Channel 9 Reporting that Drummond will leave

[zls44]

With all these guys declaring for draft. I don't see Drummond within first ten. Biggest mistake Joe Dumars made was selecting Darko over Carmelo. Same with Trail Blazers Oden over Durant.

Making a comment on this board.

I will bet you $100 he is a Top 10 pick.

 

[WingU]

His potential is limited to average until he fixes his free throw woes.

Average is still a starting NBA Center. Deandre Jordan is the floor for Drummond I think. Howard is the ceiling. Where he ends up on that scale is up to him. I fully expect him, with a full offseason of NBA people working with him, to be a lot better next year

 

[caw]

With all these guys declaring for draft. I don't see Drummond within first ten. Biggest mistake Joe Dumars made was selecting Darko over Carmelo. Same with Trail Blazers Oden over Durant.

Making a comment on this board.

Oden was not that bad of a choice based on basketball ability. Based on health it is/was. Oden was a fantastic basketball player with the knees of a 90 year old. He averaged almost 16, 9 and 3.3 a game and led his team to 35-4 record and the NCAAT championship game as a freshman.

Durant on the other hand averaged 25-11-2-2 on pretty good shooting %'s but lost in the second round.

Darko is much less defensible. If anything it shows how little imagination Dumars had/has. He could have drafted Wade/Melo/Bosh/etc. and then traded Rip/Tayshan/Rasheed/etc. in a few years and kept that franchise going for another few years.

Darko was not the athlete Drummond is, though he was supposed to be more refined.

That being said, who projects to be as good as Durant in this draft? I don't think anyone is saying Drummond should go ahead of Davis (not Durant either FWIW). For that matter, who projects as well as Oden did prior to him being drafted/injured?

After Davis it is really a crapshoot. There are no players without significant flaws. It's a question of whether you want to take a shot at someone who will likely be a starter but never an all-star, or someone who could be an superstar. You have (in no order):

• Thomas Robinson (limited upside, depending on what he measures out at, showed an inability to produce against taller players)
• Jared Sullinger (see Robinson, with more range and more ground bound)
• Harrison Barnes (did not display the ability to take over a game, suffered horribly without Kendall Marshall)
• MKG (limited range, game is based on athletic ability, questionable how well that will work in the NBA at his height)
• Bradley Beal (actual shooting percentages left a lot to be desired)
• Jeremy Lamb (see Barnes and Beal)
• John Henson (skinny, has not shown the ability to put on weight/muscle in 3 years)
• Perry Jones (see Barnes/Lamb)
• Terrance Jones (bad attitude, no right hand, lateral quickness is questionable for a 3 and height is lacking for a 4)
• Tyler Zeller (good not great center, 22 Y/O, limited upside)
• Kendall Marshall (no shot, can't play defense)
• Austin Rivers (Bad shooting mechanics, ball-hog)
• Royce White (no shot, no real post game, mental issues [I like the kid, but the NBA will consider this])
• Moe Harkless (bad shooting percentages/limited range, remember how everyone says Daniels can't shoot (24% from 3), well Harkless shot more at a worse percentage (21.5% from 3))
• Dion Waiters (questionable shooter, never played man defense, tweener)

Only MKG is younger than Drummond and most of those players are a few years older. Not a single one has the upside of Andre.

 

[StongingtonBob]

That's what Noah Finz said last night, according to his sources. He is the only CT media person reporting this, so far. This was on Mon. nite's 10PM news.
Finz added his gut tells him Lamb will leave too.

AO's father is behind this. I just know it!

 

[Palatine]

Oden was not that bad of a choice based on basketball ability. Based on health it is/was. Oden was a fantastic basketball player with the knees of a 90 year old. He averaged almost 16, 9 and 3.3 a game and led his team to 35-4 record and the NCAAT championship game as a freshman.

Durant on the other hand averaged 25-11-2-2 on pretty good shooting %'s but lost in the second round.

