Dragan Bender no longer a Draft and Stash candidate

[tankcity!]

Watching the highlight videos of Porzingis and Bender, it feels like Bender is really soft. Porzingis was always an aggressive rebounder even though he is a stick. I have a really bad feeling about Bender and the videos haven't really impressed me. One thing I also noted was that he is really bad around the rim from the highlights I saw on draft express. That's a big concern for a big guy.

Bottom line, Porzingis has makeup. I have no idea if that is the case with Bender. So if Ainge drafts him, he's probably going to be good since Ainge will get insight we don't have.

[ederson]

Ha Maccabi finally started giving him minutes after benching him all year to make him happy, then it totally backfired as he's been playing really well.  He's been slated this high all year based 100% on potential and it looks like he's getting there faster than expected.  I'm really warming up to him now a lot

Really well
In the last 6 games 7.5p(40% 3p) , 4reb in 17mins
He has improved you are correct but i can`t describe this production as really good. Especially taking into account that he is not playing in a strong league.

[PhoSita]

This probably just means that an NBA team will have to pay him to develop on the bench, instead of letting a Euro team pay him for a couple years before bringing him over.

Bender doesn't seem likely to make an immediate impact, though I think that was the prevailing opinion of Porzingis as well, so who knows.

[TheSundanceKid]

This is what workouts are about. Porzingis aced his. Maybe Bender will. Maybe he won't

Porzingis showed much more promise prior to the NBA

Bender is not a CBS nor Ainge type of player.   I would be highly surprised if he is chosen with the nets pick

I would choose Jaylen Brown before Bender

I don't agree with him not being an Ainge or CBS type of player. He's a perimeter oriented guy that plays hard and can guard multiple positions. That sounds exactly like an Ainge/Stevens guy to me.

TP you beat me to it. He's just what we are looking for. I actually think he'd develop really well as part of our 2nd unit. He's a player that loves the fast break, sounds great with all the turnovers we generate

[CelticGuardian]

I never got the excitement over Bender. the guy didn't even play enough this year to get a highlights you tube video.
He could turn into to something special, but at 3-4 pick I rather go with a safer pick.

This is a pretty good video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJD9kPQNdJ4

My feeling is that if Danny picks Bender I will be happy because I will know he showed enough in workouts to warrant the pick. If Danny passes him up I won't complain because I haven't seen him enough to disagree with Celtics' front office.

Isn't Zeller suppose to have good mobility and also be 7 ft tall? Like seriously, where's the beef?

[CelticGuardian]

I am looking at a Domantas Sabonis or Jamal Murray.... these should be our targets... maybe even Ivan Rabb or Jaylen Brown

[Silent Storm]

He has the physical tools and athleticism to be a KG type of player, the big question is what his work ethic and mental strength are like. He either needs to build strength or become more crafty to compensate for his lack of strength.

[Tr1boy]

This is what workouts are about. Porzingis aced his. Maybe Bender will. Maybe he won't

Porzingis showed much more promise prior to the NBA

Bender is not a CBS nor Ainge type of player.   I would be highly surprised if he is chosen with the nets pick

I would choose Jaylen Brown before Bender

I don't agree with him not being an Ainge or CBS type of player. He's a perimeter oriented guy that plays hard and can guard multiple positions. That sounds exactly like an Ainge/Stevens guy to me.

TP you beat me to it. He's just what we are looking for. I actually think he'd develop really well as part of our 2nd unit. He's a player that loves the fast break, sounds great with all the turnovers we generate

No he is not.  We already have KO

But KO is even tougher in comparison.   Bender has no mid range game.   Won't be able to post up well in the NBA due to lack of strength and toughness.

You basically have a 7 ft PF roaming around the perimeter (takes a while to setup for jump shot and needs to be really open to make the shot) ,  protecting the occasional shot, struggling to consistently boxout ala Channing Frye
 

[PhoSita]

How can you watch the success Jerebko and Olynyk have had playing for Stevens and conclude a prospect like Bender is "not a CBS type player"?

[Vermont Green]

I know, it is only highlight reels but he does not look special to me.  I thought Thon Maker looked better.  Sure, Dragan demonstrated 3Pt range but what else?  RJ Hunter has 3Pt range but you need much more than that to be worth a pick in the range of what the Brooklyn pick will be.

I vote pass.

[TheSundanceKid]

This is what workouts are about. Porzingis aced his. Maybe Bender will. Maybe he won't

Porzingis showed much more promise prior to the NBA

Bender is not a CBS nor Ainge type of player.   I would be highly surprised if he is chosen with the nets pick

I would choose Jaylen Brown before Bender

I don't agree with him not being an Ainge or CBS type of player. He's a perimeter oriented guy that plays hard and can guard multiple positions. That sounds exactly like an Ainge/Stevens guy to me.

