NBA Draft 2012: Andre Drummond and 3 Prospects Worth the Gamble

Andre Drummond is a prospect teams should take a gamble on when the 2012 NBA draft kicks off, and he headlines a group of players that are considered to be high risk/high reward.

When you think of players like this, picture Greg Oden. 

Oden could have been one of the NBA's all-time greats if not for a rash of injuries that have crippled the talented big man's career.

Here are this year's greatest risk/reward prospects who are worth the gamble.

Andre Drummond, Center, Connecticut

The biggest knock on Drummond is that his work ethic is questionable, at best. He is loaded with talent, but nobody knows if he really has the drive and desire to put that talent to good use.

The NBA is full of talented players, and talent alone won't get Drummond anywhere. He has to want to work to get better or he'll end up on the couch at home.

The thing is, Drummond's ceiling is so high that teams should take the risk. He's only 19 years old yet possesses the kind of frame—6'10" and 270 pounds—that will one day rule the paint in the NBA. 

In addition to his size, Drummond is extremely athletic and runs the floor with ease. Given the right coaching and thoughtful emotional support, he will become an elite big man—something of a rarity in the NBA these days.

Perry Jones III, Forward, Baylor

The reason Jones III is considered to be risky heading into the draft is due to his size and the fact that he hasn't done well on big stages.

At 6'11", you might wonder how size is an issue. The problem is that he's only 235 pounds. This causes concerns about how well he will fare against stouter defenders who won't be bullied. 

PJ3 will thrive in the NBA, though, because he is quick. Speed and quickness can overcome slow-footed big men almost every time, and once Jones III becomes more efficient with his footwork he'll start to dominate bigger men by using his long frame and quick feet to get around them.

Although he's nowhere close to the kind of shooter that Kevin Durant is, the two players share the same kind of sleight frame. Jones III won't have any issues with his size at the next level, of that I'm sure.

As far as the lapse in performance in big games, Jones III will have much more talent around him in the NBA and won't have to do it all on his own. This fact alone will have a major impact on his game, as he'll be able to pick and choose when to take his shots.

Draymond Green, Forward, Michigan State

Green is a baller. The reason he is a risky prospect is due to the fact that he's a "tweener" who isn't really a small forward or a power forward at 6'7" and 230 pounds.

Green was the emotional and physical leader for Michigan State, playing his best when the pressure was on in the NCAA tournament. 

He can hit any shot on the floor, as long as you don't ask him to post up. 

Green's success at the next level is predicated on whether or not the team that drafts him uses him correctly. He isn't going to be able to guard guys like LeBron James on the block, and he won't be able to stay on guys like Dwayne Wade on the perimeter.

He will thrive on a team that loves to run with a smaller lineup, and given the right circumstances will become a reliable scorer in the NBA.

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