We should take a close look at Patrick O'Bryant

[return2glory]

Patrick O'Bryant was in for a workout for us the other day. I'm suprised that he is a free agent already. It was only two seasons ago that he was the 9th pick in the 2006 draft.

I know Patrick O'Bryant hasn't done much in the NBA yet. But the kid just turned 22 only a few weeks ago. IMO, he still has a lot of potential. He is 7'0 tall and has a 7-6 wingspan. He is also a good shot blocker and rebounder. He just didn't fit in G.S where Don Nelson plays small ball.

IMO, we should take a close look at this guy. With Clifford Ray working with him, he can become the tall back up center we are looking for. I would still also try to sign Chris Andersen because he is the more NBA ready player. We can be patient with O'Bryant.

[SonicYouth34]

He won't get much PT and I think he'll never be better than Perk currently is. But down the road he could be a nice back-up. I'd like to sign him but he'll probably go to a team where he can get PT.

Here's his highlight reel: http://youtube.com/watch?v=zm7zNa5aCy4 he has a nice play against Big Al in there.

[P2]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... mmer_camp/

The Celtics continued their search for a big man by working out Patrick O'Bryant, Golden State's first-round pick (ninth overall) out of Bradley in 2006.

The 7-foot center showed decent range and solid footwork taking feeds in the post. But when he hit the low post against Wisconsin's Brian Butch and Detroit Mercy's Ryvon Covile, who had each been practicing since 9 in the morning, O'Bryant was tugging at his shorts not even 15 minutes into the drill, struggling to muster enough strength to defend either.

Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss pointed out that O'Bryant arrived in Boston at 1 a.m., although he tired quickly against players who had been on the court all morning. O'Bryant took the court at approximately 11 a.m.

Case closed.

[BillessuR6]

I always thought this guy was going to be a bust. I really think he doesn`t belong in the NBA. From what I have read about his workout with us there is no chance we sign him. If he gets dominated by the scrubs at our camp he has no place in the NBA...

[Ed Pinkney]

Strength and conditioning can always be vastly improved. Size and skills can't.

[Bad-Thoma]

He doesn't even look good in his own highlight real.

[jfs1000d]

kid cant play. 2 years and showed nothing. i don't think so.

[cloverleaf]

He is a couple of years younger than the undrafted FA's who were supposedly pushing him around, but still. If the brain doctor can identify which of these young, underachieving centers can have ferocity shaken into them, he's earned his money.

[campybatman]

Because I'm bored... Danica Patrick meets Kobe Bryant.

If Dallas can give Gerald Green, twenty-two, another opportunity in the league. Then give a twenty-two P. Bryant a chance too, if you're Ainge. He's not going to break the bank so to speak with a contract.

[canman1971]

He'll get another chance, just not with the Celtics. This team is contending and Patrick will not get a sniff of playing time. They looked at him, and if they liked him, they will sign him, but I can't see it happening. He didn't exactly get glowing reviews following his workout.

[MalReyn]

I remember reading this article a few years back.. One part in particular caught my attention:

O'Bryant, the only NBA lottery selection to receive the D-League treatment, is averaging 6.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in seven games with the Jam but has fouled out twice and shot just 40 percent.

"I told him if he goes down to the D-League and isn't a dominant player, there should be red flags all over the place, and he should be the first to notice," Nelson said. "He's not only not dominating, he's not playing very well. He's a long-term project. I really liked him the first week of training camp, but I assumed there would be great progress. ... He hasn't gotten better one bit.

"I'd like to go to dinner with him, but I wouldn't like to put him in the game I'm coaching."

I'll pass. He hasn't shown any indication whatsoever that he'll ever improve and be an impact player in the league. I'd rather not have a lazy player on the roster, even one with potential.

[U2larkin04]

Maybe big baby could show him how to bulk the eff up! The dude is a twig. I can't say I'd mind if Danny signed him, he's just really thin. Maybe if Cliff helped him get stronger he'd be a better player.

[TheCelticTruth]

I remember reading this article a few years back.. One part in particular caught my attention:

O'Bryant, the only NBA lottery selection to receive the D-League treatment, is averaging 6.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in seven games with the Jam but has fouled out twice and shot just 40 percent.

"I told him if he goes down to the D-League and isn't a dominant player, there should be red flags all over the place, and he should be the first to notice," Nelson said. "He's not only not dominating, he's not playing very well. He's a long-term project. I really liked him the first week of training camp, but I assumed there would be great progress. ... He hasn't gotten better one bit.

"I'd like to go to dinner with him, but I wouldn't like to put him in the game I'm coaching."

thanks for the find Mal, these are some of the nelson comments i mentioned in another thread where o'bryant's name came up. just because a guy has potential it doesnt mean they can reach it, or are worth using up a roster spot for. based on the comments about his toughness and "wild streak" semi erden should be brought over before we ever give o'bryant a spot unless o'bryant all of a sudden started looking like the lottery pick he was dominating weak competition at a small school in college. for as many of you as were against drafting roy, the man isnt a fraction of the center hibbert is.

I'll pass. He hasn't shown any indication whatsoever that he'll ever improve and be an impact player in the league. I'd rather not have a lazy player on the roster, even one with potential.