Darko is much less defensible. If anything it shows how little imagination Dumars had/has. He could have drafted Wade/Melo/Bosh/etc. and then traded Rip/Tayshan/Rasheed/etc. in a few years and kept that franchise going for another few years.

Darko was not the athlete Drummond is, though he was supposed to be more refined.

That being said, who projects to be as good as Durant in this draft? I don't think anyone is saying Drummond should go ahead of Davis (not Durant either FWIW). For that matter, who projects as well as Oden did prior to him being drafted/injured?

After Davis it is really a crapshoot. There are no players without significant flaws. It's a question of whether you want to take a shot at someone who will likely be a starter but never an all-star, or someone who could be an superstar. You have (in no order):

• Thomas Robinson (limited upside, depending on what he measures out at, showed an inability to produce against taller players)
• Jared Sullinger (see Robinson, with more range and more ground bound)
• Harrison Barnes (did not display the ability to take over a game, suffered horribly without Kendall Marshall)
• MKG (limited range, game is based on athletic ability, questionable how well that will work in the NBA at his height)
• Bradley Beal (actual shooting percentages left a lot to be desired)
• Jeremy Lamb (see Barnes and Beal)
• John Henson (skinny, has not shown the ability to put on weight/muscle in 3 years)
• Perry Jones (see Barnes/Lamb)
• Terrance Jones (bad attitude, no right hand, lateral quickness is questionable for a 3 and height is lacking for a 4)
• Tyler Zeller (good not great center, 22 Y/O, limited upside)
• Kendall Marshall (no shot, can't play defense)
• Austin Rivers (Bad shooting mechanics, ball-hog)
• Royce White (no shot, no real post game, mental issues [I like the kid, but the NBA will consider this])
• Moe Harkless (bad shooting percentages/limited range, remember how everyone says Daniels can't shoot (24% from 3), well Harkless shot more at a worse percentage (21.5% from 3))
• Dion Waiters (questionable shooter, never played man defense, tweener)

Only MKG is younger than Drummond and most of those players are a few years older. Not a single one has the upside of Andre.

Production does not matter. What you did in college does not matter. The NBA picks on athletic ability and potential. Dwight Howard went before Okafor based on athletic upside. That's what everyone is hoping for. Drummond will go very high.

 

[Huskymaniac]

AO's father is behind this. I just know it!

Hey, , shouldn't you be complaining about Calhoun being afraid to play umess now that it is good again or some other nonsense?

 

[caw]

Production does not matter. What you did in college does not matter. The NBA picks on athletic ability and potential. Dwight Howard went before Okafor based on athletic upside. That's what everyone is hoping for. Drummond will go very high.

There are some things that carry over, but I agree. I was making a point that even with Drummond's flaws there isn't anyone (aside from Davis) that stands out as a must have prospect.

 

[sledog]

So this is 2 slots + 2 leaving - OC = 3 slots?

ps - -1 for AD if he stays.

 

[UCweCONN]

many people seem happy to see players moving on from this team. question, who the hell is going to replace them? what high ceiling, late recruit, is out there for us to get? If we lose dre and jeremy we will be much worse than this year, and you saw how that went.

The way it looks to me now, we are going to have a year similar to St. John's and their depleted team from this past season. I'm praying that we don't bring in a bunch of junior college transfers or lesser recruits just to fill the roster. I'm'd rather take our lumps next year, get guys like Daniels and Bradley major playing time, and then bring in a top class in 2013. Given the current state of the team it may be the time for a change at the top. Given the massive effort needed to get back on top, I question whether JC has the energy and health to do what needs to be done to get this done. Even if he does, by the time he does turn it around he will retire anyway. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about the game coaching part, but the road work etc. that is going to be needed to get the program back where it should be.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

The way it looks to me now, we are going to have a year similar to St. John's and their depleted team from this past season. I'm praying that we don't bring in a bunch of junior college transfers or lesser recruits just to fill the roster. I'm'd rather take our lumps next year, get guys like Daniels and Bradley major playing time, and then bring in a top class in 2013. Given the current state of the team it may be the time for a change at the top. Given the massive effort needed to get back on top, I question whether JC has the energy and health to do what needs to be done to get this done. Even if he does, by the time he does turn it around he will retire anyway. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about the game coaching part, but the road work etc. that is going to be needed to get the program back where it should be.

