[White ChocolateParticipant]

The biggest question of this NBA Draft has to be Andre Drummond. Based on potential only he should be a Top-5 pick. Though he did not put up amazing numbers at Connecticut, he did put up solid numbers for being a Freshman. This situation reminds me so much of Derrick Favors two years ago. Favors was a Freshman at Georgia Tech and had high expectations, butl like Drummond he did not put up stellar numbers. Once again he was consistent and put up solid numbers.

Andre Drummond, 28.5 MPG, 10 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 0.8 SPG, and 0.4 APG

Derrick Favors, 27.5 MPG, 12.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.1 RPG, 1 APG, and 0.9 APG

Their numbers as Freshman are pretty close, obviously Favors put up slightly better numbers in everything except blocks. Favors has been very good and consistent this year as a Sopomore in the NBA with the minutes he is getting. My point here is, don’t sleep on Drummond, he is definitely worthy of a Top-5 or even Top-3 pick in this draft in my opinion.

[TyroberParticipant]

 The probably is Davis, MKG, Robinson, Beal, and Drummond all deserve to be top 3 picks imo. But one of them is going to fall to 4 and 5. Davis, of course, is a lock for #1, but I can easily see MKG, Robinson, Beal, Drummond each going 2-5 in every order.

[Toronto16Participant]

 I really want the Raptors to end up with Drummond.  I think he has the most upside than anyone else in this draft.

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 ^ He’s in his second year.  Give him some time.

[mgreener_34Participant]

Thank you! They are the exact same player in my eyes, and have been preaching this comparison all year. Even their respective teams were the same with an already established low post player Lawal/Oriaki, and ball dominant guards in Shabazz/Shump. 

I understand why some people wouln’t draft him, but why take Robinson over Drummond? If you’re in the lottery then you have the time to wait around and need talent; besides Davis, Drummond has the highest potential for any big man in the draft. Robinson might be the safer pick, but Drummond is the better pick. 

[Ghost01Participant]

 You do realize Favors has been a decent bench player, right?

Hes averaging 8.6/6.5, I mean cmon, if I’m picking in the top 3, I’m expecting to get a future stud, not a role player. 

[MalcolmxParticipant]

 Drummond can very well end up being the best player drafted from this class. It is all up to him.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Drummond has the talent to be the 2 pick, for sure, but for a team like the Bobcats or the Wizards, does he make sense?  Jan and Biyombo need to develop and two super raw guys at once tends to not work out.  NJ? Sure, he’s #2.  Same, probably, for New Orleans.  Toronto has Bargs and Jonas coming over and could use the wing help more.  It all depends on who needs what.

[UNCbasketballbumParticipant]

 the big question about drummond is his commitment to the game and putting in the work to get better.  hes a talent but hes such a  long ways from being a finished project.  he is an atrocious free throw shooter.  he is the epitomy of a high risk, high reward player.  i dont see him making much of an impact his rookie season, but maybe three of four years down the line he could average double digit rebounds.

[Pro 1Participant]

For some reason I get an  Olowokandi vibe with ADrummond…has the talent to be a solid pro but does he have the drive & discipline?

Will got top 5 unless his workouts just bomb.

[thparadoxParticipant]

Favors vs. Drummond is a good comparison because they are both guys you draft based on athleticism and potential.

The one difference for me is that Favors seemed to be more explosive.. maybe Drummond has just as much explosion and we just didn’t get to see as much of it. I thought Drummond was more explosive than this judging by his high school footage.

I think he’s a great pick, anyway. Worth the risk.

[TruettParticipant]

Everyone agrees that Drummond is a project and If you are a GM picking low, you might be out of a job by the time he blooms because your team is not very good to begin with. GMs earn their paychecks on draft day and at the trade deadline, so not every GM in the Lottery may feel like they have the leeway to take a risk like that. Also Favors is only recently starting to plays good. NJ was willing to let go of him because he stunk while he was there.  He is not like Monroe or cousins who started to come around at the end of last year. BTW, That line up with Favors, Jefferson, and Milsap last night was a little scary. If they can play that next year look out for the Jazz. 

Most big men do not produce well in their rookie year, so generally they are projects in themselves. But to take two+ years can cause a GM to lose sleep and a fanbase to get pissed off. I think a lot of the big men this year are going to take awhile to start producing in the league. Also Terrence Jones, if the team that drafts him wants him t be a SF, but that is totally unrelated.

[theballerwayParticipant]

I think guys often overlook the fact the AD was not a go to guy on his team – if he had the usage rate of the incredible overated and under rebounding C.Zeller I feel he would have had such a greater impact(stats) and people would have different perceptions about him. I see the stats but dont see the similarites in games between him n Favors.

[AndyBeng2Participant]

 @Theballerway- I’m not quite sure you watched IU all year long like I did, but it took Indiana more than half the year to really start feeding Cody Zeller in the post, if you go back and watch the IU-pUKe the 1st time around, you can see Zeller getting post position and his teammates looking him off. Vitale almost loses his mind in the game b/c he was begging them to feed the beast, but they wouldn’t. If took them TOO long to figure out how to play w/ big Z and actually let the offense run through him. 

