DeAndre Ayton

[Roddy B for 3]

I heard Ayton has only been playing basketball for 5 years which is good news because I wonder why he seems to stand around alot but it could just be he's still learning team basics.

Possibly. He's not really a basketball savant though. Embiid, for instance, played basketball for a whole two years before going to Kansas. He picked up the nuances on the game almost immediately.

That's not a dig against Ayton because Embiid is special, but it's not a given that he gets there mentally.

Ayton started as an 11,year old 6'5" center

[Roddy B for 3]

This last game (@ASU) was his most impressive of the season. He had a huge size advantage but he did well with double-teams and showed off really good hands in controlling some rebounds and catching passes. He gets tip-ins that for most other bigs you'd be happy to just see them come down with the offensive rebound.

Its games like that one where you say to yourself, how the hell can that guy not be the #1 pick. But then there are those stretches like when he kind of just floats on the perimeter and he just wastes his size and athleticism advantage and his impact is just meh. But ya games like this last one shows the dude has as much potential as anyone in this draft, its just a matter if a team can unleash his work ethic and motor every game.

I like him as a shooter with Dallas. He can be a two way player who dominates inside and then protects the rim but when he starts wearing down we'll have him "float"on the perimeter and shoot his threes on DSJ kickouts, thus conserving his energy for defense.

[Alatan]

I don't see this comparison at all.

WCS was a freak defender in college. KAT got all the coverage of that team because he got the highlight blocks, but damn WCS flat out locked down every single guy he faced. He also was one of the least skilled bigs on offense that I can remember. That is almost the complete opposite of how I would describe Ayton.

I dont mean that they are similar college players but that they will be similar NBA players. Both are freak athletes that have questionable IQ, awareness and basketball skills. The fact that WCS dominated defensively on pure athleticism is even worse for Ayton. Aytons offensive production is more a product of significant size and athletic advantage over his opponents, than of the few awkwardly implemented skills he has shown so far. In the NBA his awful team defense and rim protection will be exploited and he will not be able to put up the production he does now against similar athletic freaks at his position.

I think Ayton is more skilled than you’re saying.

I see the moves but he is really mechanical with them. Like someone who knows the steps but doesnt know to dance. His awareness is also a big question. He knows to pass out of double teams but he is so lost defensively that i think it more a thing where he knows where his team is because they practiced the situation rather than he can quickly survey the floor and adapt././.

[thr3ep01nte4]

At this point, it's quite hard to picture him not going no.1. Especially after individual workouts with some teams, owners and execs are gonna be amazed by his size, physique, and athleticism. However, can he dominate in the NBA is another story, since basically everyone in the NBA is considered a freak athlete. Ayton is dominating guys that are considerably smaller and less athletic than him.

I think he'll be like a Drummond. One night he'll look like the best big in the league another night he's content going 8 and 10 and on to the next game.

If he finds that motivation/motor on a consistent basis he's going to be unstoppable.

That comparison is actually very interesting. I heard that from a podcast by Cole Zwicker. We don't really know what his defense will be like in the NBA. His offense is not as good as Towns, who is the most complete offensive center in the league (Jokic has more impact on a game; Embiid needs to cut down his TOs). Ayton's handle, post moves, fadeaway, and outside shooting ability compared to Towns' are quite primitive. If his defense turns out to be on the same level as Towns', then we are really talking about an offensively more polished Drummond. I think Ayton can be a multi-time all-star for sure, but he's not on the same tier as a franchise-changing player like a healthy Embiid.

[Duke4life831]

At this point, it's quite hard to picture him not going no.1. Especially after individual workouts with some teams, owners and execs are gonna be amazed by his size, physique, and athleticism. However, can he dominate in the NBA is another story, since basically everyone in the NBA is considered a freak athlete. Ayton is dominating guys that are considerably smaller and less athletic than him.

I think he'll be like a Drummond. One night he'll look like the best big in the league another night he's content going 8 and 10 and on to the next game.

If he finds that motivation/motor on a consistent basis he's going to be unstoppable.

