Partial answers to why Bender is not getting the playing time

[TheSundanceKid]

There is concern on this board that Bender is not getting enough minutes to justify the #3 selection. While there are many factors to this to do with the European team structures I came across an interesting paragraph in a piece from the vertical:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source--dragan-bender-has--1-3-million-buyout-164937868.html?nhp=1

Israeli league rules state that at least three spots on every team’s 12-man active roster must be comprised of two domestic players under the age of 22 and one under 25, which has kept the Croatian-born Bender (designated as a foreigner) off the scorer’s sheet in a number of contests this season, including the playoffs this week.

Considering that means that 3 young talents have to be in the squad before Bender it makes it more difficult for him to get playing time.

I am beginning to wonder why he went there in the first place? He's been there a few years now, does anyone know what drew him to that team?

[saltlover]

There is concern on this board that Bender is not getting enough minutes to justify the #3 selection. While there are many factors to this to do with the European team structures I came across an interesting paragraph in a piece from the vertical:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source--dragan-bender-has--1-3-million-buyout-164937868.html?nhp=1

Israeli league rules state that at least three spots on every team’s 12-man active roster must be comprised of two domestic players under the age of 22 and one under 25, which has kept the Croatian-born Bender (designated as a foreigner) off the scorer’s sheet in a number of contests this season, including the playoffs this week.

Considering that means that 3 young talents have to be in the squad before Bender it makes it more difficult for him to get playing time.

I am beginning to wonder why he went there in the first place? He's been there a few years now, does anyone know what drew him to that team?

Yes, I saw that too.

As for why he went there, his mentor, who ran the basketball school he attended in Croatia and is pretty much a father figure to him, became the general manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv.  From a different article I read, Dragen still eats dinner at his house most evenings, so I think that's still a strong relationship.

[slightly biased bias fan]

There is concern on this board that Bender is not getting enough minutes to justify the #3 selection. While there are many factors to this to do with the European team structures I came across an interesting paragraph in a piece from the vertical:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source--dragan-bender-has--1-3-million-buyout-164937868.html?nhp=1

Israeli league rules state that at least three spots on every team’s 12-man active roster must be comprised of two domestic players under the age of 22 and one under 25, which has kept the Croatian-born Bender (designated as a foreigner) off the scorer’s sheet in a number of contests this season, including the playoffs this week.

Considering that means that 3 young talents have to be in the squad before Bender it makes it more difficult for him to get playing time.

I am beginning to wonder why he went there in the first place? He's been there a few years now, does anyone know what drew him to that team?

TP on the find! Explains a lot but still I think he's a massive make or break pick, if this wasn't Danny I'm pretty sure a miss on a 3rd pick would result in a firing for most GM's, but I trust Ainge so if he thinks Bender is the best option i am happy with that.

[TheSundanceKid]

Yes, I saw that too.

As for why he went there, his mentor, who ran the basketball school he attended in Croatia and is pretty much a father figure to him, became the general manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv.  From a different article I read, Dragen still eats dinner at his house most evenings, so I think that's still a strong relationship.

That makes sense. I've read about how close they are. It's a shame that hasn't translated into more minutes but at least you can say he's continuing to learn under good tutelage