[AndyBeng2Participant]

 Oh yeah, no excuse for Zellers rebounding rate except I heard his wingspan is sub standard, so that could answer that question. 

[NihochuParticipant]

I was never high on Drummond but his potential is off the charts. But yet again so many other people had potential in the NBA and never made it anywhere , got caught up in the money i guess …. i hope his mentality will be one where he can succeed and not deter 

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

I remain convinced that Zeller will be a star.  Cody, not Tyler, though Tyler is a truer 5.  And can we not pretend Drummond’s development is all on him?  Coaching and system have a huge role, as do the other players on the team. 

[kobyzParticipant]

personally i’d not risk a lottery pick on him, also doubtful if he’s worth a first rounded, to me he is a scrub, how much he’s diffrent than Jeremy Tyler and his appeal to be drafted last draft???

[fastdanParticipant]

A team I could see taking him in New Orleans. They know they have 2 more seasons at being at the bottom. They are in a position to just give him minutes and let him develop. Also, I think it would be wise for them to take Sullinger with their second pick. Those two guys compliment eachother perfectly and would be their frontcourt for years.

[akhan786Participant]

Really hope he falls down to #5…Him and Kyrie would be something to watch.

They can then get rid of Varejao at the deadline for draft picks or another young piece.

[JoeWolf1]

 The main difference I see between the two of them is that Favors really picked up his play at the end of the year. He did have a pretty sub par start to his freshman year, but he hit his stride and scored in double digits every game from Feb 13 to the end of the year.  Favors averaged 15.6 ppg 9 rpg and 2.27 bpg over the last 11 games of the year including the ACC and NCAA tournament.

 There was a very difinitive moment in Favor’s college career and that was the GT v Duke game in the ACC tournament right at the end of the year, in which he went for 22 points and 11 rebounds. He then played very solid, although not great, in the NCAA tournament and ended the season strong.

Drummond didn’t do that, he struggled against the smaller ISU team, played inconsistantly and continued to play games in which he looked very poorly all season long.  There was no "momentum shift" or rise in play at the right time of the year like Favors.  Scouts were starting to feel Favors was answering some of those questions by the time the NCAA season ended, but Drummond is still just as much of a mystery.

[Andrew1984Participant]

A buddy of mine compared to Drummond to Alonzo Mourning and I completely agree. Drummond is a little bigger (6-11, 270, Mourning was 6-10, 240).

Mourning averaged 13 points and 7 boards as a freshman, not terribly far off from Drummond. He just kept improving every year. Once Mourning was automatic from the elbows, he turned into a walking 20 and 10. He wasn’t Kareem, Dream, Admiral, or Shaq,but he was one of the most reliable and consistent bigs ever. 

I like that comparison. I think it’s optimistic, but fair.  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Andrew1984,

Not a bad comparison.  Zo was a defense first, shot blocking center.   A great player but not a Shaq, Kareem, or Wilt type.  That would be a good comparison, but AD did have a great freshman year and won a title and that helps his case more.  

I like that AD is trying to develop a face up game.  Decent shooting touch, and the guy can move and roam the floor.  Probably better than Zo.  His size and skill set reminds me a little of Rasheed Wallace, but with better intangibles, shot blocking, and AD is not a hot head.

If AD turns into a combination of Zo (great shot blocking, rebounding, intense center) and Rasheed Wallace (solid face up game, good shooting touch, can run the floor, versatile, high basketball IQ, a guy who can play the 4 or the 5) then that would make Anthony Davis one heck of a player.  Sort of a unique player but very talented.  He’s a guy with a lot of upside. 

[kobyzParticipant]

Zo is a terrible comparison, stop looking only on numbers and physical profile, you should also count mentality, smarts, attitude, intangibles, things like tthat and the most logical comparison would be JaVale McGee or Jeremy Tyler.
and Zo isn’t even a good comparison style and nature of play wise, if Drummond would have the will, the right drive and motor he will be as player like Shawn Kemp.

[JoeWolf1]

 This is why looking at stats from 25 years ago, having not actually watched those teams and making comparisons sucks. Zo played on the same college teams as Dikembe Mutombo from his freshman year to his junior year!!! He was splitting minutes with another top 10 NBA center!!!! Not to mention he was blocking shots at a 4.9 clip….If you’re going by numbers alone he’s a lot more Anthony Davis than Andre Drummond.

Alonzo Mourning was also one of the most passionate players to play in the past 25 years. Why are people so afraid to admit DeAndre Jordan is a legit comparison.  He would have gone top 10 after his freshman year if thre weren’t concerns on his attitude and maturity.  Now he’s a 8/8/and 2.5 player 3 years later….I think that’s a very realisitic comparison for Mr. Drummond.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

DMC had a similar vibe to Drummond a couple of years ago and now despite some run-ins is looking a potential 20/10 player next season.

I would not mind Drummond ending up at Detroit if they got a lottery top 3 pick or could trade up as Big Ben could be there to help mentor him or even if D12 went to the Nets and Drummond went to Orlando as part of the deal then Patrick Ewing could take him under his wing.

[Author]

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