Drummond will be an in NBA star in 4-6 years

[CTFIRERETIRED]

Well Andre Drummond is going to be leaving Storrs. This statement, in and of itself is no surprise. My point is that anyone who expects him to be an instant impact does not follow the past trials and tribulations of some other big men. Unless Andre is the next coming of Shaq, or Duncan or Kareem, all No's of course, it will be anywhere from 4-6 years before he becomes a "Star" or a major factor in some NBA team's program. I want to give you 2 names. Kendrick Perkins, and Andrew Bynum. Perk was 19 year old high school kid, with great stats and promise, when he was drafted in 2004. He languished on the Celtics bench for a number of years, soaking up the game and becoming a better player. By the 2010-11 season he was finally making a name for himself, and now he is a major impact player for OKC Thunder. Andrew Bynum, was also a high school prodigy, slated to come to Uconn in 2005. Instead he went into the draft and after a number of years learning the trade he now is the starting center for the Lakers. I would throw out the name of Hasheem Thabeet, but right now, I have no idea if he is even still in the NBA. Point being here is that if Drummond continues to work and learn, he will, eventually, become a good player in the NBA. All the best to him.

 

[Kitaman]

Right now his arsenal is power dunking and not much else. Much room for improvement. Star potential yes, but I think he will need more than 4 years. He's only 18-19 with a 25 yr old frame, patience is in order.

 

[mcs333]

I know of no one who thinks AD will have an immediate impact. He is so raw and poor fundamentals. He is a project.

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

Right now his arsenal is power dunking and not much else. Much room for improvement. Star potential yes, but I think he will need more than 4 years. He's only 18-19 with a 25 yr old frame, patience is in order.

I figured as much. I used the 4-6 year timeline, and the Perkins and Bynum comparisons, to illustrate the post. Yeah 4 years may be a bit premature, but 5-6 years is more like it, and that is predicated on where he goes, and what kind of coaching he gets too.

 

[caw]

6/6/1 would be pretty decent stat line for him as a rookie. I only expect him to get about 20 minutes. The good thing for him is that he will likely be with a decent PG.

Right now, he is somewhere between 2-6, I would think. If everything goes to form, that is Washington, New Orleans, Sacto, Toronto, Cleveland.

Or, John Wall, Evans/Thomas, Jack, Calderon, Irving as PG's.

Frontcourts of:
C - Nene
PF - Booker/Blatche

C- Cousins
PF - Thompson

C - Kaman
PF - Landry

C - Gray
PF - Bargani (sp)

C - Thompson
PF - Jamison

Basically, New Orleans would be a bad situation with a crowded frontcourt and not the best PG situation (not to mention management), Washington could be good as long as he doesn't fall into the Blatche crowd. Sacto has a young frontcourt and decent PG play but nothing amazing, Drummond and Cousins could be a nice pairing if Cousins isn't a jerk. Toronto could be intriguing with Gray being only mediocre and Bargani being able to stretch the defense at the 4, not to mention Calderon is a very nice passer. Cleveland is a nice spot as well, though Thompson and Jamison both play close to the basket. I would worry that Thompson and Drummond's skill set are too similar.

 

[jibsey]

I know of no one who thinks AD will have an immediate impact. He is so raw and poor fundamentals. He is a project.

In 3 years you won't recognize him.

 

[upstater]

He'll be better than Bismack was this year.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Well Andre Drummond is going to be leaving Storrs. This statement, in and of itself is no surprise. My point is that anyone who expects him to be an instant impact does not follow the past trials and tribulations of some other big men. Unless Andre is the next coming of Shaq, or Duncan or Kareem, all No's of course, it will be anywhere from 4-6 years before he becomes a "Star" or a major factor in some NBA team's program. I want to give you 2 names. Kendrick Perkins, and Andrew Bynum. Perk was 19 year old high school kid, with great stats and promise, when he was drafted in 2004. He languished on the Celtics bench for a number of years, soaking up the game and becoming a better player. By the 2010-11 season he was finally making a name for himself, and now he is a major impact player for OKC Thunder. Andrew Bynum, was also a high school prodigy, slated to come to Uconn in 2005. Instead he went into the draft and after a number of years learning the trade he now is the starting center for the Lakers. I would throw out the name of Hasheem Thabeet, but right now, I have no idea if he is even still in the NBA. Point being here is that if Drummond continues to work and learn, he will, eventually, become a good player in the NBA. All the best to him.

Another guy you could mention is Jermaine O'Neal who, drafted out of high school, sat on the Portland bench for several years before becoming an All -Star with Indy.

