[OhCanada-Participant]

 

 First of all he is not a bust. Usually the guys that end up being a bust either lacked skill, size, or athletisism, relied too heavily on skill, size, or athleticism, had weak mentalities/work ethics or were injury prone. Bender has great size, skill, and athleticism but what separates him from most prospects like his most obvious comparison (Kristaps) is his competitiveness. He has complete backing from Croatia Basketball legends and euro legends alike and has all the guidance in the world to stay grounded.

He is 7’1 with good length and excellent ability for his size. His skill level at 18 is high as is hisIQ. He can stretch the floor which is such an important tool for bits to have in the NBA today.

 The only problem for Bender to settle into his projected stretch big role is his current size which is likely somewhere around 220-230. He hasn’t quite learned how to deal with physicality of a mans league. Although I’m confident he will eventually gain the muscle and be a scrappy big that mixes it up because he does not shy away from contact.

Now he likely won’t be ready to take the league by storm the way KP has becausehee has way less experience playing overall being 2 years younger and less experience with physicality and a high paced game.

The one thing I’m not sure about regarding the kid is his contract. Can it be bought out? I know he has a 4 year contract with a 3 year option but what’s the buyout situation?

 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

I’m keen to see what he’s got. But I want to see him play 30 minutes a game regularly somewhere before I can get too enthusiastic.

As long as you aren’t Skal Labissiere soft, I don’t think his weight is an issue. Plenty of skinny 7footers have been great players in the NBA…and aside from a couple of notable exceptions like shaq…the big 300lb guys have struggled. It took guys like Bogut and Marc Gasol a lot of weight management before they played their best.

Its more about motor, intensity and effort these days at the C position, in additon to skill. My good friend Euroballer says his motor isnt great…which is a red flag. So his skills really need to compensate at Pau Gasol levels to warrant a top 5 pick.

 

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 Bender is a PF, not a C. I can guarantee he is not a C. He’s basically Yi Jianlian with a better 3 point shot, and much less strength.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 Bender is a PF, not a C. I can guarantee he is not a C. He’s basically Yi Jianlian with a better 3 point shot, and much less strength.

[Hype Machine]

I’m keen to see what he’s got. But I want to see him play 30 minutes a game regularly somewhere before I can get too enthusiastic.

As long as you aren’t Skal Labissiere soft, I don’t think his weight is an issue. Plenty of skinny 7footers have been great players in the NBA…and aside from a couple of notable exceptions like shaq…the big 300lb guys have struggled. It took guys like Bogut and Marc Gasol a lot of weight management before they played their best.

Its more about motor, intensity and effort these days at the C position, in additon to skill. My good friend Euroballer says his motor isnt great…which is a red flag. So his skills really need to compensate at Pau Gasol levels to warrant a top 5 pick.

 

[Bankroll PJParticipant]

I think SOME people, and I won’t say most or many cuz it’s probably a minority, just say he’s a bust because they’re ignorant. And by ignorant I mean they only know of him through a couple of highlights, haven’t heard much of him since he’s foreign, and discount him because he fit’s the profile of many other foreign prospects who have not lived up to their potential in the NBA as the elite 7 footer with perimeter skills

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I think SOME people, and I won’t say most or many cuz it’s probably a minority, just say he’s a bust because they’re ignorant.

————————————-

Are people already saying he’s a "bust"? I haven’t heard anyone on this site say that…the guy hasn’t played a single game yet. However to alot of casual fans (myself included) he is a bit of an unknown commodity and we’re holding off on coming to a conclusion until we see more of him…seems pretty reasonable I would think.

NBA scouts on the other hand have access to a lot more of his game tape and will probably get to see more of him in person during workouts so once they start talking about him to the media I might start to get excited.

 

 

 

[markfitz14Participant]

 The dude looks like a high pick. Much like KP draft day work outs for teams will show a lot. KP looked amazing in his workouts. That is the video I will be waiting for.

[markfitz14Participant]

 The dude looks like a high pick. Much like KP draft day work outs for teams will show a lot. KP looked amazing in his workouts. That is the video I will be waiting for.

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

I think SOME people, and I won’t say most or many cuz it’s probably a minority, just say he’s a bust because they’re ignorant.

————————————-

Are people already saying he’s a "bust"? I haven’t heard anyone on this site say that…the guy hasn’t played a single game yet. However to alot of casual fans (myself included) he is a bit of an unknown commodity and we’re holding off on coming to a conclusion until we see more of him…seems pretty reasonable I would think.

NBA scouts on the other hand have access to a lot more of his game tape and will probably get to see more of him in person during workouts so once they start talking about him to the media I might start to get excited.

