UPDATE - Bender Scouting Report & Video

[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!

Just curious, are you saying that you know more than all the reputable draft sites, team executives, scouts, etc. that speak so highly of him and rank him so high? Just wondering about your credentials and what makes you so sure of this seemingly concrete opinion when you have so little to actually base it on? This doesn't mean he doesn't flame out, but to me so dismissive of a player that is pretty much universally accepted as having tremendous upside screams of your utter distaste of foreign players.

Jabari Parker
Anthony Bennett
Otto Porter
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Derrick Williams
Evan Turner
Hasheem Thabeet
Michael Beazley
O.j. Mayo
Andrea Bargnani
Adam Morrison
Marvin William
Darko Milicic
Mike Dunleavy Jr
Kwame Brown
Tyson Chandler

That's a list of all the guys in the past 15 years who were taken in the top 3, but failed (or are on track to fail) to meet expectations.

That's 16 guys in 15 years - an average of just over one per year.  That's not even considering guys like Joel Embiid / Greg Oden / Jay Williams (who's careers were held back by health factors). 

If you look at the individual drafts you will find that almost every single draft in the past 15 years has had a guy drafted in the top 3 who has busted out - some worse then others.

It's safe to expect one of those consensus top three picks this year (Simmons, Ingram or Bender) is going to end up a bust.  I don't think it takes a genius to recognise that out of the top three guys, Bender is the one most likely to take that path.   

Obviously we can't just assume that history will repeat itself - there is no statistical certainty that one of the top three prospects this year will bust.  Last year you can reasonably argue that there wasn't a major bust in the top three (Russel is the closest - but he's shown a lot of promise).  But that's the exception rather than the rule - it's one of the few examples where all three of the top picks have flashed star potential. 

It's highly probable that one of the projected top 3 prospects will end up being a bust, and Bender has been pretty universally established as a high risk prospect - if any of them is going to fail it's probably going to be him.

Descriptive does not equal prescriptive. Just because it happened as an average in the past 15 drafts, doesn't mean it will happen again.

[droopdog7]

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!

Just curious, are you saying that you know more than all the reputable draft sites, team executives, scouts, etc. that speak so highly of him and rank him so high? Just wondering about your credentials and what makes you so sure of this seemingly concrete opinion when you have so little to actually base it on? This doesn't mean he doesn't flame out, but to me so dismissive of a player that is pretty much universally accepted as having tremendous upside screams of your utter distaste of foreign players.

Jabari Parker
Anthony Bennett
Otto Porter
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Derrick Williams
Evan Turner
Hasheem Thabeet
Michael Beazley
O.j. Mayo
Andrea Bargnani
Adam Morrison
Marvin William
Darko Milicic
Mike Dunleavy Jr
Kwame Brown
Tyson Chandler

That's a list of all the guys in the past 15 years who were taken in the top 3, but failed (or are on track to fail) to meet expectations.

That's 16 guys in 15 years - an average of just over one per year.  That's not even considering guys like Joel Embiid / Greg Oden / Jay Williams (who's careers were held back by health factors). 

If you look at the individual drafts you will find that almost every single draft in the past 15 years has had a guy drafted in the top 3 who has busted out - some worse then others.

It's safe to expect one of those consensus top three picks this year (Simmons, Ingram or Bender) is going to end up a bust.  I don't think it takes a genius to recognise that out of the top three guys, Bender is the one most likely to take that path.   

Obviously we can't just assume that history will repeat itself - there is no statistical certainty that one of the top three prospects this year will bust.  Last year you can reasonably argue that there wasn't a major bust in the top three (Russel is the closest - but he's shown a lot of promise).  But that's the exception rather than the rule - it's one of the few examples where all three of the top picks have flashed star potential. 

It's highly probable that one of the projected top 3 prospects will end up being a bust, and Bender has been pretty universally established as a high risk prospect - if any of them is going to fail it's probably going to be him.

Seriously trying to figure out what you're trying to say here?  One of the top 3 will likely bust.  And that guy is bender.  So let's draft someone else?

