Most comparable player to Sullinger

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His style of play reminds me of Carlos Boozer, but he's not at that level of consistency, obviously.

Good call.  Doesn't move as well as Booze right now, but has a nice game within 12 ft.  I suspect he'll be better than Booze all around, though, very soon, particularly on defense.

If we could get lucky enough to keep him around long term as 3rd big, we'd be pretty lucky.

He won't the 3rd big for very much longer. You could make a strong case he's the best player on the active roster.

True.  In my own little wonderworld, I like starting two 7' bigs, and KO can be the 7' PF.  Throw in a 7' post defender would be my roster strategy.

[sofutomygaha]

I think a close match is a poor man's Kevin Love.  Both have nice outside shots, both have post games that are limited yet fairly effective, both are good rebounders.

In his second year in the league, he isn't a poor man's Kevin Love, he basically is Kevin Love. In their rookie seasons neither player shot threes, both players rebounded at fantastic rates. They're about the same size, they were both overweight, and their rates were similar across the board on both sides of the ball. Both were bench players who got occasional starts.

Check out this comparison of their rookie seasons: http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&p1=sullija01&y1=2013&p2=loveke01&y2=2009

The big caveat, of course, is that Kevin Love took a humungous leap in year 3 and completely transformed his body. A lot of players had rookie seasons better than Kevin Love's.

But yeah, "poor man's" comparisons are lazy. Look at what Love did in college and what he did in his first year in the league, and the Sullinger-Love comparison is actually a really good one.

Sullinger has openly said that Love is his role model, and that he wants to transform himself as an athlete the same way. Let's hope he follows through.

[JBcat]

I like the Kevin Love comparison.  If you look at old clips of Sully before the back issues even dating back to high school he was a pretty good athlete.  I think Sully has said his back since after the surgery feels much better than it has in a long time.  Once he transforms his body a little bit maybe like Love it will be real interesting what becomes of him.

I also think Sully has a real high BBIQ and probably a better passer than Boozer, Randolph, and West. 

[Yoki_IsTheName]

If he turns into Carlos Boozer I'd be very happy.

If he turns into David West, I'd be thanking the Basketball Gods and offer them half of my pastrami sandwich.

I think those are the two close comparisons. They both have very good inside games, who can use skill and power, at the same time do damage in the perimeter when left unchecked.

The comparison will be determined whether or not Sully will be Boozer or West on the defensive end. And glad to say, even though there's more work to do, he's leaning out of the Boozer range.

[Who]

Sully is in a similar place now as Boozer was in his 2nd (and last) season in Cleveland.

[nickagneta]

You younger guys might not understand the comparison but I see a lot of Wes Unseld in Sullinger's game and body type. 6'8" or so, wide body, brutally stronger, excellent post game and interior positioning. Not the highest jumper but extremely smart game and a good mid range game.

Now in the 70's centers and power forwards just weren't allowed to run out to 20 something feet and take a jumper so that doesn't fit but as Sully ages, I could see him becoming a defensive and rebounding presence due to his size and strength and intelligence, while still putting up 16-20 PPG efficiently

[timobusa]

Reminds me of a young Elton Brand for some reason. Versatile big man.

[kozlodoev]

His style of play reminds me of Carlos Boozer, but he's not at that level of consistency, obviously.

Good call.  Doesn't move as well as Booze right now, but has a nice game within 12 ft.  I suspect he'll be better than Booze all around, though, very soon, particularly on defense.

If we could get lucky enough to keep him around long term as 3rd big, we'd be pretty lucky.

He won't the 3rd big for very much longer. You could make a strong case he's the best player on the active roster.

26 pt game is great and all. Jeff Green is still better.

[kozlodoev]

In his second year in the league, he isn't a poor man's Kevin Love, he basically is Kevin Love. In their rookie seasons neither player shot threes, both players rebounded at fantastic rates. They're about the same size, they were both overweight, and their rates were similar across the board on both sides of the ball. Both were bench players who got occasional starts.

Check out this comparison of their rookie seasons: http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&p1=sullija01&y1=2013&p2=loveke01&y2=2009

Given that Love has maintained a rebounding rate of 20%+ for most of his career, and that Sullinger was at 18% last year, and 15% this year, the rebounding similarities are just a tad overblown.

[Smitty77]

You younger guys might not understand the comparison but I see a lot of Wes Unseld in Sullinger's game and body type. 6'8" or so, wide body, brutally stronger, excellent post game and interior positioning. Not the highest jumper but extremely smart game and a good mid range game.

Now in the 70's centers and power forwards just weren't allowed to run out to 20 something feet and take a jumper so that doesn't fit but as Sully ages, I could see him becoming a defensive and rebounding presence due to his size and strength and intelligence, while still putting up 16-20 PPG efficiently

I totally agree with you Nick and have used that analogy several times and just got blank stares:-))))  Oh to be young again:-))

Smitty77

[kozlodoev]

You younger guys might not understand the comparison but I see a lot of Wes Unseld in Sullinger's game and body type. 6'8" or so, wide body, brutally stronger, excellent post game and interior positioning. Not the highest jumper but extremely smart game and a good mid range game.

Now in the 70's centers and power forwards just weren't allowed to run out to 20 something feet and take a jumper so that doesn't fit but as Sully ages, I could see him becoming a defensive and rebounding presence due to his size and strength and intelligence, while still putting up 16-20 PPG efficiently

I totally agree with you Nick and have used that analogy several times and just got blank stares:-))))  Oh to be young again:-))

Smitty77

I assume 70s Cs and PFs also didn't get to play against ripped 7-footers who can move like quick forwards on a regular basis.

[Boris Badenov]

In his second year in the league, he isn't a poor man's Kevin Love, he basically is Kevin Love. In their rookie seasons neither player shot threes, both players rebounded at fantastic rates. They're about the same size, they were both overweight, and their rates were similar across the board on both sides of the ball. Both were bench players who got occasional starts.

Check out this comparison of their rookie seasons: http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&p1=sullija01&y1=2013&p2=loveke01&y2=2009

Given that Love has maintained a rebounding rate of 20%+ for most of his career, and that Sullinger was at 18% last year, and 15% this year, the rebounding similarities are just a tad overblown.

Yeah, Love is such an anomaly.

Interesting to note on Sully's rebounding: I was a bit puzzled by the decline in rebounding numbers this year vs. last, but it appears to me that this is completely a function of how he's playing outside more on offense, and as more of a primary option.

His defensive rebound rate is pretty much identical to last year (22.1% to 21.4% this year), and all the decline is on the offensive boards (12.6% to 7.5% this year).

Love's ORB% has declined similarly (though they're still much higher) as his offensive game has shifted outside too.

I like the Boozer analogy better at this point, for what that's worth. But Boozer is still a pretty good player!

[kozlodoev]

I like the Boozer analogy better at this point, for what that's worth. But Boozer is still a pretty good player!

Across the board, he's more similar to Luis Scola. But that's just how I see it.

[cman88]

I didnt realise, but right now sullinger is #2 on the team in PPG

averaging 13.1ppg, 5.5rpg on 52% shooting...pretty solid numbers..could he end up being a 15-17ppg player?

I could see his ceiling as a david west/carlos boozer...which isnt bad for a late first round pick(although he was a top 5 talent)

[danglertx]

Nobody ever likes my comparisons, but the player I think matches his skill set best is Larry Johnson.  Undersized, great at rebounding, uses his strength well defending bigger guys and can step out and hit the outside shot.  Johnson jumped a bit better and carried less weight, but he was also shorter.