Thon Maker vs Dragan Bender

[Goldstar88]

Is Bender really any less of a question mark than Maker at this point?

Both players are under 20 years old and their height, weight, and playing style are similar. Based on recent interviews and articles, both seem to be good character guys.

Bender  2015 stats for Tel Aviv: 13 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .9 blk, .8 ast, 3p .40% , Ft 73%

Maker 2015 Stats for Carlisle HS: 21.3 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 1.7 Apg, 4.2 blk, 3p .28%, FT 78%

Bender seems to be a better shooter, Maker is more athletic and will most likely be a better re-bounder and shot blocker. 

Based on the statistics and the video footage that is available, I'm not seeing a large discrepancy in their abilities. Both are projects with upside.

[Denis998]

I think Thon is heads and heels better than Bender.

[CroCorvus]

Bender played less minutes but he played in a grown mens league. Where did Maker played??? Please stop comparing stats. If Bender played in NCAA he would probably average something like 18&10&5&3...

[SHAQATTACK]

I think Thon is heads and heels better than Bender.

TP !

Bloody right he is .

[konkmv]

Take both and skai.....hahahahaha 3 16 and 23...

[Denis998]

I think Thon is heads and heels better than Bender.

TP !

Bloody right he is .

TP for being above the Bender/Porzingis hype.

[arctic 3.0]

Take both and skai.....hahahahaha 3 16 and 23...

That would be OK by me.
Show the door to sully, pick up options on Amir and JJ, let Oly and the 3 big rooks earn playing time.

[Denis998]

Bender played less minutes but he played in a grown mens league. Where did Maker played??? Please stop comparing stats. If Bender played in NCAA he would probably average something like 18&10&5&3...

Bender did not earn any meaningful minutes in a "Grown Man League" which is sub-par compared to other Euro leagues. How is Bender going to fair in an even bigger and harder "Grown Mens League"?

[CroCorvus]

Bender played less minutes but he played in a grown mens league. Where did Maker played??? Please stop comparing stats. If Bender played in NCAA he would probably average something like 18&10&5&3...

Bender did not earn any meaningful minutes in a "Grown Man League" which is sub-par compared to other Euro leagues. How is Bender going to fair in an even bigger and harder "Grown Mens League"?

wow what a question...well, how do you think the kids that palyed only one season in college will fair??? He will adapt. If he has it in him, he will. To me that is the main thing Ainge needs to access. What is he like, what is his personallity, is he willing to do everything to be a better player. Is he capable to be a leader? Those are the questions DA needs to addres, not his minutes in Maccabi.
BTW one workout he had with first team Maccabi is worth more to him then what Ben Simmons "played" few games in college.

[Denis998]

Bender played less minutes but he played in a grown mens league. Where did Maker played??? Please stop comparing stats. If Bender played in NCAA he would probably average something like 18&10&5&3...

Bender did not earn any meaningful minutes in a "Grown Man League" which is sub-par compared to other Euro leagues. How is Bender going to fair in an even bigger and harder "Grown Mens League"?

wow what a question...well, how do you think the kids that palyed only one season in college will fair??? He will adapt. If he has it in him, he will. To me that is the main thing Ainge needs to access. What is he like, what is his personallity, is he willing to do everything to be a better player. Is he capable to be a leader? Those are the questions DA needs to addres, not his minutes in Maccabi.
BTW one workout he had with first team Maccabi is worth more to him then what Ben Simmons "played" few games in college.

going off of last years draft:
One player that played "Only" one year in college:
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3135048/jahlil-okafor

One player what went to the NBA after a season in Europe in which he got no minutes:
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2995706/mario-hezonja

One player that had a productive season overseas:
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3102531/kristaps-porzingis

I'm not against Euro players. I'm against drafting players that had horrendous seasons in their respective leagues prior to the NBA. No matter the league being an "Adults" league such as those of Europe, or the college ranks over in the states, any NBA prospect, no matter their age, should be a dominant player in their respective league.

