Dragan Bender no longer a Draft and Stash candidate

[Evantime34]

The choice between a risky pick with less data who could turn into something special or a safer pick with a lower ceiling where you have a firmer grasp of his likely value is sort of like Giannis vs Olynyk, but at a higher draft slot.

This is a good point, but if we expanded the sample size to include, I dunno, a dozen examples of that kind of decision, how often does the Euro mystery box work out as smashingly as Giannis has?

I mean, Mike Dunleavy Jr. versus Nikoloz Tskitishvilli worked out pretty well for the Warriors.

I think the NBA has more in common with the foreign game than ever before. So I think recently the foreign players are less of a gamble than they used to be.

It used to be that foreign players were often too soft for the NBA, now almost every position is perimeter oriented and no one posts up anymore.

[LooseCannon]

The choice between a risky pick with less data who could turn into something special or a safer pick with a lower ceiling where you have a firmer grasp of his likely value is sort of like Giannis vs Olynyk, but at a higher draft slot.

This is a good point, but if we expanded the sample size to include, I dunno, a dozen examples of that kind of decision, how often does the Euro mystery box work out as smashingly as Giannis has?

I mean, Mike Dunleavy Jr. versus Nikoloz Tskitishvilli worked out pretty well for the Warriors.

I could have said Dante Exum vs Marcus Smart.  Thinking of it as a "Euro mystery box" is a mistake, and I say this as someone who defends the Olynyk pick and thinks there is a chance Giannis isn't the better player five years from now.  I wanted to go the "Euro mystery box" route and draft-and-stash Bogdan Bogdanovic instead of James Young a couple of years ago.  Calling it a mystery box makes it seem like the draft is just one big crap shoot when it isn't.

[hwangjini_1]

Isn't he basically Kelly Olynyk with a cooler name?

similar on offense it looked like from a few videos, yes. but he seems faster and goes to the basket a little better.

the big difference is how they move their feet on defense and lateral movement. olly simply has trouble covering quicker players. watch bender on defense, how is able to move left and right much better than olly.

i like bender. if the celtics draft at #3 he is the player i hope they take.

[hpantazo]

Like the Thon Maker news, this can only be a good thing. I like Bender. I like Thon Maker, and I like Buddy Heid. I like the player we are going to trade our Nets pick for much more though. I wouldn't get invested in any of these guys, as I don't see us using the pick, but anything that raises the value of the pick is great news.

[PhoSita]

The choice between a risky pick with less data who could turn into something special or a safer pick with a lower ceiling where you have a firmer grasp of his likely value is sort of like Giannis vs Olynyk, but at a higher draft slot.

This is a good point, but if we expanded the sample size to include, I dunno, a dozen examples of that kind of decision, how often does the Euro mystery box work out as smashingly as Giannis has?

I mean, Mike Dunleavy Jr. versus Nikoloz Tskitishvilli worked out pretty well for the Warriors.

I could have said Dante Exum vs Marcus Smart.  Thinking of it as a "Euro mystery box" is a mistake, and I say this as someone who defends the Olynyk pick and thinks there is a chance Giannis isn't the better player five years from now.  I wanted to go the "Euro mystery box" route and draft-and-stash Bogdan Bogdanovic instead of James Young a couple of years ago.  Calling it a mystery box makes it seem like the draft is just one big crap shoot when it isn't.

The draft isn't a crap shoot for the most part, but with a guy like Bender, where we really don't have much track record or even video evidence to go on, it kind of is.  A team will end up making the decision to draft him based almost entirely on workouts and gut instinct.

[alewilliam789]

From the little tape I was able to watch of Bender he showed a really nice stroke from outside. The main reason I believe he wasn't playing though was because his defense. He routinely was getting bullied on the block and just looked literally lost when trying to rotate on defense. He seemed to be relegated to the perimeter on offense, and I didn't see him post up that much.

if we want a versatile stretch 4 who can post up and rebound who is equally young then we should draft PF Henry Ellenson who I believe is going to be a really good player and worth the 4th over all pick. For me it's either Jaylen Brown or Henry Ellenson at pick 3-4. I don't see the hype with Bender. With Porzingis I could see the hullabaloo, but this year he reminds me more of a Illysova/Vesely type player that is destined to be a solid role player. 

