UPDATE - Bender Scouting Report & Video

[Boris Badenov]

What does Bender do better than Jerebko?

Bender sounds a better passer. Not sure he does anything else better.

Not sure I understand the question. Do you mean right now, or when Bender has fully developed and is Jerebko's current age, which will be more than a decade from now?

[snively]

It's easy to imagine Bender looking pretty ineffectual against any kind of contact his first couple years in the league. 

He'll be fun to watch operating in space from day one, but I imagine his jumper will take some time to become consistent (much like KP's), and he will have a hard time doing anything when opponents put a body on him.

I agree. I also think he has potential to be a unicorn type of player in a few years.

Definitely.  It's especially exciting to envision him at the 5.  Imagine a guy with a body sort of like Tyson Chandler, only he can hit a spot-up three, attack closeouts, and also bring the ball up off a defensive rebound and pass to guys on the move in the open court.

Hmmm. That'd be nice. I don't think he will be a great scorer, but given some time in the right system, I could see 15-20 ppg.

His real value as a prospect is not in his ability to average 25 ppg (because he probably won't).

Right. 

But you only need to look at Draymond to see how a guy in that versatile defensive forward role might only average 15-16 points per game overall, but still have the ability to punish defenses that have one or two bigger scoring threats to worry about.

I don't like the Draymond Green comp - Bender doesn't have that low center of gravity. As he adds strength/weight I think he'll slow down into a much more conventional big man.

[Rondo9]

What does Bender do better than Jerebko?

Bender sounds a better passer. Not sure he does anything else better.

Blocks shots.

A Jonas Jerebko/Spencer Hawes hybrid. I almost fell asleep while typing that. Hard to think of a less exciting #3 prospect.

How many big men in this draft possesses size, athleticism, defense and passing ability in this draft.

[alldaboston]

What does Bender do better than Jerebko?

Bender sounds a better passer. Not sure he does anything else better.

Blocks shots.

A Jonas Jerebko/Spencer Hawes hybrid. I almost fell asleep while typing that. Hard to think of a less exciting #3 prospect.

How many big men in this draft posesses size, athleticism, defense and passing ability in this draft.

Eh. Will he ever actually be able to do all that consistently and effectively in the NBA?

[Rondo9]

What does Bender do better than Jerebko?

Bender sounds a better passer. Not sure he does anything else better.

Blocks shots.

A Jonas Jerebko/Spencer Hawes hybrid. I almost fell asleep while typing that. Hard to think of a less exciting #3 prospect.

How many big men in this draft posesses size, athleticism, defense and passing ability in this draft.

Eh. Will he ever actually be able to do all that consistently and effectively in the NBA?

Maybe, the man is 18 and has a great work ethic.

[Emmette Bryant]

https://capstrategist.com/draft/draft-prospect-analysis-by-position/hybrid-big-men/dragan-bender/

My apologies if this has been posted somewhere else...but it's really solid stuff...hat tip!

Thanks Mister One.  Always nice to see a balanced report backed up by film. TP for you.

[droopdog7]

It's easy to imagine Bender looking pretty ineffectual against any kind of contact his first couple years in the league. 

He'll be fun to watch operating in space from day one, but I imagine his jumper will take some time to become consistent (much like KP's), and he will have a hard time doing anything when opponents put a body on him.

I agree. I also think he has potential to be a unicorn type of player in a few years.

Definitely.  It's especially exciting to envision him at the 5.  Imagine a guy with a body sort of like Tyson Chandler, only he can hit a spot-up three, attack closeouts, and also bring the ball up off a defensive rebound and pass to guys on the move in the open court.

Hmmm. That'd be nice. I don't think he will be a great scorer, but given some time in the right system, I could see 15-20 ppg.

His real value as a prospect is not in his ability to average 25 ppg (because he probably won't).

Right. 

But you only need to look at Draymond to see how a guy in that versatile defensive forward role might only average 15-16 points per game overall, but still have the ability to punish defenses that have one or two bigger scoring threats to worry about.

I don't like the Draymond Green comp - Bender doesn't have that low center of gravity. As he adds strength/weight I think he'll slow down into a much more conventional big man.

The comparison isn't about physical build; it is about how each could impact the game on the defensive end.  What Green does with girth Bender could so with length.  Same outcome.

