Is Harrison Barnes Poised to Become a Star With the Golden State Warriors

Now that the dust from the NBA Draft has settled, the predictions can officially begin. However, with all of the uncertainty that surrounds the 2012 class, there is one thing that seems for sure. The future looks bright for the trio of UNC alumni that are set to begin their professional careers when the 2012-2013 season kicks off.

While all of these former Tar Heels fell into solid situations in terms of the teams that drafted them, the match between small forward Harrison Barnes and the Golden State Warriors looks to be a perfect fit. While Barnes’ inconsistency in college made be very skeptical of his potential at the NBA level, this selection has made me much more confident that he could live up to expectations.

Over the last several years, the Golden State Warriors have made a name for themselves as a run and gun style team. While they have developed more of a pro-style offence since the departure of head coach Don Nelson, the team’s current game plan is still based on a high octane style of play, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. While the team may still be several years away from contending for anything more than a seven or eight seed in the Western Conference playoff picture, the team’s style of play should allow Barnes to put up exceptional numbers in terms of scoring.

While Barnes still has several holes in his game that he needs to address before he can become a superstar in the NBA, the man knows how to put the ball in the basket. The Warriors do have two star players in point guard Stephon Curry and power forward David Lee, but they also have a need for one more offensive threat since Monta Ellis’ departure to the Milwaukee Bucks. It is certainly not outside the realm of possibility for Barnes to assume Ellis’ role as one of the elite scores in the NBA within the next few years.

This is also a team that has been near the bottom of the league in terms of defensive statistics, which will help mask Barnes weaknesses on that side of the floor. While I am afraid that Barnes’ offensive production will not translate into wins for the Warriors, he should manage to put up the necessary number to live up to his number seven overall selection in last week’s draft.

When you look that the other Tar Heels taken in the 2012 NBA Draft, Harrison Barnes may very well be poised to pace the group in effectiveness over the next several years. After all, Kendall Marshall may be playing under NBA legend Steve Nash for the next couple of years, and John Henson will be stuck on a Milwaukee Bucks roster that already contains two players who share his style of play (Ekpe Udoh and Larry Sanders). Tyler Zeller landed on a Cleveland Cavilers team that looks to be an ideal fit for his skill set; Zeller lacks the explosiveness and athleticism that most fans look for in a budding star. While I fully expect Zeller to be a solid player at the NBA level, he will more than likely make a name for himself as a high energy player that provides hustle, rebounding and shot blocking.

While all of these players have the talent to overcome their situations, when all is said and done, Harrison Barnes looks to be in the best position to excel on his new team.