St. John's team was made up exclusively of freshman and/or brand new players. Unless we have a mass exodus, that is not at all the case for next year's roster.

 

[willie99]

I won't be mad at AD if he leaves for the NBA

now if he goes to Dook or UK

 

[businesslawyer]

The way it looks to me now, we are going to have a year similar to St. John's and their depleted team from this past season. I'm praying that we don't bring in a bunch of junior college transfers or lesser recruits just to fill the roster. I'm'd rather take our lumps next year, get guys like Daniels and Bradley major playing time, and then bring in a top class in 2013. Given the current state of the team it may be the time for a change at the top. Given the massive effort needed to get back on top, I question whether JC has the energy and health to do what needs to be done to get this done. Even if he does, by the time he does turn it around he will retire anyway. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about the game coaching part, but the road work etc. that is going to be needed to get the program back where it should be.

Don't get that at all. We have a core of four Jrs. with rings (Shabazz, Giffey, Tyler and Roscoe) a sophomore who played starter minutes last year and two bigs whom, while without experience, will be in their third year with the team. We might struggle with strength inside and possibly talent levels, but this will not be a team with no experience.

 

[Marty Jackson]

Assuming no change in the APR rules in terms of using newer data and we are in fact banned, this is how I look at it as well. If all 3 returned next year, we likely have a very good season. No post season but a good regular season. Then they would certainly all leave - AO graduates, Lamb is not a 4 year player, AD is not a 3 year player. Then 2013 would be a season filled with players trying to differentiate themselves yadda yadda yadda.

In terms of building for 2013 and beyond, losing these 3 could be better. Bazz and Boat will probably be playing at the same time a ton. Calhoun will get a lot of minutes. 4 year players like Roscoe and Niels will get a ton of minutes. Less athletically gifted big men like TO and Bradley will get a lot of minutes that simply would not have been there if AD and AO returned. Guys like that need playing time to really improve.

Them leaving also frees up scholarships in case we can add some recruits late. People ask "Are there any high upside guys left out there like DD and AD?" but I don't think that has to be what we get. Adding one or two four year type players wouldn't be a bad route to take. They could provide depth for next year and eventually (when the Scoe/Giffey class is gone) be upper classmen that surround the incoming, hopefully high upside, freshmen. I personally believe that this team could have really used a 3rd or 4th year player that had a leadership role even if he wasn't that good. DBev obviously comes to mind but preferably someone a little more talented such as Craig Austrie. Solid 4 year player, never really improved too much but played a very distinct role in his time here. I don't think we should sink all of our freed up scholarships into these types of players but it's not the end of the world if we don't pull in 2 top 10 recruits over the summer like last year.

I think this should be nominated for the "glass half full" award.

In the sea of death and despair that is boneyard hoops, this post is almost too simple in it's logic... you didn't even mention Calhoun's departure, Ollie leaving for the NBA, or Niels going back to Germany. I think there was also a rumor of 'Bazz going pro as well.
You need to work on your gloom and doom if you want to make it in this forum.

 

[StongingtonBob]

Hey, , shouldn't you be complaining about Calhoun being afraid to play umess now that it is good again or some other nonsense?

Again, I don't care if we play. But shouldn't you be rubbing one out to a picture of John Calipari or at least messaging the Squid's tentacles?

 

[Kitaman]

Ummm I think everyone is speculating here. A lot of replies to a rumor (I know, myself included).

 

[Yonick]

Again, I don't care if we play. But shouldn't you be rubbing one out to a picture of John Calipari or at least messaging the Squid's tentacles?

I think you mean massaging the squid's tentacles. Big difference to messaging!!!

