2012 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com



2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - June 19


Memphis Tigers' shooting guard/small forward Will Barton had a breakout sophomore season this year. He averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds per game, and earned Conference USA Player of the Year honors. As a result, the Baltimore native decided to leave school early and enter the 2012 NBA Draft. Even with those accolades, he remains a borderline first-round pick.

At the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Barton said he's been hearing his name discussed in the "[No.] 17 to early second-" round range. Like most college players leaving school early, Barton has higher expectations than that. "I feel like I'm a first-rounder, so that's what I'm shooting for," he stated.

One of the biggest concerns with Barton is his three-point shooting. He did raise his long-distance percentage from 26.5 percent as a freshman to 34.6 percent as a sophomore, partially because he cut down on his triple tries and tried to display his other offensive strengths, including attacking the basket and his steady mid-range game. "Staying consistent with my shot" is something Barton has been working to improve during this draft process.



When compared to other shooting guards pegged to be selected in the late first/early second round, Barton is at a major disadvantage in that area. Guys like Kentucky's Doron Lamb, John Jenkins of Vanderbilt, and France's Evan Fournier have proven to all be better outside shooters than Barton.

The 6'6" swing player is also rail thin, weighing in at 174 pounds at the Combine, which was the lowest number of the 60 participants. The fact that Barton couldn't even bench press 185 pounds once while in Chicago only magnifies his lack of strength which many feel will hinder his transition to the next level.



Still, Barton is hoping his many strengths (pardon the pun) outweigh some of his weaknesses. He is, by far, a better athlete than the three previously mentioned shooting guards and is much more capable of attacking defenders in one-on-one situations. "My versatility, ability to defend, rebound, create for myself, and create for others" is what Barton listed as his strengths. Because of that versatility, he compared his game to that of "Jamal Crawford, MarShon Brooks, and a young Larry Hughes."

So far, Barton has been on a whirlwind tour, working out for Boston, Miami, Cleveland, Golden State, Chicago, Memphis, Indiana, Milwaukee, and Denver. "I'm a competitive guy," Barton said of the draft-workout scenarios. "I like to compete. I like to get after it. That's what I do best. I thrive with stuff like that."

Thriving in those matchups in the final days leading up to the draft is the best way Barton can prove to some team that he is worthy of being a first-round pick.



Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:

James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   SunsFan 07-06-2012 02:18 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.183 (total posts: 1) 11     51 Why the MOTHERF U C KING LAKERS!!!!!NASH WHY!!!! CJ 07-05-2012 07:11 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4) 78     30 Again Banks is clueless, claiming Eric Gordon has already re-signed with New Orleans. Also the 'Clippers' weren't involved in the Marvin Williams/Devin Harris trade. Does this guy even proof read anything he writes? Atrocious. abe 07-05-2012 08:39 am xxx.xxx.xxx1.87 (total posts: 1) 19     12 walt eric gordon is signing with the suns not the hornets Ben Wallace 07-04-2012 06:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.153 (total posts: 1) 26     71 To be totally honest, Henson and Zeller wouldn't be any better than Meyers Leonard. They are all going to bust. C-3PO 07-04-2012 05:27 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.234 (total posts: 1) 21     9 Eric Gordon signed an offer sheet with the Suns dumb @ss, New Orleans has yet to match that offer, so he didn't resign like you said. Geiger 07-03-2012 07:03 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.66 (total posts: 2) 27     10 The Nets are not out of the running for Dwight and are offering a package of Humphris, Lopez and Brooks with draft picks..Its sad to even hear the Nets entertain that idea, but it very well could happen. A team to look out for is the Lakers..an offer of Bynum, Artest and the Odom exception for Howard and Turkaglus monster contract is a win-win for both teams. Geiger 07-03-2012 07:03 pm xxx.xxx.xxx3.66 (total posts: 2) 12     9 The Nets are not out of the running for Dwight and are offering a package of Humphris, Lopez and Brooks with draft picks..Its sad to even hear the Nets entertain that idea, but it very well could happen. A team to look out for is the Lakers..an offer of Bynum, Artest and the Odom exception for Howard and Turkaglus monster contract is a win-win for both teams. @CJ 07-03-2012 04:33 am xxx.xxx.xxx.104 (total posts: 1) 16     121 So basically you're asking Walt to fire one "clueless" dumbass for another? lol Whats the point? Rise Above CJ 06-30-2012 04:54 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.44 (total posts: 4) 213     107 Paul Banks, yet again showing how clueless he is. Almost every other draft analyst has the Rockets' with a positive ranking. This clown does understand that the Rockets are likely to make trades, with all the assets they've compiled? I agree that Meyers Leonard is probably going to be a bust, but you can't call Portland a 'loser' for stealing the 6th pick from the Nets. How about a 'loser' ranking for the Cavs for reaching so much for Dion Waiters? Or trading all their other picks for another likely bust in Tyler Zeller? But Banks has a 'man crush' (not that there's anything wrong with that) on Waiters, so he'd never mark the Cavs down. Fire this guy Walt, I'll work for free! Ben 06-25-2012 09:00 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.254 (total posts: 1) 10     23 So....Henson is overrated because he has trouble keeping and putting on weight and strength. And you stated that size and strength is everything in the nba for a big. But....isn't Davis just as if not more lanky and undersized than Henson....? And Henson is only one year older and both have similar wingspans? Just a thought.. @Live 06-22-2012 10:10 am xxx.xxx.xxx6.15 (total posts: 1) 11     8 You are an idiot, you apparently don't know how basketball trades work, its all about salary dumping. IN the NBA you are either rebuilding, championship contender, or youar e going to stay consistently medicore. They were never going ot win a championship with Okafor and Ariza taking up that much money on their books. Live 06-22-2012 04:28 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.80 (total posts: 1) 8     70 Washington - B Hornets - Big fat F Sure the Hornets is going to waive Lewis and relieve cap space to sign Gordon to a longer deal and draft Anthony Davis but so what! They let go a great defensive guy that can hit 3s here and there. They got NOTHING in return for Ariza and Okafor but a 2nd rounder. I didn't like what the Hornets got in return and it was a bad deal IMO. Vince 06-19-2012 04:03 am xxx.xxx.xxx3.99 (total posts: 1) 42     8 It was a play on words, not a pun. More importantly, know who else couldn't bench press 185 pounds at the NBA Combine? This one player called Kevin Durant. Ben 04-15-2012 09:06 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.65 (total posts: 1) 29     20 I like how only one of these players actually got traded Omar 03-23-2012 04:20 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.60 (total posts: 1) 14     14 its a good thing i was wearing sartight white with built in neon when i went to the Super bowl. they almost didnt let me on the field:) and on a side note.. i feel bad for Slash:/ Pages: 1 2 34 5 6 7

2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22

2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25

2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG

2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23

2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)

2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft

2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports

2010-11 NBA Season Previews

2009 NBA Draft Grades





2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 24


2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22


2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21


Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20


NFL Picks - Feb. 3