 

[sparky]

I am sorry AD decided to bolt, but a top 10 pick is pretty good money. He will bomb and regret the opportunity to improve on the college stage. Practice time in the pros is at premium, and he will improve, but he is low on skill sets that don't include dunking.

 

[RuffRuff]

That prognostication is about as big a shot in the dark as it gets. I'll high five you in 6 years if it's true. For every kid that was drafted high for physical attributes/potential, there's likely exponentially more that flame out.

Steve Kerr was on the radio a couple months ago talking about big men and how there are a number of busts at the C spot because it's impossible to evaluate how committed they are and how much they actually love basketball. Teams will draft, scouts will salivate on size alone - ie. Hasheem Thabeet. Unlike guards, who have to work hard to make it and don't have the undeniable physical trait(height), big men go into basketball because they're mom, uncle, friend, grocer look at them and tell them they should play. Given it's come up a number of times that Andre is someone who lacks the consistent motor, takes plays off, I'm guessing the other direction. I don't think he loves basketball. There is a lot more to becoming an NBA all star than just being a physical beast and I just don't think he will ultimately have the desire to become anything more than serviceable. The kid is so raw right now and has so much too develop to even get into a starting lineup and what gets him to NBA all star level is going to be the extra work and love of the game. There very little to suggest he has that.

 

[upstater]

That prognostication is about as big a shot in the dark as it gets. I'll high five you in 6 years if it's true. For every kid that was drafted high for physical attributes/potential, there's likely exponentially more that flame out.

Steve Kerr was on the radio a couple months ago talking about big men and how there are a number of busts at the C spot because it's impossible to evaluate how committed they are and how much they actually love basketball. Teams will draft, scouts will salivate on size alone - ie. Hasheem Thabeet. Unlike guards, who have to work hard to make it and don't have the undeniable physical trait(height), big men go into basketball because they're mom, uncle, friend, grocer look at them and tell them they should play. Given it's come up a number of times that Andre is someone who lacks the consistent motor, takes plays off, I'm guessing the other direction. I don't think he loves basketball. There is a lot more to becoming an NBA all star than just being a physical beast and I just don't think he will ultimately have the desire to become anything more than serviceable. The kid is so raw right now and has so much too develop to even get into a starting lineup and what gets him to NBA all star level is going to be the extra work and love of the game. There very little to suggest he has that.

He's 18.

 

[Chelo]

In the NBA if you can rebound, block shots and run the floor, you will get minutes. On top of that, Andre's freakish athleticism, 270 lb body and defensive ability will get him minutes sooner than Bynum or Perk did in their careers. Dennis Rodman had a hall of fame career just rebounding the ball, scoring on put backs and playing defense. This league is all about the guards and wings. Andre will flourish in the NBA.

 

[freescooter]

In the NBA if you can rebound, block shots and run the floor, you will get minutes. On top of that, Andre's freakish athleticism, 270 lb body and defensive ability will get him minutes sooner than Bynum or Perk did in their careers. Dennis Rodman had a hall of fame career just rebounding the ball, scoring on put backs and playing defense. This league is all about the guards and wings. Andre will flourish in the NBA.

I can see the argument on both sides with Drummond. He ahs potential but I don't know about the fire in the belly, so to speak. I really think that a lot will depend on where he ends up, how patient his new team is or can be...if they ask him to step in right away, in any more than a cameo role, I suspect he'll be a huge disappointment. he is athletic and can run the floor but he can also get outmuscled by smaller guys in the Big East...imagine what Bynum would do to him...If a team is looking for a long term development, he is probably worth taking...an immediate fix and it will be bad for all parties involved...

 

[champs99and04]

He could be Dwight Howard, he could be Kwame Brown. Wouldn't be shocked at either, although I think he'll end up as a rich man's Deandre Jordan.

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

Another guy you could mention is Jermaine O'Neal who, drafted out of high school, sat on the Portland bench for several years before becoming an All -Star with Indy.

Thanks there was another name I was looking for.

 

[RuffRuff]

In the NBA if you can rebound, block shots and run the floor, you will get minutes. On top of that, Andre's freakish athleticism, 270 lb body and defensive ability will get him minutes sooner than Bynum or Perk did in their careers. Dennis Rodman had a hall of fame career just rebounding the ball, scoring on put backs and playing defense. This league is all about the guards and wings. Andre will flourish in the NBA.

Dennis Rodman was a relentless workaholic who craved a rebound like he now does a fifth of vodka. There is nothing like that in Andre Drummond's game that we've seen so far. The fact that he's been one to take plays off on both the HS level and the college level - dont like that as far as passion for the sport. Watch Anthony Davis - he's 18 and works his @ss off all game long.

