Dragan Bender News, Discussion and Highlights

[bwgood77]

You don't care about raw production, fine. But Bender wasn't even at average efficiency either nor did he have the raw numbers. Their RPM were within range of each other so he wasn't impactful either.

Face it, we drafted a G-league player who hasn't really shown he's more than a G-Leaguer

Bender wasn't avg efficiency overall but he was over the avg on 3. And TS% he was ahead 52.4% to 48%. He beat him in OBPM and DBPM...so of course net BPM...and VORP. This was all with terrible coaching the prior year and not playing much compared to JJ playing under one of the best coaches and programs in college basketball. And Bender was younger.

I mean being better than JJ isn't a big achievement but he made a more positive impact last year. And this year so far JJ is worse...even worse than he was at the beginning of last year.

[lilfishi22]

You're right, being marginally more impactful than a rookie isn't anything to write home about, especially when that player is a 2nd year player. JJ has this season to show he's worthy of getting his 4th year option picked up, just like every single player picked in the 1st round. JJ sucks right now but Bender can't even make it onto the court

[bwgood77]

You're right, being marginally more impactful than a rookie isn't anything to write home about, especially when that player is a 2nd year player. JJ has this season to show he's worthy of getting his 4th year option picked up, just like every single player picked in the 1st round. JJ sucks right now but Bender can't even make it onto the court

No reason to play Bender since he will likely leave next season.

[No Koko]

Play him in the G League and when he can't average more than 7 PPG all of the other GM's will give up on him too. Back to Europe he'll go.

[Vorda]

What will you do with Bender... why isnt he in G-league... he needs playing time... you are one of the worst team in NBA and you are doing nothing with top 5 draft pick... akward situation...

[Jstock12]

I still believe in you, Dragan

[bwgood77]

What will you do with Bender... why isnt he in G-league... he needs playing time... you are one of the worst team in NBA and you are doing nothing with top 5 draft pick... akward situation...

They pretty much already gave up on him by not picking up his option for next year.

[Saberestar]

While James is dunking, landing with his arms spread wide in a ready-made photo op, Dragan Bender, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft, is on the bench in his sweats.

It’s a bit of a mystery. Why is the NBA’s worst team not even looking in the direction of the 7-foot-1 forward from Croatia?

“You know as much about it as I do,” Bender told the Times.

The 21-year-old is caught in developmental purgatory. Phoenix declined his option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent, and no longer has any investment in developing him. He’s played rotational minutes just once this season. Otherwise, most games are like Sunday’s — warmups glued on, playing time available to everyone but him.

“It’s just not playing, not being on the court,” he said. “I worked my ass off over the summer. To be sitting on the bench is kind of frustrating. But, it’s part of life.”

Bender, half a globe away from home, hasn’t had the NBA completely turn his back on him — even if it feels like the Suns have. Whether it’s with another team or whether Phoenix reverses course and provides an opportunity for Bender, he’s patiently waiting for his next shot.

“You can’t ignore the downs. You have to work through them,” Bender said.

“I can’t wait to get out there and play obviously, but it’s going to come when it’s going to come. I’ll definitely stay ready for that. And then, I’ll just get out there and do my job.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-suns-dragan-bender-20181204-story.html

[bwgood77]

While James is dunking, landing with his arms spread wide in a ready-made photo op, Dragan Bender, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft, is on the bench in his sweats.

It’s a bit of a mystery. Why is the NBA’s worst team not even looking in the direction of the 7-foot-1 forward from Croatia?

“You know as much about it as I do,” Bender told the Times.

The 21-year-old is caught in developmental purgatory. Phoenix declined his option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent, and no longer has any investment in developing him. He’s played rotational minutes just once this season. Otherwise, most games are like Sunday’s — warmups glued on, playing time available to everyone but him.

“It’s just not playing, not being on the court,” he said. “I worked my ass off over the summer. To be sitting on the bench is kind of frustrating. But, it’s part of life.”

