NBA Draft Busts: Andre Drummond and Prospects Most Likely to Disappoint

Every rendition of the NBA draft has had a bust or two since the event's inauguration in 1947.

The 2012 NBA draft will be no different than years past.

There are a handful of big-time, surefire prospects waiting in the wings, but there are also a few draftees who possess unparalleled physical ability, but are extremely raw.

Raw is one of the most concerning words for an NBA team. It indicates that the organization will be adding an athlete, rather than a basketball player. The coaching staff will need to turn that project into a star, something that is much easier said than done.

Here are three players in the 2012 NBA draft who are most likely to disappoint their prospective teams.

Andre Drummond

Drummond is hands down the most athletic big man in this draft next to Anthony Davis. At just 18 years old, his measurements are freakishly impressive. A 9'2" reach coupled with a 7'6" wingspan makes him a talented shot blocker and rebounder.

The nerve-wracking thing about Drummond is that his on-court performance doesn't accurately reflect his physical gifts. He averaged just 10 points and 7.6 rebounds in his only season at Connecticut, something that has a lot of scouts doubting him.

He disappears for long stretches on time during games, and doesn't always impose his seven-foot, 280-pound frame down low on his opponents. He's an explosive high-flyer, but he's not as much of a basketball player as teams would like him to be.

Only time will tell with Drummond. If he can straighten things out, he'll be a force in the paint for years to come.

Meyers Leonard

Leonard is higher than Drummond on the possible bust scale. His measurements are impressive, but he's the definition of a beanpole at 7'1", 250 pounds. It's not just his weight, but he is considerably lacking in the strength department, which typically doesn't bode well for big men. That will change once he starts an NBA workout regimen, but how quickly?

He averaged 13.6 points per game in his final season at Illinois, but he still needs to add a few moves before his offensive game is solidified. He's a good rebounder, but at 7'1", he is going to get bullied in the NBA with his skinny frame.

He's the tallest guy in the draft, but isn't as athletic as Drummond or some of the other big men in the draft class. 

Perry Jones III

First and foremost, Jones recently had his knee medically red-flagged because of a meniscus issue. There aren't many worse things an NBA prospect can hear right before the draft than that, and it will definitely hurt his stock Thursday night.

Jones is like Drummond in the way that his athletic ability doesn't lead to as much output as it should. At 6'11", he is as explosive and smooth as a shooting guard, but he's wildly inconsistent in his play. 

He had five games of 20-plus points in his sophomore season at Baylor, but there were 10 games that he scored in single digits. He can play a multitude of positions in the NBA, but he's been slapped with the dreaded "soft" label.

We'll find out about Jones soon enough.