More ($): A.J. Hammons' big opportunity comes now
Purdue's A.J. Hammons is headed to the Dallas Mavericks, drafted in the second round Thursday night with the 46th pick.
As a senior at Purdue, Hammons was first-team All-Big Ten, the league's Defensive Player-of-the-Year and an honorable-mention All-American.
He averaged 15 points on 59-percent shooting, as well as 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. He narrowly missed leading the Big Ten in shot-blocking for the fourth time in as many years and finished second in school history in that category, threatening Joe Barry Carroll's career blocks record.
He becomes the first Purdue player drafted since Robbie Hummel was drafted in the second round, 58th overall, by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2012. Hammons is the fifth Purdue player drafted during Coach Matt Painter's tenure with the program, joining Carl Landry in 2007, JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore in 2011 and Hummel in 2012.
Hammons joins the Mavericks at a time where their primary center from last season, Zaza Pachulia, hits unrestricted free agency and could leave.
The Mavericks used their only pick of the draft on Hammons.
Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told the Dallas Morning-News Hammons could be a worthwhile long-term investment.
"I think there's a really good chance that we're going to get a player that can have some impact," he told the newspaper. "I can't promise it's going to be in year one."
Coach Rick Carlisle suggested Hammons' skill set was worth the shot.
"Skilled big men aren't out there growing on trees," Carlisle told the Morning-News. "We like his talent. We feel he's definitely a first-round talent. There were some weird things happening in this draft. Some guys really slid. We were fortunate he slid. He's a skilled big man who can score in the post and got one rebound every three minutes, which is a very good number.
"He's a big guy with soft hands and I think there's a good chance he can help us some right away."
Carlisle also acknowledged some of the concerns that forced the 7-footer into Round 2, whether it be motivation, effort or some disciplinary matters while at Purdue.
"Those perceptions probably facilitated him going 46th," Carlisle told the Morning-News. "Now it's our job to make sure he has a long and productive NBA career. And we take that seriously. I think we can get him fired up about playing with us."
Hammons will not be available for comment Thursday night.
More to come Friday ...
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