Bender, half a globe away from home, hasn’t had the NBA completely turn his back on him — even if it feels like the Suns have. Whether it’s with another team or whether Phoenix reverses course and provides an opportunity for Bender, he’s patiently waiting for his next shot.

“You can’t ignore the downs. You have to work through them,” Bender said.

“I can’t wait to get out there and play obviously, but it’s going to come when it’s going to come. I’ll definitely stay ready for that. And then, I’ll just get out there and do my job.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-suns-dragan-bender-20181204-story.html

I figured they wouldn't develop him, but hopefully he is learning in practice and I imagine if we trade Ariza he will start to get consistent minutes. Not much reason to give Anderson minutes. Maybe if he can develop some chemistry out there and plays well, he would want to come back if we want him.

[WeekapaugGroove]

If he's not included in a trade I fully expect the cut him the day after the deadline.

[Saberestar]

Watch on YouTube

It is a sad to watch Bender and Chriss not playing at all in the NBA already and Jamal Murray scoring 46 against us yesterday.
****.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I expect Dragan heads back to Europe this summer and plays there for a few years. It wouldn't shock me if he returns to the NBA in his late 20s and is a decent bench player.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

[jayu70]

The Hawks will sign him in the offseason ala Alex Len. .
Len has been servicable but bit he has bad hands and loves getting blocked by the rim. .

[lilfishi22]

The Hawks will sign him in the offseason ala Alex Len. .
Len has been servicable but bit he has bad hands and loves getting blocked by the rim. .

Only watched condensed ATL games for obvious reasons but how has Len been for you guys? Haven't really followed his progress since he left the Suns

[Saberestar]

The Hawks will sign him in the offseason ala Alex Len. .
Len has been servicable but bit he has bad hands and loves getting blocked by the rim. .

Only watched condensed ATL games for obvious reasons but how has Len been for you guys? Haven't really followed his progress since he left the Suns

Progress? Len?

I have watched some Hawks game (for Trae) and Len is exactly the same player that he was for us, similar contribution.

Decent bench C, do not expect more than that.

[jayu70]

The Hawks will sign him in the offseason ala Alex Len. .
Len has been servicable but bit he has bad hands and loves getting blocked by the rim. .

Only watched condensed ATL games for obvious reasons but how has Len been for you guys? Haven't really followed his progress since he left the Suns[/quote]

[jayu70]

The Hawks will sign him in the offseason ala Alex Len. .
Len has been servicable but bit he has bad hands and loves getting blocked by the rim. .

Only watched condensed ATL games for obvious reasons but how has Len been for you guys? Haven't really followed his progress since he left the Suns

Servicable for what we need right now.
He's a big body that prevents John Collins playing C, he spreads the floor well enough for Trae and John to run the PnR.

[Saberestar]

The Suns hope to have back Ayton (left ankle sprain) and Holmes (right foot sprain), both of whom suffered injuries in Saturday’s loss. Without them, Dragan Bender, in his first start and real action all season, posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

“It was definitely fun being out there but it’s been a long time since I out there so it was definitely tough,” said Bender who played a season-high 29 minutes Sunday. “First couple of moments, but after that, once you get rolling, it was fun to be out there playing basketball.”

“Oh man, Dragan was phenomenal,” Warren said. “To come in there and bang like that and capitalize on good plays, he was amazing. I’m happy for him.”

Phoenix doubled Towns in the second half to help Bender and Quincy Acy. The Suns typically don’t do that, but should consider it moving forward.

Towns settled for 3s, too, but Bender, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft, showed up.

“Dragan Bender did a phenomenal job,” Kokoskov said. “Showed presence. For a guy who didn’t play a lot of games, to be a starter and to give us those minutes and be a double-double guy. He was great."

https://amp.azcentral.com/amp/2634876002?__twitter_impression=true

[Andrew McCeltic]

Has he been in the weight room the last few months? He looked a little bit bulkier and he was much stronger and more confident holding his ground on defense, on the boards, and in the air.

[Saberestar]

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