OT: Espn - Drummond could rank as 'greatest teen' in NBA his

[Totem]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130116/SPORTS0102/301160430#ixzz2IAs9KR8r

From "risk" and "project" to "greatest teenager of all time"?

That's what ESPN is projecting for Pistons rookie Andre Drummond, who won't turn 20 until August.

Using the popular metric system PER (Player Efficiency Rating), Drummond's PER of 21.9, if it keeps up, will be the highest for any teenager in NBA history. Higher than MVP's LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, as well as Carmelo Anthony and Tracy McGrady.

In fact, ESPN is starting to catch up with what some league execs who passed on Drummond feared: That the most apt comparison for the 6-foot-10, 270-pound big man is Lakers center Dwight Howard.

If Drummond played 36 minutes a night, his averages would look like this: 13.0 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals, with 59.7-percent shooting. Drummond averages slightly under 20 minutes and hasn't started a game — at least not yet.

Drummond's stats also compare favorably to Kevin Garnett (Boston) and Josh Smith (Atlanta); both entered the NBA out of high school.

[The_Hater]

Now prepare youself for an onslaught of posters claiming that Ross is better and that the 2 years younger Drummond will never amount to anything.

[AbC?]

He can't shoot free throws and will never learn how to shoot free throws. Not being able to shoot free throws renders him completely useless and negates his positive attributes. 7 other teams passed on him for a reason, he had so and so red flags, etc etc.

[JN]

Dagger compared him to Jahidi White.

[Spacing]

I think if we were drafting BPA we would go Drummond 10/10 but we weren't, we were reaching for Ross.

There was also the notion that BC drafted Ross in case DD didn't pan out or his offer sheet was too high to match.

Instead BC did what he always does .... bid against himself.

[kmatrixg]

**** **** **** **** **** **** god **** bc **** **** fire **** **** **** **** holy ****

[Choker]

So what we got this.

[MadMax10]

Ross aka Desmond Mason

[niQ]

So much for drafting "BPA"

[CoachJReturns]

It's a familiar story for many of us in Toronto. Our team has the opportunity to draft someone great and just when we're ready to celebrate the player's name being called, Stern says someone else and we are once again left asking ourselves why we care about this poorly run team.

[Morse Code]

I have no problem with Ross and I think he'll be a great player in the future for us, but I still really wish we took a chance on Drummond. If nothing else, we could've traded him for Lowry instead of next year's pick. That is of course if BC actually had no interest in grooming another mentally unequipped player. Val + Drummond then trade everyone else and tank. we would be looking pretty good in a few years time.

[Chaos Engine]

He is so impressive defensively as a rookie. He doesn't even foul that much, which is usually a huge problem for rookie bigmen. I like Ross, but Drummond was and still is the guy we should have went with.

[Basketball_Jones]

He's impressive, but PER is only good if the guy plays significant minutes. He's barely getting 20mpg, which is a shame imo.

[BC_IS_A_PLAYA]

Oh what could have been. The Drummond-Valanciunas twin towers.... Thinking about it makes me sad

[fatal9]

* his PER is coming against second unit guys in ~20 high energy minutes, so ESPN is going overboard here.

But tbh, he is looking like a better defensive prospect than even Dwight and Oden. His lateral quickness and activity are insane for the type of mass he is carrying. Defensive instincts are way better than expected too. On top of quick feet, he has quick hands too. Still have my doubts about him on offense, Dwight showed much more of a post game at this stage, but yea...Raptors F'd up.