leading scorers role and carry the team when times get tough.
Lamb will likely be this guy for Houston, and could very well turn into the next star of the Rockets.
11. Meyers Leonard, Portland Trail Blazers
5 of 15Future Role with Team: Role Player
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Leonard only started one year in college at Illinois, but showed enough potential for the Blazers to take him with the 11th overall pick.
This was somewhat risky, as Tyler Zeller was still on the board and was widely regarded as the safer pick. With a team as cursed with bad luck as Portland is, one would think they wouldn't want to gamble.
Still, Leonard is an athletic big man with lots of promise, even if he won't be starting right away.
With Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge running the show in Portland, Leonard won't need to be a star or go-to scorer.
Expect strong rotation minutes for Leonard now and a starting center job next season.
10. Austin Rivers, New Orleans Hornets
6 of 15Future Role with Team: Starting Point Guard
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists
The Hornets have made it very clear what they expect from Rivers.
A combo guard in college at Duke, New Orleans has been grooming Rivers for an eventual starting point guard spot.
For someone who averaged just a hair over two assists per game on a talented Blue Devils squad, this could be a problem.
With Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon likely the only two guaranteed a starting job at this point, Rivers will have to have a strong preseason and training camp if he wants to wrestle the gig away from Grievas Vasquez.
A talented scorer and ball-handler, time will tell if Rivers has the passing skills, and the will, to be a true point guard in the NBA.
9. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
7 of 15Future Role with Team: Role Player, Defensive Standout
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks
Drummond landed in an ideal situation in Detroit, as he's likely not cut out to be the face of a franchise with his questionable motor and disappointing college career.
With the Pistons, Drummond will simple be called upon for defense and rebounding for now, with Greg Monroe expected to carry the scoring load down low.
With other scorers on the team (Rodney Stuckey, Brandon Knight), Drummond can ease into an offensive game without feeling pressure to put up big numbers right away.
Detroit should be happy with a rebounding and shot-blocking Drummond for now, and take whatever offense they can get.
8. Terrence Ross, Toronto Raptors
8 of 15Future Role with Team: Potential Star
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
While the word "star" may not pop into people's minds when thinking about Ross, who's to say he can't turn into one in Toronto?
A great shooter coming off screens, Ross does a little bit of everything including rebound.
The Raptors need a star that they've lacked since the days of Chris Bosh, and before him, Vince Carter. Being drafted before guys like Jeremy Lamb and Austin Rivers, Toronto must have saw something that separated him from the other candidates who seemingly have more star potential.
With Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas, DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani, the Raptors have some nice pieces but no true leader or star yet.
Ross could be just that guy for them.
7. Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors
9 of 15Future Role with Team: Role Player/Star
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist
What the Warriors expect out of Barnes is anybodies guess at this point.
Likely to start out as a role player and possible starter, Barnes does possess the capability of a future NBA star.
He won't have to be one right away, not with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, David Lee, Andrew Bogut and others leading the way.
The strength of Barnes' game lies in his shooting. At this point, he's not a particularly good creator on the offensive end and is only average at attacking the basket.
If Golden State can be patient and help Barnes develop his game, they may have a star on their hands.
6. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
10 of 15Future Role with Team: Face of the Franchise
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 24.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists
One could argue Portland already has a franchise face in LaMarcus Aldridge, and to those I ask this question: Is Aldridge capable of being the number one option on a championship team?
He's no doubt a fantastic rebounder and scorer in the paint, but the Blazers will go nowhere in the playoffs unless Lillard can take over as the franchise star.
Lillard tore up the NBA Summer League to the tune of 26.5 points and 5.3 assists per game, taking home Co-MVP honors.
This strong play and an outstanding college career means Lillard should be ready to be the new face of the Blazers franchise.
5. Thomas Robinson, Sacramento Kings
11 of 15Future Role with Team: Star
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 17.9 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
A special talent with a big heart, it wouldn't have been that surprising to have seen Robinson go as high as second overall in the 2012 draft.
A great scorer, rebounder and overall athlete, Robinson should be an immediate starter with the Kings next to DeMarcus Cousins in the post.
The only thing that could possibly hold Robinson from reaching his full potential is the lack of a true point guard on the Kings roster to get him the ball. With Cousins, Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton and Aaron Brooks, Sacramento has plenty of scorers but only so much basketball to go around.
If Isaiah Thomas continues to develop and feed Robinson the ball on a regular basis, he'll quickly become a star and the best power forward in Sacramento since Chris Webber.
4. Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers
12 of 15Future Role with Team: Star
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists
With Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, Waiters will never be the face of the Cavalier franchise.
This being said, Waiters is still expected to become a star in Cleveland and take over the primary scoring duties.
Waiters may have been a bit of a reach in the draft, but his skills are undeniable. His PER was registered at 26.1 last season, fourth in the entire Big East conference.
Able to split defenses and get to the basket at will, Waiters should have plenty of opportunities in Cleveland to show off his skills and become the star the Cavs hope he'll become alongside Irving.
3. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
13 of 15Future Role with Team: Semi-Star
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists
The question over whether or not Beal will become a star in the NBA depends on what one considers Eric Gordon to be.
Gordon is a super scorer and borderline All-Star player when healthy, but to label him as an NBA star may be too much at this point.
Beal compares very favorably.
With John Wall in Washington, Beal won't be the face of the franchise, and won't have to be either. The Wizards should be banking on Beal to become a 18-20 point-per-game scorer and solid running mate to Wall.
A true star? Even if that's what Beal becomes, he may not have to to be considered a success.
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Bobcats
14 of 15Future Role with Team: Role Player Extraordinaire
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Calling Kidd-Gilchrist a role player is meant in the nicest, most complimentary way possible.
This is done under the assumption that the former Kentucky star will do anything to help his team win, whether it's scoring, rebounding, playing lock down D or whatever else the coach asks of him.
In a lot of ways, his contributions are greater than that of a true star. Kidd-Gilchrist isn't a player who needs 15-20 shots a game to be effective. He can get a lot of his baskets off fast breaks and second chance opportunities without the team even having to draw up a lot of plays for him.
Asking Kidd-Gilchrist to be the "star" of the Bobcats is like asking Clint Eastwood to give up acting for singing. Let them be who they are, and enjoy what they produce.
Kidd-Gilchrist will be a fantastic do-it-all player for Charlotte, but never a true star.
1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets
15 of 15Future Role with Team: Face of the Franchise
2011-2012 College Stats Per Game: 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.7 blocks
Davis doesn't have the prettiest face, but it's one that will represent the Hornets franchise for years to come.
Whether he starts at power forward or center, you can bet Davis will be in the lineup from day one. He's too good on the defensive end not to be, and paired with sharp-shooter Ryan Anderson, the Hornets have a lethal combination down low.
A run with the USA Men's Olympic Basketball team this summer should only boost Davis' confidence and ability level when beginning his career in New Orleans. Partnered with Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers, Davis will have a good amount of help that most first overall picks don't have on their team.
While Gordon and Rivers are great players, make no mistake who the new face of the Hornets franchise is.
