Dragan Bender

[JCSunsfan]

OK. I don't get it. None of Ronin's tweets load. At least for me they dont.

 

[Errntknght]

Ronin's last said:

In his last 31 games Dragan Bender shooting 41.8 percent from 3-point range. Impressive.

3:32 PM - Jan 14, 2018

 

[SirStefan32]

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He lowered that quite a bit tonight!

 

[Hoop Head]

Was there any question about Bender coming over right away when he was drafted or staying in Europe for another year or two? I don't remember that draft very well, I know I missed watching it and only read about the Suns choices a day or two later. I figured someone here would know if he was signed to a Euro contract of some sort at the time when he was selected though. Was there a buyout that needed to be done to get him over last year or was he ready to join whoever drafted him?

 

[Mainstreet]

Was there any question about Bender coming over right away when he was drafted or staying in Europe for another year or two? I don't remember that draft very well, I know I missed watching it and only read about the Suns choices a day or two later. I figured someone here would know if he was signed to a Euro contract of some sort at the time when he was selected though. Was there a buyout that needed to be done to get him over last year or was he ready to join whoever drafted him?

I don't remember a buyout on Bender with a European team for what it is worth. He was playing for Israel I believe.

Maybe we can send him back.

Of course I'm joking.

However, Bender needs more physical development to get stronger.

 

[pokerface]

I changed my vote to "unsure"...

 

[Finito]

I'm starting to get worried very worried.

I just don't see it I see flashes but not enough flashes to give me hope

 

[JCSunsfan]

Dragan has established himself as good 3 point shooter. He is a hardworking defender. He is a good passer. He just needs to develop other parts of his game now. He will not be a star. He will be a complementary player.

 

[Mainstreet]

@Poop Head

I found some more information about Bender's contract overseas. It seems his buyout was $1.3 million with
Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The agreement in the seven-year contract Bender signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2014 has a clause that allows him to opt out and sign with an NBA franchise by paying a buyout that's twice the permitted amount an NBA team can provide, according to the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

An NBA team can contribute up to $650,000 to an international buyout for a player picked in the first round. The remaining $650,000 will be paid by Bender in a second installment at a later, undisclosed date and will come out of his rookie scale contract.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Dragan-Bender-Buyout-Numbers-Revealed-5498/

 

[Superbone]

You can't teach heart. You've either got it or you don't. Bender don't.

 

[Mainstreet]

If Bender didn't put out the effort on defense, I'd be more disappointed. Also he is not physically developed yet.

As such, I'm not ready to write him off when he only turned 20 in November.

Sure I can be critical of Bender at times (as well as others) but let's at least see what he looks like when he turns 21 and can have a beer.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I’m disheartened about bender but I don’t think it’s lack of heart and hesso young I’m willing to give him a LOOOONG leash on his development

 

[BC867]

If Bender didn't put out the effort on defense, I'd be more disappointed. Also he is not physically developed yet.

As such, I'm not ready to write him off when he only turned 20 in November.

Sure I can be critical of Bender at times (as well as others) but let's at least see what he looks like when he turns 21 and can have a beer.

This is the downside of 1-and-done college kids coming directly into the NBA. Especially with going from being the best on their college team (NBA worthy) to the newest in the most talented basketball league in the world.

Unlike Major League baseball, college basketball is, for most, the Minor Leagues. Except the players can decide when they move up, by declaring their desire to be in the draft. NBA Basketball should have a true Minor League system to avoid the excuses we have to find for Bender, which are valid -- too young emotionally and/or not yet grown in size.

 

[Mainstreet]

This is the downside of 1-and-done college kids coming directly into the NBA. Especially with going from being the best on their college team (NBA worthy) to the newest in the most talented basketball league in the world.

Unlike Major League baseball, college basketball is, for most, the Minor Leagues. Except the players can decide when they move up, by declaring their desire to be in the draft. NBA Basketball should have a true Minor League system to avoid the excuses we have to find for Bender, which are valid -- too young emotionally and/or not yet grown in size.

Good points BC.

Maybe the G-League will be that league in time. I think this is the direction it is headed.

 

[BC867]

Good points BC.

