Dragan Bender News, Discussion and Highlights

[bwgood77]

What position he should play? PF or center?

pf/c. Pau Gasol type.

I remember Pau Gasol when he was 20...the difference is huge. Gasol was EXPLOSIVE and had good moves around the rim (great hook, for example).

I understand that you are talking just about their similar positions on the court, I know, but just to find the name of Pau Gasol around Bender is enough for me to disagree...at least for what I have seen until now.

Bender is not gonna be explosive but he needs to learn some moves in the post, at least one go to move.

The bad news are that it looks like this is not on his DNA, and that is a big problem because those things are so difficult to change... he feels that he is a perimeter player on offense.

Completely different skill set. He doesn't look like he will be aggressive offensively, at least not yet. I still think AK47 is a good comp for what type of player he could become. Just nice stats across the board but not a great scorer, but always had assists, steals, blocks, played good D...great glue guy.

[garrick]

What position he should play? PF or center?

pf/c. Pau Gasol type.

I remember Pau Gasol when he was 20...the difference is huge. Gasol was EXPLOSIVE and had good moves around the rim (great hook, for example).

I understand that you are talking just about their similar positions on the court, I know, but just to find the name of Pau Gasol around Bender is enough for me to disagree...at least for what I have seen until now.

Bender is not gonna be explosive but he needs to learn some moves in the post, at least one go to move.

The bad news are that it looks like this is not on his DNA, and that is a big problem because those things are so difficult to change... he feels that he is a perimeter player on offense.

Gasol wasn't that explosive but he was aggressive and fearless driving to the rim, Bender does look to be even less explosive than Gasol though.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Gasol came into the league more polished in the post than bender will problably ever be.

But the ak47 comparison is better although i think ak47 was more aggressive by nature. Maybe bender can be a mix of him and kukoc. They need to unleash his high point passing.

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[JMac1]

He is inconsistent, but better last night. I'll give him a pass because he is 19 with a positive attitude, something Chriss is missing. Knock down the 3 switch play D rebound is all he has to do and be a solid number 4 option.

[Bogyo]

He is inconsistent, but better last night. I'll give him a pass because he is 19 with a positive attitude, something Chriss is missing. Knock down the 3 switch play D rebound is all he has to do and be a solid number 4 option.

Plus he is already a better passer/playmaker than 90% of our squad, including our "point guards".
His shooting stroke is OK, just a bit flat, and with his bb IQ I fully expect better shooting results in a year or so.

[thamadkant]

I thought the AK47 comparison was decent but now... I dont think its accurate.

AK47 was twitchy and aggressive....


Bender is TALL and SLOW for a wing-based forward, but he has the skill set and mentality.

But... if he was to move to Center, he becomes QUICK, SKILLED and RANGEY.


He'll need to get stronger though. I think he's too passive to outwork aggressive wing forwards. But as center, he can be used as a stretch facilitator, he is too weak though to out rebound bigger centers.

[Saberestar]

Watch on YouTube

[jcsunsfan]

I have been pleasantly surprised with Bender's physicality this year. Randle really tried to muscle him in this game and Bender held his ground for the most part. Sometimes, with players, its now all about how strong they are but rather about their willingness to use the strength they have. Bender is willing. He will get stronger. That bodes well.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I have been pleasantly surprised with Bender's physicality this year. Randle really tried to muscle him in this game and Bender held his ground for the most part. Sometimes, with players, its now all about how strong they are but rather about their willingness to use the strength they have. Bender is willing. He will get stronger. That bodes well.

Dragan got whistled for two pretty bad fouls early on - Dragan would be straight up, holding his ground, and the refs blew the whistle. At least one of those plays involved Randle.

He was evidently upset by this and got the refs' attention. After that, when Randle went into him, and got nowhere, and threw up some junk - no more calls. Bender played him straight, and the refs came around.

So, yeah. I too have been pleasantly surprised.

[sunsfever68]

If you can't see that Bender at full potential is our second best player, Idk if you can really analyze basketball.

Yes better than Warren and Jackson.

Bender is going to be a 2 way stud he's going to be Pau Gasol who plays defense. I'm a giant Bender Stan, but Bender is a stud and last night was a small glimpse into his potential.

Guy has amazing mechanics on his jumper, he's fluid, he plays defense, he can run the floor, he's smart, he's got some attitude and tenacity. Just watch in the next few years.

I'm glad we drafted this kid and are giving him time. More more more more minutes for THE DRAGAN.

[kennydorglas]

That LaMarcus' move was pure non-sense.
He was feeling a lot of pain in his shooting wrist, I dont even know how he nailed that.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

That LaMarcus' move was pure non-sense.
He was feeling a lot of pain in his shooting wrist, I dont even know how he nailed that.

Dragan has shown significantly more than Quese in the post. I would like to see him get on a steady diet of 2-3 post ups per game.

[bwgood77]

If you can't see that Bender at full potential is our second best player, Idk if you can really analyze basketball.

Yes better than Warren and Jackson.

Bender is going to be a 2 way stud he's going to be Pau Gasol who plays defense. I'm a giant Bender Stan, but Bender is a stud and last night was a small glimpse into his potential.

Guy has amazing mechanics on his jumper, he's fluid, he plays defense, he can run the floor, he's smart, he's got some attitude and tenacity. Just watch in the next few years.