What they hey?

[kozlodoev]

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.

I'm shocked.

"They" have only been doing that with every obscure seven footer from Europe that appears to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time since the Mavericks struck gold with Dirnk.

[droopdog7]

My biggest concern with Bender is that he lacks the pure explosiveness to be a 25ppg scorer in the NBA.

I think his ultimate best case is some kind of poor man's Nowitzki on offense that can control a game defensively with his length...ala Draymond Green.

There's still plenty of bustability there but i wont be upset if we take him at #3.

How explosive is Pau Gasol?  Would you take Gasol with the third pick?  I would; by a mile. 

Explosiveness is great but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Bender has length, speed, and other skills to make up for not being explosive (i.e., jumping ability).  Besides, jumping ability is completely overrated.

[kozlodoev]

My biggest concern with Bender is that he lacks the pure explosiveness to be a 25ppg scorer in the NBA.

I think his ultimate best case is some kind of poor man's Nowitzki on offense that can control a game defensively with his length...ala Draymond Green.

There's still plenty of bustability there but i wont be upset if we take him at #3.

How explosive is Pau Gasol?  Would you take Gasol with the third pick?  I would; by a mile. 

Explosiveness is great but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Bender has length, speed, and other skills to make up for not being explosive (i.e., jumping ability).  Besides, jumping ability is completely overrated.

Do yourself a favor and watch some footage of a 19-year old Pau Gasol in the ACB finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZETQoe-0U

Yes. This is how explosive a young Gasol was. Against what some folks here like to describe as "grown men" in arguably the best league in Europe.

[BlackCeltic]

I rather pick Thon Maker at #16 than Bender at #3. Get your shooter at #3 and choose your bigs later.

[droopdog7]

My biggest concern with Bender is that he lacks the pure explosiveness to be a 25ppg scorer in the NBA.

I think his ultimate best case is some kind of poor man's Nowitzki on offense that can control a game defensively with his length...ala Draymond Green.

There's still plenty of bustability there but i wont be upset if we take him at #3.

How explosive is Pau Gasol?  Would you take Gasol with the third pick?  I would; by a mile. 

Explosiveness is great but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Bender has length, speed, and other skills to make up for not being explosive (i.e., jumping ability).  Besides, jumping ability is completely overrated.

Do yourself a favor and watch some footage of a 19-year old Pau Gasol in the ACB finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZETQoe-0U

Yes. This is how explosive a young Gasol was. Against what some folks here like to describe as "grown men" in arguably the best league in Europe.

Okay, and I will compare that to Bender when he reaches the same age as Gasol was in that video.  I will see you in about a year and a half to compare.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

My biggest concern with Bender is that he lacks the pure explosiveness to be a 25ppg scorer in the NBA.

I think his ultimate best case is some kind of poor man's Nowitzki on offense that can control a game defensively with his length...ala Draymond Green.

There's still plenty of bustability there but i wont be upset if we take him at #3.

How explosive is Pau Gasol?  Would you take Gasol with the third pick?  I would; by a mile. 

Explosiveness is great but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Bender has length, speed, and other skills to make up for not being explosive (i.e., jumping ability).  Besides, jumping ability is completely overrated.

Do yourself a favor and watch some footage of a 19-year old Pau Gasol in the ACB finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZETQoe-0U

Yes. This is how explosive a young Gasol was. Against what some folks here like to describe as "grown men" in arguably the best league in Europe.

Okay, and I will compare that to Bender when he reaches the same age as Gasol was in that video.  I will see you in about a year and a half to compare.

Gasol was almost 20 in that video. Bender started this past season as a 17 year old.

[TheSundanceKid]

My biggest concern with Bender is that he lacks the pure explosiveness to be a 25ppg scorer in the NBA.

I think his ultimate best case is some kind of poor man's Nowitzki on offense that can control a game defensively with his length...ala Draymond Green.

There's still plenty of bustability there but i wont be upset if we take him at #3.