Maybe the G-League will be that league in time. I think this is the direction it is headed.

Thanks, Mainstreet. But it will take a long time, if ever, for each NBA team to have its own dedicated Minor League team, which would also develop Coaches ready to step up.

'A little too early to pick out a name for the Tucson ________. How about the Chuckers (considering how 3-point shooting has taken over the offense).

 

[Cheesebeef]

He’s too young to write off, but he hasn’t shown enough to be optimistic, IMO.

 

[BC867]

He’s too young to write off, but he hasn’t shown enough to be optimistic, IMO.

The problem is that his height demands skills that his background did not develop. Wasn't Bender a Point Guard until his growth spurt?

Just as with Bledsoe and Knight (at the other extreme). NBA players without the skills to suit their size. Players without a position at which to excel.

All three of them, just as the Brazilian Blur, have one role they could fit -- instant offense off the bench, but not in the rotation.

 

[elindholm]

What concerns me the most about Bender is how sluggish he looks. He has a certain amount of agility once he gets going, but there's a tremendous amount of inertia to overcome. Since he doesn't have the bulk (or inclination, apparently) to play down low, he's going to have to figure out a way to make it work on the perimeter. But anything that requires a quick move or even balance adjustment seems to be beyond him. The reason he looks so lost so often is that the game is too fast for him -- maybe not for his mind, but for his body.

 

[Hoop Head]

You can't teach heart. You've either got it or you don't. Bender don't.

I don't think Bender lacks heart. Chriss may, but Bender seems to care a great deal when he's on the court. Perhaps he cares too much. I think a lot of his issues are mental.

 

[SirStefan32]

I have no idea what's wrong with Bender. We've seen him play well, so we know he is capable of it. I just don't understand why he refuses to shoot the ball, attack the rim, etc. THREE freaking shots yesterday, and he even played in garbage time. His head is up his ass, and he needs to yank it out of there quickly.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jay Triano offers some encouraging thoughts about Bender in a Scott Bordow article.

Apparently the coaches have encouraged Bender to shoot from outside as an early step of his development.

“As part of our development we’ve talked about being able to stretch the floor and shoot the ball from the outside,” Triano said. “That’s the one skill before we move on to another. I think because of the way he’s been shooting it (Bender is shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range), he’s got guys running at him and he puts it on the floor and goes to the basket. As he becomes stronger, he’ll be able to absorb contact and finish, but right now he’s making basketball plays.”

https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...-booker-marquese-chriss-tj-warren/1067636001/

 

[leclerc]

I was hoping for a better year from our sophomore trio of Chriss, Bender and Ulis. Perhaps not consistency (that would however been the best, like with Booker) but more flashes and some "break out" games. Looks like Jackson is going to jump all of them and that's okay. Let's not forget that big men usually take longer, so I will at least stay patient even though I must admit I was hoping for more.

 

[Superbone]

I don't think Bender lacks heart. Chriss may, but Bender seems to care a great deal when he's on the court. Perhaps he cares too much. I think a lot of his issues are mental.

You can call it heart or you can call it intensity or whatevery you want but he doesn't fight hard for rebounds or be aggressive going to the basket.

 

[pokerface]

I have no idea what's wrong with Bender. We've seen him play well, so we know he is capable of it. I just don't understand why he refuses to shoot the ball, attack the rim, etc. THREE freaking shots yesterday, and he even played in garbage time. His head is up his ass, and he needs to yank it out of there quickly.

I agree completely...every word.

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

Bender was always an elite prospect ahead of his peers, so he moved up quickly. I remember, even as a highly touted prospect, he wasn't contributing much because he was playing at a high level and so they used him as a role player. Doncic is the exception in Europe.

My theory is that for the past several years (Euroleague, national team, Suns) Bender has always been treated and coached as a role player and so that's what he has come to identify himself as. I think it's a confidence issue, and it doesn't seem like ha has the innate personality to overcome it.

I bet if we brought in a new coach who featured him (not playing time; playing style) he would have a chance to flourish. The problem is, that requires a lot of dedication to struggling to reach an end result that is far from guaranteed. This would be the year to do it, and it doesn't seem like it's happening.