#3 pick

[simon24]

I'd take Bender. He'd be an upgrade from Amir.

[Domejandro]

I'd take Bender. He'd be an upgrade from Amir.

Not immediately, he is going to take a fair amount of development time.

[Parliament10]

Bender turns 19, on Nov, 17.
Does that mean, that he can't play an NBA game, until his birthday?

[Parliament10]

NBA Draft: Why Dragan Bender is a Top Pick
KYLE ARTUS | APR 13, 2016



http://kyleartus.sportsblog.com/posts/15867107/nba-draft--why-dragan-bender-is-a-top-pick.html

Dragan Bender is 18 years old and already 7’1” with a standing reach of 9’3”. He has great size for the NBA whether he is playing the 3, 4, or 5. He is the youngest prospect in this draft class, but does not lack experience playing against good competition. He has recently played in the Euroleague, the EuroCup, and the Israeli League.

Bender’s skill set is what makes him truly unique and is why any team could appreciate his talents and utilize him. At over 7 feet tall, Bender is prolific shooter for his size. This season, he shot 22-49 from 3 point range (45%), an admittedly small sample size, but reports from his practices say that he routinely strokes from long range. Watching him play, you see that Bender has terrific mechanics that make for a smooth shot. You can see the progression that he has made in this area too. If you watch highlights from a year or two ago, you notice a hitch in his shot and the fact that his shots have very little arc on them. Watching him play this year however, you notice that the shot is much smoother and looks like a rainbow falling into the hoop.

He is also and adept ball handler and playmaker, especially for being a 7 footer. Bender possesses excellent court vision and has no problem leading a fast break. You will see him oftentimes grabbing a rebound and starting the break himself, with him either going coast to coast or making a pass leading to a layup. He also runs the court very well, a great quality to have out of your big men. If you can get a 7 footer out in front of the defense, you’re going to get a lot of easy layups and dunks.

[thegreenlife]

I voted to keep the pick, although I think we obviously trade for Butler or Cousins, it is just unlikely they will be available at that price. I was watching the draft express videos and it really looks like Jaylen Brown is a complete player. SG which is a position of need for us, good size and strength, aggressive mentality, great rebounder, versatile scorer, quick driver, solid finisher, high defensive potential. The only real weaknesses they list are decision making, and based on the clips his errors were all with ambitious passes and drives... would rather have that than a timid mentality.

Ingram would be my second favorite, but he doesn't have a killer instinct, he is also bone skinny and gets abused on defense and finishing around the basket. Simmons can't shoot, Bender looks worse than Olynyk in every way. If we get Brown I'll be happy, still decent odds he could be better than the others. Most likely to be a starter day 1.

I like Brown too. He may end up the best player in this draft.

I also think that Brown could end up being the best player in this draft- his ability to attack the rim is elite, he's strong and has great defensive upside... But his lack of a jumpshot concerns me. From day one, defenders are going to slouch back a little bit on the perimeter. He's going to kill spacing

[Writebloc]

Melo?

Please no.

Oh hell no.

It's someone so boring, so unexciting, so fitting and so expected, it hasn't been mentioned here in quite some time.

Weeks, at least.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/gallinari8888/status/731117799184203777[/tweet]

3 & 16 for Gallo and 7...

No Gallo...

[Domejandro]

Bender turns 19, on Nov, 17.
Does that mean, that he can't play an NBA game, until his birthday?

Nope, he should be able to play immediately.


As a side-note, I am digging for sources, but here is a quick article from (bleh) Bleacher Report that shows that Boston got credentials to watch Bender over the summer of 2015. I am positive the interest is further back than that, but this is one example. It is a terrible example, given that it clearly states almost every team is watching him, but I am working on finding better ones in the mean time; it may have been a European source which makes finding it a longer process than expected.

Sources told Bleacher Report that almost all NBA teams have issued passes to watch Bender, with the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic engaging in discussions with Maccabi officials. The Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks have also been issued credentials.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2573742-meet-17-year-old-european-dragan-bender-who-could-be-2016s-kristaps-porzingis

[Egregiousness]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPgfRKA8ISM

sounds like a steven's guy to me.

[tlee324]

Bender, unless you can get Butler in a good deal.

[Rentier]

Please no.

Oh hell no.

It's someone so boring, so unexciting, so fitting and so expected, it hasn't been mentioned here in quite some time.

Weeks, at least.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/gallinari8888/status/731117799184203777[/tweet]
W
3 & 16 for Gallo and 7...

No Gallo...

In a second but would Denver do it?

[Parliament10]

Bender turns 19, on Nov, 17.
Does that mean, that he can't play an NBA game, until his birthday?

Nope, he should be able to play immediately.

Why do you say that?
NBA players have to be 19, right?
Doesn't that include Euro players?