Skill wise theyre definitely different, but ya watching Ayton is what it was like watching Drummond in high school and college. That was one of the reasons I always liked Steven Adams over Drummond back in the day when Adams came over right before college. They were in the same class before Drummond reclassified, but Adams had that hustle and motor and Drummond just always left you wanting more. But ya I can see Ayton being similar to what Drummond was like especially early in his career, it does seem like he has improved his motor some over the years though.

[GimmeDat]

Ayton doesn't have the same offensive repertoire as a guy like KAT, at all, but he's also much more physically dominant. He's closer to Embiid than KAT skill-set wise imo, or even Drummond with a jumper. Physical athlete that will bully you but has enough tools to keep you honest. KAT's more of a finesse/high skill level guy.

[thamadkant]

Ayton doesn't have the same offensive repertoire as a guy like KAT, at all, but he's also much more physically dominant. He's closer to Embiid than KAT skill-set wise imo, or even Drummond with a jumper. Physical athlete that will bully you but has enough tools to keep you honest. KAT's more of a finesse/high skill level guy.

agreed... assuming Ayton continues to get stronger... he will be battling stronger more athletic bigs...

But physically he's more willing to use his tools, defensively he can be better though.... he needs to show that 7'5 wingspan and challenge more shots but it should come with better big men coaches to mentor him

[Ball4life32]

At this point, it's quite hard to picture him not going no.1. Especially after individual workouts with some teams, owners and execs are gonna be amazed by his size, physique, and athleticism. However, can he dominate in the NBA is another story, since basically everyone in the NBA is considered a freak athlete. Ayton is dominating guys that are considerably smaller and less athletic than him.

I think he'll be like a Drummond. One night he'll look like the best big in the league another night he's content going 8 and 10 and on to the next game.

If he finds that motivation/motor on a consistent basis he's going to be unstoppable.

Skill wise theyre definitely different, but ya watching Ayton is what it was like watching Drummond in high school and college. That was one of the reasons I always liked Steven Adams over Drummond back in the day when Adams came over right before college. They were in the same class before Drummond reclassified, but Adams had that hustle and motor and Drummond just always left you wanting more. But ya I can see Ayton being similar to what Drummond was like especially early in his career, it does seem like he has improved his motor some over the years though.

Idk I think Ayton was much better than Drummond was in college. Drummond only put up 10/7/2.7 and shot less than 30% from the FT line. Wow

[ItsThatEasy]

I think he'll be like a Drummond. One night he'll look like the best big in the league another night he's content going 8 and 10 and on to the next game.

If he finds that motivation/motor on a consistent basis he's going to be unstoppable.

Skill wise theyre definitely different, but ya watching Ayton is what it was like watching Drummond in high school and college. That was one of the reasons I always liked Steven Adams over Drummond back in the day when Adams came over right before college. They were in the same class before Drummond reclassified, but Adams had that hustle and motor and Drummond just always left you wanting more. But ya I can see Ayton being similar to what Drummond was like especially early in his career, it does seem like he has improved his motor some over the years though.

Idk I think Ayton was much better than Drummond was in college. Drummond only put up 10/7/2.7 and shot less than 30% from the FT line. Wow

I don't think anyone is comparing them skill set wise or even talent wise.

Ayton is a very different player from Drummond but the idea that both are elite talents who may not show up every night is pretty fair tbh. Drummond is an All-Star caliber player who floats in and out of games at times (though he's been MUCH more consistent this year). I could see how people would feel the same about Ayton. In any case Drummond would go #1 in most of the last few drafts knowing what we know about him now.

[No-Man]

Ayton doesn't have the same offensive repertoire as a guy like KAT, at all, but he's also much more physically dominant. He's closer to Embiid than KAT skill-set wise imo, or even Drummond with a jumper. Physical athlete that will bully you but has enough tools to keep you honest. KAT's more of a finesse/high skill level guy.

KAT bullies and destroys people on the block on a nightly basis, this is just not accurate whatsoever

Ayton skillset isn't really close to either or, he isn't the same level of a shooter as KAT is and doesn't have his ability to generate points from any spot on the court, and he doesn't have Embiid's ability on ball, hesitation, long strides, etc.

Offensively he is more like a more developed Drummond, which is fine, but those other two guys are historically great skill wise, esp KAT

[No-Man]

In any case Drummond would go #1 in most of the last few drafts knowing what we know about him now.

