Davante Gardner vs. Robert "Tractor" Traylor

[TheFarEastMovement]

We all are probably aware of the infamous trade the Bucks made in the 1998 NBA Draft where they traded Dirk Nowitzki for Robert Traylor. Robert Traylor had similar physique to Davante Gardner where he had great hands and weighed around 290 lbs. However, Traylor struggled to maintain his weight and ended his career in Puerto Rico where he passed away in 2011. Now could Davante make the league in a similar fashion next year. I am sure GMs may have learned their lesson through Taylor but I am sure Davante could be a potential second round at this point. If he sheds 20 lbs, he could potentially be like DaJaun Blair. Another comparison to Davante could be Glen "Big Baby" Davis. I am almost certain if Davante can prove this upcoming season that he is able to jump and stay in the game for long periods, he would be a better prospect than any of these guys.

[TheFarEastMovement]

Coincidentally, Traylor rocked the #54 as well while he played at Michigan.

[Jay Bee]

Ironically, Traylor rocked the #54 as well while he played at Michigan.

??

[flash]

We all are probably aware of the infamous trade the Bucks made in the 1998 NBA Draft where they traded Dirk Nowitzki for Robert Traylor. Robert Traylor had similar physique to Davante Gardner where he had great hands and weighed around 290 lbs. However, Traylor struggled to maintain his weight and ended his career in Puerto Rico where he passed away in 2011. Now could Davante make the league in a similar fashion next year. I am sure GMs may have learned their lesson through Taylor but I am sure Davante could be a potential second round at this point. If he sheds 20 lbs, he could potentially be like DaJaun Blair. Another comparison to Davante could be Glen "Big Baby" Davis. I am almost certain if Davante can prove this upcoming season that he is able to jump and stay in the game for long periods, he would be a better prospect than any of these guys.

Davante definitely has an NBA skill set, but he his just way to slow and lacks the explosiveness required to play in the league.  The other players you mentioned are by no means world beaters athletically but they are/were far superior to Davante.  I'll give him a 10% shot at making the league. 

[GGGG]

Dujuan Blair is much more athletic than Davante is.

[Nukem2]

Dujuan Blair is much more athletic than Davante is.

Yep.  Davante has thick legs.  Can't change those much.

[AZWarrior]

The Round-Mound-Of-Rebound was not exactly a "specimen" during his college days.

DG has continuously improved his physique throughout his college career.  This will continue.  Let's wait and see what he looks like in January.

[MU72491]

Watching the nba playoffs really made me think of Davante and his chances in the league. Size is so important and Davante isn't as strong or defensive minded as Blair was at Pitt and now in the nba, I just don't see it for Davante

[Atticus]

We all are probably aware of the infamous trade the Bucks made in the 1998 NBA Draft where they traded Dirk Nowitzki for Robert Traylor.

No, most Bucks arent "aware" about the "trade." It seems to me that 9 out of every 10 Bucks fans are COMPLETELY misinformed about that trade. Maybe the franchise sucks because their fanbase sucks?

[GGGG]

The Round-Mound-Of-Rebound was not exactly a "specimen" during his college days.

DG has continuously improved his physique throughout his college career.  This will continue.  Let's wait and see what he looks like in January.

Barkley was more athletic than either Blair or Gardner.  Jeez...Barkley won an NBA MVP award.

[nyg]

Barkley was more athletic than either Blair or Gardner.  Jeez...Barkley won an NBA MVP award.

And Olympic gold medals and was a top 50 of all time. 

[AZWarrior]

Barkley was more athletic than either Blair or Gardner.  Jeez...Barkley won an NBA MVP award.

He didn't win it with his college body.  He won it with his NBA body. 

And I stand my my assertion that DG is not done developing.

[GGGG]

He didn't win it with his college body.  He won it with his NBA body. 

His body wasn't all that much different in college.  And regardless, they really aren't the same player.  Gardner is an undersized 5....Barkley was a 3/4 hybrid.

It's just not a good analogy.

