Z-Rex: The Cody Zeller Thread

[Liver_Pooty]

somebody needs to again tell me why this guy wont succeed in the NBA? its clear his game will be more like bosh than a banger inside. he has the size and mobility to play power forward. he runs the floor great, which is good for a team like ours. he will be a stretch four, something we could use. he appears to have the strength to at least be an average rebounder for his position. high bball IQ. are the only negatives that he wont be a shot blocker/rim protector and wont be a true back to the basket low post force? what else?

Why can't he be a low post force? He already has a decent post game

I am worried that those t-rex arms of his will make him struggle to get that beautiful shot off consistently against nba level defenders.

Bennett said in an interview after Wizards workout that his standing reach was 8'9. Zellers is 8'10 I believe.

[BeesWax]

If that's the case for Bennett he has the shortest standing reach of anyone other than the SG we are looking at. Only a half inch greater than Shabazz and half in shorter than Porter. Also 3 inches shorter than Derrick Williams, the tweener.

[Elden Payton]

Zeller's arms are nowhere near as bad as made out, I cannot think of a single reason to think he won't be a rich man's McBob at worst.

[SWedd523]

Zeller's arms are nowhere near as bad as made out, I cannot think of a single reason to think he won't be a rich man's McBob at worst.

His wingspan is only half an inch longer than our shooting guard Gerald Henderson.

It's over an inch shorter than our small forward MKG.
over 3 inches shorter than Jeff Adrien (6'6.5" in shoes)
2 inches shorter than McBob (Zeller is taller barefoot than Bob is in shoes)
7 inches shorter than Bismack (Zeller is taller barefoot than Biz is in shoes)


to just name some guys just on our team. For a 7 footer, he has short arms. There's no making an excuse for that. Especially in a league where length is so hugely important.

[Elden Payton]

Zeller's arms are nowhere near as bad as made out, I cannot think of a single reason to think he won't be a rich man's McBob at worst.

His wingspan is only half an inch longer than our shooting guard Gerald Henderson.

It's over an inch shorter than our small forward MKG.
over 3 inches shorter than Jeff Adrien (6'6.5" in shoes)
2 inches shorter than McBob (Zeller is taller barefoot than Bob is in shoes)
7 inches shorter than Bismack (Zeller is taller barefoot than Biz is in shoes)


to just name some guys just on our team. For a 7 footer, he has short arms. There's no making an excuse for that. Especially in a league where length is so hugely important.

Yes but my point is that it isn't as bad as made out to be.

It is 6'10.75 which is not as bad as the 6'8 reported and people still believe.

The only reason his wingspan is short is because of his height, as mentioned in this thread he has a standing reach advantage over Bennett and people think despite Bennett's height that he is big enough.

Zeller is big enough.

[SWedd523]

In fact, of all guys in DX's database who are at least 7'0" tall in shoes (some duplicates, but roughly 100 guys), only:

Kelly Olynyk (6'9.75")
Adam Woodbury (6'9" unofficial)
Marshall Plumlee (6'8.5" unofficial... yes there's another Plumlee)
Jakub Wojciechowski (6'10.68"... not sure of validity and no idea who he is)

have shorter wingspans. And only one (Olynyk) projects to be an NBA player.

[Elden Payton]

And not a single one of those players possesses the talent of Cody Zeller and they all have a lesser wingspan.

Olynyk for instance will be lottery most likely and Zeller is a much superior prospect to him.

I'm not saying that Zeller has a gigantic wingspan or that it isn't rather small for a 7' footer, I'm saying that it is big enough.

[SWedd523]

And not a single one of those players possesses the talent of Cody Zeller and they all have a lesser wingspan.

Well... duh. That's why I said "only X have shorter wingspans" because it would've taken much longer to list the 90 or so guys who have longer wingspans and "only one projects to be an NBA player" (which isn't a good thing, btw).

Olynyk for instance will be lottery most likely and Zeller is a much superior prospect to him.

I believe that's more an indication of the relative weakness of this draft class

I'm not saying that Zeller has a gigantic wingspan or that it isn't rather small for a 7' footer, I'm saying that it is big enough.

"big enough"? meh.. sure I guess. But it is still a concern in today's league.

Just in our division he'll be up against guys like Bosh (~5" longer wingspan), Horford (~2" longer), Vucevic (~6" longer), and Nene (~6" longer.

[BigSlam]

Zeller's arms are nowhere near as bad as made out, I cannot think of a single reason to think he won't be a rich man's McBob at worst.

Huh?!?!

Zeller is nothing at ALL like McBobcat.

They couldn't be more different - apart from both being white.

[Elden Payton]

And not a single one of those players possesses the talent of Cody Zeller and they all have a lesser wingspan.

Well... duh. That's why I said "only X have shorter wingspans" because it would've taken much longer to list the 90 or so guys who have longer wingspans and "only one projects to be an NBA player" (which isn't a good thing, btw).

Olynyk for instance will be lottery most likely and Zeller is a much superior prospect to him.

I believe that's more an indication of the relative weakness of this draft class

I'm not saying that Zeller has a gigantic wingspan or that it isn't rather small for a 7' footer, I'm saying that it is big enough.

"big enough"? meh.. sure I guess. But it is still a concern in today's league.

Just in our division he'll be up against guys like Bosh (~5" longer wingspan), Horford (~2" longer), Vucevic (~6" longer), and Nene (~6" longer.

Well duh of course you said that but what I meant was you didn't put anyone with relative wingspans in either, and, you didn't mention anything about the fact that none of them have Zeller's talent.