Not sure if serious?

Drummond would not go nº1 in any of the last few drafts, and not even top3 in several (tbh mos) of them

doesnt crack the top3 to me in 2017, borderline in 2016, no way no how in 2015, borderline in 2014, no way in 2013, and doesn't even go top3 in a re-draft in his own class (would have easily Davis, Lillard, Beal, Green ahead of him).

[thr3ep01nte4]

Can’t do this revision of history here regarding draft stock of Drummond. Without Anthony Davis, Drummond could easily go number one in 2012. There was a big debate on who was the best big man between Drummond and Davis, even after they entered league. A few months ago, Paul Pierce rementioned it on ESPN countdown, expecting Drummond to have a big year. Drummond was considered a physical freak in college just like Ayton. He was 7-0, 270, a dominant rebounding monster. Ayton is offensively more polished.

[The Master]

Like I mentioned many times, considering his age Ayton's shooting is very impressive, right now he has 75% from ft line and over 40% from midrange, so average trajectory of progression for bigs suggests he will be ~83-85% ft shooter and ~45% from midrange as NBA player possibly with legit 3 point shooting.

Towns was useless on low post as college player, but he developed so nicely so people forgot that, Ayton in fact has better post up game than Towns in college years.

And Ayton's going to be Davis-like finisher on NBA level.

Watch on YouTube

Good example of how versatile on offense Ayton can be.

[nolang1]

Can’t do this revision of history here regarding draft stock of Drummond. Without Anthony Davis, Drummond could easily go number one in 2012. There was a big debate on who was the best big man between Drummond and Davis, even after they entered league. A few months ago, Paul Pierce rementioned it on ESPN countdown, expecting Drummond to have a big year. Drummond was considered a physical freak in college just like Ayton. He was 7-0, 270, a dominant rebounding monster. Ayton is offensively more polished.

This is where you would be better served not looking at a site like nbadraft dot net. They just do contrarian stuff like that to get clicks because the actual content of the website is not that good. Another one of theirs I remember is being extremely late in putting Towns over Okafor and trying to make that seem like much more of a debate than it actually was.

[thr3ep01nte4]

This is where you would be better served not looking at a site like nbadraft dot net. They just do contrarian stuff like that to get clicks because the actual content of the website is not that good. Another one of theirs I remember is being extremely late in putting Towns over Okafor and trying to make that seem like much more of a debate than it actually was.

Watch on YouTube

[DirtyDez]

He may be done for the season. Miller needs to step down at this point.

[Justwar]

Like I mentioned many times, considering his age Ayton's shooting is very impressive, right now he has 75% from ft line and over 40% from midrange, so average trajectory of progression for bigs suggests he will be ~83-85% ft shooter and ~45% from midrange as NBA player possibly with legit 3 point shooting.

Towns was useless on low post as college player, but he developed so nicely so people forgot that, Ayton in fact has better post up game than Towns in college years.

And Ayton's going to be Davis-like finisher on NBA level.

Watch on YouTube

Good example of how versatile on offense Ayton can be.

Did you watch towns? He was made into a post player in college so that he didn't attempt to just float to the perimeter. He took very very very few jumpers at all. Regardless ayton is done for the season and we will see who's next

[Shock Defeat]

took $100k to play for Arizona

[nolang1]

This is where you would be better served not looking at a site like nbadraft dot net. They just do contrarian stuff like that to get clicks because the actual content of the website is not that good. Another one of theirs I remember is being extremely late in putting Towns over Okafor and trying to make that seem like much more of a debate than it actually was.

Watch on YouTube

OK that clip was basically Paul Pierce playing the role of you and everyone else playing the role of everyone else in the thread haha. I remember thinking Andre Drummond was a bit underrated before the draft and hoping the Cavs would take him 4th to pair with Kyrie (which definitely would have been much better than them picking Waiters), but to say there was a comparison between him and Davis is an enormous stretch. Nobody was tanking to get a shot at drafting Drummond like they were for Davis.

[Duke4life831]

He may be done for the season. Miller needs to step down at this point.

It's a shame cause the dude is a legit good coach. But ya you can't survive with this out there. Really curious if this is just the first big domino to fall