Z-Rex: The Cody Zeller Thread

[RichBoy923]

Zeller was 7th in the entire country in FTA, don't see how a soft player could get to the line so much

Because he gets bullied by stronger, physical players/defenses. His intangibles are great, but besides getting to the line in college, he's not really a standout at one particular skill. He just plays hard and competes.

The chances this guy has a better career than McLemore, Len and Noel are pretty low.

I think your confusing lack of strength and bulk with softness.

[mrknowitall215]

Chad Ford's Draft Grade

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS | GRADE: C

Round 1: Cody Zeller (4)

Round 2: None

Analysis: We began hearing on Wednesday that the Bobcats were seriously considering Zeller at No. 4, although it was hard to believe they would take him -- and it would've been even more difficult to accept if we had known the Bobcats would be passing on Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore to take Zeller.

I like Zeller's NBA potential, but this pick was a major reach. Zeller is athletic and was probably underrated, but he'll have to change his game dramatically to succeed in the NBA, and no one knows whether he'll pull it off. Shooting jumpers in workouts is one thing. In an NBA game, it's another.

The Bobcats have made some pretty bad picks during owner Michael Jordan's reign. I don't think Zeller will be a bust in the way that Adam Morrison and D.J. Augustin were. But I struggle to believe he'll have the career of Noel or McLemore. For the Bobcats' sake, I hope Zeller proves me wrong.

USA Today 2013 NBA Draft Grade

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

New face: No. 4 C Cody Zeller

Zeller wasn't expected to go quite so high, but he really is a great fit for the Bobcats. His athleticism will pair well with Bismack Biyombo in a pairing the Bobcats hope will emerge over the next few years as one of the NBA's best. Zeller is more developed offensively Nerlens Noel or Alex Len, and the Bobcats were challenged there. They will need Biyombo and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to develop on defense, though, because they were as bad on that end, and Zeller won't be much help. He may not have a tremendous upside and probably would have been available a few spots lower, but Zeller makes sense. And kudos to the Bobcats for recognizing their already-young roster didn't need any extra rookies.

Grade: B+

CBS Sports - Grades: 2013 NBA Draft

Bobcats select: Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana

Grade: D+

He's going to get blocked all the time. His level of aggressiveness near the basket is not where it needs to be. He's going to have problems with guys that are more physical. Does he have the skill to overcome that?

NJ.com NBA Draft 2013 Grades by Ryan Petzar | Advance National Desk

Charlotte Bobcats

Charlotte selected Cody Zeller, a center out of Indiana, with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. In a bit of a surprising move, the Bobcats skipped over centers Nerlens Noel and Alex Len to take the Hoosier. He’s big — with almost a nine-foot reach! — but needs to pack on muscle if he’s going to be a force under the net.

Grade: C

CSNHouston NBA Draft Grades

4. Charlotte Bobcats: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana (Grade: D+)

Zeller was criticized way too much at Indiana. He was playing out of position as a center throughout college. In the pros, he will be a quick power forward who can run the floor. However, for the Bobcats to pass up on an opportunity to snag Nerlens Noel is simply ridiculous. Number 4 overall is a real stretch for Zeller, in terms of value. Charlotte easily could have slid back a few picks and still taken Zeller, while also adding assets. Michael Jordan’s draft night legacy lives on…that’s bad news for Zeller.

[Robot Rock]

The draft is a crapshoot now anyway. I like the fact we got a guy with fewer red flags who has height and the ability to score (which Kemba is undoubtedly thrilled over). I just hope he ends up better than the last white PF/C a Charlotte team reached for in the first round...Kirk Haston.

Which is not setting the bar low, it's putting the bar on the ground and walking away.

Zeller should be able to average 10/5 as a rookie. People forget he has the summer league and a preseason to learn, unlike Noel and Len. Also, he has a knack for getting to the line. I like that.

[Red Larrivee]

I think your confusing lack of strength and bulk with softness.

It's both. Indiana is always on television if you're a college basketball junkie. Despite being the best college player on Indiana, he was no where near an alpha dog and he's not a good defender. His perimeter foot speed sucks, he has short arms (7'0 height, 6'10 wingspan), wasn't a standout rebounder in college despite size advantage, physical/stronger opponents can get anything they want inside on him.

I'm not sold on his "jump shot" improvement, considering he wasn't effective at it in college, and anybody can make jumpshots in an open gym. Hell, Dwight Howard is an 85% FT shooter when he works out by himself.

