Andre Drummond: Best Possible NBA Landing Spots for the College Star

Andre Drummond may be the biggest question mark in the entire 2012 NBA draft.

Will he be Dwight Howard, Kwame Brown, Andrew Bynum or Hasheem Thabeet? 

Drummond is the kind of can't-pass-up big man coming out of college that will either make a general manager look like a genius or get him fired.

Drummond has all the potential in the world. He has a 6'10", 270-pound frame with tremendous athletic ability and a good feel for the game. However, Drummond was a disappointment in his one season in UConn and questions remain about whether he can ever live up to his potential. Drummond is extremely raw offensively with little to no post game, can't shoot free throws and is often out of place on defense.

However, Drummond has shown flashes of brilliance, and at only age 18, it is entirely possible that he will eventually become one of the best centers in the NBA.

With all that being said, Drummond is without a doubt going to be taken in the top 10 of this year's draft. The big question remains: What team gives him the best chance of realizing his potential?

Here are some teams that Drummond would fit well with if they select him in the 2012 NBA draft.

New Orleans Hornets

With Chris Kaman seemingly on his way out, Drummond would be a good fit with the Hornets as their center of the future.

In New Orleans, the pressure would not be as high on Drummond to succeed right away because the team is still several pieces away from being a contender. Instead, Drummond could spend a year or two learning the game and figuring out exactly what kind of NBA player he is going to be.

Drummond would benefit from being under the tutelage of a guy like Emeka Okafor if the Hornets are able to re-sign him. Okafor would help Drummond learn defense and the nuances of the NBA. 

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers certainly haven't had too much luck with centers in recent drafts (I think we all know who I'm talking about here), but perhaps they'd be willing to take a flyer on Drummond with one of their two projected top-10 picks. 

In Portland, Drummond would have to contribute sooner than other lottery teams, but it would also give him the opportunity to immediately play for a good team.

Once he figures out his offensive game, Drummond could form one of the best one-two frontcourt combinations in the Western Conference when paired with LaMarcus Aldridge. 

Sacramento Kings

Drummond could very well still be on the board for the Sacramento Kings in the lottery this season, and it would be very interesting to see if they pulled the trigger on another raw big man.

The Kings already have a crowded backcourt with Isaiah Thomas, Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton and Jimmer Fredette, so drafting a big man to complement DeMarcus Cousins may be the way to go.

Cousins is the dominate low-post scorer on this team, which may be just fine with Drummond. If Drummond can improve the team defensively, rebound well and get his points while Cousins scores in the post (think Blake Griffin-DeAndre Jordan), the Kings could have an excellent frontcourt combination for years.

Milwaukee Bucks

Unless the Bucks get extremely lucky in the draft lottery, it's fairly unlikely Drummond will still be on the board when it is their turn to make their first-round selection.

Having said that, the Bucks are in desperate need of a big man, and if their front office believes enough in Drummond, maybe they will trade up to lock him down.

Simply put, the Bucks have very little depth in their front court, especially after trading Andrew Bogut. If Drummond were picked by Milwaukee, he'd have the chance to immediately compete for a starting spot.

With Monta Eillis and Brandon Jennings in the backcourt, Drummond wouldn't get many shots on offense, but he would have some time to develop his game. Milwaukee isn't that far away from being a playoff team and maybe Drummond is the piece they need to put them over the top.