The Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss and Tyler Ulis highlight/homer thread

[OGBAH]

Throw some vids in here I'll have to check them out tomorrow thanks

[bwgood77]

Curious what people think....do you think the bust factor of both Chriss and Bender decreases a bit because they are not alone as new young bigs in the league and have each other? If they have a tough time or get frustrated or depressed or overwhelmed or whatever (like many others have like Kwame Brown and countless others) they can talk each other up. Plus I really think Watson is much better for two young guys like this than a guy like Thibs would be. Don't get me wrong, I think Thibs is a better and a great coach, but he is not the type of guy these guys need.

It's funny we get the three guys I talked a lot about in the draft forum...check this thread out.. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1442361

[MrMiyagi]

Curious what people think....do you think the bust factor of both Chriss and Bender decreases a bit because they are not alone as new young bigs in the league and have each other? If they have a tough time or get frustrated or depressed or overwhelmed or whatever (like many others have like Kwame Brown and countless others) they can talk each other up. Plus I really think Watson is much better for two young guys like this than a guy like Thibs would be. Don't get me wrong, I think Thibs is a better and a great coach, but he is not the type of guy these guys need.

I think that and Devin Booker is a young guy with great maturity and I think they'll all become good friends (Ulis too). I'm pretty sure Chriss has a greater bust percentage with other teams than with us because I think he and Watson clicked. I think we have realistic expectations for each of them and aren't going to put pressure on them, but we'll push them to become better and they'll push each other. Being drafted together, despite playing the same position, bodes well for their relationship because it means we want both of you together as opposed to drafting a guy a year later at the same position.

[8on]

Curious what people think....do you think the bust factor of both Chriss and Bender decreases a bit because they are not alone as new young bigs in the league and have each other? If they have a tough time or get frustrated or depressed or overwhelmed or whatever (like many others have like Kwame Brown and countless others) they can talk each other up. Plus I really think Watson is much better for two young guys like this than a guy like Thibs would be. Don't get me wrong, I think Thibs is a better and a great coach, but he is not the type of guy these guys need.

It's funny we get the three guys I talked a lot about in the draft forum...check this thread out.. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1442361

Sure, yeah. if Chriss loses confidence, Watson is there for him. If Bender gets frustrated because he's not producing, Chriss and everybody will be there.

i'm wondering if we'll actually sign Ulis. I hope so; i'd like him to get a chance to crack the rotation.

[8on]

Curious what people think....do you think the bust factor of both Chriss and Bender decreases a bit because they are not alone as new young bigs in the league and have each other? If they have a tough time or get frustrated or depressed or overwhelmed or whatever (like many others have like Kwame Brown and countless others) they can talk each other up. Plus I really think Watson is much better for two young guys like this than a guy like Thibs would be. Don't get me wrong, I think Thibs is a better and a great coach, but he is not the type of guy these guys need.

It's funny we get the three guys I talked a lot about in the draft forum...check this thread out.. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1442361

Sure, yeah. if Chriss loses confidence, Watson is there for him. If Bender gets frustrated because he's not producing, Chriss and everybody will be there.

i'm wondering if we'll actually sign Ulis. I hope so; i'd like him to get a chance to crack the rotation.

Why would we not sign Ulis? We will sign him. If we hadn't drafted a guard though, I'd be looking to add undrafted players like Payton, Baker and VanVleet to our summer league team.

Baker already signed a partially guaranteed contract with the Knicks. https://t.co/Cb6HfO1VOE

[WeekapaugGroove]

I love love love getting both bender and chriss. Two upside guys with different enough skill sets that they could play together. Came into the day worried a foolish move was coming but have to give mcd a thumbs up. Hope this is a sign they are ready for a real youth movement and a long view on team building.

[rsavaj]

I like it a lot.

In the post-draft presser, McD said they'd look to add one more guy at PF via FA, and he mentioned that Telly and Leuer are FAs who had good seasons in Suns unis.

If I had to guess, they'll re-sign Telly; I'd prefer Leuer, but Watson seemingly cooled on him last year.

I'd also love to keep Alan Williams. Guy played his heart out last year and he'd be an excellent end of the roster dude.

I'm in favor of a Knight trade, but until that happens, here's the depth chart as I see it now:

Bledsoe/Price/Ulis
Knight/Booker/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren
Teletovic/Bender/Chriss
Chandler/Len/Williams

I don't actually think Knight starting is the end of the world; he played much better next to Bledsoe than he did in any other scenario. I'd love him as the microwave guy off the bench, but maybe the best way to fully maximize Knight/Booker's production is to keep Knight paired with Bledsoe at all times. Booker can rain fire down on opposing bench units if need be.

I think Price, Tucker and Chandler will continue to play big roles in the rotation, since they're exactly the blue-collar, tough-nosed vet types that Watson salivates over.

Ideally, regardless of who starts, I'd want Booker to play more minutes than Knight, Warren more than Tucker, and Len more than Chandler.

Ulis, Bender and Chriss can rotate through the Prescott Suns and hopefully get some nice spot minutes this year with the main squad too. I hope Ulis/Booker get some real minutes together.

Archie.....man, I really don't know. There's currently no place for him in the rotation, and he'll continue to be on the outside looking in unless he makes SIGNIFICANT strides this year. He doesn't need to be a world-beater, and I know he's young, but he needs to show that he's a rotation player.

I don't care about the playoffs this season; I just want a team that's fun to watch, a team that seems like it's actually building towards something. Hard working guys who are getting better through the year...that's all I ask.

