Why would I cross my fingers that they don't pan out? That is a lose\lose situation as a fan...I'll remain skeptical that Lillard can be an All Star\core player that is expected and being sold by Olshey...and that Leonard can prove he is anything more than a run of the mill center.... at this point though, I hope I am wrong...No great pleasure in coming here later and screaming I told you so's later if they don't pan out.... Maybe that is something you would do I guess....
Howard was a project. So was Chandler. At this point, how many good centers are there? Besides Gasol and Hibbert, can you name any active "good" centers that weren't projects?
Howard was about as much of a "project" as Oden was. That is, not a project but expected to be a dominating big man. Howard isn't a good example. I don't remember the thoughts about Chandler, but it isn't like he's a dominating with no all-star appearances. There has been a lack of quality centers lately. That actually kind of proves my point that it is rare for a project center to succeed. IMO, there are not many centers you can name that turned out to be significantly better players than originally thought.
Howard was a project, he wasnt a sure thing. Lots of ??? just like Chandler and Drummond. The safe pick was Oakfer who most people assumed was much more of a sure thing then Dwight but didn't have the same potential. .
Revisionists history. If you really want to lump Howard and Drummond into the same classification called "project", I'll just giggle and agree to disagree.
I'll lump them together not talent wise but the fact both are big men with huge ceilings that had a lot of the same ? coming into the draft.
Adam Morrison is on the Nets summer league team. Poor guy has scored 2, 4 and 0 points in his last 3 games.
SOme good performances in summer league today, saw the last 2 games... MKG looked fantastic....18pts - 8 boards - 5 assists and 4 steals and some strong drives (and finishes) at the rim.... Golden State is going to be an interesting team to watch this year with Curry\Thompson and Barnes shooting... Barnes looked good 23pts 8/11 4/4 3pt Klay was lights out from downtown...still took a few ill advised shots, but he looked good 24pts - 6 boards -5 assists 6/8 3pt and Eyenga looked horrible had 1 mice put back dunk to go with 7 turnovers, many of them of the ugly variety...but then again the whole Laker summer league team looked horrible...might be the worst team d.motiejunas 25pts 9 boards 11/13 for HOU....that team looks stacked for summer league with him, Parsons and thier 3 rookies T.Ross had 21pts, but on 19! shots Beal has 22pts, 9/10 on FT...if he can draw fouls at that rate, he'll out up some numbers.... Jenkins had a good game as well 19pts 4/5 3pt... Star of the Day though, IMO was MKG...thoroughly impressed.... I will be highly surprised if POR wins all thier games, there are some stacked teams....
Oden is on a tier above Howard. Your not remembering that Howard was considered a project with a huge amount of talent. If he got it together he becomes the Howard we know now, but there were a lot of questions about his ability to do exactly that. Oden had questions but his were more about his health then anything else.