I question how much upside he really has. I don't think he has the upside to be an all-star. He strikes me as average. Doesn't mean he can't have a valuable role on a team, but in a draft like this, and for a team like the Bobcats who need all the big talent they can get, passing on McLemore, Len and Noel for this guy can backfire easily.

It's already happened before.

[RichBoy923]

I stil don't see how he is soft getting to the line that often. He may lack the bulk to body down low on every possession but that doesn't make him soft. I think we forget that he is coming into play the 4. He will be playing in the post on occasions, yes. But the majority of his game will be playing the high post and playing the pick and roll with Kemba. He provides scoring at the big position, something that we needed. Drafting Noel wouldn't provide that, especially not anytime soon.

[Red Larrivee]

I stil don't see how he is soft getting to the line that often. He may lack the bulk to body down low on every possession but that doesn't make him soft. I think we forget that he is coming into play the 4. He will be playing in the post on occasions, yes. But the majority of his game will be playing the high post and playing the pick and roll with Kemba. He provides scoring at the big position, something that we needed. Drafting Noel wouldn't provide that, especially not anytime soon.

Getting to the line doesn't mean you're a physical player. Again, Adam Morrison got to the line 10.3 times per 40, which is an insane rate for any college player. Adam Morrison is soft as **** pillow.

The NBA is different from college and Zeller will have a lot of adjusting to do if he plans on guarding power forwards or centers. Many power forwards in todays league have great foot speed, stretch you out to the three-point line and can bang down low when required. Zeller doesn't have the foot speed, awareness, or strength to do either at this point. Also he isn't a great rebounder, nor presence in the paint.

Alex Len would've provided scoring at a big position too. McLemore would've been redundant, but he's arguably the best talent in this draft. You can't pass up on that regardless of fit.

[yosemiteben]

But you really can't compare the raw athletic ability of Morrison and Zeller, and you really can't compare the Big 10 last year with the West Coast Conference.

Also, keep in mind that Zeller played out of position all last year. He had Watford playing the four who was always on the perimter, and you usually had three perimeter shooters at the guard spots. Zeller is going to have a totally different role with the Bobcats that will be a more natural fit for his skill set.

[Kembastockton]

Red, I think that you are forgetting that Zeller tested as the fastest most athletic big at the combine.

[vorbis]

3 hour travel time today gave me time to wrap some optimistic perspective around this pick. so, here goes:

eh, at least zeller isn't a bad player. just because he's bad value where he's chosen doesn't make him suck. he could be just an average player, marginally productive offensively, mediocre on boards and mediocre on defense. but he's not going to be worse than that, really. he could also average 18ppg fairly soon, with decent rebounding and decent defense, as well as good size at the 4. his skills overlap with biyombo's very well, though as bullish as i am on biyombo, i hope that was not a significant factor. he was a productive college player from the first tip, with the obvious athleticism to back it up. i had a lot less serious questions about zeller than i did about other lottery picks, including some drafted before him. i think this pick makes those last-minute "cho almost got replaced" rumors sound as ridiculous as they were to begin with. it will also be a good barometer for the cho/higgins front office going forward.

[Red Larrivee]

The draft combine isn't an NBA game. Chad Ford compared the draft combine to "cramming for a big test."

[JMAC3]

The draft combine isn't an NBA game. Chad Ford compared the draft combine to "cramming for a big test."

Who ARE YOU??

Why do you care, your not even a fan.....

[Kembastockton]

The draft combine isn't an NBA game. Chad Ford compared the draft combine to "cramming for a big test."

You say that like Cody hasn't studied before the big test.
He was the preseason consensus #1

[Ozymandias]

There were 3 players in this draft I thought would be an ideal fit for this team and they were 1) Bennett, 2) Oladipo, and 3) Zeller. Bennett and Oladipo were off the board so I'm completely happy with the pick. Sure, I would have loved to trade down and still pick up Zeller along with some extra players or picks, but that would be taking a huge risk. Many of you are saying we could have had Zeller at 9, but how do you know that for sure? Because that's where Zeller was going in mocks? Have you noticed just how inaccurate mocks projected this draft? I've heard rumors that Zeller was also high on Phoenix's board. If he's the guy Cho wanted, I can understand why he was hesitant to trade down. Most teams trade down in the draft if they are targeting a group of players in a certain range. It's pretty dangerous to trade down hoping to grab one player.

