Drummond is worth the risk

[Shooter]

I'm starting to worry that Portland will shy away from Andre Drummond just because they had such bad luck with the last 7-ft. center they drafted. That would be a big mistake, however. I really think Drummond is worth the risk. Even if he never develops an offensive game, his incredible reach (longest in the combine) and rebounding prowess will make him a force to be reckoned with.

And when you consider that no other players available at the #6 spot are going to have "success" written all over them, I say Drummond is the guy to take. His upside may even be spectacular.

Check out this video:

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/sto...nd-sacramento-kings-bobcats-wizards-cavaliers

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i also enjoy big men

 

[HailBlazers]

Wow, coming from shooter this is big

 

[yenniedn]

I know you can't teach 7ft but that guy looks a lot like an Olowokandi/Kwame flame out to me.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

I like Drummond too. When you're a small franchise like Portland, with little success of luring big time free agents, you have to take chances like this once in a while.

 

[craigehlo]

I just don't see his upside that high for the #6 pick in this draft. Waiting 3-4 years for a guy that may be a DeAndre Jordan-type isn't worth it in my book.

 

[Rhal]

I just don't see his upside that high for the #6 pick in this draft. Waiting 3-4 years for a guy that may be a DeAndre Jordan-type isn't worth it in my book.

He might have more upside then Davis. Drummond measured better and has all the same tools a player like Tyson chandler/Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum all have. Huge risk but if he pans out he could very easily be the #1 player from this draft. He also has all the same red flags that said above players had. I love his upside but he is the biggest risk in the top 10. If we draft him we must hire a bigman coach to constantly work with him and surround him with veteran bigs who work hard (Prz being a guy we would need to bring back).

 

[Nikolokolus]

I go back and forth when I think about him ... His "aww shucks" demeanor is the most frightening thing of all, but he is one of the absolute youngest guys in this draft class so maybe a little bit of child-like affect isn't to be completely unexpected. My gut feeling is that he's got about an 80% chance of being a complete bust with a ton of that being the responsibility of the team that drafts him; they're going to need to draft him with a plan for development and support with the right kind of coaching and the right way of managing expectations.

This is why I think he'd be a disaster in Portland. Because of the dicey coaching situation and the fishbowl that is Portland -- Drummond will immediately draw comparisons to Oden and given the likely timeline it's going to take to let him develop and learn how to play, there's going to be way too much impatience if he doesn't have an immediate impact (lots and lots and lots of the "B" word being thrown around).

Now just from a "need meets potential" perspective I think he's probably going to be the best prospect left on the board at 6, but if he goes to the Blazers it's all going to end in tears.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

i also enjoy big men

Not surprised.

 

[NWDJ]

There are so many options available to the Blazers for improving his work ethic now though. Having sole operation of a D League team, having Paul Allen to spend big on a "specialist" big man coach for the summer. If they draft Drummond, re-sign Hickson, sign Freeland and convince Joel P. to come back, that would give Drummond plenty of time to work on his game, and the Blazers could still be competitive.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

It would be nice if we could do the F.A. period before the draft. If we end up with Dragic or Nash or someone, then I would be even more pro-Drummond. But we don't know what the Blazers are thinking on that front. When I look at the free agent list, it looks more likely we will sign a starting caliber PG than a center. I'm all for BPA, but if there is a tie it would be nice to fill a need.

Also, Drummond is the number 2 player on some big boards.

 

[Nikolokolus]

There are so many options available to the Blazers for improving his work ethic now though. Having sole operation of a D League team, having Paul Allen to spend big on a "specialist" big man coach for the summer. If they draft Drummond, re-sign Hickson, sign Freeland and convince Joel P. to come back, that would give Drummond plenty of time to work on his game, and the Blazers could still be competitive.

It's been my experience that things like work ethic and passion for one's job/craft are pretty much innate ... you can certainly surround somebody with a great support system and try to give them the tools to succeed, but there really isn't a damned thing a team can do to give a player the drive to be a great player. Hopefully whomever the Blazers draft has this.

 

[NWDJ]

It's been my experience that things like work ethic and passion for one's job/craft are pretty much innate ... you can certainly surround somebody with a great support system and try to give them the tools to succeed, but there really isn't a damned thing a team can do to give a player the drive to be a great player. Hopefully whomever the Blazers draft has this.