[Bleeding Green]

I want Bender (or Simmons or Ingram if one inexplicably falls) unless they can use the pick to acquire a talent equivalent to Isaiah Thomas, which seems unlikely. So if you're putting odds I'd say: 70 pct draft Bender, 22 pct trade pick with other pieces for top-15 talent, 7 pct draft Ingram, 1 pct draft Simmons.

[SichtingLives]

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/european-dispatch--getting-to-know-dragan-bender-195451386.html

Good Bender article from a few months ago. Very favorable about his motor, work ethic, etc.

Bender is a competitor who has a relentless motor. He was forced to sit out the initial part of a recent practice we attended to continue to rehab his foot injury (causing most of the dozen NBA scouts in attendance to leave), but begged his way back onto the floor. He proceeded to throw his body around with reckless abandon in five-on-five action. Maccabi’s staff urged him to take it easy, but Bender simply doesn’t know how to do that at this point in his career. He ended up tweaking his ankle after pursuing a rebound, which finally put him back on the sidelines.

“The kid is simply special,” a member of Maccabi’s coaching told The Vertical. “I’ve never been around someone that age with that kind of character. He’s not afraid of anything or anyone.”

In his own words
“When you step onto the court, its either 100 percent or it’s zero. … I did put a lot of work in the weight room, but I tried not to lose agility. It’s important for me not to lose all those things, to keep my quickness and speed. I am definitely not in a rush with the physical part. I am in a rush with all these fundamental things. I know that this physical part will come with the years and the extra work, with food supplements and food programs. Those things are going to come, I am focused on these little things, these little details in my game.”

This sounds like he drinks from the fountain of Garnett. A cerebral perfectionist who wants to be great and wants to work for it. I hope he shows well for us. If we can take fliers and throw multiple years of development at Sully and KO, I think we can give this kid a shot. And if he can be a strong team defender capable of guarding the perimeter as well as altering shots (and we stick Whiteside in the middle), hot damn we could have one hell of a defensive core for the future.

[jfs1000d]

I don't mind hanging on to bender, but I am. It sure I want to hear all the whining when he comes off the bench or plays sparingly because KO or Amir is ahead of him in rotation.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Domejandro]

Bender turns 19, on Nov, 17.
Does that mean, that he can't play an NBA game, until his birthday?

Nope, he should be able to play immediately.

Why do you say that?
NBA players have to be 19, right?
Doesn't that include Euro players?

If the person's nineteenth birthday falls within the calendar year of the Draft, they are eligible, from my understanding of the rule. Given that he has played professional basketball in Europe, he bypasses the one-year college eligibility rule, though hypothetically a U.S. player would also be eligible, assuming they played at least on season of College basketball, or one year in the NBA Developmental-League under the same circumstances of entering the league at eighteen (assuming that their nineteenth birthday is within the calendar year).

[return2glory]

I voted to keep the pick, although I think we obviously trade for Butler or Cousins, it is just unlikely they will be available at that price. I was watching the draft express videos and it really looks like Jaylen Brown is a complete player. SG which is a position of need for us, good size and strength, aggressive mentality, great rebounder, versatile scorer, quick driver, solid finisher, high defensive potential. The only real weaknesses they list are decision making, and based on the clips his errors were all with ambitious passes and drives... would rather have that than a timid mentality.

Ingram would be my second favorite, but he doesn't have a killer instinct, he is also bone skinny and gets abused on defense and finishing around the basket. Simmons can't shoot, Bender looks worse than Olynyk in every way. If we get Brown I'll be happy, still decent odds he could be better than the others. Most likely to be a starter day 1.

Brown didn't show up in the Tournament. Another year of college ball would have been good for him.

[Writebloc]

So I think Isaiah was the perfect choice to represent the Celtics in the draft, broke our curse of moving backwards, but I think we can all agree that he just came up a little bit short.



Sorry Truth, I had to steal it, I love it so much!!!

[76ciology]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-kris-dunn-bulls-nba-draft-combine-spt-0514-20160513-story.html

Bulls are interested in Dunn. You guys may try for Jimmy Butler.

Once Butler is in, you guys may attract big time FA in offseason.

Source?

[return2glory]

I know we are loaded in the backcourt but Hield or Dunn. Maybe even Murray.

Kris Dunn can do a lot of things well on the court. His change of direction is so good. He has a nice touch on his shot. Great at getting to the basket and finishing. Really quick and fast like Westbrook. Kid plays defense, gets steals. Handle the ball really well, passed well. Shoots the ball with a high release.

[Banks2Pierce]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-kris-dunn-bulls-nba-draft-combine-spt-0514-20160513-story.html

Bulls are interested in Dunn. You guys may try for Jimmy Butler.

Once Butler is in, you guys may attract big time FA in offseason.

Source?

I find that interesting. A puff piece about a draft prospect they have no chance of taking with their pick from a reporter that clearly has an in to some of their management group.