Poll: Exercise or Decline Yabusele's Third-Year Option?

[Big333223]

The Celtics are going to need some cheap talent going forward and I think Yabu still has a lot of potential. He'll likely be worth the (relatively) small amount of money.

What is his NBA skill?

Right now it's all potential. He's very strong, moves well for his size and has a great motor. He's also shown an ability to shoot in other leagues.

He hasn't been able to focus any of that yet into what I would call an NBA caliber skill but when you look at that flying block he had against Charlotte, it's clear to me that if he can figure out the mental end of the game he'll be a contributor. Given the amount of money it costs to find out, I'd take that gamble.

[Hoopvortex]

The Celtics are going to need some cheap talent going forward and I think Yabu still has a lot of potential. He'll likely be worth the (relatively) small amount of money.

What is his NBA skill?

He's very strong, moves well for his size

I'd say he's apparently strong, but his ability to use his strength to do useful things is not a lot in evidence. How about turning that into 12% offensive rebounding?

I'd say that he's got good feet but staying in front of his man is a weakness, rotating is a weakness. Some of that, at least, is just learning.

and has a great motor.

I'd say average.

He's also shown an ability to shoot in other leagues.

In the NBA, in fact. He finished really well around the rim (.769, scorching hot and a good reason for him to figure out offensive rebounding; he shot .583 on twos overall, also excellent); and while .324 is not great from the arc, it's at least promising for a rookie (I'm mindful, though, that Marcus Smart shot .335 in his rookie year, which is so far a career high for him...). Y also showed a knack for getting to the line (.361 Free Throw Rate, really outstanding, though mostly not in rotation minutes, against lesser opponents); but he really needs to shoot it better when he gets there (.682, grade C-minus).

He hasn't been able to focus any of that yet into what I would call an NBA caliber skill but when you look at that flying block he had against Charlotte, it's clear to me that if he can figure out the mental end of the game he'll be a contributor. Given the amount of money it costs to find out, I'd take that gamble.

I voted Yexit, but only because I wasn't willing to think about it too long. The Yemains make good points - he does have the potential to be unique, and that is a great asset in the NBA, where you can make a career out of being a nightly mismatch.

It's a little early, but I'm ready to put Williams ahead of him (and I'm already assuming that Theis and Ojeleye are there already). Looks to me as though Williams has good feel for spacing, is decisive with the ball and with his movement, has good size regardless of athleticism, and has off-the charts athleticism regardless of size.

[Celtics4ever]

TP Hoopvortex, I think too, he does not play to his strengths and thinks he is somekind of three point marksmen which he definitely is not.

[indeedproceed]

Decline. He’s not very good.

[gouki88]

Decline. He’s not very good.

[Big333223]

and has a great motor.

I'd say average.]

I don't know. Every time I see him on the court he's doing stuff. It's frequently not the right stuff but he's making things happen.

[KungPoweChicken]

Decline. He is not an NBA quality player.

[Hoopvortex]

and has a great motor.

I'd say average.]

I don't know. Every time I see him on the court he's doing stuff. It's frequently not the right stuff but he's making things happen.

Perhaps I'll take another look.  I've saved the Cleveland games for in-depth viewing.

[Surferdad]

and has a great motor.

I'd say average.]

I don't know. Every time I see him on the court he's doing stuff. It's frequently not the right stuff but he's making things happen.

Perhaps I'll take another look.  I've saved the Cleveland games for in-depth viewing.

There's a difference between being active and having a good motor.  Anybody can be active for short spurts.  The motor part comes over extended minutes.  IMO, he has an average motor but likely none of us have seen enough of him yet.  Coaching staff knows how good his motor is.

[Androslav]

and has a great motor.

I'd say average.]

I don't know. Every time I see him on the court he's doing stuff. It's frequently not the right stuff but he's making things happen.

Perhaps I'll take another look.  I've saved the Cleveland games for in-depth viewing.

There's a difference between being active and having a good motor.  Anybody can be active for short spurts.  The motor part comes over extended minutes.  IMO, he has an average motor but likely none of us have seen enough of him yet.  Coaching staff knows how good his motor is.

During his formative basketball years, he decided to leave Europe for China. Nuf said.

[Moranis]

I voted no, but I do wonder if he might have Terry Rozier like trajectory.  Rozier looked awful early on, but hit another gear seemingly out of nowhere. 

[gift]

I voted no, but I do wonder if he might have Terry Rozier like trajectory.  Rozier looked awful early on, but hit another gear seemingly out of nowhere.

It wasn't out of nowhere for me. I saw signs even in his rookie year. I don't see the same potential in Yabu, despite really wanting to.

[BitterJim]

and has a great motor.

I'd say average.]

I don't know. Every time I see him on the court he's doing stuff. It's frequently not the right stuff but he's making things happen.

Perhaps I'll take another look.  I've saved the Cleveland games for in-depth viewing.

There's a difference between being active and having a good motor.  Anybody can be active for short spurts.  The motor part comes over extended minutes.  IMO, he has an average motor but likely none of us have seen enough of him yet.  Coaching staff knows how good his motor is.

During his formative basketball years, he decided to leave Europe for China. Nuf said.

His French team got relegated. Not many other teams showed serious interest (since it would be for one year before he came to the NBA), and China offered him a lot of money. The competition in China was probably better than he would have faced in a lower French division, too

[tstorey_97]

Ainge will keep him for "mathematical reasons" if nothing else.

I only saw "offense" when he arrived here and I just haven't seen much of that beyond an occasional three.

The debate is an odd one. Yabusele will get what? 2 or 3 minutes a game this season? And will one of those minutes be in a game that matters?

That $3M and change will come in handy on a matching salary.

[Vermont Green]

I voted no, but I do wonder if he might have Terry Rozier like trajectory.  Rozier looked awful early on, but hit another gear seemingly out of nowhere.

It wasn't out of nowhere for me. I saw signs even in his rookie year. I don't see the same potential in Yabu, despite really wanting to.

Similar for Avery Bradley too.  He had a tough rookie season but I felt from the beginning that he had the ability.  Just not seeing the same upside with Yabusele.  We needed a stash when we drafted him so I am sure that was an important factor but he just doesn't seem to quite have it.

It is inconsequential if we sign him or not at this point, barring some surprising level of improvement.