How explosive is Pau Gasol?  Would you take Gasol with the third pick?  I would; by a mile. 

Explosiveness is great but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Bender has length, speed, and other skills to make up for not being explosive (i.e., jumping ability).  Besides, jumping ability is completely overrated.

Do yourself a favor and watch some footage of a 19-year old Pau Gasol in the ACB finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZETQoe-0U

Yes. This is how explosive a young Gasol was. Against what some folks here like to describe as "grown men" in arguably the best league in Europe.

If Bender even comes close to having an impact similar to Gasol then he's had a hugely successful career and fully justifies the 3rd pick. Gasol has to have had one of the most underrated NBA careers, Kobe doesn't get his last 2 championships without him

[droopdog7]

I rather pick Thon Maker at #16 than Bender at #3. Get your shooter at #3 and choose your bigs later.

Backwards.  Bigs worth anything usually go early (i.e., are overdrafted).

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Also, I think we have to be careful not to be anachonistic. Just because they are the best league today, doesn't mean the competition level back then was the same as today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZETQoe-0U

That video is fascinating. They have Paul playing on the wing just like Bender.

[kozlodoev]

My biggest concern with Bender is that he lacks the pure explosiveness to be a 25ppg scorer in the NBA.

I think his ultimate best case is some kind of poor man's Nowitzki on offense that can control a game defensively with his length...ala Draymond Green.

There's still plenty of bustability there but i wont be upset if we take him at #3.

How explosive is Pau Gasol?  Would you take Gasol with the third pick?  I would; by a mile. 

Explosiveness is great but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Bender has length, speed, and other skills to make up for not being explosive (i.e., jumping ability).  Besides, jumping ability is completely overrated.

Do yourself a favor and watch some footage of a 19-year old Pau Gasol in the ACB finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZETQoe-0U

Yes. This is how explosive a young Gasol was. Against what some folks here like to describe as "grown men" in arguably the best league in Europe.

Okay, and I will compare that to Bender when he reaches the same age as Gasol was in that video.  I will see you in about a year and a half to compare.

Gasol was almost 20 in that video. Bender started this past season as a 17 year old.

And?

[droopdog7]

My biggest concern with Bender is that he lacks the pure explosiveness to be a 25ppg scorer in the NBA.

I think his ultimate best case is some kind of poor man's Nowitzki on offense that can control a game defensively with his length...ala Draymond Green.

There's still plenty of bustability there but i wont be upset if we take him at #3.

How explosive is Pau Gasol?  Would you take Gasol with the third pick?  I would; by a mile. 

Explosiveness is great but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  Bender has length, speed, and other skills to make up for not being explosive (i.e., jumping ability).  Besides, jumping ability is completely overrated.

Do yourself a favor and watch some footage of a 19-year old Pau Gasol in the ACB finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZZETQoe-0U

Yes. This is how explosive a young Gasol was. Against what some folks here like to describe as "grown men" in arguably the best league in Europe.

Okay, and I will compare that to Bender when he reaches the same age as Gasol was in that video.  I will see you in about a year and a half to compare.

Gasol was almost 20 in that video. Bender started this past season as a 17 year old.

And?

Do we seriously have to go over this AGAIN?

[kozlodoev]

Also, I think we have to be careful not to be anachonistic. Just because they are the best league today, doesn't mean the competition level back then was the same as today.

ACB has been the best league in Europe for years, and no-one has really come close. Russia, Greece, Israel, and Italy have a couple of strong teams but there is no comparison between overall level of competition.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Also, I think we have to be careful not to be anachonistic. Just because they are the best league today, doesn't mean the competition level back then was the same as today.

ACB has been the best league in Europe for years, and no-one has really come close. Russia, Greece, Israel, and Italy have a couple of strong teams but there is no comparison between overall level of competition.

I'm not saying they weren't the best league, but the gap between European leagues and the NBA has lessened over the last 16 years. The Spanish league today is closer in competition to the NBA than it was in 1999-2001, when Gasol played there