Dragan Bender News, Discussion and Highlights

[bwgood77]

Funny how people are writing off a 20 year old 7-footer with range. I'm obviously in the minority, but I think Bender can still become a very solid starter in this league in his prime. Something like 16ppg/8rpg/2apg with 46/38/80 shooting splits + above average defense.

The problem is that we have to decide if we are going to commit $13 million over the next two years, and it has to be decided today. He was just too young. He might turn out but the risk is quite high that he won’t.


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Well we've already committed to the part for this year. We have to decide about next year today. Which would mean if we decline his option for next year we are essentially giving up on him and it would be pointless to work with him on getting better this year since other teams would be able to offer him more next year if he does play well.

Koko has helped some not so good players or young players play really well. Joe Ingles was pretty bad his first couple years and has gotten much better. He helped Rubio improve a lot. Young players like Gobert and Mitchell have thrived working with him, etc.

[AtheJ415]

I think that Bender is gonna be probably a rotation player in the NBA in his prime...a player similar to Bjelica.

But who wants to pay him for the next five years until he is 26 and plays like that?

The way it's looking the team paying him will be in Europe. In hindsight the best thing for him would have been staying in Europe for a couple years after he was drafted. Hell I kind of wonder if he even would have declared if that draft wasn't so weak.

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Bender is only 20 right now. He was way too young to be drafted into the NBA, especially with his immature body (when first drafted). He also had limited experience at the top levels in Europe.

Lesson, don't draft 18 year old Euros with little tape to evaluate.

Got it. Kristaps is a no go.

The draft is not some exact science where we can really make statements or generalizations about what you should and shouldn't do. It is all individual whether a guy hits or misses. You can have some philosophy for team fit (like skill v. athleticism, size/length prioritization, etc.), but whether to draft or not draft a guy based on background shouldn't be one of them.

[sunsbg]

Bender was young af when he got here. Put a 12 year old on the Phoenix Suns and see how much improvement he'll show when he's in his 3rd year at age 15. It's similar with Bender.

12 year old ? Why not Doncic/Giannis as already mentioned in this thread ? The problem with Bender is that he just doesn't have it. Today he is hiding on the court, tomorrow on the bench.

Doncic is a terrible comparison, he already has an NBA ready body in terms of strength (granted could use some slimming down), plus Doncic/Giannis both have a ridiculously tough mindset and a higher ceiling in general. That doesn't mean that Bender cannot become a solid starter. Bigs take longer to develop anyway, they reach their prime at 28-29 years old.

And now that he has bulked up his shooting has vanished - 2-14 3PFG in preseason.

I was expecting he will feel more comfortable in Kokoskov's system, but there is no indication of it at all. He's the same scared player. This is something a coach can't change.

P.S. Nobody will wait for him 10 years to show he doesn't suck.

[rcc8884]

Even though he hasn't played well at all, I hope we pick up his option for next year. I am perfectly fine with committing 5.38% of our cap space next year on a 20-year-old who hasn't developed well at all but also who has never had a good coach who could develop him.

Again, it is only 5.38% of our cap space, that's your average 9th rotation veteran while we would have a 11th man, 20-year-old who could turn into much more

[Jstock12]

12 year old ? Why not Doncic/Giannis as already mentioned in this thread ? The problem with Bender is that he just doesn't have it. Today he is hiding on the court, tomorrow on the bench.

Doncic is a terrible comparison, he already has an NBA ready body in terms of strength (granted could use some slimming down), plus Doncic/Giannis both have a ridiculously tough mindset and a higher ceiling in general. That doesn't mean that Bender cannot become a solid starter. Bigs take longer to develop anyway, they reach their prime at 28-29 years old.

And now that he has bulked up his shooting has vanished - 2-14 3PFG in preseason.

LOL, do I even need to respond to this?