I'm glad we drafted this kid and are giving him time. More more more more minutes for THE DRAGAN.

I always thought his upside was higher than anyone on the team. But felt he also had a bit of bust potential due to his lack of play over the last couple of years and him being tentative once he started getting time. Glad he's being more aggressive. Hopefully it continues. He seems like a perfectionist but sometimes you just have to play because everything isn't going to go perfectly.

[kennydorglas]

That LaMarcus' move was pure non-sense.
He was feeling a lot of pain in his shooting wrist, I dont even know how he nailed that.

Dragan has shown significantly more than Quese in the post. I would like to see him get on a steady diet of 2-3 post ups per game.

Dragan needs more plays w/ elbow action. Simple stuff like handoffs for Daniels/James, backdoor cuts to Josh, flashing Monroe/Len inside for high-low.

[NTB]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1312628/suns-jay-triano-marquese-chriss-compounding-mistakes/

Triano said this about the progression of second-year forward Dragan Bender, who scored a career-high 15 points on Monday night against the Lakers:

“His whole attitude towards — I don’t want to offend him — but just towards wanting to get better this year has been completely different. Last year, practice would end and we’d have to yell as he got to the top of the stairs, to come back down and shoot the ball, and now he’s seeking out coaches to get more shots in. It’s kind of a maturation and a desire to want to get better.”

[OGBAH]

Bender is a unicorn play him

[bigfoot]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1312628/suns-jay-triano-marquese-chriss-compounding-mistakes/

Triano said this about the progression of second-year forward Dragan Bender, who scored a career-high 15 points on Monday night against the Lakers:

“His whole attitude towards — I don’t want to offend him — but just towards wanting to get better this year has been completely different. Last year, practice would end and we’d have to yell as he got to the top of the stairs, to come back down and shoot the ball, and now he’s seeking out coaches to get more shots in. It’s kind of a maturation and a desire to want to get better.”

I'm really thinking Len and Noel were wake-up calls for for Bender and Chriss. The fact that Len/Noel didn't receive anything other than the QO this summer might be a big motivating factor for these two. Unless bigs are special I don't see them getting long-term big-money deals as a role player since they can be replaced by youngsters in the next draft class. Let's hope Bender wants to be special.

[lilfishi22]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1312628/suns-jay-triano-marquese-chriss-compounding-mistakes/

Triano said this about the progression of second-year forward Dragan Bender, who scored a career-high 15 points on Monday night against the Lakers:

“His whole attitude towards — I don’t want to offend him — but just towards wanting to get better this year has been completely different. Last year, practice would end and we’d have to yell as he got to the top of the stairs, to come back down and shoot the ball, and now he’s seeking out coaches to get more shots in. It’s kind of a maturation and a desire to want to get better.”

I'm really thinking Len and Noel were wake-up calls for for Bender and Chriss. The fact that Len/Noel didn't receive anything other than the QO this summer might be a big motivating factor for these two. Unless bigs are special I don't see them getting long-term big-money deals as a role player since they can be replaced by youngsters in the next draft class. Let's hope Bender wants to be special.

Funny thing is, he actually received a $70m/4yr offer at the start of FA and he turned it down because he thought he could get max

I don't think Len received any offer though and we were waiting on those offers to come

Edit: with all these 9 figure deals being signed, I almost forgot how much a $70m contract actually equates to on a yearly basis. Noel could've gotten paid almost $18m a year had he accepted the Mavs offer

[bigfoot]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1312628/suns-jay-triano-marquese-chriss-compounding-mistakes/

I'm really thinking Len and Noel were wake-up calls for for Bender and Chriss. The fact that Len/Noel didn't receive anything other than the QO this summer might be a big motivating factor for these two. Unless bigs are special I don't see them getting long-term big-money deals as a role player since they can be replaced by youngsters in the next draft class. Let's hope Bender wants to be special.

Funny thing is, he actually received a $70m/4yr offer at the start of FA and he turned it down because he thought he could get max

I don't think Len received any offer though and we were waiting on those offers to come

Edit: with all these 9 figure deals being signed, I almost forgot how much a $70m contract actually equates to on a yearly basis. Noel could've gotten paid almost $18m a year had he accepted the Mavs offer

He's basically screwed too because his minutes and numbers are way down over last year. I'm not sure who is going to be paying him or Len anything other than the vet minimum next year.

[lilfishi22]

I'm really thinking Len and Noel were wake-up calls for for Bender and Chriss. The fact that Len/Noel didn't receive anything other than the QO this summer might be a big motivating factor for these two. Unless bigs are special I don't see them getting long-term big-money deals as a role player since they can be replaced by youngsters in the next draft class. Let's hope Bender wants to be special.

Funny thing is, he actually received a $70m/4yr offer at the start of FA and he turned it down because he thought he could get max

I don't think Len received any offer though and we were waiting on those offers to come

Edit: with all these 9 figure deals being signed, I almost forgot how much a $70m contract actually equates to on a yearly basis. Noel could've gotten paid almost $18m a year had he accepted the Mavs offer

He's basically screwed too because his minutes and numbers are way down over last year. I'm not sure who is going to be paying him or Len anything other than the vet minimum next year.

Yeah the guy logged a total of 13 minutes over the past 4 games including 1 DNP. Apparently the Mavs aren't liking his attitude.