Isn't Bender the type of big man we want?

[GetLucky]

Bender's ceiling is the type of big man the Celtics want and need. It's his floor that scares some people off.

[walker834]

I could see teh celtics targetting a guy like Mahinmi but we may have to overpay for him.  He is similar to Ezili.  We have Amir is there really that big a difference? Ezili has ability in spots.  Why would the warriors part with him when they have no big men outside of Bogut as it is. Guys like that can be found later in drafts like we found perk.

I don't see why we would overspend on a player like that.  We have 8 picks. You don't use the 3rd pick on that. Or trade valuable assets for it either.

[rondohondo]

For those comparing Bender to a Darko type bust , Bender  has a lot more agility than Darko had , also a lot more skill and BBIQ .

I know he is playing against nobodies in this vid , but you can clearly see the offensive skill and length/agility .

What impresses me most are the outlet passes @1:15 mark , and 1:40 mark. That has nothing to do with competition there, that just shows his IQ and passing skill, reminds me of Marc Gasol  or KLove ,as far as outlet passing goes .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbrXB3Lcung

[elcotte]

Ainge said after the draft immediate help, Bender is not that.

In fairness, he also said that we'd be taking best player available, even if he took some time to develop.



I have absolutely no idea who Danny will take.

No. I agree with the previous poster.  Projects and CBS do not mesh. CBS does not have time for that. You have to be self made up to a certain pt.

Complete nonsense.

[crimson_stallion]

I'm just going to copy and paste what I wrote in the other Bender thread:

---

For me it's because I see Bender is a really high risk (and long term) prospect for a number of reasons:

1) The fact we haven't seen him play meaningful minutes against other lottery candidates
2) The fact that his body is not NBA ready
3) The fact that he has skills, but they are generally in need of significant development

Firstly, it meant a lot to me to be able to see Pierce and KG retire as Celtics, and that is something we sacrificed in order to get this Brooklyn pick. 

Secondly, Boston NEVER gets top 3 picks - it's something that typically happens once a generation.

Thirdly, there are never any guaranteed that you'll be able to get quality talent through free agency or through trades - and Boston in particular has struggled to do that.

With all of the above taken into consideration, it would absolutely pain me to see this pick wasted on a guy who ends up becoming a bust.  If you are Philly or Sacramento (and get high picks almost every year) then you can afford to gamble on a couple of high picks here and there.  We don't really have that luxury.

Lets say we bust out on free agency again, and then bust out on trades again.  That would suck.  But if we can add a mature, NBA ready talent (like Hield, Dunn or Poeltl) who can contribute right away, then I will be content knowing that at least we have done something to improve our team.

Drafting a high risk player like Bender will mean that if we fail to make a big move in free agency or in trades, we're putting all our hope in to a high risk player who may not contribute anything for years (if at all).  That would feel like a massive waste of a #3 pick, because god only knows when we will ever get one again.

If we want to take a gamble on a high risk, high reward big man then I understand that - but there are other's in the draft (like Labissiere, Maker and Ivaca Zubac) and it's almost certain that at least one of those guys will be available with the Mavs or Celtics pick.  I just don't see the sense in taking such a huge gamble with what may well be the highest pick we're gong to get in 10 years.

I would understand it more if it was for a guy with superstar potential, but I just don't think Bender has that.  I think he has the potential to be a good starter, maybe a fringe all-star (a Horford type) at best. 

I feel that Hield and Dunn have two of the highest floors in this draft, and yet I also think both guys have the potential to be perennial All-Stars...so for that reason I just don't like the idea of drafting bender over those guys.  I don't think his upside is high enough to justify the risk.

I don't dislike Bender as a prospect - I just don't think he's the right prospect for us right now.

[The Oracle]

I'm just going to copy and paste what I wrote in the other Bender thread:

---

For me it's because I see Bender is a really high risk (and long term) prospect for a number of reasons:

1) The fact we haven't seen him play meaningful minutes against other lottery candidates
2) The fact that his body is not NBA ready
3) The fact that he has skills, but they are generally in need of significant development

Firstly, it meant a lot to me to be able to see Pierce and KG retire as Celtics, and that is something we sacrificed in order to get this Brooklyn pick. 

Secondly, Boston NEVER gets top 3 picks - it's something that typically happens once a generation.

Thirdly, there are never any guaranteed that you'll be able to get quality talent through free agency or through trades - and Boston in particular has struggled to do that.

With all of the above taken into consideration, it would absolutely pain me to see this pick wasted on a guy who ends up becoming a bust.  If you are Philly or Sacramento (and get high picks almost every year) then you can afford to gamble on a couple of high picks here and there.  We don't really have that luxury.