Yep, he is 18 - his entire NBA future is being based on a measurning tape and hopes that he "may" become something. Anyone ever hear of Kwame Brown? I think he was 17, so what? Listen, the guy could mature, work hard and become great. All I'm saying is the odds that he becomes an NBA all star aren't great.

 

[husky91]

O'Neal could face the basket when he was good. Closest comparison for AD is Bynum, but Bynum, even at 18 was much more skilled than AD was/is.

Hopefully he works out, but I am split.

In hindsight wish he went to prep last year.

Thanks there was another name I was looking for.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Andre is going to do fine in the NBA. Bynum was soft coming out as a 17 year old. AD has a lot more athleticism and is more gifted than almost any big man to come out. Ever. Some team is going to draft him and develop him into a monster.

 

[husky91]

Who knows, time will tell. AD is a great athlete, but terrible basketball player. Hakeem in his first year was a better player and Thabeet was much more skilled when he left and he is a total bust.

Andre is going to do fine in the NBA. Bynum was soft coming out as a 17 year old. AD has a lot more athleticism and is more gifted than almost any big man to come out. Ever. Some team is going to draft him and develop him into a monster.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Who knows, time will tell. AD is a great athlete, but terrible basketball player. Hakeem in his first year was a better player and Thabeet was much more skilled when he left and he is a total bust.

Hakeem was also not as big as Andre and wasn't as athletic. Andre is way to big and athletic not to become something in the NBA. He is 270 with Dwight Howard/Blake Griffin athleticism. Dwight Howard was 225 himself coming out of high school. I have no doubt in my mind that Andre will make his mark in the NBA because he has just to much talent not to.

 

[huskyrob1]

I know of no one who thinks AD will have an immediate impact. He is so raw and poor fundamentals. He is a project.

He had an immediate impact on as a freshman on a team that won the NC the year before. Has good footwork, great hand eye coordination, can run, might grow another inch or two, great hands for throwing it down, and consistently put the ball in the hoop unlike some other UCONN big men this year, etc, etc, etc. I like his chances at stardom in the NBA.

 

[upstater]

Hakeem was also not as big as Andre and wasn't as athletic. Andre is way to big and athletic not to become something in the NBA. He is 270 with Dwight Howard/Blake Griffin athleticism. Dwight Howard was 225 himself coming out of high school. I have no doubt in my mind that Andre will make his mark in the NBA because he has just to much talent not to.

Errrr, Hakeem and Drummond are, athletically, the best comparisons you can make. While Hakeem was slightly thinner than Andre when he started, he was really big by the time he finished. He's only 10 pounds less than Andre. Hakeem could get up and swat as Drummond can. He was just as quick. More importantly, he was just as raw in his freshman year. He was swatting balls and dunking, but he didn't have his spin move nor his hooks down yet. The guy developed his game in college by leaps and bounds, more than Emeka did.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Errrr, Hakeem and Drummond are, athletically, the best comparisons you can make. While Hakeem was slightly thinner than Andre when he started, he was really big by the time he finished. He's only 10 pounds less than Andre. Hakeem could get up and swat as Drummond can. He was just as quick. More importantly, he was just as raw in his freshman year. He was swatting balls and dunking, but he didn't have his spin move nor his hooks down yet. The guy developed his game in college by leaps and bounds, more than Emeka did.

Hakeem wasn't as athletic as Drummond. He didn't have Drummonds leaping ability. Doesn't mean he wasn't athletic. But Drummond is just a freak of nature. Also Hakeem was 10 pounds less than Drummond at what? Age 20? 21? Drummond was 260 coming out of high school.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I personally be;ieve that the best comparison to Drummond is Darryl Dawkins.

As far as AD's future, I personally believe (injury issues aside) that he end up being as good as he wants to be, likely not as good as Hakeem but better than Kwame Brown (I know, that is as large of a gap as Ford's "stud or bust").

One thing to keep in mind is that Moses Malone had six unremarkable professional season (two ABA, where no NBA team saw him as worth making a move to land him in the expansion draft then four NBA) before becoming as dominant a center (albeit for only about five seasons) as the NBA has had since Wilt started getting old.

Andre has a lot of time ahead of him. Ten years from now he'll still be younger than Tyson Chandler is today.

 

[upstater]

Hakeem wasn't as athletic as Drummond. He didn't have Drummonds leaping ability. Doesn't mean he wasn't athletic. But Drummond is just a freak of nature. Also Hakeem was 10 pounds less than Drummond at what? Age 20? 21? Drummond was 260 coming out of high school.

He was. He did.