Prospect Profile: Harrison Barnes
Rare is it anymore that you see a guy who is projected as a top-10 draft pick decide to return to school. But that was the case after last season for North Carolina's Harrison Barnes. Barnes was a mega recruit out of high school and was going as high as number one in a lot of mock drafts throughout his freshman year.
The 6-foot-8 Barnes deserves credit for realizing his game needed further development. It is possible that he looked at the career of fellow Tar Heel Marvin Williams as reason to go back. Williams, while a steady contributor for the Atlanta Hawks, has yet to fulfill the expectations that come with being the second overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. But now Barnes, after averaging 17.1 points-per-game as a sophomore, has declared himself eligible for this year's draft.
Barnes is still projected as a top-10 pick with the potential to crack the top five. He is 6-foot-8 and, depending where you look, is listed at around 220 pounds. His strengths are his length and his ability to score. He can fill it up from just about anywhere and has good range. His height and length enable him to get off his shot with ease. His midrange game, now a strength, has improved a lot while at North Carolina. Barnes is smooth and fundamentally sound on the court and just has the look of a basketball player.
He is capable of being a terrific defender. He is solid athletically and has a 7-foot wingspan, which more than makes up for a lack of quickness on defense. Most importantly, he has a very high basketball IQ and is generally known as a smart kid. It isn't surprising that Barnes was self-aware enough to recognize his game needed more pre-NBA polish after his freshman season.
Barnes toes the line of being "too nice." For someone as offensively gifted as he is, he disapears too often and defers to teammates. While that is easy to do in a star-filled program like North Carolina, at some point he needs to show the killer instinct that is needed to dominate at the NBA level. Originally a big man in high school, Barnes has not always played on the wing and some aspects of his game, like ball handling and passing, are still developing.
Because of this there is a fear out there that Barnes may end up being one dimensional (scoring only) on offense. While it's not a huge knock on his draft stock, it may be enough to keep him out of the top five. Also, Barnes is undoubtably thin for 6-foot-8, but his frame looks like it can support some extra size.
Overall, Barnes is a stellar prospect. He is already a very good scorer and most see him as a potential lock-down defender. But he also has considerable room to improve, which can be seen as a good thing for lottery teams willing to be patient. If Barnes fails to develop a more well-rounded game, his best case scenario is probably Danny Granger. However, he will have to be a little more aggressive on offense to reach that ceiling. There is certainly no shame in "only" becoming an All-Star like Granger, but Barnes could be more is everything comes together.
Pistons Interested In Retaining Wilkins
The Pistons have expressed interest in retaining small forward Damien Wilkins, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, tweets FOX Sports' Chris Tomasson. According to Tomasson, who spoke to Wilkins with Detroit in town to face the Heat, the veteran has the following to say:
“They indicated they want me back but we’ll see what happens.’’ Wilkins added that he wants to resign with the Pistons “as long as they want me here.’’
Wilkins is a 32-year-old journeyman who is on his fourth different team in four years. He has only averaged 3.4 points-per-game in just under 16 minutes, but it appears as though that might have been enough for him to stick. Stay tuned.
Week In Review: 4/2/12 – 4/8/12
A look back at the most important NBA stories from the past week.
- The week's biggest story, by far, was Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy telling reporters he was made aware that Dwight Howard wants him fired.
- The Nets have shut down center Brook Lopez for the rest of the season.
- Former Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh has been given permission by the team to seek another opportunity with a different organization.
- Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie has declared for the draft.
- The Raptors re-signed Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson to second 10-day contracts.
- The Raptors also signed Justin Dentmon to a 10-day contract.
- The Grizzlies sent Josh Selby down to the D-League.
- In a bit of draft news, Syracuse's Fab Melo will enter the draft, UNC forward James McAdoo will stay in school, and Isaiah Cannan will stay at Murray State.
- The Wizards signed James Singelton to a 10-day contract.
- The Rockets sent Courtney Fortson down to the D-League.
- The Bulls signed Mike James for the rest of the season.
- The Rockets re-signed Earl Boykins to a second 10-day contract.
- John Calipari announced he is not interested in taking an NBA job.
- The Lakers have shown interest in Nets guard Gerald Green.
- Steve Nash announced his plans to play at least three more seasons.
- Antawn Jamison says his days in Cleveland are numbered.
- Deron Williams made it clear he would test the market upon becoming a free agent this summer. New Jersey's chances of keeping him are slim.
- Jeremy Lin underwent season-ending knee surgery.
- Shawne Williams will not accept a buy out from the Trail Blazers.
- The Warriors announced they will not re-sign Keith Benson.
- The Rockets are showing interest in Joey Dorsey, who's currently playing in Greece.
Odds & Ends: Lin, Cole, Davis
As was expected after he underwent knee surgery, Jeremy Lin doubts he will be available for first round action should the Knicks make the playoffs, according to ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley. The original timetable for Lin's return was six weeks, and he'll resume running activities next week.
- The Miami Herald's Joseph Goodman takes a look at Heat guard Norris Cole's recent struggles. Goodman expects that when Mike Miller returns from injury, that Cole's quickly fading minutes may be reduced to nothing.