[cloverleaf]

Donnie doesn't hold back there, does he? And some people don't like how Doc talks about his players!

[return2glory]

I read that part about what Nelson had to say about him before.

Don Nelson is a bad coach who's time has past. He loves the small ball. Here is a coach who has never come lose to winning a title after being a coach for over 25 years. The guy blames Patrick O'Bryant for not improving. Shouldn't he and his coaching staff take a little responsiblity for O'Bryant not progressing.

Give the guy some time with Clifford Ray, then you will see an improvement in his game. I'm not worried about what Don Nelson says. But if Ainge feels that Randolph Morris, David Harrison, Chris Andersen, or anyone else is a better fit, then I'm ok with that.

[Pogue Mahone]

Back at the beginning of March, I wrote this on another board in regards to Patrick O'Bryant:

I find O'Bryant hard to get a read on, statistically speaking, at least. He didn't play in a top conference and only played just north of 1250 minutes in his college career. On top of that, his numbers were pretty solid, as far as college centers are concerned, but they don't jump off the screen at you if you are talking prospects. Professionally, he hasn't played really in the NBA.

One thing I don't get were Don Nelson's comments, in regards to O'Bryant.

"I told him if he goes down to the D-League and isn't a dominant player, there should be red flags all over the place, and he should be the first to notice," Nelson said. "He's not only not dominating, he's not playing very well. He's a long-term project. I really liked him the first week of training camp, but I assumed there would be great progress. ... He hasn't gotten better one bit.

It was known that he was raw and a project coming into the draft. And you are probably spot on in your analysis regarding Nellie. That being said, at least defensively, O'Bryant was pretty darn near dominant, in relation to the D-League players.

To wit:

He put up a RebRate of 18.7 (1st), a defensive rebounding percentage of 28.9 (1st) and blocked 72 shots (4th) in just 746 MP (block every 10.3 MP.) He shot .515/.792/.560 and made ~24 FTs per 100 shots taken. You would hope that he would get to the line a bit more, no doubt, but for a pretty raw player, the overall package has to be pretty darn encouraging. Especially when you consider that he missed six weeks of training camp after hurting his foot. He also put up a D-Rtg of 99.5, which was good for 4th in the league.

Fast-forward to this season and he has only seen 86 MP. Too small of a sample to really tell much but I would say it is encouraging that his rebounding (DReb% 22.0, RbR 15.7) and shotblocking (block every 12.3 MP) appear to be translating. Again, too small of a sample to be sure but encouraging.

Furthermore, he does have good measurements (7'5 wingspan, 9'4 standing reach) and he appears quick and agile for his size. He is still relatively young (22 in June.) Most important, perhaps, is that he is a very good foul shooter for his position. It points to a repeatable stroke, imo.

The more and more I think about it, the more I hope Ainge goes after O'Bryant if the money is right. A 22 year old PF/C prospect, with legitimate size and still full of upside as he was a late bloomer. He isn't without flaws (he needs to get stronger) but he could possibly become a 15 ppg 10 rpg 2 bpg player. Is that likely, perhaps not. Would I bet against it? No, I wouldn't.

[Twinkie defense]

Have you guys heard anything else, or gotten verification of Patrick's less than stellar workout there?

BTW those comments from Don Nelson (Donnie is the son, with the Mavs) were I think from an early stint in the D-League. As noted by Pogue above, he came on much stronger as time went on... which I would certainly expect from a 21-year old seven-footer there.

Personally (as a Warriors fan) I don't like the guy one bit (though some, maybe many, GS fans blame Nellie for Patrick's "game" - which may have some role in the situation, as Patrick was drafted to play in Mike Montgomery's slow-down, half-court, big-man, plodding Stanford system). He came in as a project, but supposedly someone with NBA-ready defensive skills. Interestingly, his offensive game seems to me to be more advanced than his defense. Sure, he can block a shot now and again (what seven footer can't?). But he easily gets pushed out of the post, and does not seem to understand positioning, on offense or defense. Maybe that's because he was a late bloomer. However he does have a pretty nice mid-range jumper.

Probably the biggest knock on him is his mental toughness - and if he really did come in to Boston, unsigned and with his future payday and participation in the League at stake, soft and out of shape... well that sends up huge red flags for me. Can't blame Nellie for not hiring Patrick a trainer to get him ready for summer workouts. There was one game where he had a bad moment, and - literally - took himself out of the game as a result. The play was still going on, and Patrick started walking to the sideline to take himself out!

I predicted and am not at all upset that the Warriors ("shockingly") did not pick up Patrick's player option this season - I just think you can do much better for ~$3 mil.

But now that he's a UFA, off rookie scale, I would certainly think that, among 30 15-man rosters someone will find a (perhaps non-guaranteed) roster spot and smaller salary for the guy.

PS nice pup Pogue.

[Tricky Ricky]

Patty O only got drafted #9 because he was in an awful draft, he has bust written all over him yet like you Id like him to have a chance on our team, strange...

[cloverleaf]

Yeah, my mistake, Twinkie defense, I know that.

[hiphop1]

I wanted us to draft this guy when he came out. BOY WAS I WRONG! I hope to god we just forget about this guy.