 

 

 

[Bankroll PJParticipant]

I think SOME people, and I won’t say most or many cuz it’s probably a minority, just say he’s a bust because they’re ignorant. And by ignorant I mean they only know of him through a couple of highlights, haven’t heard much of him since he’s foreign, and discount him because he fit’s the profile of many other foreign prospects who have not lived up to their potential in the NBA as the elite 7 footer with perimeter skills

[Robb_CParticipant]

Hes a project first and foremost, Hes not nearly as skilled offensively as Kristap but has the potential to be a solid low post scorer with added size, He also projects to be a pretty solid defender in due time if he can get stronger.. Right now his strongest parts of his game that will translate to the NBA is his Rebounding and Passing Ability for his size..

In my opinion hes not ready to provide solid minutes in the league right now, Hes a few years away.

[MopgrassParticipant]

When we get a Euro guy that exceeds expectations, we go nuts the following few years hoping to draft the same exact player again. It happened with Dirk and Kristaps will cause the same thing. No one should draft Brnder thinking they’re getting some version of Kristaps. Let him be his own player. I don’t have him as a top 5 guy, but hey, I didn’t have Kristsps top 5 until that New York workout (where he looked like he advanced leaps and bounds), 

[MopgrassParticipant]

When we get a Euro guy that exceeds expectations, we go nuts the following few years hoping to draft the same exact player again. It happened with Dirk and Kristaps will cause the same thing. No one should draft Brnder thinking they’re getting some version of Kristaps. Let him be his own player. I don’t have him as a top 5 guy, but hey, I didn’t have Kristsps top 5 until that New York workout (where he looked like he advanced leaps and bounds), 

[Robb_CParticipant]

Hes a project first and foremost, Hes not nearly as skilled offensively as Kristap but has the potential to be a solid low post scorer with added size, He also projects to be a pretty solid defender in due time if he can get stronger.. Right now his strongest parts of his game that will translate to the NBA is his Rebounding and Passing Ability for his size..

In my opinion hes not ready to provide solid minutes in the league right now, Hes a few years away.

[DolanCareParticipant]

The problem that will haunt him is his mobility, not size. We no longer live in the Ewing’s Knicks era, fellas. Being able to shoulder shiver Alonzo Mourning in order to get your shot off is no longer a prerequiste. 

What is a prerequiste is not being run off the floor. 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Maybe I am misinterpreting what you are trying to say, but are you kidding me?  Have you even watched any of Bender?  His mobility is probably in the 99 percentile for dudes who are 7’1".  That part of his game is absolutely ELITE.  If he can gain about 15 to 20 lbs of muscle he will retain most of his mobility and he will be able to man the 5 spot the majority of his minutes.  He will routinely be the fastest 5 man in the league, barring when he plays against someone like WCS perhaps.

In fact, right now he is so mobile, that I consider him more of a 3/4 than a 4/5.  However, in the long run I think the best position for him will be at the 4/5 if he proves that he can protect the rim at a decent clip.

Mobility is not even close to being an issue with him.

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Maybe I am misinterpreting what you are trying to say, but are you kidding me?  Have you even watched any of Bender?  His mobility is probably in the 99 percentile for dudes who are 7’1".  That part of his game is absolutely ELITE.  If he can gain about 15 to 20 lbs of muscle he will retain most of his mobility and he will be able to man the 5 spot the majority of his minutes.  He will routinely be the fastest 5 man in the league, barring when he plays against someone like WCS perhaps.

In fact, right now he is so mobile, that I consider him more of a 3/4 than a 4/5.  However, in the long run I think the best position for him will be at the 4/5 if he proves that he can protect the rim at a decent clip.

Mobility is not even close to being an issue with him.

 

 

 

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 He’s not going to be a C. He is very weak physically and can’t guard any power forwards in Euroleague on strength. To think he can play C by just adding 15-20 pounds is nonsense. It is not happening. Even if he did an Ante Tomic and added like 50-60 pounds, he will still be weak and soft if he is playing C, just like Tomic is.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 He’s not going to be a C. He is very weak physically and can’t guard any power forwards in Euroleague on strength. To think he can play C by just adding 15-20 pounds is nonsense. It is not happening. Even if he did an Ante Tomic and added like 50-60 pounds, he will still be weak and soft if he is playing C, just like Tomic is.

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 I think Bender is way more mobile than Porzingis is. By Euroleague standards (and Porzingis did not even play at Euroleague level) Porzingis is slow, very slow for a center.

Is he having any problems playing in the NBA? 

Bender is much quicker and faster than Porzingis is. 

Bender’s problem is he is very weak physically. He’s pretty much the physically weakest power forward in the Euroleague, Well, he was when his team was in Euroleague. When they went down to the Eurocup level, he was still too weak against other power forwards.