[sunsbg]

Doncic is a terrible comparison, he already has an NBA ready body in terms of strength (granted could use some slimming down), plus Doncic/Giannis both have a ridiculously tough mindset and a higher ceiling in general. That doesn't mean that Bender cannot become a solid starter. Bigs take longer to develop anyway, they reach their prime at 28-29 years old.

And now that he has bulked up his shooting has vanished - 2-14 3PFG in preseason.

LOL, do I even need to respond to this?

Nothing funny at 2-14 shooting(his supposed only passable skill) during a preseason when a so-so defense is played.

And no, you don't need to respond to anything.

[Jstock12]

And now that he has bulked up his shooting has vanished - 2-14 3PFG in preseason.

LOL, do I even need to respond to this?

Nothing funny at 2-14 shooting

14 FGA sample size... Really? That's laughable. Don't embarass yourself.

[sunsbg]

LOL, do I even need to respond to this?

Nothing funny at 2-14 shooting

14 FGA sample size... Really? That's laughable. Don't embarass yourself.

I could have said the same to you for your claim he will be a 16/8 player some day. There is more evidence he will be out of the league so far.

And bulking up has changed the game of many players, so while it's a small sample size it's still worrying, but whatever..

[Jstock12]

Nothing funny at 2-14 shooting

14 FGA sample size... Really? That's laughable. Don't embarass yourself.

while it's a small sample size it's still worrying, but whatever..

Do you realize that players have these types of shooting stretches ALL THE TIME? Bender shot at 36.6% (which was above league average) last year, yet during the year he even had a 4/25 stretch (16%), which is almost twice as big of a sample, yet it meant nothing in the end.

[Saberestar]

14 FGA sample size... Really? That's laughable. Don't embarass yourself.

while it's a small sample size it's still worrying, but whatever..

Do you realize that players have these types of shooting stretches ALL THE TIME? Bender shot at 36.6% (which was above league average) last year, yet during the year he even had a 4/25 stretch (16%), which is almost twice as big of a sample, yet it meant nothing in the end.

Oh, ok, that explains everything.

Thank you for clarifying our doubts about Bender.

[Jstock12]

while it's a small sample size it's still worrying, but whatever..

Do you realize that players have these types of shooting stretches ALL THE TIME? Bender shot at 36.6% (which was above league average) last year, yet during the year he even had a 4/25 stretch (16%), which is almost twice as big of a sample, yet it meant nothing in the end.

Oh, ok, that explains everything.

Thank you for clarifying our doubts about Bender.

What are you talking about? Please read all the posts before talking nonsense. I only expressed my opinion that Bender shouldn't be written off YET. If that sounds unreasonable to you, then I don't think I even want to discuss anything with you.

[jcsunsfan]

If we don't extend him, I hope we cut him. I do not see why we should keep a player like Bender on our team all year if we are not planning to develop him or keep him.

I am not opposed to extending him if the coaching staff still sees something there. But do one or the other.

[sunsbg]

Do you realize that players have these types of shooting stretches ALL THE TIME? Bender shot at 36.6% (which was above league average) last year, yet during the year he even had a 4/25 stretch (16%), which is almost twice as big of a sample, yet it meant nothing in the end.

Oh, ok, that explains everything.

Thank you for clarifying our doubts about Bender.

What are you talking about? Please read all the posts before talking nonsense. I only expressed my opinion that Bender shouldn't be written off YET. If that sounds unreasonable to you, then I don't think I even want to discuss anything with you.

Easy, man. You think Bender will end a very solid starter, most here are worried he is going Len's way (you remember Lensanity?). To me he looks even worse now. Yes, preseason, small sample size, I will give you that and stop here.

[bwgood77]

Doncic is a terrible comparison, he already has an NBA ready body in terms of strength (granted could use some slimming down), plus Doncic/Giannis both have a ridiculously tough mindset and a higher ceiling in general. That doesn't mean that Bender cannot become a solid starter. Bigs take longer to develop anyway, they reach their prime at 28-29 years old.

