Drummond is worth the risk

[LameR]

Just want to point out Drummond grabbed 7.6 rpg. People talking about his "rebounding prowess" need to take a step back. He has all of the physical attributes, but the mental question marks are too much for me. I'd rather have a guy with less talent that overachieves. Give me an MKG or Robinson (pleeeeease Robinson) any day.

 

[Rhal]

Just want to point out Drummond grabbed 7.6 rpg. People talking about his "rebounding prowess" need to take a step back. He has all of the physical attributes, but the mental question marks are too much for me. I'd rather have a guy with less talent that overachieves. Give me an MKG or Robinson (pleeeeease Robinson) any day.

He has a great ability to rebound but its his boxing out that has lead to a low rebound rate. From what scouts say he has no idea how to play team BBall.

 

[Public Defender]

I wouldn't believe anyone that said Drummond was the same player Oden was at the end of their respective freshman years in college.

Oden was among the 2-3 best center prospects to come out of college in the last ten years. If he'd been able to stay healthy (obviously an irrelevant hypothetical now), he almost definitely would've been a Top 5 NBA center for years.

Setting aside the health questions (which hopefully can be set aside!), and Drummond has more questions. His motivation is very questionable, his offensive arsenal isn't where Oden's was, and Oden shot better from the foul line with his bad hand than Drummond has done. Oden's desire only became questionable after repeated season-ending injuries, which would probably demoralize anyone in Oden's situation. Drummond's is questioned out of the gate.

Drummond has more holes in his game than Oden did at a similar age, and it sounds like Drummond has less motivation to actually fill them. Not a good combination. High risk, high reward. Don't know if Olshey's a gambling man...

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I wouldn't believe anyone that said Drummond was the same player Oden was at the end of their respective freshman years in college.

Oden was among the 2-3 best center prospects to come out of college in the last ten years. If he'd been able to stay healthy (obviously an irrelevant hypothetical now), he almost definitely would've been a Top 5 NBA center for years.

Setting aside the health questions (which hopefully can be set aside!), and Drummond has more questions. His motivation is very questionable, his offensive arsenal isn't where Oden's was, and Oden shot better from the foul line with his bad hand than Drummond has done. Oden's desire only became questionable after repeated season-ending injuries, which would probably demoralize anyone in Oden's situation. Drummond's is questioned out of the gate.

Drummond has more holes in his game than Oden did at a similar age, and it sounds like Drummond has less motivation to actually fill them. Not a good combination. High risk, high reward. Don't know if Olshey's a gambling man...

Oden could have been that dominant big man. Robinson, Hakeem, Shaq, Howard, Duncan, etc. He had the physique, the current ability, and the potential to continue to develop as a pro. Drummond has the build and the potential. At his current state, I don't know that he has the ability to step in and perform immediately like the above had. So he has to grow as a player quickly - I've heard enough about him recently that makes me worry, and I've been a big Drummond fan.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Two words: Yinka Dare.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Two words: Yinka Dare.

that guy was a great example lol. FKN train wreck.

 

[craigehlo]

I'm sick of the "you can't teach size" argument. That's the thinking that got Enes Kanter (#3) and Bismack Biyombo (#7) drafted in the top 10 last season.

Get basketball players, not unskilled stiffs that measure well at the combine.

 

[oldmangrouch]

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.

How about "a plague on both their houses."

 

[Blaze01]

It's not like POR has a good history of drafting PG either.....

Denny's post couldn't be more true from either perspective (C or PG)....Stay away from both and just draft a wing player...

 

[Sinobas]

or this

Come on, don't be a stoop. Drummond is a tremendous athlete. Smaller, lighter players are typically more agile and do perform better in this test. Most guys around his size score more near 12 seconds.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

if there is something i want from a big man, it is his ability to run around cones

 

[MickZagger]

I'm sick of the "you can't teach size" argument. That's the thinking that got Enes Kanter (#3) and Bismack Biyombo (#7) drafted in the top 10 last season.

Get basketball players, not unskilled stiffs that measure well at the combine.

Enes Kanter isn't an unskilled stiff.

[video=youtube;l5kAZL0Q3ic]

 

[jlprk]

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).

This is the key. A center develops only with extraordinary coaching. Otherwise he becomes just another shooter who can't set a strong pick. Even worse, he may have to play forward like Aldridge because no coach dares yell at him. The only good center coaches were Wooden, Auerbach, Fitch, and Motta.

 

[craigehlo]

Enes Kanter isn't an unskilled stiff.

I watched a fair number of Jazz games this year. He looked like s**t.

 

[craigehlo]

Enes Kanter isn't an unskilled stiff.

[video=youtube;l5kAZL0Q3ic]

I see your Kanter video and raise you a Thabeet highlight mix.

[video=youtube;5GFC5892OTs]

 

[HailBlazers]

As long as we don't force Microfracture surgery on him at 18, I'm fine with taking the risk

 

[Rhal]

I'm sick of the "you can't teach size" argument. That's the thinking that got Enes Kanter (#3) and Bismack Biyombo (#7) drafted in the top 10 last season.

