Detroit goes for potential by taking Drummond at No. 9
The Detroit Pistons made a pick for the long term by taking 7-foot Connecticut center Andre Drummond with the No. 9 overall pick of the first round of Thursday's NBA draft.
The 18-year-old Drummond is the epitome of the high-risk, high-reward player.
He could be a dominant player in the NBA for years or he could be a bust. He looks every bit like an NBA star with his long, strong, 280-pound athletic body. He is an outstanding jumper, and he is an intimidating defensive presence, averaging 2.7 blocks a game. Drummond even has some perimeter skills and can hit jumpers.
The raw material is there, but Drummond's effort is inconsistent. He doesn't always assert himself or do what he does best, often settling for outside shots.
"Detroit's going to see I'm a hard worker," Drummond said on ESPN after he was selected.
He did not commit to UConn until late last summer, because he originally was scheduled to enter college in 2012. He came to UConn with very high expectations, but he averaged 10.0 points and 7.6 rebounds in his only college season.
He had just two points and three rebounds in the Huskies' only NCAA Tournament game, a loss to Iowa State. He's also foul prone
He is unlikely to be a dominant player as a rookie, but the Pistons are hoping he develops. The Pistons entered the draft hoping they could get a young big man, and they achieved that.