His issue is strength. Not speed or quickness. For a 7-1 guy he is really mobile. I mean he is much more mobile than Dirk.

 

 

 

 

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 I think Bender is way more mobile than Porzingis is. By Euroleague standards (and Porzingis did not even play at Euroleague level) Porzingis is slow, very slow for a center.

Is he having any problems playing in the NBA? 

Bender is much quicker and faster than Porzingis is. 

Bender’s problem is he is very weak physically. He’s pretty much the physically weakest power forward in the Euroleague, Well, he was when his team was in Euroleague. When they went down to the Eurocup level, he was still too weak against other power forwards.

His issue is strength. Not speed or quickness. For a 7-1 guy he is really mobile. I mean he is much more mobile than Dirk.

 

 

 

 

[DolanCareParticipant]

The problem that will haunt him is his mobility, not size. We no longer live in the Ewing’s Knicks era, fellas. Being able to shoulder shiver Alonzo Mourning in order to get your shot off is no longer a prerequiste. 

What is a prerequiste is not being run off the floor. 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 His buyout could be the biggest stumbling block, would a team use a potential top 3 to 5 pick to take a guy who won’t play an NBA game for a couple of years (insert Sam Hinkie joke here). Seriously the Raptors took Jonas V at 5 in 2011 and left him abroad for a year so if Bender could guarantee that he’d be in the NBA for say 2017/18 then his draft position may hold up fairly well. He wouldn’t go top 3 IMO but could go top 5-7 easily.

He looks to have great mobility for his size and should be able to add weight in due course especially with elite NBA fitness/nutritionist staff. 

I fully agree that he is a project and may not contribute a huge amount in year 1 in the NBA, but he could be mentored and play his fair share of garbage minutes to give him oncourt experience.

I still haven’t seen enough of this guy in action yet to fully rate him against the NCAA guys but from what I have seen and gleaned from all the relevant prospect sites he is a very interesting prospect and is this years unknown quantity in the draft.

His draft stock will hugely depend on his workouts and meetings with teams but as always it only needs one Front Office high in the draft to like him and he’s well away.

To end on a lighter note I wonder if some teams might play "smoke and mirrors" with him given the success of Porz this season and a couple of teams passing on him. They start making noises they will take Bender in the hope a team higher up the draft snap him up and leave another prospect to fall to them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 He is physically weak. Just adding some pounds to him for sake of doing so will leave him still physically weak, and just make him slower and less athletic. And if they try to "bulk him up", then he will turn into another case like Kosta Koufos did.

This stuff is stupid about just roid him up because that’s what the NBA does.

It won’t do a thing at all to help Bender’s game, and will actually only hender is good attributes, which is how well he moves at 7-1, and how well he can get open to get his shot off because of how mobile he is.

 

 

[European BasketballerParticipant]

 He is physically weak. Just adding some pounds to him for sake of doing so will leave him still physically weak, and just make him slower and less athletic. And if they try to "bulk him up", then he will turn into another case like Kosta Koufos did.

This stuff is stupid about just roid him up because that’s what the NBA does.

It won’t do a thing at all to help Bender’s game, and will actually only hender is good attributes, which is how well he moves at 7-1, and how well he can get open to get his shot off because of how mobile he is.

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 His buyout could be the biggest stumbling block, would a team use a potential top 3 to 5 pick to take a guy who won’t play an NBA game for a couple of years (insert Sam Hinkie joke here). Seriously the Raptors took Jonas V at 5 in 2011 and left him abroad for a year so if Bender could guarantee that he’d be in the NBA for say 2017/18 then his draft position may hold up fairly well. He wouldn’t go top 3 IMO but could go top 5-7 easily.

He looks to have great mobility for his size and should be able to add weight in due course especially with elite NBA fitness/nutritionist staff. 

I fully agree that he is a project and may not contribute a huge amount in year 1 in the NBA, but he could be mentored and play his fair share of garbage minutes to give him oncourt experience.

I still haven’t seen enough of this guy in action yet to fully rate him against the NCAA guys but from what I have seen and gleaned from all the relevant prospect sites he is a very interesting prospect and is this years unknown quantity in the draft.

His draft stock will hugely depend on his workouts and meetings with teams but as always it only needs one Front Office high in the draft to like him and he’s well away.

To end on a lighter note I wonder if some teams might play "smoke and mirrors" with him given the success of Porz this season and a couple of teams passing on him. They start making noises they will take Bender in the hope a team higher up the draft snap him up and leave another prospect to fall to them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GoJOSH HUESTISParticipant]

 Got to play against him, the kid has very very high potential. I was very surprised 

[GoJOSH HUESTISParticipant]

 Got to play against him, the kid has very very high potential. I was very surprised 

[Author]

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