Welcome to Boston, Wenyen Gabriel! (Waived - peace out, Wenyen)

GoCeltics123 · Post #1 » by **GoCeltics123** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:01 pm

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steefP2 · Post #2 » by **steefP2** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:09 pm

Good offensive rebounder, functionally a 6-9 version of Lamar Stevens.

Patsfan1081 · Post #3 » by **Patsfan1081** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:14 pm

Kind of had to do this and prob the best option out there.

Post #4 » by **darrendaye** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:15 pm

Ok, credit to Brad for recognizing the need to hustle big and acting VERY quickly. I've had Gabriel on my "interesting" list since college.

Hal14 · Post #5 » by **Hal14** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:22 pm

TL/DR. I was kind of hoping for Biyombo instead, but Wenyen is younger, higher motor/higher energy, has more shooting potential and is the local kid so he's a solid pickup.

Well, my preference for this spot was Biyombo. Since he is a little bit bigger and bulkier, better equipped to bang inside with guys like Giannis and Brook. Better rebounder and shot blocker.

With that being said...

-Wenyen is like 5 years younger. Brad really seems to like adding guys who are in that range of age 26. Probably because it's that sweet spot where guys are further along in their development than a young 21 year old kid..but they're also not wicked old to the point where their body is breaking down, skill/speed/athleticism start declining, etc.

-Wenyen (from the film I've seen) seems to have a better motor, plays with more energy

-Biyombo is a complete non-shooter. While Wenyen isn't a good shooter, he at least has *some* shooting ability. If you're over 4 3PA per 100 possessions, you're at least somewhat of a shooting threat. Wenyen has been over that mark in 2 of his 4 NBA seasons. And last season he was just below it.

-Wenyen (as I've mentioned a few times now on here) is a local kid. From Africa originally, but moved with his family (a bunch of really good basketball players in his family, including Karima Gabriel who played at Depaul then BC then Cal State Fullerton) to Manchester, NH when he was in like 6th grade, I think it was. He's a really nice kid, I covered him quite a bit when I was a local basketball reporter back in the day. Always smiling, really polite. Happy guy, humble, will be good for vibes.

Wenyen has got to be super pumped to play for his hometown team. This is now 2 yrs in a row that we signed a local big right before training camp but I think Wenyen is better than Noah Vonleh so I am optimistic he will stick here. Vonleh's issue was he didn't seem to play with enough confidence, fouled too much on both ends of the floor (especially moving screens). I think Wenyen is a little better in these areas.

Lastly, we made this signing fast - right after we traded Rob. I've got a feeling we had Wenyen in for a workout and met with him earlier in the summer.

Semi-interesting storyline - who gets more minutes, Kornet or Gabriel? Honestly,I think it could go either way. Kornet probably starts off on the depth chart higher, just because he's been here longer so he knows the system, has developed chemistry with some of the guys already and stuff. But it wouldn't shock me if Gabriel leapfrogs him.

And the darkhorse is Queta. He'll start off behind both of them on the depth chart, but he's the youngest of the 3 so he's got upside..he's big, strong, can block shots, catch lobs, make some good passes. Who knows, he could emerge as that 3rd big and get his contract converted to a standard one.

MrGreenRunsDeep · Post #6 » by **MrGreenRunsDeep** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:25 pm

Hoping he won’t turn up like useless bum Baynes

Dogen · Post #7 » by **Dogen** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:33 pm

Hal14 wrote:Well, my preference for this spot was Biyombo. Since he is a little bit bigger and bulkier, better equipped to bang inside with guys like Giannis and Brook. Better rebounder and shot blocker.

With that being said...

-Wenyen is like 5 years younger. Brad really seems to like adding guys who are in that range of age 26. Probably because it's that sweet spot where guys are further along in their development than a young 21 year old kid..but they're also not wicked old to the point where their body is breaking down, skill/speed/athleticism start declining, etc.

-Wenyen (from the film I've seen) seems to have a better motor, plays with more energy

-Biyombo is a complete non-shooter. While Wenyen isn't a good shooter, he at least has *some* shooting ability. If you're over 4 3PA per 100 possessions, you're at least somewhat of a shooting threat. Wenyen has been over that mark in 2 of his 4 NBA seasons. And last season he was just below it.

-Wenyen (as I've mentioned a few times now on here) is a local kid. From Africa originally, but moved with his family (a bunch of really good basketball players in his family, including Karima Gabriel who played at Depaul then BC then Cal State Fullerton) to Manchester, NH when he was in like 6th grade, I think it was. He's a really nice kid, I covered him quite a bit when I was a local basketball reporter back in the day. Always smiling, really polite. Happy guy, humble, will be good for vibes.

Wenyen has got to be super pumped to play for his hometown team. This is now 2 yrs in a row that we signed a local big right before training camp but I think Wenyen is better than Noah Vonleh so I am optimistic he will stick here. Vonleh's issue was he didn't seem to play with enough confidence, fouled too much on both ends of the floor (especially moving screens). I think Wenyen is a little better in these areas.

I thought Brad would go with more experienced vet here, like Biyombo, but I prefer this signing. After the Celtics signed Queta, I figured they would not go with another younger guy like Gabriel. However, Gabriel does fit the Rob mold a bit better, whereas Queta can come up for certain matchups like Embiid.

I was all about Gabriel in one of the trade threads (9th, 10th?), so to land him on the eve of the season, along with Jrue, is just outstanding. Queta is a bit more raw, so having Gabrial at the 15th spot and Queta on 2-Way is great.

