[OhCanada-Participant]

Would you have drafted Andre Drummond in the Toronto Raptors shoes?

The Toronto Raptors drafted 6’7, wing player Terrence Ross with the 8th overall pick passing on the manchild Andre Drummond who slipped way past his projected draft spot from a year ago to this day. On draftday at work I was day dreaming about Harrison Barnes slipping to the Raptors and filling the talent/shooting void at the Raptors second wing position, although I was also dreaming about how good a Bargnani, Valanciunas and Drummond frontcourt could be in a few years but the Raptors made the right choice to not select Andre Drummond.

Drummond slipped in this draft for a couple reasons, he has no free throw/shooting abillity, he has effort issues, he is passive and he has competitive issues. The Toronto Raptors have worked hard andf long to keep those type of players out of the organization and shape their players into complete professionals who give it their all every game. At this point of the Raptors growth process they cannot take a step back and draft a kid who still needs to grow up, learn how to play hard, learn how to play happy because that would become the teams responsabillity and focus when Derozan, Bargnani and the Johnsons have things they have to improve independently. Not to mention Valanciunas will be coming over to fill that position anyways.

In all I think Terrence Ross was the best pick on the board. I would have been much happier seeing the Raptors trade up for Barnes but I am content with Ross. Raps needed another wing and by sliding Derozan to SF whoever you put at SG would have to be able to rebound since Demar does not contribute much for rebounds. Also they wanted a player that can be an off the ball shot maker as apposed to a on the ball shot creator. That cancels out Austin Rivers and leaves the choice between Lamb and Ross. Ross had a much better workout then Lamb in Toronto, not to mention Lamb is considered to have the same issues as Drummond mentally.

[sheltwon3Participant]

The only reason I could see Toronto taking Drummonds is if they had a deal with Houston where they could still take Ross later and get another pick. That Euro guy, and Bargnani, Davis, Amir Johnson is not a bad front court plus you probably add a vet big man.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Developing is not easy. To develop both Valanciunas and Drummond up front would be an extremely difficult task. Toronto would also have to hire a veteran big to help guide them, therefore it would show the other players they are still "rebuilding". Looking at this from a subliminal standpoint it shows they are confident their roster will win…no risks needed, it means they are confident they dont need to take risks, they are confident in their frontcourt, they are showing Nash this is a team that has been built no longer rebuilding and he (along with a good SF) are the last pieces needed to be added in order to start a winning organization. And if Terrence Ross can be a more athletic Eddie Jones, Mo Peterson type player immediatly this is an excellent pick. They sold Terrence Ross by saying he is a shot maker, slasher, hardnose defender, and great athlete, every team needs one of those guys on the wing.

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

the kings couldve taken him….. i knew they werent…. well because there the kings.. portland couldve taken him….everyone knew they liked lillard….. the warriors shouldve/couldve taken him…. i knew they didnt….. well… becuz there the warriors….. im not saying drummond will pan out to be amazing…. but he was worthy of a top 5 or 6 pick w/o a doubt 

still cant believe he dropped that far

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I agree.

When Drummond was available here, I thought the Raptors would trade their 8th for the 16th and Kyle Lowry.  Fact is, Jeremy Lamb or Terrence Ross would have been available at 16.

[surveParticipant]

Each GM thinks differently.  If I were a GM I may have chosen Drummond.  I cant say for sure though.  What I will say is, I also think Ross was the best player on the board that filled a need.  I have no problems with that pick at all.  The only dilema is…neither Ross or Derozen are SF’s….but somebody will have to play that position, and since Derozen is the poorer shooter, its gonna be him.

The other player I wouldve been interested in if I were the Raps wouldve been Harkless.  Again, not a great shooter so Ross was still a better pick.   Derozen may have to go, but the Raps filled a need in the backcourt and a need for shooting and with the way the pieces were positioned, I dont think you could ask for much more.

[johnallinghamParticipant]

I would have taken Drummond.  He’s 8 years younger than Bargnani so by the time he starts to peak Bargnani will be an aging vet.  How often do you get the best player from his hs draft class with the 8th pick?  I was quite upset watching the draft over this exact issue.  The trade with Houston did cross my mind but we probably would have got their 2 lower picks so none of the top wing picks would have been available.

[NYK2010Participant]

I would’ve taken Drummond 8th.

I can see why teams passed on him with top 5 picks but after that he’s got plenty of potential.

8th pick a wing player over Drummond not with all that size get him a real big man coach and he should do well.

 

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Developing 2 bigs down low is really, really difficult.  That said, I have absolutely no idea why Toronto didn’t take 1 of Houston’s deals.

[inbedwithyomamaParticipant]

I would have drafted Rivers

[Toronto16Participant]

 Yes, yes.  And a million times, yes.

[draft2017Participant]

bryan colanglo wanted a safer pick, drafting andre drummond could make you richer or jobless i think he knows the raptors have 1 big man they can develop so he wanted to go with a safer pick who fits in the raptors system

[HotSnotParticipant]

The Lakers were blasted for taking a 17 year old out of shape highschool center a few years back at #10.  He was a project.  Slow footed, little offense game and poor defensive instincts. 

He showed flashes of potential in his first 2 years but was thought of as a bust by Lakers HOF SG Kobe Bryant… who famously wanted him traded for JKidd. 

After working with a bigman coach, (Kareem) Bynum started to put it all together in his 3rd and 4th years although injuries were a concern.  Bynum signed a 4 year 60mil extension and is now likely to be the biggest trde chip there is for SuperMan.

Why not Drummond?  I agree that the FT shooting is a concern but there’s no reason he can’t improve.  If the Raps obtained a PG like Nash to help him learn the game… and they picked up a solid bigman coach for Jonas, Drummond and Davis.  The Raps aren’t gong to be contenders so continue to build for the future and be patient.  Continue to gather assets.  Colangelo keeps trying to skip steps.  He gets going on a plan and isn’t patient enough to fully see it through.

Ross is a nice player, but he won’t ever be an allstar and he can’t consistently create his own shot.  Ross will be similar to Derozan, but with a better shooting stroke.  Why draft a redundant part with limited upside over a player like Drummond. 

Bostons D league call up Steisma is being offered giant money.  Back up bigman Asik…ditto.  It goes to show you how overvalued bigmen are and you pass on Drummond for Ross? 

[lilballa141Participant]

"At this point of the Raptors growth process they cannot take a step back and draft a kid who still needs to grow up"

you do realize he is 18, graduated a year early, gave up a scholarship, played as a "walk on", AND didn’t even have his own dorm until a month into his college life?

Drummond will become a beast and my warriors as well as your raptors will be killing themselves for passing on him

[kobyzParticipant]

how you could be sure Drummond will become a beast ?
he didn’t show signs he want to learn the game nor much passion to win or to be great!

[Sharp ShooterParticipant]

All i know i know is that Detroit’s not complaining! And he’ll show Toronto why they shouldn’t have passed on him (even if they have Davis and Bargani) 

[NashyMingParticipant]

I would have drafted Andrew Drummond and then look for good big man coaches (Clifford Ray?, the dream?) to develop him and Valanciunas.

I actually think Valanciunas is more of a traditional PF that can play as a modern day C, so I would hope to have a twin tower of Valanciunas at PF and Drummond at C.

I will definitely trade away Andrea Bargnani and one of Ed Davis or Amir Johnson.

 

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