UPDATE - Bender Scouting Report & Video

[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.

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.

So you're saying that Bender is essentially too tall to be a versatile defender?  I guess normally you would be right.  But the scouting report says that bender is an unusually good defender (or at least he shows the potential to be) for his height.  So he is breaking the mode are using.

Whether he will be able to maintain this as he gets heavier is impossible to say.  He'll get heavier, sure, but he'll also get stronger and likely gain more control of his body as he get's older.  Not sure where you think those aspects will go down with age.  I don't see that at all.

[saltlover]

I know it's trendy to project players, but I think Bender seems to be a unique prospect.  That uniqueness is why he may be a top 3 pick in the draft, but it is also why he has a great deal of risk to him. 

[LGC88]

We have to realize that this is very rare to see that kind of mobility in a 7.1 body.

[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.

So you're saying that Bender is essentially too tall to be a versatile defender?  I guess normally you would be right.  But the scouting report says that bender is an unusually good defender (or at least he shows the potential to be) for his height.  So he is breaking the mode are using.

Whether he will be able to maintain this as he gets heavier is impossible to say.  He'll get heavier, sure, but he'll also get stronger and likely gain more control of his body as he get's older.  Not sure where you think those aspects will go down with age.  I don't see that at all.

I'm saying his hips are too high to be the kind of defender Draymond Green is. He can still be an excellent defender, just a different kind.

7 footers with high centers of gravity tend to have more potential as help defenders with their length than perimeter defenders.

[hwangjini_1]

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.

i give up. does this mean he grows a horn on his forehead so he can gore other players?? 

[Ilikesports17]

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.

So you're saying that Bender is essentially too tall to be a versatile defender?  I guess normally you would be right.  But the scouting report says that bender is an unusually good defender (or at least he shows the potential to be) for his height.  So he is breaking the mode are using.

Whether he will be able to maintain this as he gets heavier is impossible to say.  He'll get heavier, sure, but he'll also get stronger and likely gain more control of his body as he get's older.  Not sure where you think those aspects will go down with age.  I don't see that at all.

I'm saying his hips are too high to be the kind of defender Draymond Green is. He can still be an excellent defender, just a different kind.

7 footers with high centers of gravity tend to have more potential as help defenders with their length than perimeter defenders.

The whole allure of Bender is that despite his height he still has the lateral quickness you'd expect out of a player with a much lower center of gravity.

[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.

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.

So you're saying that Bender is essentially too tall to be a versatile defender?  I guess normally you would be right.  But the scouting report says that bender is an unusually good defender (or at least he shows the potential to be) for his height.  So he is breaking the mode are using.

Whether he will be able to maintain this as he gets heavier is impossible to say.  He'll get heavier, sure, but he'll also get stronger and likely gain more control of his body as he get's older.  Not sure where you think those aspects will go down with age.  I don't see that at all.

I'm saying his hips are too high to be the kind of defender Draymond Green is. He can still be an excellent defender, just a different kind.

7 footers with high centers of gravity tend to have more potential as help defenders with their length than perimeter defenders.

Okay.  But the scouting report says that Bender has unusual ability (and potential) for his height.  So you can talk about what guys like him tend to be.  But Bender does not appear to be you typical 7 footer in this respect.

[footey]

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.

Sorry, but I've watched film of Bender, Ellison and Poetl. Ellison and Poetl have no where near the foot speed, latteral quickness of Bender. Bender can guard multiple positions. Ellison and Poetl cannot. I find this a lazy comparison.

Additionally, Chriss has a questionable motor; it is what has kept him low in the draft boards until recently, where he can put his athleticism on display in a non-game environment. Yes, he is more athletic than Bender, but based on make-up, I have more confidence that Bender will be a more consistent player, especially on the defensive side of ball, than Chriss. I worry Chriss will be another Jayson Williams ala Boston College a few years back, who was incredibly athletic but just lacked a sense of responsibility to cultivate his talents.

Dunn, I don't know much about, other than he is a terrific PG, who is somewhat challenged in the shooting department. I see his upside in the Gary Payton mold, which is incredible, but position wise see no room to draft him, without trading guys I want to keep for the next several years --IT, Smart and Bradley.

[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.