But yeah, in addition to the physical, these kind of guys tend to have an edge about them.  Not sure Bender will develop that kind of edge.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Anthony Davis is so good because he can do anything you want him to do: blocks, steals, finishing, rebounding, outside shooting, and driving. He is a developing passer, three point shooter, and back to the basket post player. He can switch on anyone and play them. He is a developing team defender, hard-worker, and a very coachable player.

Bender is special because he can do all those things. I don't think he will be quite the scorer Davis is (Bender won't be as good as Davis in driving and rim running), but I think he can do everything else Davis does. Plus, I think he is already a better passer and shooter.

This is Davis just before he turned 18. Right now, Bender is as old as Davis was when he started his freshman year at Kentucky. Imagine if Bender got to play against 16-17 year olds who were all 6-8 inches shorter than him for the past two years?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_6I-9Spl1o

Anthony Davis-lite. Not quite good enough to be a first offensive option, but because he does everything well, he will make everyone else look good.

[snively]

What does Bender do better than Jerebko?

Bender sounds a better passer. Not sure he does anything else better.

Blocks shots.

A Jonas Jerebko/Spencer Hawes hybrid. I almost fell asleep while typing that. Hard to think of a less exciting #3 prospect.

How many big men in this draft posesses size, athleticism, defense and passing ability in this draft.

He's not particularly athletic. He just has good feet and a light frame.

Jakob Poeltl has comparable size, athleticism and defense, just lacks Bender's range. Henry Ellenson isn't the same grade of passer or defender, but he's just as athletic and more skilled offensively.

Marquese Chriss doesn't have the size or the passing, but he's light years more athletic with considerably more potential.

Bender's a fine prospect with a lot of boxes checked, but he's not particularly unusual or exciting and there's not a lot of apparent space between him and some of the other lotto bigs.

I favor Murray, Chriss and Dunn over him.

[droopdog7]

What does Bender do better than Jerebko?

Bender sounds a better passer. Not sure he does anything else better.

Blocks shots.

A Jonas Jerebko/Spencer Hawes hybrid. I almost fell asleep while typing that. Hard to think of a less exciting #3 prospect.

How many big men in this draft posesses size, athleticism, defense and passing ability in this draft.

He's not particularly athletic. He just has good feet and a light frame.

Jakob Poeltl has comparable size, athleticism and defense, just lacks Bender's range. Henry Ellenson isn't the same grade of passer or defender, but he's just as athletic and more skilled offensively.

Marquese Chriss doesn't have the size or the passing, but he's light years more athletic with considerably more potential.

Bender's a fine prospect with a lot of boxes checked, but he's not particularly unusual or exciting and there's not a lot of apparent space between him and some of the other lotto bigs.

I favor Murray, Chriss and Dunn over him.

How do you define athleticism?  Jumping ability?  Not only is that view limited, jumping is also one of the least important of athletic metrics. 

In every other way, Bender is athletic.  He is fast both in a straight line and laterally.  He has an explosive first step, great change of direction, and good body control.  The idea that Bender isn't athletic is a myth.

[cltc5]

My god his weakness are scoring ability, inside defense, and defensive rebounds and one of his strengths is something having to do with potential.  Don't we freakin have a 7 footer in olynyk that has this resume.no thank u

[snively]

It's easy to imagine Bender looking pretty ineffectual against any kind of contact his first couple years in the league. 

He'll be fun to watch operating in space from day one, but I imagine his jumper will take some time to become consistent (much like KP's), and he will have a hard time doing anything when opponents put a body on him.

I agree. I also think he has potential to be a unicorn type of player in a few years.

Definitely.  It's especially exciting to envision him at the 5.  Imagine a guy with a body sort of like Tyson Chandler, only he can hit a spot-up three, attack closeouts, and also bring the ball up off a defensive rebound and pass to guys on the move in the open court.

Hmmm. That'd be nice. I don't think he will be a great scorer, but given some time in the right system, I could see 15-20 ppg.

His real value as a prospect is not in his ability to average 25 ppg (because he probably won't).

Right. 

But you only need to look at Draymond to see how a guy in that versatile defensive forward role might only average 15-16 points per game overall, but still have the ability to punish defenses that have one or two bigger scoring threats to worry about.

I don't like the Draymond Green comp - Bender doesn't have that low center of gravity. As he adds strength/weight I think he'll slow down into a much more conventional big man.

The comparison isn't about physical build; it is about how each could impact the game on the defensive end.  What Green does with girth Bender could so with length.  Same outcome.

But yeah, in addition to the physical, these kind of guys tend to have an edge about them.  Not sure Bender will develop that kind of edge.

