Starting a Team: Andre Drummond or DMC

[mdonnelly1989]

Who would you take to start a team?

Drummond or DMC

[Colbinii]

DC for me and they aren't in the same tier in terms of current players or potential.

I can never see Drummond having an offensive post game and his defense tends to get overrated. I'm not bashing AD, I think he is a very solid big man prospect with all the measurables , but he lacks basketball skills and moves.

[HornetJail]

Cousins is better now and probably for the next few years at least, but Andre Drummond is doing what he's doing now at the age of 20! Imagine what happens once he's actually learned the game. If somebody in the near future is an All-Defensive Team player that can put up 20/15, it's probably Drummond. Cousins is an amazing player and will continue to improve, but I seriously think Drummond has an even higher ceiling. They're going to be the unquestioned top 2 centers in the league for a long time. Also, having Drummond on a rookie contract for two-years is a huge plus.

[GYK]

I think Counsins at this point is better but give me Drummond.
I love the Dwight like qualities in his game. He with SVG system is perfect for today's league or any era.
I think he'll soon be a one man top ten defense.
His physical ability will pressure everyone into the paint leaving open shots or an outmatched big inside.

I fully expect 35 minutes for Andre this season.

[nate33]

This is a really good question. Both guys put up great numbers that so far haven't really translated into wins.

I think GYK makes a good point. I really want to see Drummond under SVG before making a decision. Drummond has Dwight Howard potential. If you put a guy to my head, I'd go with Cousins though. Even if Drummond becomes an elite defensive big, it's still likely that he'll never be a go-to offensive threat and his FT shooting is likely to be a permanent liability. Cousins isn't far from being a dominant two-way player.

[tsherkin]

Cousins will never be a dominant defender IMO, but his 2014 campaign on O was pretty impressive. Not drop-jaw incredible, but a significant forward step. We'll see what happens this year.

I'd take DMC building a team, though. Drummond has "healthy Tyson Chandler Plus" written all over him. There are not even a dozen focal-option bigs in league history worth the effort and he is definitel not one.

In truth, I probably wouldn't build AROUND either player, but I'd be happy to have either on my roster.

[Clyde Frazier]

Would be an easier question to answer after next season. I'd still go with cousins, probably. Given how talented he is, i'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt of being in a bad situation in a stacked western conference. He really reminds me of a bigger, poor man's version of barkley skill-set wise. It's pretty scary.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgSyYUMIy-w[/youtube]

[RSCD3_]

Cousins will never be a dominant defender IMO, but his 2014 campaign on O was pretty impressive. Not drop-jaw incredible, but a significant forward step. We'll see what happens this year.

I'd take DMC building a team, though. Drummond has "healthy Tyson Chandler Plus" written all over him. There are not even a dozen focal-option bigs in league history worth the effort and he is definitel not one.

In truth, I probably wouldn't build AROUND either player, but I'd be happy to have either on my roster.

He'll never be dominant but he can be very good, I don't like him trying to take so many charges, the guy has a 9'5 Standing reach and can play great man/post defense.


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[Kabookalu]

If Drummond can acquire a bruiser mentality out of nowhere I'd pick him. In the likely case he doesn't, Cousins.

[Effercon]

Drummond is a future All-Star, but Cousins is a future Hall of Famer. Calling it now.

Cousins, and I don't find it particularly close.

[Prokorov]

I went with cousins.

I just dont think drummond has the potential to even reach where cousins is currently at offensively. and while i love drummonds potential on D and his work on the glass, DMC just has more upside, and has already reached 22/10 status, giving him low bust rate

[bondom34]

I went with Cousins as well, just because at this point, Drummond is still less proven. If SVG gets the most of him, watch out, but as of today Cousins is a more known commodity. Amazing offense, not so much on defense, but capable of being a first option on any team. I like the Drummond as Tyson Chandler plus comp.

[Jaseface]

Give me Drummond. He has a very high ceiling. On any given night, he could grab 20 caroms, and if he ever really develops an offensive game, he is going to be scary good. Add in the fact that DMC has proven to be immature, a hot-head, and an overall headache, and this is an easy choice for me.

[Sign5]

DMC is the safe pick but I like Drummond's ceiling more.

[Dynomike]

I'll agree that Drummond has greater potential but you already know what you're getting with Cousins. Cousins has a shot at being the best all around center this year and he still has room to grow. Sure he's had his share of attitude problems, but I think a lot of that will go away as he matures and starts winning. Plus he has a really good body type for a center that will help him be consistent and durable.


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[tsherkin]

He'll never be dominant but he can be very good, I don't like him trying to take so many charges, the guy has a 9'5 Standing reach and can play great man/post defense.


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He's certainly not a BAD defender, I just think it's a bit misleading to discuss him as a two-way player when that phrase is typically used to denote a particularly SIGNIFICANT defender, you know what I mean? Drummond is a much more significant defensive presence and still a very useful offensive player despite his FT woes, so he's a lot more of a "two-way player" than DMC, even if it's possible that Cousins' offense may actually outweigh those two things if he tweaks his game a bit.

Keep in mind that while didn't suck as far as efficiency goes (actually, he had a fine season of nearly 56% TS), his ORTG was still only 107 (against a league average of 106.7) because of his pedestrian FT% and his high turnover rate. Still, it represents a major forward step for him because of how divergent it was from his previous seasons, so if he can maintain that efficiency and boost himself in a couple of areas by just a little, then we're talking about a more worthwhile player to whom the Kings should give that sort of possession usage. A fine developmental season, really, but is it enough to justify his utility over Drummond?

That is another question. I tend to side with Cousins here because he's got more potential to be that kind of dominant guy, but it is an engaging notion to discuss.

[Rob Diaz]

I actually disagree with those that are saying Drummond has the higher ceiling.

Cousins's ceiling is absolutely higher. He has the body/skills to be a dominant post player and good defender, while I don't believe Drummond has the fluidity or has shown the signs that he can develop a high-level ability as an offensive creator.

With that being said, I'm not a fan of Cousins, at all. He's one of the most overrated players in the league IMO. Average defensive player, relatively weak efficiency, extremely emotional. It doesn't help that he has been playing for a questionable organization with an unorganized system on the court, but how often do players shed the label of being emotional/mentally weak?

Cousins's best-case scenario is better, but his worse-case scenario is also worse IMO. His bottom is a team cancer, high-usage, low efficiency player that nobody wants to play with.

With Drummond, even if he doesn't make any additions to his game, he can at least be relied on to be Deandre Jordan, a very good 3rd big/temporary 2nd big on a title team.

If I'm evaluating players, I have to consider which player is more coachable and lower-maintenance, it's a reality that we don't face as fans, but that coaches/GMs/teammates have to deal with. Cousins has already shown that he's mentally unstable and high-maintenance.

He's young and that could change, but I'd rather choose the player with a similar ceiling and with less emotional baggage.

[KyletheDingbat]

Drummond. Cousins has a generational talent to tank a franchise. Apparently some NBA guys have said off the record that he's one of the worst people to be in the league in years. I don't want Bad News Barnes as the tentpole of my team. Drummond might never be the best player on a championship team, but he could be an important player on a championship team, and I'd be surprised if a team with Cousins ever acquires the chemistry to make a title push.

[SactoKingsFan]

As a Kings fan I've seen most of Boogie's growing pains, but I'd still rather have him than Drummond. DMC is clearly more skilled, has a better understanding of the game, has the potential to be e very good defender and can dominate on offense with his footwork, post moves and passing. He'll most likely be the best C in the league for at least a few seasons. Not sure if Drummond will ever put it all together and realize his potential.