Secondly YOU believe it's an indication of the strength of this draft class but the fact is that Olynyk is most likely going lottery due to his skillset in comparison to the other prospects in this draft, Olynyk is in the top quarter of prospects in this draft and Zeller is much, much better than him.

Big enough is big enough, you list a bunch of Center's wingspans when Zeller is most likely going to be a PF at the next level and his wingspan is comparable to a guy like Horford who is more a 4 than a 5.

Zeller is fundamentally sound, athletic and has an awesome bball IQ but his wingspan is too short.

[Elden Payton]

Zeller's arms are nowhere near as bad as made out, I cannot think of a single reason to think he won't be a rich man's McBob at worst.

Huh?!?!

Zeller is nothing at ALL like McBobcat.

They couldn't be more different - apart from both being white.

Huh??!?!?!!?!?!?

McBob is an athletic, fundamental, high iq energy big, Zeller could be that with a post game and a consistent J.

McBob was a big time recruit out of HS and projected to be much better than he is, Zeller could be what McBob was supposed to be, which is current McBob with a post game and consistent J as mentioned.

How are they nothing at ALL alike?

[Elden Payton]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1643 ... raft-stock

Best BR article I reckon I've ever read.

[BigSlam]

Zeller's arms are nowhere near as bad as made out, I cannot think of a single reason to think he won't be a rich man's McBob at worst.

Huh?!?!

Zeller is nothing at ALL like McBobcat.

They couldn't be more different - apart from both being white.

Huh??!?!?!!?!?!?

McBob is an athletic, fundamental, high iq energy big, Zeller could be that with a post game and a consistent J.

McBob was a big time recruit out of HS and projected to be much better than he is, Zeller could be what McBob was supposed to be, which is current McBob with a post game and consistent J as mentioned.

How are they nothing at ALL alike?

How?

McBobcat has a horrible jump shot. Zellar does not.
McBobcat can play point forward. Zellar can not.
McBobcat has decent handles for a PF. Zellar does not.
McBobcat doesn't have a post game. Zellar does.
McBobcat plays with an edge. Zellar does not.

[BeesWax]

The fact is that he has a better standing reach than Bennett and people are touting him as some great 4. If we want a PF Zeller has all the required length and is a great athlete. He is better suited length wise to be a PF than Bennett is and has no health issues to deal with.

[Elden Payton]

The fact is that he has a better standing reach than Bennett and people are touting him as some great 4. If we want a PF Zeller has all the required length and is a great athlete. He is better suited length wise to be a PF than Bennett is and has no health issues to deal with.

This is all I'm saying.

[Elden Payton]

@Slam

Zeller is the better prospect for sure and I believe will be a better player than McBob but very much in the same mould, Zeller will be a complimentary big in the league and will bring the energy required on a nightly basis.

I really think Zeller is an underrated passer and he will make a living taking bigs off the dribble from the mid range in the league.

McBobcat is a better shooter than he shown us also, I believe his shoulder injury had something to do with it.

Your second and third points are exactly the same point about handles and playing point forward and your fifth point is moot because everyone plays with an edge in a contract year.

Zeller hustles like crazy and has great, absolutely great intangibles, he will have that edge over a lot of guys at the next level.

[SWedd523]

The fact is that he has a better standing reach than Bennett and people are touting him as some great 4. If we want a PF Zeller has all the required length and is a great athlete. He is better suited length wise to be a PF than Bennett is and has no health issues to deal with.

This is all I'm saying.

And it's a pretty terrible argument. Having better length than a relative midget doesn't mean one is adequate himself.

"He doesn't have good enough length"

"But he has better length than the guy who has the size of a small forward"

[SWedd523]

Big enough is big enough, you list a bunch of Center's wingspans when Zeller is most likely going to be a PF at the next level and his wingspan is comparable to a guy like Horford who is more a 4 than a 5.

And this makes no sense. I "listed a bunch of Centers"... except the guy who is more a 4 than a 5.

I didn't list a bunch of Centers either, anyway. I listed a bunch of guys he would realistically guard from teams only in our own division.

When we play the Heat, who would Zeller hypothetically be guarding? Bosh. Hawks? Horford. Magic? Vucevic (though I guess you could say Nicholson, but the point still stands since he's also much longer). and Wizards? Nene.

The simple fact is that he's going to lose the size battle to many of the guys he matches up against. It's an issue folks

[Eoghan]

I'm more worried about him playing small and not looking like the athlete he is in games than I am his wingspan. I don't think we'd be drafting him to become a DPOY candidate anyway.

[Elden Payton]

Big enough is big enough, you list a bunch of Center's wingspans when Zeller is most likely going to be a PF at the next level and his wingspan is comparable to a guy like Horford who is more a 4 than a 5.

And this makes no sense. I "listed a bunch of Centers"... except the guy who is more a 4 than a 5.

I didn't list a bunch of Centers either, anyway. I listed a bunch of guys he would realistically guard from teams only in our own division.

When we play the Heat, who would Zeller hypothetically be guarding? Bosh. Hawks? Horford. Magic? Vucevic (though I guess you could say Nicholson, but the point still stands since he's also much longer). and Wizards? Nene.

The simple fact is that he's going to lose the size battle to many of the guys he matches up against. It's an issue folks

The guy you listed who is more a 4 than a 5 plays obviously out of position.

I'd also imagine that he'd guard Haslem, Horford and Nicholson since Biz will guard the players you listed.

You also didn't mention that Zeller has the highest standing vert for a guy over 6'9 in over a decade...this helps negate the wingspan a bit and Zeller is big for a 4 in today's small ball NBA.