No way Yabusele plays overseas

[Evantime34]

The only way I would want him on the team is if he was getting playing time. It doesn't make sense to have him waste away on the bench when he could be improving by playing in a good foreign league.

Letting him develop away from the team means the production we get from his rookie contract will be much greater, than if we brought him over immediately.

[saltlover]

Can someone explain to me why a player would benefit by playing overseas as opposed to playing in the D-league? I don't know anything about overseas basketball, and I've always wondered why a foreign player is drafted and continues to play abroad, while the college rookies go to the D-league if they don't make the roster.
My best guess is that it's related to money, but I am hoping someone can elaborate.

it depends a bit.  1st round draftees who are sent to the D-league typically count against a team's 15 man roster, whereas players in Europe do not. Additionally, their rookie deal starts counting immediately, so while they're developing in the D-league the team loses time later on when they'd be cheap.  In Europe, the clock doesn't start. 

So if Yab came to the D-league, and took two years to really be ready to contribute in the NBA, we'd only have two years of him being a contributor before he became a free agent.  Also, during that same time, we'd have one of our 15 roster spots dedicated to him.  However, if he stays in Europe for two years and came over closer to contributing, we'd have him under his cheap rookie deal being a competitive player for longer.

[droopdog7]

Can someone explain to me why a player would benefit by playing overseas as opposed to playing in the D-league? I don't know anything about overseas basketball, and I've always wondered why a foreign player is drafted and continues to play abroad, while the college rookies go to the D-league if they don't make the roster.
My best guess is that it's related to money, but I am hoping someone can elaborate.

Because you don't have to spend a roster spot on someone who's not ready to play for your team.

This is a big reason.  Put them in the d league and they're actually taking up a spot on your roster.  And I would bet that they might actually be better quality basketball in Europe than the d league.

[nickagneta]

Can someone explain to me why a player would benefit by playing overseas as opposed to playing in the D-league? I don't know anything about overseas basketball, and I've always wondered why a foreign player is drafted and continues to play abroad, while the college rookies go to the D-league if they don't make the roster.
My best guess is that it's related to money, but I am hoping someone can elaborate.

Because you don't have to spend a roster spot on someone who's not ready to play for your team.

Exactly. The Celtics will be competing to max out their wins in the regular season this year and compete in the playoffs. They will need veteran depth to succeed at those endeavors. Loading the end of the roster with 7 first and second year players for "development" purposes hurts the Celtics chances of succeeding in their goals of winning in the regular season and playoffs.

I think there is room for two rookies and three second year players on this roster. This would leave a ten man rotation of vets with the ability to give Rozier and Brown minutes as well. Young I believe is gone. so that leaves:


IT, Bradley, Smart, Crowder, KO, Horford, Amir, Jerebko, as vets

Rozier, Hunter, Mickey, Brown and one other rookie.

open space for two vets. I will not be surprised to see Sully back. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Celtics sign or trade for another strong bench player.

Now, who will be the other rookie? Yabusele, Bentil or Jackson(Zizic has already been stashed)? Yabbusele would cost money to buy him out of his contract and a rookie contract at the #16 position or over a million dollars. Bentil and Jackson will be given rookie minimum contracts non-guaranteed after this year. To me it makes the most sense financially as well as roster wise to stash Yabusele and let him get another year of experience against much better competition than is in the D League and sign either Jackson or Bentil to an non-guaranteed contract for this year and let that player develop in the D League. Then send the remaining player overseas like the Celtics have with Thornton and Iverson and retain their rights in case they develop into major productive players overseas that could transition into role playing NBA players.

[td450]

Can someone explain to me why a player would benefit by playing overseas as opposed to playing in the D-league? I don't know anything about overseas basketball, and I've always wondered why a foreign player is drafted and continues to play abroad, while the college rookies go to the D-league if they don't make the roster.
My best guess is that it's related to money, but I am hoping someone can elaborate.

Because you don't have to spend a roster spot on someone who's not ready to play for your team.

Exactly. The Celtics will be competing to max out their wins in the regular season this year and compete in the playoffs. They will need veteran depth to succeed at those endeavors. Loading the end of the roster with 7 first and second year players for "development" purposes hurts the Celtics chances of succeeding in their goals of winning in the regular season and playoffs.