[loco_91]

This is getting out of hand. Bender dominated FIBA competition before going to play for the best team (by far) in Israel. Maker has played well in high school and has looked terrible against stronger youth level competition. By every account, Bender has at least good (by some accounts, exceptional) feel for the game, while Maker has at best average (by some accounts, horrid) feel.

I don't know if Bender is the third best prospect in the draft or not, but he is miles ahead of Thon Maker.

[walker834]

Maker has a lot of upside but definately has more questions than Bender right now.  How about we take both?  Maker is worth a gamble as well but later than Bender. I like both that way.  No way Maker has less questions than Bender right now though.  Both are similar that way but different.

Maker can not move like you see in mixtapes. It's fluff and to make him look that way.  He's more a stationary player who has to develop his game.  Athletically he has a lot of upside.

Maker is not KG. He could be a gorgui dieng type or whiteside though.

Bender can move that good.

We really should take  both.  Bender is a great pf/c prospect.  Maker is a center/pf.  Maker is the guy who is a shot in the dark though.  He has a ton of bust potential and is not worth picking 3rd.

[CroCorvus]

Bender played less minutes but he played in a grown mens league. Where did Maker played??? Please stop comparing stats. If Bender played in NCAA he would probably average something like 18&10&5&3...

Bender did not earn any meaningful minutes in a "Grown Man League" which is sub-par compared to other Euro leagues. How is Bender going to fair in an even bigger and harder "Grown Mens League"?

wow what a question...well, how do you think the kids that palyed only one season in college will fair??? He will adapt. If he has it in him, he will. To me that is the main thing Ainge needs to access. What is he like, what is his personallity, is he willing to do everything to be a better player. Is he capable to be a leader? Those are the questions DA needs to addres, not his minutes in Maccabi.
BTW one workout he had with first team Maccabi is worth more to him then what Ben Simmons "played" few games in college.

going off of last years draft:
One player that played "Only" one year in college:
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3135048/jahlil-okafor

One player what went to the NBA after a season in Europe in which he got no minutes:
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2995706/mario-hezonja

One player that had a productive season overseas:
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3102531/kristaps-porzingis

I'm not against Euro players. I'm against drafting players that had horrendous seasons in their respective leagues prior to the NBA. No matter the league being an "Adults" league such as those of Europe, or the college ranks over in the states, any NBA prospect, no matter their age, should be a dominant player in their respective league.

Not so good of an example, but you can't just compare different players and different personalities. I have watched Mario play for our national team and he played like crap. With those skills that he has, with his height and athletics he should be dominating. Instead he just sat on the three point line and shoot it. Mario is just that type of a person, he thinks that everything evolves around him. He's the star and all that bs... I think he could be a good player in the NBA but he needs to grow up.
Of cours it would help him if he played meaningful minutes for Maccabi, but he doesn't so what you do is you evalueate his potential and pray he turs out the way you want him to be.
Yeah, Okafor did have a very solid season on a d-league team and what he did outside the court? Yep, he was a good citizen and a role model right?!!! Okafor needs to grow up and the question is will he? I bet you this kid Bender is already miles miles away from him regarding that.

[CroCorvus]

This is getting out of hand. Bender dominated FIBA competition before going to play for the best team (by far) in Israel. Maker has played well in high school and has looked terrible against stronger youth level competition. By every account, Bender has at least good (by some accounts, exceptional) feel for the game, while Maker has at best average (by some accounts, horrid) feel.

I don't know if Bender is the third best prospect in the draft or not, but he is miles ahead of Thon Maker.

Thank you.

[walker834]

I would take both. That is best case for us.  Better than Davis or Qi imo who are also being hyped who I like.  It would revamp our front line. Whether we can do that is anyone's guess right now.

Best Case

Bender
Thon

Next best

Davis
Qi

Next

Hammons
Sabonis

Next

Those two euro guys
Poeltl

Next

Skal
Ellenson

Something like that.  Brice Johnson probably fits in there too somewhere. I'd probably rate him better than most after those 2.