[Cactus Jack]

Bledsoe/Price/Ulis
Knight/Booker/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren
Teletovic/Bender/Chriss
Chandler/Len/Williams

Booker should start. Really no need for Price (33) w/ Ulis aboard imo. Need to stick with the young core (More minutes). Bender & or Chriss should also start. They need the most minutes. Why waste minutes on Teletovic? Sorry, I wouldn't bring him back either. Don't block their playing time.

[rsavaj]

Bledsoe/Price/Ulis
Knight/Booker/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren
Teletovic/Bender/Chriss
Chandler/Len/Williams

Booker should start. Really no need for Price (33) w/ Ulis aboard imo. Need to stick with the young core (More minutes). Bender & or Chriss should also start. They need the most minutes. Why waste minutes on Teletovic. Sorry, I wouldnt bring him back either.

lol don't ask me, McD's the guy who said he wanted to add a vet at PF.

He followed that statement with "we're not trying to be the youngest team in the league."

[Cactus Jack]

Bledsoe/Price/Ulis
Knight/Booker/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren
Teletovic/Bender/Chriss
Chandler/Len/Williams

Booker should start. Really no need for Price (33) w/ Ulis aboard imo. Need to stick with the young core (More minutes). Bender & or Chriss should also start. They need the most minutes. Why waste minutes on Teletovic. Sorry, I wouldnt bring him back either.

lol don't ask me, McD's the guy who said he wanted to add a vet at PF.

He followed that statement with "we're not trying to be the youngest team in the league."

To come off the bench maybe. IDk. Not a fan of Tele.

[bwgood77]

Bledsoe/Price/Ulis
Knight/Booker/Goodwin
Tucker/Warren
Teletovic/Bender/Chriss
Chandler/Len/Williams

Booker should start. Really no need for Price (33) w/ Ulis aboard imo. Need to stick with the young core (More minutes). Bender & or Chriss should also start. They need the most minutes. Why waste minutes on Teletovic. Sorry, I wouldnt bring him back either.

lol don't ask me, McD's the guy who said he wanted to add a vet at PF.

He followed that statement with "we're not trying to be the youngest team in the league."

Of course...those guys can't start...we need one of Telly and Leuer.

[Cactus Jack]

Booker should start. Really no need for Price (33) w/ Ulis aboard imo. Need to stick with the young core (More minutes). Bender & or Chriss should also start. They need the most minutes. Why waste minutes on Teletovic. Sorry, I wouldnt bring him back either.

lol don't ask me, McD's the guy who said he wanted to add a vet at PF.

He followed that statement with "we're not trying to be the youngest team in the league."

Of course...those guys can't start...we need one of Telly and Leuer.

Why shouldn't they start? You would start Telly/Leuer over them at this point?

[bwgood77]

lol don't ask me, McD's the guy who said he wanted to add a vet at PF.

He followed that statement with "we're not trying to be the youngest team in the league."

Of course...those guys can't start...we need one of Telly and Leuer.

Why shouldn't they start? You would start Telly/Leuer over them at this point?

You can't throw them to the wolves...these guys are freshmen in college age...and raw..give them minutes but don't destroy their confidence.

[TASTIC]

I think they'll re-sign Teletovic first. He's Bosnian obviously and Bender was born in Bosnia and didn't move to Croatia until he was 12 or something I read?

Long term I think McD definitely envisions Chriss at the 5 and Bender at the 4...

Will be very interesting to follow the off-season and see any quotes from Chandler.

[Cactus Jack]

Of course...those guys can't start...we need one of Telly and Leuer.

Why shouldn't they start? You would start Telly/Leuer over them at this point?

You can't throw them to the wolves...these guys are freshmen in college age...and raw..give them minutes but don't destroy their confidence.

Let them battle it out. No need to bring in a vet to take away minutes imo. You would be delaying their development.

[rsavaj]

lol don't ask me, McD's the guy who said he wanted to add a vet at PF.

He followed that statement with "we're not trying to be the youngest team in the league."

Of course...those guys can't start...we need one of Telly and Leuer.

Why shouldn't they start? You would start Telly/Leuer over them at this point?

McDonough said they're a long way away from being NBA ready right now.

[bwgood77]

Why shouldn't they start? You would start Telly/Leuer over them at this point?

You can't throw them to the wolves...these guys are freshmen in college age...and raw..give them minutes but don't destroy their confidence.

Let them battle it out. No need to bring in a vet to take away minutes imo. You would be delaying their development.

No, it would destroy their confidence. Both of these guys are WAY too raw. You should know that with Chriss as lost as he looked in college he can't start in the nba. Bender might be more ready but I want them to earn it against vets and not be handed anything.

[Damkac]

I will be OK if this would look like Teletovic - 20, Bender - 14, Chriss - 14
They need to develop and mature before playing big minutes.

[Cactus Jack]

Of course...those guys can't start...we need one of Telly and Leuer.

Why shouldn't they start? You would start Telly/Leuer over them at this point?

McDonough said they're a long way away from being NBA ready right now.

That's GM talk for downplaying "rookie expectations". Both could & should play a lot. Its not like this is a contending team as is. Let them play.

[bwgood77]

Why shouldn't they start? You would start Telly/Leuer over them at this point?

McDonough said they're a long way away from being NBA ready right now.

That's GM talk for downplaying "rookie expectations". Both could & should play a lot. Its not like this is a contending team as is. Let them play.

I've watched too many young guys get their confidence destroyed by doing that. These guys will come along fine...no need to rush it. They will not develop faster from playing....at least not yet...that works if you are not this raw, but not with these guys.