Just because Andre Drummond is a center doesn't mean he will be any special later. The Rockets has been blessed with the luxury of great centers in Moses, Hakeem and Yao. Because of that, many fans here fell in love with having that traditional center that can carry the team. But that was the past, the NBA today is mostly dominated by wings. There are less than 5 all star caliber centers in the NBA. Most raw talents center that enter the NBA usually become a bust or just an average player. So based on that, Lamb has a better chance of being a more impact player than Andre. Andre Drummond is a high risk and high reward player. Everyone sees that raw talent in him but he's definitely no sure thing. He has shown a few flashes in college but because he is so young that the top 8 teams in the lottery didn't want to take that risk. I am glad that Houston didn't trade up to that 5th pick to draft Andre because that is very risky. I much rather try to trade for him or go after him via Free Agency later when he's a more establish player.
He's very raw. He doesn't know the most basic concepts. But he's not stupid or a bad character guy, so he will pick it up more likely than not. His only job next to Monroe - block shots. Everything on top of it is extra for Detroit. He ended up in a perfect situation with a good teaching coach, solid teammates, low expectations and a lot of time to develop. If he has a chance to be great, he will become great on that team.
I think this discussion has a huge potential to look ridiculous 5 years from now. But we will see. But even if he becomes an All Star type player..... it's not a given he would've reached it here, among a bunch of youngsters.
This. Probably the most accurate assessment of what transpired. As far as what Donatas Fanboy is saying about Drummond, time is a big thing regarding your rookies. Why will this trade look ridiculous 5-6 years from now? Seriously with Lamb you're getting a baller from day 1, and he'll only get better as time passes. With Drummond? He knows nothing, and odds are he'll turn into a bust down the line. Even if he does blow up, then what? You just invested 5 years training your rookie, and then he'll fit the free market for major $$$ the moment he's ready to contribute? Its the same situation the Pacers had with Hibbert, you have a good center making the max when he isn't worth it simply because the Pacers can't say they wasted 4 years training the kid and then end up with nothing to show for it.
Can anyone give a projection to where they feel Toronto is going to end up after next season? Ps. I felt so sure we were trading up for Drummond, but in the aftermath of the draft I think we got a better deal all things considered. That pick is one of our best assets, its allows us trading up in the draft to become a much easier proposition and we got three pretty solid ceiling potential rooks
well you WANT your rookie to develop and become worth a max contract. I don't really see the argument here. Are you hoping that Lamb DOESN'T become a star and highly paid?
AT first I was thinking Andre easily but then after reading I was reminded that we now have next years pick so I had to go with Lamb.
I don't see why we would have had to throw in pick 12 for pick 8 when we got a Lotto pick from Toronto for Lowry, It should of been straight up Lowry for 8. But in a sense, I rather have Lamb.
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/25/uconn-teammate-lamb-not-really-selling-drummond/ UConn G Jeremy Lamb on UConn C Andre Drummond’s NBA potential: “It depends on if he wants to work.” And this was from his teammate who is giving him a iffy response. Give me Lamb. At least I know he played meaningful bball.
And if you actually bothered to read the entire quote instead of this out-of-context hatchet job, you'll see that it's not nearly as bad as it sounds... Again, Drummond is definitely a project, and I tend to lean towards he just doesn't know how much work it takes to be a player in the league, rather than being lazy. We won't know how this trade turns out until that pick is conveyed or packaged, but I'm 95% sure that the Toronto pick will be somewhere between 10-14.