- On the flip side, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel examines the stellar play of Glen Davis, who's really come on as of late thanks to a few injuries on Orlando's front line.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/2/12 – 4/8/12
Here's a look at all original content produced by our writers this past week:
- Here's a rundown of our latest feature categories.
- Luke Adams takes a look at the free agent market for power forwards.
- Zach Links examines Kris Humphries in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- An examination of the free agent market for centers.
- A look at which teams are making the most use of the 10-day contract.
- Aaron Brooks is looked at by Luke Adams in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- I posted a poll asking who the league MVP should be. Based on your votes, Kevin Durant is the overwhelming favorite.
- Luke Adams asks who the second-best draft prospect is.
- A list of players who will leave school early to enter the 2012 draft.
- Daniel Seco asks if inactivity at the trade deadline may have hurt the Sixers.
- Sean Highkin asks if Stan Van Gundy will last the season in Orlando.
- I ask who will win the defensive player of the year.
- Highkin asks if the Knicks will re-sign Jeremy Lin.
- Zach Links takes a look around various NBA blogs to see what's going on in his weekly Hoops Links feature.
- Chuck Myron examines how the Spurs have been so successful.
- Jared Sullinger is profiled in our Prospect Profile series.
- Ryan Raroque looks at Steve Novak's situation in free agency.
- Thomas Robinson is profiled in our Prospect Profile series.
Prospect Profile: Thomas Robinson
There will always be focus on the tragedy Thomas Robinson endured thrice times in the winter of 2011. Faced to deal with the deaths of his grandfather, grandmother and mother in just under a month's time, Robinson, once a reserve forward for the Kansas Jayhawks, has let his play do the talking for him when the right words simply could not be uttered. The evolution of Robinson from role player into a sure-fire top 5 pick in the upcoming draft speaks volumes of the young man's resiliency.
Robinson hit the gym and court hard during the summer of 2011. Showing up to workout even before Kansas head coach Bill Self arrived at his office many mornings, Robinson's work ethic told the story of a man with a reignited fervor to recreate himself as a basketball player in every facet of the term. The stakes were higher now and anything besides pure unadulterated dedication to what had once been merely a pastime for Robinson meant more than just letting himself down.
A look at the numbers from Robinson's first two seasons at Kansas does little to help predict the success he came to enjoy as a junior. As a freshman, Robinson saw limited minutes due to the raw nature of his play along with the plethora of talent on the Jayhawks roster. A year later and Robinson's minutes increased as well as his production, which solidified a future where he was assured he would able to earn a paycheck for his basketball ability.
Fast forward the clock to November 11, 2011 and Robinson is about to embark on a journey in which he will rewrite the script for his basketball life and shock a nation with a dominant style of play that belies his limitations exhibited during the previous two seasons. Towson's basketball team became the first to bear witness to what a man can achieve in the face of tragedy when redirecting pain and heartache for the greater good of self. In merely 25 minutes of play, Robinson scored 18 points, grabbed 11 boards and had four assists to set the tone for a season that would go down in the annals of Jayhawk lore.
Robinson's tour-de-force campaign across college campuses saw a Kansas team go from a top-13 team in the country to the national title game by the season's end. The forward from Washington D.C. didn't merely make a name for himself feasting on the likes of the game's lesser programs, but rather showed up when the spotlight was greatest. Having developed a workman-like mentality toward the game rather than merely something to pass the time, Robinson's performances in victories against top teams like Ohio State, Baylor and Missouri could only be described as nothing short of dominant.
Scour the box scores and you'll come to find stat lines riddled with double-doubles. Try 30 points and 21 rebounds in a resounding victory over North Dakota or 20 points and 17 rebounds in a rout of Oklahoma. It would be foolish to gauge Robinson as a player sans tragedy but there is no doubt that in the face of so much heartbreak came so much joy.
As a runner-up for the Wooden Award for the nation's most outstanding player and a member of a Jayhawks squad that danced all the way to basketball's final evening, Robinson's name will be called early in late June at the Prudential Center. The 6-foot-10 forward boasts a lean body sculpted with Lebron-like muscle mixed with an energetic style of play that allows him to thrive on both ends of the court. Blessed with the rare combination of outstanding size (a 7-foot-1 wingspan) without sacrificing speed, Robinson's rebounding ability should seamlessly translate to success on the next level where he projects to be a top-5 pick by most top draft experts.
Merely 21 years of age, Robinson should be defined as more than just a basketball player. He's a brother, a role model and an inspiration. Truly a rare breed, Thomas Robinson has channeled the pain and suffering of personal loss on the deepest of levels to become the best version of himself, both as a basketball player and even more so as a human being.
Odds & Ends: Odom, Knicks, Griffin
ESPNChicago.com's Nick Friedell tweets that the Bulls are 19-0 when scoring 100 points or more on the season. Tom Thibodeau's squad will take their talents to Madison Square Garden this afternoon where they'll face a defensive-minded Knicks team fighting for their playoff lives. As the Knicks embark upon one of their toughest stretches as they close out the season, we look around the league to catch up on the latest news and happenings.