 

[champs99and04]

I still think Drummond should stay one more year, because unlike Lamb, he has a lot to gain by returning and less to lose. He needs to learn the fundamentals of the game and he needs to learn how to play the game. Calhoun has never had a player as talented as Drummond, and if Drummond lets Calhoun work with him for one more year, he could be the best player ever to play for Calhoun.

Even if it doesn't work out at UConn next year, he's still going to be a lottery pick based on his physical ability. Plus, I think UConn would be a top ten team if he returned.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I liked Andre and by all accounts he was a good citizen and team player, but 1 and done players are bad for a program and should be avoided in the future. Drummond never developed any kind of offensive game other than a dunk. Drummond's defense fluctuated between OK and abysmal (teams could pick and roll him at will), and his presence on the team caused playing time issues and was a big factor in causing one of our best big men of the last 5 years to leave early.

He will have a good NBA career because he is a tremendous athlete and appears to be a hard enough worker that he will get better. But it is not clear that UConn was better off because he came here.

 

[upstater]

I liked Andre and by all accounts he was a good citizen and team player, but 1 and done players are bad for a program and should be avoided in the future. Drummond never developed any kind of offensive game other than a dunk. Drummond's defense fluctuated between OK and abysmal (teams could pick and roll him at will), and his presence on the team caused playing time issues and was a big factor in causing one of our best big men of the last 5 years to leave early.

He will have a good NBA career because he is a tremendous athlete and appears to be a hard enough worker that he will get better. But it is not clear that UConn was better off because he came here.

One and dones are fine as the final pieces to a big puzzle. If you're going to rely on them, you're in trouble. But with Lamb, Napier, Roscoe and Oriakhi coming back, it made sense to have a player like him.

 

[aceboon]

Besides 1 and done being bad for the program, I do agree with pretty much the rest of this and really wonder what kind of season we would've had if Drummond didn't come here.

I liked Andre and by all accounts he was a good citizen and team player, but 1 and done players are bad for a program and should be avoided in the future. Drummond never developed any kind of offensive game other than a dunk. Drummond's defense fluctuated between OK and abysmal (teams could pick and roll him at will), and his presence on the team caused playing time issues and was a big factor in causing one of our best big men of the last 5 years to leave early.

He will have a good NBA career because he is a tremendous athlete and appears to be a hard enough worker that he will get better. But it is not clear that UConn was better off because he came here.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Can't say i blame either one. i wish them the best in the NBA. hope they represent UCONN with style and class. Next year is going to be a rebuilding year for sure tho... with the two of them gone, it may not matter that we are currently ineligible for post season tourneys...

 

[HuskyBballFan]

Ahh of course. We're now suggesting that we would have been better off had Andre Drummond not come to Uconn.

I'm sure those passes that Oriakhi fumbled would have stuck to his hands like glue had that jerk Drummond not been there to mess everything up. Lamb's shooting slump, Calhoun's health problems, Napier's inconsistency, Boatright's suspensions - all because we had the gall to take a one-and-done player. What were we thinking?

 

[UCweCONN]

Don't get that at all. We have a core of four Jrs. with rings (Shabazz, Giffey, Tyler and Roscoe) a sophomore who played starter minutes last year and two bigs whom, while without experience, will be in their third year with the team. We might struggle with strength inside and possibly talent levels, but this will not be a team with no experience.

I was not comparing the ages of the two teams but rather the lack of size, numbers (depth), and proven talent. I should have clarified this. A starting line-up of Calhoun, Napier or Boatright, Daniels, Smith, and Bradley is not going to scare anyone, and the bench depth will be laughable. Who is the consistent scorer in this line-up? You can't drive to the basket every play when you're 5' 10" or jack up threes all game. We better hope Calhoun is ready to score right away. Also, you need at least one go to scorer off the bench and that would be.....?