And now that he has bulked up his shooting has vanished - 2-14 3PFG in preseason.

LOL, do I even need to respond to this?

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[bwgood77]

14 FGA sample size... Really? That's laughable. Don't embarass yourself.

while it's a small sample size it's still worrying, but whatever..

Do you realize that players have these types of shooting stretches ALL THE TIME? Bender shot at 36.6% (which was above league average) last year, yet during the year he even had a 4/25 stretch (16%), which is almost twice as big of a sample, yet it meant nothing in the end.

And how many did Ariza miss in game 7 of the WCF? Was he finished then?

In case people didn't know, he went 0-12 in that game on solid D'Antoni well seasoned offense. In the prior game he missed 12 3s as well.

[Jstock12]

Oh, ok, that explains everything.

Thank you for clarifying our doubts about Bender.

What are you talking about? Please read all the posts before talking nonsense. I only expressed my opinion that Bender shouldn't be written off YET. If that sounds unreasonable to you, then I don't think I even want to discuss anything with you.

Easy, man. You think Bender will end a very solid starter, most here are worried he is going Len's way (you remember Lensanity?). To me he looks even worse now. Yes, preseason, small sample size, I will give you that and stop here.

Stop putting words into my mouth. I didn't say he will end up a very solid starter. I said he CAN end up a very solid starter. If that distinction means nothing to you, I don't know what to say.

[bwgood77]

If we don't extend him, I hope we cut him. I do not see why we should keep a player like Bender on our team all year if we are not planning to develop him or keep him.

I am not opposed to extending him if the coaching staff still sees something there. But do one or the other.

You'd cut a guy you are spending $4.6 million on? If we don't pick up his option at least he would have a nice salary as an expiring to include as trade filler. Though maybe someone would pick him up on waivers...if they have cap space, because I'm sure there are a number of teams that see plenty of potential but laugh at how Watson and Triano used him.

[sunsbg]

What are you talking about? Please read all the posts before talking nonsense. I only expressed my opinion that Bender shouldn't be written off YET. If that sounds unreasonable to you, then I don't think I even want to discuss anything with you.

Easy, man. You think Bender will end a very solid starter, most here are worried he is going Len's way (you remember Lensanity?). To me he looks even worse now. Yes, preseason, small sample size, I will give you that and stop here.

Stop putting words into my mouth. I didn't say he will end up a very solid starter. I said he CAN end up a very solid starter. If that distinction means nothing to you, I don't know what to say.

Every player CAN end up a very solid starter by your logic, but most people will talk about the likelihood of it happening. I didn't know I had to make it clear to you. It was the last response to you, I swear.

[Jstock12]

Easy, man. You think Bender will end a very solid starter, most here are worried he is going Len's way (you remember Lensanity?). To me he looks even worse now. Yes, preseason, small sample size, I will give you that and stop here.

Stop putting words into my mouth. I didn't say he will end up a very solid starter. I said he CAN end up a very solid starter. If that distinction means nothing to you, I don't know what to say.

Every player CAN end up a very solid starter by your logic, but most people will talk about the likelihood of it happening. I didn't know I had to make it clear to you. It was the last response to you, I swear.

A lot of NBA prospects can end up solid players (that's why they get drafted). But most people on this board seem to be writing him off already. Some are even basing it on a 14-shot sample size.

[jcsunsfan]

Stop putting words into my mouth. I didn't say he will end up a very solid starter. I said he CAN end up a very solid starter. If that distinction means nothing to you, I don't know what to say.

Every player CAN end up a very solid starter by your logic, but most people will talk about the likelihood of it happening. I didn't know I had to make it clear to you. It was the last response to you, I swear.

A lot of NBA prospects can end up solid players (that's why they get drafted). But most people on this board seem to be writing him off already. Some are even basing it on a 14-shot sample size.

The Suns have to make a decision. They have to cut two players. Who do you want to cut?


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