He has career averages of 17/10, and was a critical piece on a Finals team. Yet you can’t help but feel like he’s been a huge disappointment relative to his draft position.
In a vacuum, meaning ignoring who he was drafted over, is Ayton a bust for a #1 pick?
There should really be a clear definition for bust. To me Ayton is underperforming for a number 1 pick. He is not in the same category as Anthony Bennet or Olawakandi and if he had been picked 6th or later would be looked at as a good pick who became a serviceable starter. He will probably have a similar career to Drummond and no one is calling Andre a bust. If Ayton had been picked around the 7th or 8th slot then there would not be this push to call him a bust. Obviously a much better player was picked after Ayton but ultimately the term bust should be reserved for a high draft pick (top 3) who goes on to have a short career or a statistically unproductive one.
Marvin Williams - Under performed for his draft position but was a serviceable player for several years so he 's not a real bust
Hasheem Thabeet- Straight up bust who never cracked the starting line up and had a short career
Anthony Bennett- Straight up bust
Wiggins - Under performed for his draft position and the expectations he had prior to entering the league but he has been a serviceable player who was a guy on a championship team but not THE guy on a championship team.
Ayton is just gonna be like Andre Drummond or Clint Capella, good center who works as a complimentary player to a good team but never THE Guy on a contender.