Lets say we bust out on free agency again, and then bust out on trades again.  That would suck.  But if we can add a mature, NBA ready talent (like Hield, Dunn or Poeltl) who can contribute right away, then I will be content knowing that at least we have done something to improve our team.

Drafting a high risk player like Bender will mean that if we fail to make a big move in free agency or in trades, we're putting all our hope in to a high risk player who may not contribute anything for years (if at all).  That would feel like a massive waste of a #3 pick, because god only knows when we will ever get one again.

If we want to take a gamble on a high risk, high reward big man then I understand that - but there are other's in the draft (like Labissiere, Maker and Ivaca Zubac) and it's almost certain that at least one of those guys will be available with the Mavs or Celtics pick.  I just don't see the sense in taking such a huge gamble with what may well be the highest pick we're gong to get in 10 years.

I would understand it more if it was for a guy with superstar potential, but I just don't think Bender has that.  I think he has the potential to be a good starter, maybe a fringe all-star (a Horford type) at best. 

I feel that Hield and Dunn have two of the highest floors in this draft, and yet I also think both guys have the potential to be perennial All-Stars...so for that reason I just don't like the idea of drafting bender over those guys.  I don't think his upside is high enough to justify the risk.

I don't dislike Bender as a prospect - I just don't think he's the right prospect for us right now.

This is a loser's mentality.  Always taking safe picks is going to lead to mediocrity and not title contention.  You absolutely can't be afraid of failure.   If Bender projects as a 2 way stretch big in this league and they have seen enough to think this is likely, then the pick has already been made.  You simply do not pass on a chance to acquire 2 way stretch bigs with that kind of potential. 

[loco_91]

Bender's ceiling is the type of big man the Celtics want and need. It's his floor that scares some people off.

I'm not sure Bender has so much bust potential. People just say that about Euro prospects and young guys. Olynyk has managed to be a very good offensive player despite his serious physical limitations. I don't see how Bender can really fail to become better than Olynyk, so I think his floor (assuming reasonable health) is as a quality 3rd big man.

To me the most "bustable" guys are the ones who haven't shown much feel for the game, and need to get dramatically better at basketball before they can contribute, like Lab or Brown. Bender has proven that he knows how to play, so I think he's guaranteed to be a useful player in the NBA.

[alldaboston]

Ainge said after the draft immediate help, Bender is not that.

In fairness, he also said that we'd be taking best player available, even if he took some time to develop.

I have absolutely no idea who Danny will take.

No. I agree with the previous poster.  Projects and CBS do not mesh. CBS does not have time for that. You have to be self made up to a certain pt.

Sounds like something CoachBo would say.

[86MaxwellSmart]

I'm on the Bender Bandwagon...

Kid would be getting ready for his High School Graduation right now, if he were in the U.S.

He's 16 months younger than Ben Simmons...and has already played against grown men.

Might be the next Pau Gasol...and we could have him for the next 15 years.

Celtics have the right system to get this guy into NBA shape...Heck, sign Pau Gasol in Free Agency--and have him tutor the Dragan.

Unless we get a killer trade offer thrown our way---Draft the guy with the biggest upside.

[alldaboston]

I'm trying to watch some film of bender, from Maccabi's YouTube channel.



Is this example an anomaly, or does he get beat off the dribble often? I believe one of his calling cards is that he has pretty good defensive potential.

[Androslav]

I have said it numerous times, I believe Bender at 3rd is the best way to go. Is he a sure thing, of course not.
To simplify.

In today's NBA bigs offensively you are looking for:
a) a roller (DJ, Drummond, Tyson Chandler, AD mold)
or
b) a spacer (Dirk, Kristaps, Frye mold)

On defense, you are looking for:
c) a rim protector (Gobert, Bogut, Ibaka mold)
or
d) ability to switch on PNRs (Draymond, AD, Noel mold)

Bender has the best possibility, potential to check all those boxes of all the prospects in this year's draft.
Even if all of those skills are to be mediocre, he would still be a great piece. That's just too much of a versatility and if some of those skills are above average, he will be a revelation.

[Croc Hunter]

Willie Cauley-Stein is the type of big man we need.

[Chris22]

Willie Cauley-Stein is the type of big man we need.

Datonya Davis.

[iadera]

Willie Cauley-Stein is the type of big man we need.

Hell yeah!

[hwangjini_1]

I'm trying to watch some film of bender, from Maccabi's YouTube channel.



Is this example an anomaly, or does he get beat off the dribble often? I believe one of his calling cards is that he has pretty good defensive potential.

one play? how much do you want to read into one play? perhaps viewing other videos might help you draw an opinion. also, bender is 7' and was guarding a guard on the perimeter. the end of the guard winning is not unusual in the nba either.