Derek Bodner's Big Board (very interesting)

[hwangjini_1]

What do we know about what he can do defensively, though?

What about his career so far demonstrates he will be able to defend the perimeter at the NBA level?


Look, I agree that having a seven footer with the ability to switch on pick and rolls and hit an open spot-up three is undeniably valuable.

I just don't think you need to use a top 5 pick on that sort of guy.

If Bender shows a lot of potential to be more than a 3-and-D big, then that's a different story.  If we're just talking about a 3-and-D guy with size, like I said, I'd take some shots in the late 1st / early 2nd.  There are lots of foreign prospects who look like they could play that Jonas Jerebko / Channing Frye role.



The way I see it, the Celts are really missing two basic things:

- A pure 18-20+ ppg scorer on the wing, ideally with good positional size

- A strong interior rebounder, finisher, and shot-changer/deterrer/blocker


If at all possible, I would like to see the BRK pick used on a guy with the potential to become one of those things.

if you are talking about bender's defense, then please watch the videos on draftexpress. i dont claim they tell all, but what is very clear is that bender has outstanding lateral movement and can defend the perimeter in the nba effectively.

[Lucky17]

"Derek Bodner" sounds suspiciously a lot like "Dragan Bender." Mostly the same letters. I call foul.

[Eddie20]

Givony, who's one the best draft guys around, spoke very highly on his toughness and motor. This part is pretty cool because a lot of people on here like to dump on Bender for not playing much and for people who think highly of him only going by limited video. However, here is Givony watching him in person and giving him high grades.




https://sports.yahoo.com/news/european-dispatch--getting-to-know-dragan-bender-195451386.html

Bender is extremely fluid, nimble and light on his feet for a player of his size. He’s regularly tasked with staying in front of significantly shorter small forwards on the perimeter and does not look bad doing so.

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor. He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

[Lucky17]

He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

Injury prone and uncoachable? Count me out.

[/greenfont]

[Eddie20]

He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

Injury prone and uncoachable? Count me out.

[/greenfont]

 

It says that most of the NBA scouts left prematurely. I guess that's why Coach Bo's unknown scout friend, who works for an unknown "top level" franchise hates Bender so much. He probably left early and never saw that toughness.

[CoachBo]

Givony, who's one the best draft guys around, spoke very highly on his toughness and motor. This part is pretty cool because a lot of people on here like to dump on Bender for not playing much and for people who think highly of him only going by limited video. However, here is Givony watching him in person and giving him high grades.




https://sports.yahoo.com/news/european-dispatch--getting-to-know-dragan-bender-195451386.html

Bender is extremely fluid, nimble and light on his feet for a player of his size. He’s regularly tasked with staying in front of significantly shorter small forwards on the perimeter and does not look bad doing so.

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor. He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

I laughed out loud at the bolded.

[Evantime34]

Givony, who's one the best draft guys around, spoke very highly on his toughness and motor. This part is pretty cool because a lot of people on here like to dump on Bender for not playing much and for people who think highly of him only going by limited video. However, here is Givony watching him in person and giving him high grades.




https://sports.yahoo.com/news/european-dispatch--getting-to-know-dragan-bender-195451386.html

Bender is extremely fluid, nimble and light on his feet for a player of his size. He’s regularly tasked with staying in front of significantly shorter small forwards on the perimeter and does not look bad doing so.

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor. He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

I laughed out loud at the bolded.

Who are the best draft guys around then? His mock drafts are among the most accurate every single year. Ford, Givony and Veccenie usually have the best mocks.

If you know of any good draft people I have never heard of, I'd love to know about them.

[Ilikesports17]

Givony, who's one the best draft guys around, spoke very highly on his toughness and motor. This part is pretty cool because a lot of people on here like to dump on Bender for not playing much and for people who think highly of him only going by limited video. However, here is Givony watching him in person and giving him high grades.




https://sports.yahoo.com/news/european-dispatch--getting-to-know-dragan-bender-195451386.html

Bender is extremely fluid, nimble and light on his feet for a player of his size. He’s regularly tasked with staying in front of significantly shorter small forwards on the perimeter and does not look bad doing so.

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor. He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

I laughed out loud at the bolded.

Who are the best draft guys around then? His mock drafts are among the most accurate every single year. Ford, Givony and Veccenie usually have the best mocks.

If you know of any good draft people I have never heard of, I'd love to know about them.