I think there is room for two rookies and three second year players on this roster. This would leave a ten man rotation of vets with the ability to give Rozier and Brown minutes as well. Young I believe is gone. so that leaves:


IT, Bradley, Smart, Crowder, KO, Horford, Amir, Jerebko, as vets

Rozier, Hunter, Mickey, Brown and one other rookie.

open space for two vets. I will not be surprised to see Sully back. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Celtics sign or trade for another strong bench player.

Now, who will be the other rookie? Yabusele, Bentil or Jackson(Zizic has already been stashed)? Yabbusele would cost money to buy him out of his contract and a rookie contract at the #16 position or over a million dollars. Bentil and Jackson will be given rookie minimum contracts non-guaranteed after this year. To me it makes the most sense financially as well as roster wise to stash Yabusele and let him get another year of experience against much better competition than is in the D League and sign either Jackson or Bentil to an non-guaranteed contract for this year and let that player develop in the D League. Then send the remaining player overseas like the Celtics have with Thornton and Iverson and retain their rights in case they develop into major productive players overseas that could transition into role playing NBA players.

This is all true, but Yabusele is a unique dude. He's 40 lbs heavier than Bentil, who is a strong guy, and he's long. At some point, great teams find a way to uncover a few late round gems that turn into above average NBA players, and we need to do that with a big, hopefully this year

[SHAQATTACK]

Change is a coming

[chiken Green]

If Yabusele is on our roster this season, it'll be a failure of optimizing our roster possibilities.

I agree. I think he can be very good, but he's not ready to contribute serious minutes and it would be better to let him improve overseas before we start the contract clock ticking.

I don't want Sully or Zeller back -- unless it's with the qualifying offer -- but either one would make Yabu look silly right now.

Maybe at the start but with time - this year, on this team I think he can be more than both of them.. He is Improving so much with every game right now, he can be coached and he has proven to be a hard worker..

I feel that Adding especially Sully will work for the 1st half  but at seasons end when we need him most he will be useless to us again..
Yab I feel will be stronger at the end of the year with time on the big club.

[kozlodoev]

Change is a coming

Winter is coming

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

He can sign with the dleague like Thornton did and it won't count just as if he played overseas.

[guava_wrench]

He can sign with the dleague like Thornton did and it won't count just as if he played overseas.

Why would he choose to sign with the d-league? The contracts are horrible. He isn't going to come to the US to sign in the d-league. If he wants to come over now, the Celtics really have no choice but to sign him. The Celtics only other option is to lose him.

[incoherent]

Just because we got Horford does not mean we can ignore the development of our youth.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

He can sign with the dleague like Thornton did and it won't count just as if he played overseas.

Why would he choose to sign with the d-league? The contracts are horrible. He isn't going to come to the US to sign in the d-league. If he wants to come over now, the Celtics really have no choice but to sign him. The Celtics only other option is to lose him.

Why did Thornton choose it? Because the season is over overseas when the dleague starts playing. I'm not saying he will, I'm just saying it is possible without it counting against the roster.

[rochrist]

I've seen enough to at least put him on the 15 man roster...
Only if Sullinger knew how to get to the basket like that...

what is your 15 man roster with Yab included?

Thomas, Bradley, Smart, Horford, Johnson, Jerekbo, Brown, Hunter, Rozier, Mckey, Olynck, Crowder, Bentil, Young, and Yab

barring any major trades or FA signings

Swap Jackson for Young and I'd take that. Young has worn out his welcome.

[dixielott02]

I'd have him now. Looking at his game so far...comes across as a more versatile Sully. Sure his game is raw but it improve with experience and time. Stashing overseas in league that is very different to the NBA doesnt help in my eyes

[BitterJim]

He can sign with the dleague like Thornton did and it won't count just as if he played overseas.

Why would he choose to sign with the d-league? The contracts are horrible. He isn't going to come to the US to sign in the d-league. If he wants to come over now, the Celtics really have no choice but to sign him. The Celtics only other option is to lose him.

If the Celtics don't sign him, then we hold his rights until the next draft.  If he signs a contract (overseas or D-League) before then, then that clock gets pushed off until a year after that contract ends.  So we'd only lose him if he didn't play professional basketball for a year, but that would make no sense for him (since he wouldn't be making any money or getting any experience).  If we choose not to sign him, he'll just head back overseas and play there.  While the player has some say, it's really the teams with all the control.  Not wanting to anger players or agents is really all they need to take into consideration