TP you beat me to it. He's just what we are looking for. I actually think he'd develop really well as part of our 2nd unit. He's a player that loves the fast break, sounds great with all the turnovers we generate

No he is not.  We already have KO

But KO is even tougher in comparison.   Bender has no mid range game.   Won't be able to post up well in the NBA due to lack of strength and toughness.

You basically have a 7 ft PF roaming around the perimeter (takes a while to setup for jump shot and needs to be really open to make the shot) ,  protecting the occasional shot, struggling to consistently boxout ala Channing Frye
 

Completely disagree with the lack of toughness. And comparing him to KO is off as well. People fixate on his height and go "oh he's going to be in the post at the 4/5. He's not. He'll be a SF/PF hybrid. And he's 18, of course he's going to have areas to improve on..

He is a fantastic perimeter defender with a greater wingspan than most perimeter defenders. And on offense he'll have a height advantage against SFs in the league. On our 2nd unit he'd play the Jerebko role, or at least that's what I'd want out of him after a full season.

He's no more of a project than Brown or Murray and he has more upside arguably than both due to his extremely good lateral movement for his height

[Evantime34]

This is what workouts are about. Porzingis aced his. Maybe Bender will. Maybe he won't

Porzingis showed much more promise prior to the NBA

Bender is not a CBS nor Ainge type of player.   I would be highly surprised if he is chosen with the nets pick

I would choose Jaylen Brown before Bender

I don't agree with him not being an Ainge or CBS type of player. He's a perimeter oriented guy that plays hard and can guard multiple positions. That sounds exactly like an Ainge/Stevens guy to me.

TP you beat me to it. He's just what we are looking for. I actually think he'd develop really well as part of our 2nd unit. He's a player that loves the fast break, sounds great with all the turnovers we generate

No he is not.  We already have KO

But KO is even tougher in comparison.   Bender has no mid range game.   Won't be able to post up well in the NBA due to lack of strength and toughness.

You basically have a 7 ft PF roaming around the perimeter (takes a while to setup for jump shot and needs to be really open to make the shot) ,  protecting the occasional shot, struggling to consistently boxout ala Channing Frye
 

Completely disagree with the lack of toughness. And comparing him to KO is off as well. People fixate on his height and go "oh he's going to be in the post at the 4/5. He's not. He'll be a SF/PF hybrid. And he's 18, of course he's going to have areas to improve on..

He is a fantastic perimeter defender with a greater wingspan than most perimeter defenders. And on offense he'll have a height advantage against SFs in the league. On our 2nd unit he'd play the Jerebko role, or at least that's what I'd want out of him after a full season.

He's no more of a project than Brown or Murray and he has more upside arguably than both due to his extremely good lateral movement for his height

Tp for beating me to it this time.

[tankcity!]

He has the physical tools and athleticism to be a KG type of player, the big question is what his work ethic and mental strength are like. He either needs to build strength or become more crafty to compensate for his lack of strength.

Wait what? KG was way more athletic. KG's wingspan was measured at 7'5, and that was when he was only 6'9.

[moiso]

I know, it is only highlight reels but he does not look special to me.  I thought Thon Maker looked better.  Sure, Dragan demonstrated 3Pt range but what else?  RJ Hunter has 3Pt range but you need much more than that to be worth a pick in the range of what the Brooklyn pick will be.

I vote pass.

Except RJ doesn't make them.

[tankcity!]

This is what workouts are about. Porzingis aced his. Maybe Bender will. Maybe he won't

Porzingis showed much more promise prior to the NBA

Bender is not a CBS nor Ainge type of player.   I would be highly surprised if he is chosen with the nets pick

I would choose Jaylen Brown before Bender

I don't agree with him not being an Ainge or CBS type of player. He's a perimeter oriented guy that plays hard and can guard multiple positions. That sounds exactly like an Ainge/Stevens guy to me.

TP you beat me to it. He's just what we are looking for. I actually think he'd develop really well as part of our 2nd unit. He's a player that loves the fast break, sounds great with all the turnovers we generate

No he is not.  We already have KO

But KO is even tougher in comparison.   Bender has no mid range game.   Won't be able to post up well in the NBA due to lack of strength and toughness.

You basically have a 7 ft PF roaming around the perimeter (takes a while to setup for jump shot and needs to be really open to make the shot) ,  protecting the occasional shot, struggling to consistently boxout ala Channing Frye
 

Completely disagree with the lack of toughness. And comparing him to KO is off as well. People fixate on his height and go "oh he's going to be in the post at the 4/5. He's not. He'll be a SF/PF hybrid. And he's 18, of course he's going to have areas to improve on..

He is a fantastic perimeter defender with a greater wingspan than most perimeter defenders. And on offense he'll have a height advantage against SFs in the league. On our 2nd unit he'd play the Jerebko role, or at least that's what I'd want out of him after a full season.

He's no more of a project than Brown or Murray and he has more upside arguably than both due to his extremely good lateral movement for his height

Are you sure? You got that all from his highlights? Or do you watch his games?