[LooseCannon]

The goal shouldn't be a mere stretch four, it should be a stretch four who could be a plus defender.

[alldaboston]

I don't want this kid at all. He is going to be a bust in my opinion. Come scream at me all you want if I'm wrong; I'll accept it then. But as of now he doesn't look like someone I'd pick with the nets pick.

[footey]

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 agree. But I would choose Bender before Murray or Sabonis. Just feel there is more upside there.

[PhoSita]

I think Bender could have a game similar to Danilo Gallinari, which at 7'1'' could be pretty interesting.

[CFAN38]

From the little tape I was able to watch of Bender he showed a really nice stroke from outside. The main reason I believe he wasn't playing though was because his defense. He routinely was getting bullied on the block and just looked literally lost when trying to rotate on defense. He seemed to be relegated to the perimeter on offense, and I didn't see him post up that much.

if we want a versatile stretch 4 who can post up and rebound who is equally young then we should draft PF Henry Ellenson who I believe is going to be a really good player and worth the 4th over all pick. For me it's either Jaylen Brown or Henry Ellenson at pick 3-4. I don't see the hype with Bender. With Porzingis I could see the hullabaloo, but this year he reminds me more of a Illysova/Vesely type player that is destined to be a solid role player.

You make valid points and I will agree that he needs to improve on defense. One thing to keep in mind is that he is 18 playing against full grown men who are professional athletes. You could take a number of the current 1st rounds pick who are 18-22 and they would physically have strength issues in benders current role ( Ingram, Rabb, labiserre, to name the top end prospects)

[alewilliam789]

From the little tape I was able to watch of Bender he showed a really nice stroke from outside. The main reason I believe he wasn't playing though was because his defense. He routinely was getting bullied on the block and just looked literally lost when trying to rotate on defense. He seemed to be relegated to the perimeter on offense, and I didn't see him post up that much.

if we want a versatile stretch 4 who can post up and rebound who is equally young then we should draft PF Henry Ellenson who I believe is going to be a really good player and worth the 4th over all pick. For me it's either Jaylen Brown or Henry Ellenson at pick 3-4. I don't see the hype with Bender. With Porzingis I could see the hullabaloo, but this year he reminds me more of a Illysova/Vesely type player that is destined to be a solid role player.

You make valid points and I will agree that he needs to improve on defense. One thing to keep in mind is that he is 18 playing against full grown men who are professional athletes. You could take a number of the current 1st rounds pick who are 18-22 and they would physically have strength issues in benders current role ( Ingram, Rabb, labiserre, to name the top end prospects)

I would agree with that on Ivan Rabb when they went up against Hawaii were he couldn't hold his own. The thing with Bender is he doesn't have the paint presence that Labisierre and surprisingly Ingram had as well (1.4 BPG as a SF). Also Ingram was mostly a SF helping fill in for the missing Jefferson of Duke. His lack of athleticism is worrying for his defensive ceiling, but he does have a longer standing wingspan (9'3") than Anthony Davis. Do not mistaken that with a longer wingspan though because Anthony Davis has a 7'5" wingspan to Bender's 7'2".

[Who]

Only seen a few youtube clips ... but it's Kirilenko that Bender reminds me of.

Not really a scorer. More of a defender. A perimeter defender. Can rebound well for a SF/PF. Provides some passing and a little ball-handling. Helps out in multiple ways. Glue guy type.

Could say the same about Marvin Williams or Jan Vesely as draft prospects though. Guys who could do an interesting range of things on the floor but lacked the CV showing they were capable of putting those tools together consistently every night.

[max215]

Personally, I see this as good news.

[Tr1boy]

Only seen a few youtube clips ... but it's Kirilenko that Bender reminds me of.

Not really a scorer. More of a defender. A perimeter defender. Can rebound well for a SF/PF. Provides some passing and a little ball-handling. Helps out in multiple ways. Glue guy type.

Could say the same about Marvin Williams or Jan Vesely as draft prospects though. Guys who could do an interesting range of things on the floor but lacked the CV showing they were capable of putting those tools together consistently every night.

Kirilenko??

No way.  Kirilenko was a blue collar hard nosed player. Bender is soft

Bender is a vesely with a bit better handle and shooter (though takes a while to setup). No mid range game

Lacks toughness and/or strength. Two key things Danny looks for in big players