Whiteside/Bender/Durant Frontcourt

[KG Living Legend]

 

 It would be great to replace Simmons with Bender if we won the lottery, but Bender at that spot is very feasible, and more likely.
 
 With Bender's projection as a very good defender that can switch and block shots that could be a tremendous Defensive frontcourt for years to come.

 I know Whiteside at big dollars is a risk, but look at the Upside of that team. Add Thomas, Smart, Bradley, Crowder, Rozier and that's a balanced team. Plus we still have the 16th and 23rd pick.

[KG Living Legend]

 Even without Durant ID be happy with this frontcourt. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm OK with Two Euro Bigs in this draft.

 Bender
 Sabonis
 Ante Zizic who you could Stash.

 If Sabonis is gone by #16 I would take Zizic at #16 and Brice Johnson at #23.

 Whiteside
 Sabonis
 Crowder
 Bradley
 Thomas

 With Bender developing into a star sooner or later, Imagine if he has a Porzingis like season.

[alldaboston]

Could sabonis start from day 1?

And I'm curious. What makes you think Bender will definitely develop into a star? Earlier this season I had proclaimed him a bust, but I felt I was being premature in saying that. So I am trying to see if I can get a better opinion of him. Because honestly I haven't seen a ton of him and when I have it hasn't impressed me.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Bender has nothing that stands out to me. No elite size, length, or athleticism. His game is ok but what the hell do you see in him. he's not KP/Dirk.
If anything we should draft our future power forward or center next year in the 2017 draft.


Hope we get a top 2 pick and trade the pick for Cousins, then sign Durant. Hopefully the Nets pick will be in the top 8 at least, maybe better, which would be huge.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Could sabonis start from day 1?

And I'm curious. What makes you think Bender will definitely develop into a star? Earlier this season I had proclaimed him a bust, but I felt I was being premature in saying that. So I am trying to see if I can get a better opinion of him. Because honestly I haven't seen a ton of him and when I have it hasn't impressed me.

Sabonis has a wingspan like KO. It's like 6'10''.....James Young has a longer wingspan.

[KG Living Legend]

Could sabonis start from day 1?

And I'm curious. What makes you think Bender will definitely develop into a star? Earlier this season I had proclaimed him a bust, but I felt I was being premature in saying that. So I am trying to see if I can get a better opinion of him. Because honestly I haven't seen a ton of him and when I have it hasn't impressed me.

 If Sully It's possible Sabonis could start mid season. He's really smart, tough, team player, fantastic re-bounder, good passer, really efficient down low. Probably a really good role player in the NBA,

[KG Living Legend]

Could sabonis start from day 1?

And I'm curious. What makes you think Bender will definitely develop into a star? Earlier this season I had proclaimed him a bust, but I felt I was being premature in saying that. So I am trying to see if I can get a better opinion of him. Because honestly I haven't seen a ton of him and when I have it hasn't impressed me.

Sabonis has a wingspan like KO. It's like 6'10''.....James Young has a longer wingspan.

 That's a terrible example when trying to prove your point. Sabonis is a good player with short arms, meanwhile Young has a great wingspan and he sucks terribly.


 Highlights of Bender. I see some Pau Gasol. Gasol came in so skinny.

 Upside of this kid is a big that can shoot from deep, guard all over the place, pick and roll, Block shots at the rim, but more importantly move his feet and slide to stay with smaller players. His defensive upside is tremendous.

https://youtu.be/omWaGr-lOx4
 

[KG Living Legend]

Bender has nothing that stands out to me. No elite size, length, or athleticism. His game is ok but what the hell do you see in him. he's not KP/Dirk.
If anything we should draft our future power forward or center next year in the 2017 draft.



Hope we get a top 2 pick and trade the pick for Cousins, then sign Durant. Hopefully the Nets pick will be in the top 8 at least, maybe better, which would be huge.

 Dude, he's Seven feet tall without shoes. 7'2" wingspan 9'3" standing reach. It doesn't get much more elite than that when talking about size, and he moves like a guard or Small Forward.

 Tell me he's skinny and will get pushed around, don't tell me he doesn't have great size or movement ability that's clear as day to see.

 Gobert has the best standing reach in the NBA at 9'7" Bender is 9'3" and Gobert only jumps 1.5" higher.

[KG Living Legend]

 Olynyk's standing reach is 9' even. So Bender would beat anyone on our team by 3"

[KG Living Legend]

 How many people thought Porzingis was a safer pick than Okafor. Not many, in heinsight when you factor in Defense, mobility, attitude and coachabilty
 It's Kristaps all the way.

 I acknowledge that Bender is not at the same level as Kristaps, however he has many positives on his side, great kid from a great family, very coachable, and he could be more versatile than Kristaps if that's possible.

[Celtics4ever]

With Bender's projection as a very good defender that can switch and block shots that could be a tremendous Defensive frontcourt for years to come.

Trouble with Bender is one has to use projections because the stats he has put up thus far, are poor against less than NBA competition.

Take a look at these:

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Dragan-Bender/Summary/41582

http://www.basketball-reference.com/euro/players/dragan-bender-1.html

Notice has his BPG have went down.  Also, not that he is not playing a lot of minutes or games.

My question to you is why?  Why doesn't produce more?   Why doesn't he play more?

Then tell me if you still want to take a chance on a projection that really has diminished in performance.  Convince, me I am listening....

Olynyk's standing reach is 9' even. So Bender would beat anyone on our team by 3"

Manute Bol had a great reach how did that work out for him.   Please KO played against NCAA players and was a star.   Bender is a benchwarmer in Israel.  You post his highlight but from those stat lines, there must be many more lowlights.

[loco_91]

I really don't think we should go after Whiteside.  He's so awesome at shotblocking that it makes him a very good defender overall, but his deficiencies in other areas preclude him from being a DPOY-level defender. Then offensively, he's awful. One of the worst passers of all time, and he just doesn't know how to get involved on that end. Theoretically he could be a good finisher, but to get dunks you have to first get open, and he doesn't know how to do that consistently.

Whiteside could theoretically improve on his weaknesses, but if we're getting Durant, then there are much, much better ways we could use our remaining cap space.

[Roy H.]

Well, at least we're guaranteed to have one great player out of the three.

[biggs]

Bender has nothing that stands out to me. No elite size, length, or athleticism. His game is ok but what the hell do you see in him. he's not KP/Dirk.
If anything we should draft our future power forward or center next year in the 2017 draft.



Hope we get a top 2 pick and trade the pick for Cousins, then sign Durant. Hopefully the Nets pick will be in the top 8 at least, maybe better, which would be huge.

 Dude, he's Seven feet tall without shoes. 7'2" wingspan 9'3" standing reach. It doesn't get much more elite than that when talking about size, and he moves like a guard or Small Forward.

 Tell me he's skinny and will get pushed around, don't tell me he doesn't have great size or movement ability that's clear as day to see.

 Gobert has the best standing reach in the NBA at 9'7" Bender is 9'3" and Gobert only jumps 1.5" higher.

Holy crap! 9'7"? Can you imagine trying to do an up and under against someone with hands that are 5 inches shy of the rim?? IT? 

[CFAN38]

I hope the Cs stay away from Whiteside, he isn't a great system fit and I predict he will be a classic get paid then lay down player.

Love the idea of drafting Bender after #3 but he will not be ready to start and if the Cs luck out and get Durant the team will not be able to handle Benders growing pains.