- The Mavs' ability to rely on anyone and everyone to contribute in a victory has taken a hit this season thanks to the disappointing play of offseason acquisition Lamar Odom. Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com wonders if Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle and the rest of his team have given up on Odom, who has been afforded myriad opportunities to prove himself as a legitimate contributor to the squad's success. The former Rhode Island star, 32, is currently averaging 6.6. PPG and 4.2 RPG, both career lows, through 50 games with the Mavericks.
- While the Knicks could probably use more depth at the point guard or power forward addition, the team did bring back a famous big man to help assist with player and community relations, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Larry Johnson, or more affectionately dubbed "Grandmama," was an integral part of the talented Knicks teams from the mid-to-late 90s after arriving from the Hornets in the summer of 1996. The addition of the former four-time Knicks captain follows New York's recent trend of adding former players to the team's staff.
- Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld wonders if Lob City superstar Blake Griffin can continue to improve like fellow Western Conference power forward Kevin Love. While Griffin's points per game and rebounds per game are down as compared to his rookie season, Brigham points out that Griffin's PER has improved from 21.9 to 22.9, perhaps as a result of key offseason acquisition Chris Paul's ability to maximize the production of his fellow teammates. Brigham suggests the addition of a reliable jump shot and improved defense as two areas where the already-dominant Griffin could work on to take his game to the next level.
Finnan On Walton, Free Agency, Draft
The Cavs take on the Nets as they head to Newark today in a battle between two non-playoff contenders. Tristan Thompson should be looking forward to the matchup as the rookie out of Texas went off for a career-high 27 points along with 12 rebounds on March 19 against the Nets. Let's check in with Bob Finnan of The News-Herald to get the latest scoop on what's happening with the Cavs.
- Finnan suggests Luke Walton's future with the Cavs remains a bit unclear given the fact that he is being used out of position as a power forward (he's more of a small forward) and that his playing ability has rapidly deteriorated from his heyday with the Lakers. The former Arizona star, 32, hasn't averaged more than 2.4 PPG since the 2008/2009 season where he scored 5.0 PPG.
- Expect the Cavs to explore adding quality free agents given their financial flexibility heading into the offseason, writes Finnan. The team will be over $20MM under the cap this summer allowing for Cavs general manager Chris Grant to explore the free-agent market. Names such as Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon and Pacers center Roy Hibbert have been tossed around, but the team's general philosophy toward rebuilding the roster stems from maximizing their return from the draft.
- Finnan believes the Cavs will focus their attention on adding a scoring wing, center, backup point guard and general depth when the team heads to Secaucus, NJ in June for the draft. Regardless of who the team selects, the ultimate focus will be on building a roster with the most talented athletes available.
Eastern Notes: Cavs, Brooks, Heat
Beyond the Knicks playing host to the Bulls this afternoon, the Heat will take on the Pistons while the Celtics defend their homecourt against a struggling Sixers squad. The Heat have played exceptionally well at home as they hold the best record in the NBA at 23-3 when they get to play their games in Miami. Let's take a look around the Eastern Conference to see what headlines are being made on this Easter Sunday.
- No longer in playoff contention, the Cavs will be tinkering with their lineup as the season winds down with hopes of figuring out which players will have a long-term future with the team, writes Tom Reed of The Plain Dealer. Equipped with four picks in the upcoming draft, the remainder of the season will be used to give players an opportunity show what role they may be best suited for heading into next season. This may ultimately spell decreased minutes for a veteran like Antawn Jamison, who's future with the club remains uncertain.
- Colin Stephenson of The Star-Ledger reports Nets guard MarShon Brooks would have been a part of a potential deal for Dwight Howard that was on the table at the trade deadline. While Brooks says that he didn't let any rumors affect his play, knowing that he will remain with the Nets at least for the rest of the season is a comforting feeling. The 23-year-old former Providence star has had an up-and-down rookie campaign in which he is currently averaging 12.3 PPG.
- The lack of a quality backup point guard has hurt the Heat especially when dealing with more athletic guards who can get to the basket quickly, says Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Iannazzone on Chandler, Calipari, Playoffs
In what could be a preview of a first-round matchup in this year's Eastern Conference playoffs, the Bulls and Knicks will begin a home-and-home series on Sunday in New York. Carmelo Anthony understands those implications and views these next two games as playoff games, according to Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog.com. Al Iannazzone of Newsday also offered some input about the Knicks tonight, and here's his latest work out of the Big Apple:
- Contrary to Anthony's claim that Tyson Chandler is playing with a fractured hand, the team's starting center refuted the notion but did imply that he is playing through inexplicable pain.
- John Calipari could be a legitimate candidate to coach the Knicks next season, says Iannazone, and cites Calipari's ties to the Creative Artists Agency (which has affiliations to people within Knicks management and with whom Carmelo is also a client) as a possible factor.
- In a separate piece, Iannazone looks at the challenge of the next 11 games for the Knicks as it relates to their push to make the playoffs while facing a daunting schedule.