Low center of gravity offers advantages in carrying girth. Allows you to add girth while retaining balance.

We've seen a lot of highly versatile defenders in the Draymond Green mold: Boris Diaw, Chuck Hayes, Ron Artest, Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder. 

Length can compensate for this, but generally, absent freak athleticism, it's harder to be a perimeter defender with a higher center of gravity.

I think Bender's length is more likely to function blitzing pick and rolls and rotating into the paint to block shots as a mobile 4/5 than trying to contain guys 1-on-1 like Green does.

[guava_wrench]

He looked SO quick.  Man...7'1" and he moves so well.

Of course, he can't bang down low right now...but on the perimeter defensively...WOW!

Here is a simple way for me to look at things.  You would imagine that Bender and KO will be similar players but Bender is already so much more athletically gifted than KO.  So much smoother and quicker and he should eventually be as strong and at least as good a shooter.

KO is a poor man's Dragan Bender; right now.

I'm not sure they are similar players on defense at all. Bender seems so mobile and has length to challenge shots. Both are high IQ players, but Bender has the physical ability to do things on defense that KO can't.

KO came into the league far more developed on offense, but he was also older. Considering what KO's 3 is like right now, I wouldn't count on Bender being as good. Bender will also have to speed up that release since guys recover quickly in the NBA. Further improvement by good shooters is not linear. You can't count on guys developing to the point KO hit last season. 41% is really good. But I would love to take a chance on a 7'1" guys who is that mobile. He will be able to finish lobs in ways KO can't. He is also a ridiculous potential threat on pump fakes from 3, especially if he can speed up his release making defenders feel a sense of urgency to close out. If Bargnani can pump fake his way to the rim so often, Bender could be ridiculous.

[droopdog7]

My god his weakness are scoring ability, inside defense, and defensive rebounds and one of his strengths is something having to do with potential.  Don't we freakin have a 7 footer in olynyk that has this resume.no thank u

Two of those weaknesses are directly attributable to his weight and thus, his age.  Once he gets stronger (and this is inevitable), he'll be a much better inside defender and rebounder.  Those are not even remotely a concern in my book.

As for for scoring, he does not project to a 30 point scorer but plenty of star big men don't have that label (KG, Gasol, etc.).  Can still impact the game.

And see my comparison to KO earlier in the thread.  Bender much more fliud, is longer, a better passer, eons ahead as a defender, and on and on. 

Bender is the prospect KO wished he could be.

[guava_wrench]

It's easy to imagine Bender looking pretty ineffectual against any kind of contact his first couple years in the league. 

He'll be fun to watch operating in space from day one, but I imagine his jumper will take some time to become consistent (much like KP's), and he will have a hard time doing anything when opponents put a body on him.

I agree. I also think he has potential to be a unicorn type of player in a few years.

Definitely.  It's especially exciting to envision him at the 5.  Imagine a guy with a body sort of like Tyson Chandler, only he can hit a spot-up three, attack closeouts, and also bring the ball up off a defensive rebound and pass to guys on the move in the open court.

Hmmm. That'd be nice. I don't think he will be a great scorer, but given some time in the right system, I could see 15-20 ppg.

His real value as a prospect is not in his ability to average 25 ppg (because he probably won't).

Right. 

But you only need to look at Draymond to see how a guy in that versatile defensive forward role might only average 15-16 points per game overall, but still have the ability to punish defenses that have one or two bigger scoring threats to worry about.

I don't like the Draymond Green comp - Bender doesn't have that low center of gravity. As he adds strength/weight I think he'll slow down into a much more conventional big man.

The comparison isn't about physical build; it is about how each could impact the game on the defensive end.  What Green does with girth Bender could so with length.  Same outcome.

But yeah, in addition to the physical, these kind of guys tend to have an edge about them.  Not sure Bender will develop that kind of edge.

Low center of gravity offers advantages in carrying girth. Allows you to add girth while retaining balance.

We've seen a lot of highly versatile defenders in the Draymond Green mold: Boris Diaw, Chuck Hayes, Ron Artest, Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder. 

Length can compensate for this, but generally, absent freak athleticism, it's harder to be a perimeter defender with a higher center of gravity.

I think Bender's length is more likely to function blitzing pick and rolls and rotating into the paint to block shots as a mobile 4/5 than trying to contain guys 1-on-1 like Green does.

Maybe he will be more KG-style. Stay wiry and refuse to be called a center because he doesn't want to bang in the post.