Brad Stevens is running the league.

steefP2 · Post #8 » by **steefP2** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:33 pm

Hal14 wrote:Well, my preference for this spot was Biyombo. Since he is a little bit bigger and bulkier, better equipped to bang inside with guys like Giannis and Brook. Better rebounder and shot blocker.

With that being said...

-Wenyen is like 5 years younger. Brad really seems to like adding guys who are in that range of age 26. Probably because it's that sweet spot where guys are further along in their development than a young 21 year old kid..but they're also not wicked old to the point where their body is breaking down, skill/speed/athleticism start declining, etc.

-Wenyen (from the film I've seen) seems to have a better motor, plays with more energy

-Biyombo is a complete non-shooter. While Wenyen isn't a good shooter, he at least has *some* shooting ability. If you're over 4 3PA per 100 possessions, you're at least somewhat of a shooting threat. Wenyen has been over that mark in 2 of his 4 NBA seasons. And last season he was just below it.

-Wenyen (as I've mentioned a few times now on here) is a local kid. From Africa originally, but moved with his family (a bunch of really good basketball players in his family, including Karima Gabriel who played at Depaul then BC then Cal State Fullerton) to Manchester, NH when he was in like 6th grade, I think it was. He's a really nice kid, I covered him quite a bit when I was a local basketball reporter back in the day. Always smiling, really polite. Happy guy, humble, will be good for vibes.

Wenyen has got to be super pumped to play for his hometown team. This is now 2 yrs in a row that we signed a local big right before training camp but I think Wenyen is better than Noah Vonleh so I am optimistic he will stick here. Vonleh's issue was he didn't seem to play with enough confidence, fouled too much on both ends of the floor (especially moving screens). I think Wenyen is a little better in these areas.

Lastly, we made this signing fast - right after we traded Rob. I've got a feeling we had Wenyen in for a workout and met with him earlier in the summer.

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return2glory · Post #9 » by **return2glory** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:39 pm

Watch on YouTube

Dogen · Post #10 » by **Dogen** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:42 pm

Patsfan1081 wrote:Kind of had to do this and prob the best option out there.

Gabriel will be able to contribute with Rob gone. Best option, yes, but it's not like we're scraping the bottom of the barrel. Gabriel played some good minutes for LA last year. They got Vanderbilt and then Wood, so Gabriel was sort of odd man out, or he likely would have resigned there.

I'm surprised that some of these guys were on the market for so long. Brad has been patient, and he's gotten a few gems at good value.

ajones9219 · Post #11 » by **ajones9219** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:43 pm

Loved this dude for LA last year. Big get

31to6 · Post #12 » by **31to6** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 7:50 pm

Great! Wanted Blake, but this guy has some real upside to develop into a rotation player.

Thank you to Hal14 for providing thorough scouting on him now and previously.

return2glory · Post #13 » by **return2glory** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 8:11 pm

The Celtics were soft last year.

Brad added Jrue, Stevens, Brissitt and Gabriel now. They went from soft to scary. All these guys play defense and play with toughness.

lon3lytoaster · Post #14 » by **lon3lytoaster** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 8:42 pm

Snatching Holiday, Stevens and Gabriel at basically the 11th hour is a masterclass by Stevens and Zarren

playa-hater · Post #15 » by **playa-hater** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 9:12 pm

Like RW, WG plays bigger than his listed height. Can't see how anyone would complain. Has league experience despite being somewhat young. Another hungry Big-body to battle for time = good pickup Brad.

31to6 · Post #16 » by **31to6** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 10:32 pm

I like him and I like the signing, but stat nerds: his +/- doesn't look very good so far in his career? That was, of course, a Rob Willimas III speciality.

ConstableGeneva · Post #17 » by **ConstableGeneva** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 10:57 pm

31to6 wrote:I like him and I like the signing, but stat nerds: his +/- doesn't look very good so far in his career? That was, of course, a Rob Willimas III speciality.

Dunno about +/- but he will help with the interior defense. Boomer like Al still keeping up with these Gen Zs.

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31to6 · Post #18 » by **31to6** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 11:00 pm

ConstableGeneva wrote:
31to6 wrote:I like him and I like the signing, but stat nerds: his +/- doesn't look very good so far in his career? That was, of course, a Rob Willimas III speciality.

Dunno about +/- but he will help with the interior defense. Boomer like Al still keeping up with these Gen Zs.

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thanks Constable -- impressive!
(and validating: loved WCJ and Okongwu in their drafts:)

ConstableGeneva · Post #19 » by **ConstableGeneva** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 11:06 pm

31to6 wrote:
ConstableGeneva wrote:
31to6 wrote:I like him and I like the signing, but stat nerds: his +/- doesn't look very good so far in his career? That was, of course, a Rob Willimas III speciality.

Dunno about +/- but he will help with the interior defense. Boomer like Al still keeping up with these Gen Zs.

Read on Twitter

thanks Constable -- impressive!
(and validating: loved WCJ and Okongwu in their drafts:)

+/- is also less meaningful for fringe rotation players in a few seasons esp on a bad team. More telling for core guys across several seasons on good teams.

SlimShady83 · Post #20 » by **SlimShady83** » Sun Oct 1, 2023 11:12 pm

As a Kobe/Laker fan, and seeing Wenyen play, his a good hustle energy type of guy, can help your team out In that. doesn't really have a jump shot, plays ok defense, but you all will love the hustle energy he brings he also a good rebounder, not great, but will get the job done.