Chris Mannix: Every GM says Jared Sullinger will be the biggest draft bust

[Boris Badenov]

Yeah,

Sullingers career will be contingent on his health.

His career will also depend on whether he can get his shot off against NBA defenders.

The good thing - and I don't think people are considering this - is that his outside shot is good already. That combined with his rebounding will ensure him a role similar to that of Bass or Kurt Thomas. He also has enough lower body strength to play post defense.

If he can become an effective post scorer, even only against small-ball lineups, then he can be a very good NBA player.

This of course is in addition to the concerns about his back. But I really think that with this much awareness of the issue early in his career, and the best treatment money can buy, this is a manageable problem.

The other thing I don't get is this idea that you shouldn't draft him because his career might be shortened. Who cares? How players stay with the team that drafted them for more than five years anyway? (I'm pretty sure that was SA's reasoning with Blair, and it's paid off for them...)

[bfrombleacher]

Sullingers career will be contingent on his health.

Isn't it already confirmed as being non career threatening/effecting on the main page here?

Edit:

Sullinger (back) has a herniated disk according to an MRI taken after the college season, but the Celtics do not believe the injury will be a long-term issue

http://www.celticsblog.com/2012/6/30/3127967/about-jared-sullingers-back

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jared-sullinger-herniated-disk-180035285.html

[Fafnir]

The Celtics are saying it won't affect his career, but they're only saying this after having drafted him and taking that risk.

I'm sure Portland said similar things about Roy's knees, can't say that you're really worried about a guy you just drafted.

[RJ87]

I do think Sullinger has major bust/disappointment potential because so many people are pegging him as a future starter and All-Star. I just don't think its realistic. NBA big men are getting bigger and more athletic - I don't think Sully's game will translate as well as some hope. I heard someone desscribe him before the draft as "a less athletic Glen Davis with a better handle on his weight issues." From what I've seen of him, the description sounds rather accurate.

[Moranis]

I do think Sullinger has major bust/disappointment potential because so many people are pegging him as a future starter and All-Star. I just don't think its realistic. NBA big men are getting bigger and more athletic - I don't think Sully's game will translate as well as some hope. I heard someone desscribe him before the draft as "a less athletic Glen Davis with a better handle on his weight issues." From what I've seen of him, the description sounds rather accurate.

He has almost virtually the same stats and measurables as Kevin Love. 

[nickagneta]

Sullinger is an excellent positional rebounder with great rebounding fundamentals. Regardless of athleticism he will be a high volume rebound player.

He also has great instincts as a back to the basket post player with enough lower body strength and size to get the position he needs to be effective scoring underneath. He has a very sweet, turning, right handed baby hook and the strength to create space and get off his shot.

Like Baby, he's a below the basket player with slightly below average height but Sully has longer arms and reach and is definitely a better mid range shooter from when Baby enter the league. Scola, Davis, Humphries, Brand, Hayes, Blair are all guys that have similar size and skill sets and athleticism and been highly successful.

I don't think Sully will be an All-Star but he definitely could be a high quality starter in this league some day.

[RJ87]

I do think Sullinger has major bust/disappointment potential because so many people are pegging him as a future starter and All-Star. I just don't think its realistic. NBA big men are getting bigger and more athletic - I don't think Sully's game will translate as well as some hope. I heard someone desscribe him before the draft as "a less athletic Glen Davis with a better handle on his weight issues." From what I've seen of him, the description sounds rather accurate.

He has almost virtually the same stats and measurables as Kevin Love. 

But not as talented. I'm not saying Sully won't be a rotation player, but all of this "he's gonna be an All-Star" is what makes a guy a bust.

[Kane3387]

How can a guy drafted 21st overall be a bust? If people thought he was going to be an all star then he wouldn't have gone 21st. Since he was drafted where he was it tells me people ALREADY didn't believe he would be nothing more then a bench player at best.

Just don't see how a guy can be a bust unless they all think he has no chance of even staying in the NBA. Still how many people at 21 didn't have long careers? I bet more people drafted at 21 played short careers as opposed to those who had lengthy ones.

[Moranis]

I do think Sullinger has major bust/disappointment potential because so many people are pegging him as a future starter and All-Star. I just don't think its realistic. NBA big men are getting bigger and more athletic - I don't think Sully's game will translate as well as some hope. I heard someone desscribe him before the draft as "a less athletic Glen Davis with a better handle on his weight issues." From what I've seen of him, the description sounds rather accurate.

He has almost virtually the same stats and measurables as Kevin Love. 

But not as talented. I'm not saying Sully won't be a rotation player, but all of this "he's gonna be an All-Star" is what makes a guy a bust.

I wouldn't say he isn't as talented as Kevin Love is.  Now that doesn't mean Sullinger is going to have Kevin Love's pro career, but aside from the back injury, everything people say about Sullinger is exactly what they said about Kevin Love when he was at UCLA.  Too small, not athletic enough, not quick enough, etc. 

[Celts Fan 92]

i saw from Sherrod's twitter dat they bout to introduce the rookies anyone got a link for me?

[scaryjerry]

Impossible... even if hes dreadful I wont consider him a bust...especially when he dropped and has little expectation..I see plenty more potential for legit busts.....if he came out last season, fine....but he didn't and has been reevaluated accordingly

[csfansince60s]

To be a draft bust you have to be in the lottery and not meet expectations.

Sullinger slid to 21, how could he be a bust?

This interview was done before the draft, and specifically was talking about *lottery* busts.

If Sullinger had been taken in the lottery, there was definitely some bust potential there, although I think he's less risky than a guy like, say, Drummond.

+1 Roy for the lottery bust distinction...a critical distinction which clarifies Mannix's opinion (that's your IRAC training coming thru: you must've loved moot court)

Mannix obviously feels that the Cs id very well in the draft just after the draft when he labelled us one of the 3 biggest winners of the draft.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/chris_mannix/06/29/2012-nba-draft-winners-losers/index.html

He may have thought that Sully had the biggest lottery bust potential, but certainly not where we picked. Quite the contrary.

[Who]

I don't see how Sullinger how the most "bust potential" of the likely lottery picks. There a bunch of other guys there who I'd rank ahead of him.

Austin Rivers, Andre Drummond, John Henson, Kendall Marshall, Jeremy Lamb, Meyers Leonard. That's 6 of the 14 players chosen. Maybe Terrence Ross. Barnes? From a risk prospective, Sullinger looks a middle of the pack (lottery pick wise) of being a bust to me.

I think some GMs are over-reacting and will regret their stance on this in the near-future.

[Snakehead]

I don't see how Sullinger how the most "bust potential" of the likely lottery picks. There a bunch of other guys there who I'd rank ahead of him.

Austin Rivers, Andre Drummond, John Henson, Kendall Marshall, Jeremy Lamb, Meyers Leonard. That's 6 of the 14 players chosen. Maybe Terrence Ross. Barnes? From a risk prospective, Sullinger looks a middle of the pack (lottery pick wise) of being a bust to me.

Exactly my thought, how can a guy that goes after 20 be a bust?  Not happening.

I think Meyers Leonard has the biggest bust potential for sure.  John Henson 2nd because I don't think he's much better than JJJ.

[Celtics18]

 

Personally, I think that considering where he was drafted, he has more potential to be the steal of the draft than the bust of the draft.