Official 2013 Draft Thread - Part VI

[AFM]

PS, Bennett has a 7 foot 1 wingspan. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a pretty decent standing reach.

[mohammed10]

But it's also worth pointing out that LJ was 22 when he was a rookie and thus had a more mature body than Bennett.

Quite true. I was merely using LJ as a frame of reference for Bennett. After reviewing film on both players, I thought that LJ's game was closer to Bennett's than say, ZBo (Zach Randolph).

[stevemcqueen1]

But it's also worth pointing out that LJ was 22 when he was a rookie and thus had a more mature body than Bennett.

Quite true. I was merely using LJ as a frame of reference for Bennett. After reviewing film on both players, I thought that LJ's game was closer to Bennett's than say, ZBo (Zach Randolph).

I think there is a lot of similarity in the skill sets and the way they play. Both short, aggressive, powerful PFs with a perimeter game. And it's weird they're both highly touted UNLV guys. I remember thinking about the LJ comparison frequently when watching Bennett this season. It's pretty palpable.

The differences that I see between them are the bodies with LJ being slimmer and better conditioned. Thus he ran the floor harder and played with more energy inside the lane IMO. And he was probably more comfortable operating from the low post than Bennett. On the flip side, Bennett is ahead of LJ as a shooter. He's going to come into the league younger than LJ and with a reliable 3 point shot already developed. LJ didn't develop his 3 ball until his fourth year after he hurt his back and couldn't go up over top of people in the paint any more.

So as always, you can pick out differences that keep it from being a clean comparison. But there is definitely some meat to it IMO.

[sfam]

But it's also worth pointing out that LJ was 22 when he was a rookie and thus had a more mature body than Bennett.

Quite true. I was merely using LJ as a frame of reference for Bennett. After reviewing film on both players, I thought that LJ's game was closer to Bennett's than say, ZBo (Zach Randolph).

LJ is still probably the closest comparison we can find to Bennett's upper end (LJ was absolutely a superstar before he got injured). The reason people are high on Bennett is they do believe he has the potential to be a superstar on offense. Not only does he have a great first step and fast release (and great handles for his size), he seems to decide instantly on what to do. There is no dribbling and deciding with Bennett. To me this shows a high level BBIQ on offense with a real attacker's instinct. Defensive and injury concerns aside, its a pretty good bet that Bennett will be able to score in volume from the PF position, and that he will continue to add to his offensive repertoire.

[AFM]

Bennett = LJ w/ Derrick Rose's crossover and Reggie Miller's 3 point shot

[Ruzious]

More bothersome than not having a current height on Bennett is that there was never a standing reach measurement for him - at least not public. If it was because his arm was sore - why not just measure with the other arm? There are just too many questions about him, imo. Maybe the Wiz have been able to get some answers. Who knows? My guess? Bennett does not go in the top 10.

[mohammed10]

Bennett = LJ w/ Derrick Rose's crossover and Reggie Miller's 3 point shot

AFM - pretty high praise. I suspect that Bennett will have a better midrange (15-18 ft) and definitely has better handles than LJ, but Grandmamma has much better rebounding skills and defensive acumen.

[verbal8]

The closest comp, I can come up with for Bennett is a better shooting Corliss Williamson. I guess it really isn't that far off from the Rodney Rogers comp. Both players would probably be roughly the 10th to 12th picks if their drafts were re-done. Having a 3 point shot(Williamson) or more 2 point efficency(Rodgers) probably would have moved up a few spots, but not really seeing a top 5 player.

[sfam]

More bothersome than not having a current height on Bennett is that there was never a standing reach measurement for him - at least not public. If it was because his arm was sore - why not just measure with the other arm? There are just too many questions about him, imo. Maybe the Wiz have been able to get some answers. Who knows? My guess? Bennett does not go in the top 10.

You gotta think the Wizards will be able to interview and measure him at some point.

[montestewart]

Bennett = LJ w/ Derrick Rose's crossover and Reggie Miller's 3 point shot

Hope he doesn't have Johnson's back and Rose's knee. He doesn't have Miller's ears. I already checked.

[Ruzious]

More bothersome than not having a current height on Bennett is that there was never a standing reach measurement for him - at least not public. If it was because his arm was sore - why not just measure with the other arm? There are just too many questions about him, imo. Maybe the Wiz have been able to get some answers. Who knows? My guess? Bennett does not go in the top 10.

You gotta think the Wizards will be able to interview and measure him at some point.

Maybe, but I don't buy the report(s) that the Wiz really have an interest in him, so they'll be fine keeping the mystery. Then again, I didn't think they really wanted Vesely.

[sfam]

More bothersome than not having a current height on Bennett is that there was never a standing reach measurement for him - at least not public. If it was because his arm was sore - why not just measure with the other arm? There are just too many questions about him, imo. Maybe the Wiz have been able to get some answers. Who knows? My guess? Bennett does not go in the top 10.

You gotta think the Wizards will be able to interview and measure him at some point.

Maybe, but I don't buy the report(s) that the Wiz really have an interest in him, so they'll be fine keeping the mystery. Then again, I didn't think they really wanted Vesely.

Yeah, good thing that Vesely interest thing was a front. EG must play his cards really close to the vest.

Too bad he has the face cards facing outwards.....

[sfam]

Bennett = LJ w/ Derrick Rose's crossover and Reggie Miller's 3 point shot

Hope he doesn't have Johnson's back and Rose's knee. He doesn't have Miller's ears. I already checked.

I might be able to live with Rose's knee, just don't let Bennett anywhere near his heart.

[tontoz]

Bennett = LJ w/ Derrick Rose's crossover and Reggie Miller's 3 point shot

AFM - pretty high praise. I suspect that Bennett will have a better midrange (15-18 ft) and definitely has better handles than LJ, but Grandmamma has much better rebounding skills and defensive acumen.

He was joking lol.

[verbal8]

More bothersome than not having a current height on Bennett is that there was never a standing reach measurement for him - at least not public. If it was because his arm was sore - why not just measure with the other arm? There are just too many questions about him, imo. Maybe the Wiz have been able to get some answers. Who knows? My guess? Bennett does not go in the top 10.

I agree on the questions. I think in this draft Bennett is a top 10 pick. DX has him at 6. I could see McCollum, Burke and Zeller jumping in front of him. However taking a guy like Shabazz or Adams is IMO a big reach if Bennett is on the board.

[AFM]

I was kidding guys. I meant that he has Chris Paul's crossover and MJ's fadeaway. I've seen some glimpses of Kareem's post game as well.

[stevemcqueen1]

Meh, I see more of Hakeem's post game and Mutumbo's shotblocking mixed with AI's handles personally. And Karl Malone's hand on the neck dunk.

[AFM]

Porter = Tayshaun Prince with Vesely's 3 point shot, Yao Ming's jab step, and Nick Young's court vision.

[pancakes3]

Prince won a ring, Yao made the all-star team every season he played (even in 2011 when he only played 5 games), and Swaggy P had a 40 in vert. Sign me up!

[montestewart]

Yao had more twitter followers than everyone else in the NBA combined.

Take that, Kobron.