[MuMark]

Barkley was crazy athletic....I can't believe anyone is comparing Gardner to him....they are not comparable players in any way shape or form

[AZWarrior]

Barkley was crazy athletic....I can't believe anyone is comparing Gardner to him....they are not comparable players in any way shape or form

I'm not comparing the two.

I am pointing out that the book on DG is not finished.

I am not predicting that DG makes the league.

I am waiting until his senior year to make any prediction, because, well...the book is still being written.

Jeeze.

[GGGG]

You specifically compared the two when you brought him up in this thread.  Excuse me for thinking that the comparison was not a good one.

[brandx]

We all are probably aware of the infamous trade the Bucks made in the 1998 NBA Draft where they traded Dirk Nowitzki for Robert Traylor. Robert Traylor had similar physique to Davante Gardner where he had great hands and weighed around 290 lbs. However, Traylor struggled to maintain his weight and ended his career in Puerto Rico where he passed away in 2011. Now could Davante make the league in a similar fashion next year. I am sure GMs may have learned their lesson through Taylor but I am sure Davante could be a potential second round at this point. If he sheds 20 lbs, he could potentially be like DaJaun Blair. Another comparison to Davante could be Glen "Big Baby" Davis. I am almost certain if Davante can prove this upcoming season that he is able to jump and stay in the game for long periods, he would be a better prospect than any of these guys.

Interesting thread, but the Bucks never traded Nowitzke for Traylor. Unless of course you feel that the Patriots traded Clay Mathews to the Packers. It was the pick that was traded - but because of NBA rules, the process is that even though the Bucks traded the #9 pick and their 2nd rounder to Dallas for Dallas' 6th pick - the Mavs had to draft Traylor and the Bucks had to draft Nowitzke because they couldn't do the trade until after the draft.

Of course, it doesn't negate the foolish decision that the Bucks rated traylor above Nowitzke, but they made the trade because they were afraid Traylor would be gone at #9. There was NEVER any intention by the Bucks to pick Nowitzke for themselves..

[MUSF]

Dujuan Blair is much more athletic than Davante is.

So was Traylor. Watched him play in high school, and he was very impressive for his size.

[MUCam]

??

Ha. Love it.

[77ncaachamps]

DG is a GREAT college player.

But have you seen him run?

After initial bursts, he can appear to be stealthily fast but his form looks like he just can't keep up with the speed of the League.

He could be a bench player at best.

[martyconlonontherun]

Traylor helped lead the Wolverines to the 1997 National Invitation Tournament title, and was named the tournament's most valuable player. His junior year was his best, as he averaged 16.2 points and 10 rebounds while leading his team to the inaugural Big Ten Tournament championship



Traylor was light years ahead of Gardner at this point in his career. Way more polished player and key player.

[Sunbelt15]

Athleticism or agility is what going to hold Gardner back. He needs to get his weight down to about 250-260lbs.

[CTWarrior]

Athleticism or agility is what going to hold Gardner back. He needs to get his weight down to about 250-260lbs.

If Gardner lost 50 lbs to get to 250 or whatever, he would have improved athleticism but he still wouldn't have close to average NBA athleticism for players of his size.   When Traylor and particularly Barkley were at their heaviest they could still jump and move pretty well. 

Gardner's best assets are his hands, clever feet and the bulk that he uses to carve out space.  He is as old-school a player as you can be.  I'm not even sure that losing 40-50 lbs wouldn't be counter-productive to his game.

[Lennys Tap]

Gardner's best assets are his hands, clever feet and the bulk that he uses to carve out space. 

I'd add the strength to finish through contact and an uncanny shooting eye to that list.

[MU82]

Even as a rookie, still with his "baby fat," Barkley averaged 14 and 9. By the next year, he was at 20 and 13 en route to being one of the best players ever.

Blair was and still is a dynamic dunker who is deceptively quick.

Traylor is by far the best comparison to Garnder but, again, Traylor could play above the rim when he had to and was much more athletic than Davante. I mean, really, Davante has trouble dunking without getting blocked by the rim itself.

So yes, Davante's "story is still being written," but unless he makes one of the great physical metamorphoses of all time, he has only a slightly better shot at an NBA career than Dylan Flood.