Sorry, but I've watched film of Bender, Ellison and Poetl. Ellison and Poetl have no where near the foot speed, latteral quickness of Bender. Bender can guard multiple positions. Ellison and Poetl cannot. I find this a lazy comparison.

Additionally, Chriss has a questionable motor; it is what has kept him low in the draft boards until recently, where he can put his athleticism on display in a non-game environment. Yes, he is more athletic than Bender, but based on make-up, I have more confidence that Bender will be a more consistent player, especially on the defensive side of ball, than Chriss. I worry Chriss will be another Jayson Williams ala Boston College a few years back, who was incredibly athletic but just lacked a sense of responsibility to cultivate his talents.

Dunn, I don't know much about, other than he is a terrific PG, who is somewhat challenged in the shooting department. I see his upside in the Gary Payton mold, which is incredible, but position wise see no room to draft him, without trading guys I want to keep for the next several years --IT, Smart and Bradley.

Read the Bender and Poeltl defensive scouting reports on DX. Extraordinarily similar verbiage. I thought Bender looked quicker too, but Poeltl is 2 years older with 30+ lbs on a similar frame. I think there's a good chance Bender's going to moving around similar to Poeltl in a couple years - fluid, but not as light on his feet with more beef packed on.

I feel like Bender's getting all this hype because he flashed all these guard skills (on both sides of the ball) in tournament play but he's not going to get those opportunities against real competition. Meanwhile, in big man terms he's not that impressive outside of his shot-blocking. Lightweight without explosiveness. No post game. Can't exploit mismatches.

[Celtics4ever]

Ellison and Poetl have no where near the foot speed, latteral quickness of Bender. Bender can guard multiple positions. Ellison and Poetl cannot. I find this a lazy comparison.

Keep dreaming Bender supporters no one is impressed by the 27.5" max vertical and inability to break into the rotation as a starter in Israel.  He is mobile but he in not able to do much with that mobility once he gets there because of lack of power and lift.

I feel like Bender's getting all this hype because he flashed all these guard skills (on both sides of the ball) in tournament play but he's not going to get those opportunities against real competition. Meanwhile, in big man terms he's not that impressive outside of his shot-blocking

.


At one time, he could block shots well but he thinks he is a SF and his rebounds and blocks have plummeted.

See them drop here.

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Dragan-Bender/Summary/41582

Let him be the new breed for another team.

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/celtics-reportedly-high-marquese-chriss-down-dragan-bender

Lightweight without explosiveness

This is spot on, TP!

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Ellison and Poetl have no where near the foot speed, latteral quickness of Bender. Bender can guard multiple positions. Ellison and Poetl cannot. I find this a lazy comparison.

Keep dreaming Bender supporters no one is impressed by the 27.5" max vertical and inability to break into the rotation as a starter in Israel.  He is mobile but he in not able to do much with that mobility once he gets there because of lack of power and lift.

I feel like Bender's getting all this hype because he flashed all these guard skills (on both sides of the ball) in tournament play but he's not going to get those opportunities against real competition. Meanwhile, in big man terms he's not that impressive outside of his shot-blocking

.


At one time, he could block shots well but he thinks he is a SF and his rebounds and blocks have plummeted.

See them drop here.

http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Dragan-Bender/Summary/41582

Let him be the new breed for another team.

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/celtics-reportedly-high-marquese-chriss-down-dragan-bender

Lightweight without explosiveness

This is spot on, TP!

Blocks have gone down with playing time. He has still shown the ability to block shots on ball and off ball when he gets the chance.

Just so we are clear, that vertical measurement was from when he was 17.

[Beat LA]

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.

i give up. does this mean he grows a horn on his forehead so he can gore other players?? 

Lol, TP.  I think it means that he'd be unique, but it is odd, although perhaps not nearly as confusing as glitches in video games being referred to as 'easter eggs'.  I mean, what?

That said, given his thin frame, maybe the horn would help his post defense (sarcasm)?

[Beat LA]

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.

Woah, woah, woah, pump the breaks, there, man.  Have you forgotten about that moment in the playoffs where KO tried to throw Sully an alley oop?  That was hilarious.

[Beat LA]

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

Lol, TP.

[Beat LA]

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Dragan-Bender-NBA-Draft-Scouting-Report-and-Video-Breakdown-5531


They are proclaiming him as the new breed of NBA big man.

I hope the Celtics take him.

Have you consulted with The Oracle on this matter?