True. I guess I'm hoping some of that is just youth and with age/maturity, he'll grow into his physical tools.

 

[blue32]

no no no no no. How many times do we have to slit our throats taking "promising big men" in the draft......hell no, turn and run the fuck away.

 

[Nikolokolus]

no no no no no. How many times do we have to slit our throats taking "promising big men" in the draft......hell no, turn and run the fuck away.

And if they never do take the chance then guess what happens?


Nothing.

 

[Denny Crane]

Surely there's a can't miss wing prospect to pass on to take this guy.

 

[Sinobas]

I'd be happy if we came away with either Drummond or Meyers Leonard. Drummond almost seems like a Greg Oden clone. Freakish combination of size/athletisism. He has the potential to be a real defensive force with his shot blocking/rebounding (a bigger more athletic Ben Wallace).

But Meyers is such a smooth athletic, and has a shooting touch, which is a great weapon to have from a 7'1 center. I hope we either get him or Marshall at #11.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I hope to God somebody in the top five believes this.

 

[e_blazer]

Surely there's a can't miss wing prospect to pass on to take this guy.

Ouch. You are a mean and vindictive man, Denny.

 

[Blazinaway]

no no no no no. How many times do we have to slit our throats taking "promising big men" in the draft......hell no, turn and run the fuck away.

and how many PGOTF's have we drafted the past several yrs that have panned out? take BPA as you see it and don't let past history enter or skew the selection process

 

[Sinobas]

So why was Oden a "once in a generation prospect" while Drummond is not even a top 5 pick? Drummond is just as big as Oden, has and tested with a higher vertical jump and lane agility

 

[RoyToy]

So why was Oden a "once in a generation prospect" while Drummond is not even a top 5 pick? Drummond is just as big as Oden, has and tested with a higher vertical jump and lane agility

Because Oden put up way better stats while playing with a cast on his right hand in college?

He was also bigger and MUCH stronger.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

So why was Oden a "once in a generation prospect" while Drummond is not even a top 5 pick? Drummond is just as big as Oden, has and tested with a higher vertical jump and lane agility

Because they're being assessed for their ability to play basketball?
Because Drummond gets bullied by Thomas Robinson in workouts. Can you imagine what would've happened if Robinson tried that shit with Oden?

 

[Sinobas]

Oden was a bit better offensivly, but he was raw as well. Both Oden and Drummond relied got their offense from put backs and overpowering their man inside. And are sure Oden was so much more powerful? Drummond looks a lot thicker than Oden was in college (20+ pounds heavier). They are similar in their rebounding/shot blocking prowess.

Also, Drummond had one of the top lane agility tests in the draft, for a 7ft 275 pound guy, that shows incredible athletic ability.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Also, Drummond had one of the top lane agility tests in the draft, for a 7ft 275 pound guy, that shows incredibly long legs.

or this

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I take your "Drummond is worth the risk" and raise you "Sullinger is worth the risk"
Sullinger may be gimpy but he's already proved he can play. Drummond is healthy but can't play.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Also, Drummond had one of the top lane agility tests in the draft, for a 7ft 275 pound guy, that shows incredible athletic ability.

Michael Olowokandi was a track star. Your point?

 

[RoyToy]

Oden was a bit better offensivly, but he was raw as well. Both Oden and Drummond relied got their offense from put backs and overpowering their man inside. And are sure Oden was so much more powerful? Drummond looks a lot thicker than Oden was in college (20+ pounds heavier). They are similar in their rebounding/shot blocking prowess.

Also, Drummond had one of the top lane agility tests in the draft, for a 7ft 275 pound guy, that shows incredible athletic ability.

You're looking too much at combine results instead of how they actually play.

 

[RoyToy]

A note from Oden's raft profile

Then:
Oden was downright dominant from the tip, gaining incredible post position down on the low blocks that allowed him to simply turn and dunk the ball. His ability to gain such position in the paint is unmatched at the college level, and is comparable to that of maybe only Shaquille O’Neal and Yao Ming in the NBA. He used his abnormal lower body strength to muscle helpless defenders under the rim, resulting in a plethora of easy finishes.

You don't hear that about Drummond.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

A note from Oden's raft profile



You don't hear that about Drummond.

so wait, drummond isnt as good a prospect as oden was?