Can you guys name some early draft picks who were raw when drafted and panned out?

A lot of high school rookies when that was still allowed, or one-and-doners once that wasn't. Plus every international player that made it here on athleticism and panned out can be on this list:

Kendrick Perkins
Nicholas Batum
Serge Ibaka
DeAndre Jordan
Goran Dragic (don't tell me a 6'4 PG with that speed was not raw coming into the NBA. I watched him as a rookie against the Rockets and declared him on Clutchfans no less to be the worst player I'd EVER seen on an NBA court. No court vision whatsoever, Nash helped him out sooo much.)
Bismack Biyombo?

This is not to discount the vast majority of guys with similar profiles who did NOT pan out.

Gerald Green
Kevin Seraphim
Hassan Whiteside
Saer Sene
Jordan Hill
Houston's own Ndudi Abi (sp?)

The lesson is that there's many ways to skin a cat, but no matter which way you choose, you're going to fail more often than succeed.

 

Gerald Green looks like he's panning out. Albeit not for the team that drafted him.
About what you'd expect from a late teens pick.

 

umm...Dwight Howard ?

He was very raw now he's the best center in the league and a superstar.

 

This.

 

I disagree. Dream was nowhere near the refined player he was later on. He was an extremely athletic big man, and imo was drafted for those reasons.

 

That's just not true.
Skill wise, Westbrook was raw. Few expected him to have immediate impact, which is why he was projected lower than OKC took him. He had no reliable mid range jumper, he wasn't a great ball handler, he didn't create well.

He had a game based on athleticism, length and natural feel for the game. He was also an extremely hard worker.

ok... fair enough. it was just hard to understand then, you said he was a good example, but you seemed to dismiss him because of draft spot.

 

Ben Wallace and Dennis Rodman

 

Nash.

 

2 words...Lebron James.

 

Russell Westbrook definitely. He was extremely athletic, and was drafted based on that potential. His jumpshot and handles have come a very long way since then.

 

2 more words...Dwight Howard.

 

Greg Monroe was raw still I believe

 

Ben Wallace.

 

Not just that, but he immediately made an impact in the NBA.

 

I disagree.

In the context of this thread I would not call his rookie numbers particularly unrefined.

He averaged 35.5 mpg, shot .538% from the field, averaged 12 rebounds a game, 1.4apg, 1.21spg, 2.68 blocked shots to 2.85 turnovers and 20.6 ppg.

If that was his peak that would be impressive. The fact that he progressed from there is what makes him the greatest of all time. You don't put up those kinds of numbers as a rookie and be considered raw.

 

Kobe.

 

Danny Granger?

 

no, he was very skilled and was considered one of the most NBA ready player in the draft.

he dropped because of health concerns, like Sullinger this year.

 

"projected in the lottery"


That wording is throwing people off. Are you talking about players not drafted in the lottery, but were projected to be?

Then, your examples don't match what you're asking (thabeet), which is also throwing people off.