I wouldnt worry about

[Eddie20]

Givony, who's one the best draft guys around, spoke very highly on his toughness and motor. This part is pretty cool because a lot of people on here like to dump on Bender for not playing much and for people who think highly of him only going by limited video. However, here is Givony watching him in person and giving him high grades.




https://sports.yahoo.com/news/european-dispatch--getting-to-know-dragan-bender-195451386.html

Bender is extremely fluid, nimble and light on his feet for a player of his size. He’s regularly tasked with staying in front of significantly shorter small forwards on the perimeter and does not look bad doing so.

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor. He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

I laughed out loud at the bolded.

Who are the best draft guys around then? His mock drafts are among the most accurate every single year. Ford, Givony and Veccenie usually have the best mocks.

If you know of any good draft people I have never heard of, I'd love to know about them.

Don't you know? It's Coach Bo's scout friend, let's call him "Scout Bo" to make it easier. Rumor has it that Scout Bo is so good that he can literally identify a top level prospect simply by listening to the squeaking of their sneakers as they move up and down the court.

I wish Coach Bo would ask Scout Bo who the top guys in the draft are.

[Celtics4ever]

Givony, who's one the best draft guys around, spoke very highly on his toughness and motor. This part is pretty cool because a lot of people on here like to dump on Bender for not playing much and for people who think highly of him only going by limited video. However, here is Givony watching him in person and giving him high grades.

I would hope a guy can go 100% only playing 12 mpg.

“The kid is simply special,” a member of Maccabi’s coaching told The Vertical. “I’ve never been around someone that age with that kind of character. He’s not afraid of anything or anyone.”

Then why doesn't he play him more.   Are you sure is not another kind of special?  JK

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

If he is fluid and tough then why doesn't he get more RPG

We will see, I wish we knew why he is not going to the combine.   I get a feeling it is on his end , not the NBA.  But then I found it and this confirms it.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241813/Ben-Simmons-Dragan-Bender-Skipping-NBA-Draft-Combine

I recall someone saying he didn't get an invite.  If he is all world why not show it and go number one? 

[Eddie20]

Givony, who's one the best draft guys around, spoke very highly on his toughness and motor. This part is pretty cool because a lot of people on here like to dump on Bender for not playing much and for people who think highly of him only going by limited video. However, here is Givony watching him in person and giving him high grades.

I would hope a guy can go 100% only playing 12 mpg.

“The kid is simply special,” a member of Maccabi’s coaching told The Vertical. “I’ve never been around someone that age with that kind of character. He’s not afraid of anything or anyone.”

Then why doesn't he play him more.   Are you sure is not another kind of special?  JK

Bender’s most underrated quality is his toughness. Some may look at his lanky frame and assume he’s just another soft European 7-footer who only wants to hide on the perimeter and jack up 3-pointers, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth.

If he is fluid and tough then why doesn't he get more RPG

It's been said that since Bender is on a veteran team, a team that's better than Porzingis' club last season, they have no incentive to develop him knowing that he's going to be leaving anyways. So they play their veteran players who are ahead of Bender in terms of both maturity and IQ. This isn't shocking at all since Bender is only 18.

I'm curious as to why you're so resistant? Do you hate foreign players that much that it influences all of your thoughts? This guy is literally ranked as the #3 prospect by all reputable draft publications (ESPN, DX, USA Today, CBS, etc.) Is it possible that perhaps you're mistaken in dismissing Bender and are only dismissing him because of your overall negativity to foreign players? Maybe?

[Tr1boy]

Whatever. Inaccurate tiering

[chilidawg]

We will see, I wish we knew why he is not going to the combine.   I get a feeling it is on his end , not the NBA.  But then I found it and this confirms it.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241813/Ben-Simmons-Dragan-Bender-Skipping-NBA-Draft-Combine

I recall someone saying he didn't get an invite.  If he is all world why not show it and go number one?

Here's the Draft Express list of those going and not.  Almost all European players are listed as unable to attend.

"Analysis Conducting the Combine early in May means that most international leagues are still in full swing, which makes it impossible for the majority of European prospects to take part. This is nothing new, and is to be expected. Teams may elect to share in the costs of conducting medical examinations for this group of players once their teams' seasons are finished later in the month or in early June, or they may just decide to pick players without the benefit of their doctors' input."

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2016-NBA-Combine-Participant-List-and-Analysis-5472/

Move along folks.  Nothing to see here.

[loco_91]

I just love how every single thread turns into a mud fight over Dragan Bender. If we draft him, I'll have to quit CB.

[Lucky17]

What chilidawg said.

Honestly, I get the reservations on taking Bender. I have them too. But don't invent reasons to dislike the pick.