Get basketball players, not unskilled stiffs that measure well at the combine.

Kanter actually is fairly good. The reason he hardly gets playing time is because he fouls at a very high rate and one of the big reasons he fouls at such a high rate is because he doesn't flop at all. People ram into him and since he is a rookie and doesn't really move and the other guy falls he gets fouls all the time.
Bismack Is simply what he is, a skilled big who is very very raw. You can't discount him already because everyone knew going into drafting him that he would be a 2 to 3 year plan before he could become even serviceable.

 

[Sinobas]

Meyers Leonard is another very good prospect. He reminds me of a taller LaMarcus. Graceful athlete, can hit hit the jump shot. He doesn't seem to be much of an inside presense though. He could be a very good PF in the NBA though.

 

[craigehlo]

Kanter actually is fairly good.

The NBA game is still WAY TOO FAST for him. I don't see a lot of hope that he's going to somehow adjust and be worthy of the #3 pick. Although that was was a pretty mediocre draft, so it's not a huge miss.

 

[Denny Crane]

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

I thought it was funny. It was meant to be a joke

 

[Sinobas]

Drummond does seem to be that type of prospect that you "hope" develops skill. Right now, he's just an elite level athlete. He also has questionable drive, and history doesn't bode too well for those types.

Mike Rice seems to think he's really going to plummet in the draft, and he could be right. I'd actually prefer Leonard over Drummond. But I think the Blazers are taking Marshall at #11 and one of the wings or SGs at #6.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Drummond does seem to be that type of prospect that you "hope" develops skill. Right now, he's just an elite level athlete. He also has questionable drive, and history doesn't bode too well for those types.

Mike Rice seems to think he's really going to plummet in the draft, and he could be right. I'd actually prefer Leonard over Drummond. But I think the Blazers are taking Marshall at #11 and one of the wings or SGs at #6.

Which wings or SG's do you think are options? It seems that #6 is too high or too low for any of them.

 

[Shooter]

Mike Rice seems to think he's really going to plummet in the draft, and he could be right. I'd actually prefer Leonard over Drummond. But I think the Blazers are taking Marshall at #11 and one of the wings or SGs at #6.

If Portland doesn't take Drummond at #6, and he's still there at #11, I think they'll take him. At #11, he is ESPECIALLY worth the risk.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If Portland doesn't take Drummond at #6, and he's still there at #11, I think they'll take him. At #11, he is ESPECIALLY worth the risk.

Rice thinks he'll fall even further than that.

I think Oden and Thabeet traumatized Rice.

 

[Sinobas]

Which wings or SG's do you think are options? It seems that #6 is too high or too low for any of them.

I could see any of them potentially falling to Portland.

Some mocks even have Drummond going in the top 5, which would make one more available.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I could see any of them potentially falling to Portland.

Beal, Barnes, or MKG.? That would be nice. Especially Beal IMO. But who moves up into the top 5? I guess Drummond possibly could. But looking at the current teams in the top 5, I just don't see it.

 

[jlprk]

Even if Drummond is as wimpy as a young Aldridge, I'd grab him at 11. He's the same thing.

 

[tlongII]

If Drummond is available at #6 we have to take him. I think it's more likely that he'll be gone though.

 

[crandc]

I agree with nik, I am FAR less worried about a young player being raw than about a possible lack of motivation.

It's might sound OT but it's not. There's a really really successful hardware store, locally owned, near where I live. Contracters go there, so do do-it-yourselfers, and a lot of folks who just need a garden tool or even light bulbs. It's popular in an era of big box stores and online retailers because almost as soon as you walk in someone is asking if you need assistance and then helps you. They said in a local interview that they don't care of their hires know jack about hardware. They hire outgoing people-oriented helpful folks and teach them hardware.

IMO same basic idea. You can teach hardware, or footwork, or anydamnthing else if you have the person who wants to learn it. If they don't really want to, it doesn't matter how much they know about hardware.

 

[Eastoff]

I agree with nik, I am FAR less worried about a young player being raw than about a possible lack of motivation.

It's might sound OT but it's not. There's a really really successful hardware store, locally owned, near where I live. Contracters go there, so do do-it-yourselfers, and a lot of folks who just need a garden tool or even light bulbs. It's popular in an era of big box stores and online retailers because almost as soon as you walk in someone is asking if you need assistance and then helps you. They said in a local interview that they don't care of their hires know jack about hardware. They hire outgoing people-oriented helpful folks and teach them hardware.

IMO same basic idea. You can teach hardware, or footwork, or anydamnthing else if you have the person who wants to learn it. If they don't really want to, it doesn't matter how much they know about hardware.

so...many.. commas... missing! ARGH!

okay, calm down.

Yes, I agree that drive is equally important as talent. Clearly Oden had injury problems, but he also didn't seem to love the game. I read that 20% of americans over 7ft play in the NBA. If you are that friggin' tall, why not try it for a job. But to many I'm sure it's just a job they were pushed into based upon their height.