As for the guys we passed over, I think all three (McLemore, Noel, Len) have high bust potential. I'm perfectly fine with passing over the most overrated player in this draft (McLemore) for the most underrated according to media perception.

I remember many of you on this board last year saying why draft a big in the 2012 draft (like Drummond who I favored) when 2013 will be stacked with bigs like Cody Zeller.

[BlackOutBuzz]

So Cody's a pretty good follow.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CodyZeller/status/350352812305158145[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CodyZeller/status/350359475099668481[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/LukeZeller40/status/350359382619455488[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CodyZeller/status/350364462584311809[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/CodyZeller/status/350386284503642112[/tweet]

[catch20two]

Dress it up however y'all want. Zeller was not a good pick for us. I would've been OK with it if we would've traded down to get Zeller plus Shabazz or etc, but not as a lone pick when Noel and even McLemore were on the board. I never want to hear/read the acronym 'BPA' associated with Cho and a draft pick again. I'm trying my best to accept this and move on since Zeller is at least a serviceable player but it's kinda hard.

[BlackOutBuzz]

I'm sorry, but trading down 3-5 draft spots isn't worth missing out on your guy. We did the due diligence, but we weren't confident we could trade down and still get Zeller.

The same thing happened last year with MKG, I know I personally was upset we didn't trade down and get mkg plus value. But I got over it, because getting your guy is much better than gambling and missing out completely.

Quality wins in this league, not quantity. And what good is trading down and saving a minuscule amount on salary when you're just adding a Derrick Williams type anyway? Why not get your guy and then use that cap space on someone worth it instead?

And the concept of reaching is stupid anyway. Every team picks the guy at the top of their board... hence, BPA (!). We get so caught up in the smokescreens and the media speculation (as if they know anything) that we don't consider that, maybe the teams know a bit more than the rest of us.

Cho put his neck and what's left of Jordan's reputation on the line, the idea that they would take a guy who they don't believe is the best prospect is asinine.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[W_HAMILTON]

Congrads guys on your pick, Cody is really underrated because he doesn't make highlight reels. He's big,athletic and good compliment to BB.

If he's so athletic and has such a great vertical, why doesn't he make the highlight reels?

[mrknowitall215]

2013 NBA Draft: The best and worst picks

Worst: No. 4: Charlotte Bobcats select Cody Zeller, forward/center, Indiana

My fellow Indiana fans will probably hate me for saying this, but I think No. 4 was way too high for Zeller. I realize the Bobcats were going for a solid player who was going to help them now, but Zeller has a lot of work to do before he’s the kind of guy a young team can rely on in the post consistently. If they had taken him in the nine to 12 range I’d be fine with it, but Zeller a stretch this high.

Cody is the best Zeller and I think he’ll have a long career in the NBA. But a lack of toughness in the post and the fact that he never showed he could consistent finish through contact are major red flags. That, and the fact that he faces a position change (from center to power forward) at the next level make this difficult to swallow.

I love Cody Zeller, but not at this pick for the Bobcats.

http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2013/0 ... the-night/

[mrknowitall215]

...in quoting the Rolling Stones, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find you get what you need.” Rich Cho got what we needed. Time will have to prove that to the fans.

In Cho I trust…still…

Cody Zeller, welcome to Charlotte and welcome to the Bobcats/Hornets family.

http://www.tradestreetpost.com/2013-art ... -pick.html

[amcoolio]

I'm sorry, but trading down 3-5 draft spots isn't worth missing out on your guy. We did the due diligence, but we weren't confident we could trade down and still get Zeller.

The same thing happened last year with MKG, I know I personally was upset we didn't trade down and get mkg plus value. But I got over it, because getting your guy is much better than gambling and missing out completely.

Quality wins in this league, not quantity. And what good is trading down and saving a minuscule amount on salary when you're just adding a Derrick Williams type anyway? Why not get your guy and then use that cap space on someone worth it instead?

And the concept of reaching is stupid anyway. Every team picks the guy at the top of their board... hence, BPA (!). We get so caught up in the smokescreens and the media speculation (as if they know anything) that we don't consider that, maybe the teams know a bit more than the rest of us.

Cho put his neck and what's left of Jordan's reputation on the line, the idea that they would take a guy who they don't believe is the best prospect is asinine.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

If we traded down 3-5 spots, we'd have been stuck with that guy the Pistons selected or Trey Burke. There was no way Zeller was lasting til 8...there was even talk of Philly wanting him which was why they traded up.