 

[champs99and04]

I wish Drummond luck going forward and he's a great kid, but the Andre Drummond era at UConn was a disappointment. We had been hearing about him for a couple years, thought he was the final piece, etc. Not his fault by any means, but the whole thing didn't work out very well at all.

Hard to say if it would have been a better season had Drummond not committed, but I don't think it is outrageous. Oriakhi and Roscoe would have received the majority of the minutes in the frontcourt from the start and everybody would have played in their more comfortable roles. Drummond certainly didn't help our defensive rotations or our halfcourt offense.

 

[Hi-Low]

I wish Drummond luck going forward and he's a great kid, but the Andre Drummond era at UConn was a disappointment. We had been hearing about him for a couple years, thought he was the final piece, etc. Not his fault by any means, but the whole thing didn't work out very well at all.

Drummond was supposed to be the final piece to bring us a championship in 2012....we got the championship a year early....I'll take the way it worked out and wish Drummond the best if he decides to enter the draft.

 

[FASTEDDY]

Drummond is not nearly ready for the NBA. Mark my words, he will be abused in the leage next year and will not be a factor for at leasta full season if not longer.

He is physical specifmen with wonderful natural abilities and POTENTIAL but has little no offensive game, few if any go to post moives, cant shoot well, can hit free throws at all. He needs TONS more Seasoning and Experience, which is exactly what he would get at U of C.

With college playing time, experience, real teaching and coaching, Drummond can become an excellent player but by going far to early into a league that demands production and going againt MEN, he can really get abused and his development will get dumb and significantly pushed back. Case in point: our HASHEEM.

Andre, you need AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR @ U of C!

Fast

 

[businesslawyer]

I was not comparing the ages of the two teams but rather the lack of size, numbers (depth), and proven talent. I should have clarified this. A starting line-up of Calhoun, Napier or Boatright, Daniels, Smith, and Bradley is not going to scare anyone, and the bench depth will be laughable. Who is the consistent scorer in this line-up? You can't drive to the basket every play when you're 5' 10" or jack up threes all game. We better hope Calhoun is ready to score right away. Also, you need at least one go to scorer off the bench and that would be.....?

I still don't get the St. Johns comparison. Is that a great team on paper? Heck no. But it won't be the smallest (or even one of the two or three smallest) lineups in the Big East.

 

[freescooter]

I have to agree with nelson's comments on 1 and dones generally, and as far as Drummond was concerned, I'm not at all sure that he was any kind of factor this year except possibly a disruptive one. I don't mean that in the sense that he was a problem guy in any sense. By all reports he wasn't. But his game was not good enough to be a difference maker and UCONN never figured out how to mix and match the other front court players. Frankly I htink our front court of 2010-11 was far more effective. Not sure I exactly want him to go, but I'm also not sure he'll be missed either.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Again, I don't care if we play. But shouldn't you be rubbing one out to a picture of John Calipari or at least messaging the Squid's tentacles?

Sure you don't spanky. I think your comment is a subtle way of hinting that you want me to send you a picture of myself so YOU can have a picture to rub one out to.

But, whatever, the fact remains that you are a . And the uass fanbase is like a group of 10 year old girls at a Bieber concert over the possibility that the squid might show up in Amherst. You guys are pathetic. Can you imagine what the clowns on your board would say if a UConn fan posted crap on your board like you post here? They couldn't even take being told how obsessed they are over Calhoun. If a UConn fan actually insulted your coach or your team or even your sainted ex-coach, heads would explode! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

 

[uconnbill]

I was not impressed with Drummond this past year. Honestly unless he comes in like Chocolate Thunder (Dawkins). I don't see his game improving. He's terrible at free throw line. Can only dunk. Although he occasionally hits a 6 foot jumper. His foot placements are terrible. On and On and On.

Good Luck to him he'll need it. I'm willing to bet a friendly wager he goes straight to D-League. By the way is Thabeet in NBA or D-League?

You do realize that it is better at times to say nothing at all.

You know nothing about him personally and to make this statement shows the kind of person you are.