I don't really like Nowitzki or especially Love as comps. Best superstar comp imo, if you must make one, is Draymond Green. Obviously their bodies are way different but their skill sets are reasonably similar.
Well that's a scary comp since this Bender guy will most likely not share Green's handle or foot speed. So he's basically going to be a role player? So far all I keep hearing is 3 and D. Unfortunately the Celtics need a scorer.
How is this a negative comp? Draymond is a top 10 player. Draymond minus a bit of athleticism and plus 6 inches of height would be an exceptionally good outcome. I would pick that player #1 in a heartbeat. I don't think Bender will be that good, but it's a compelling upside comp.
Bender plays smaller than Draymond. They have the same wingspan and Bender can't jump and is slower. 3 and D. With average D.
Bender has 6 inches on Draymond in standing reach, which is more important. And that was last year, when Bender was 17.
Draymond is 6'7" and plays like he's 7'1". Bender is 7'1" and plays like he's 6'7".
Now I've seen it all. Bender bashers will literally spin "6 inch taller Draymond Green" as a bad thing.
Bender has nothing in common with Draymond, apart from being a 3 point shooter. Other than that, I'd say he's the anti-Draymond. Soft defense, no intangibles, disappears for long stretches, poor rebounder for his size. Draymond is one of the last players I would ever compare him to.
Again, my comp was Omri Casspi or Travis Outlaw.
What are we basing this on? He hardly saw the floor last year.
He really disappears when he's sitting on the bench. It's like he isn't even on the court.
VERY rough approximation: I've watched about 30 videos totaling ~200 minutes of court time. Some are "highlight" videos which he tends not to appear in. I've seen 1 nice outlet pass and 1 nice block. Those are the highlights. He knocked down a bunch of open 3's, missed countless defensive assignments. Got shoved out of the way about 30 times. Appears generally lost. Pulled down a couple incidental rebounds in traffic. I can't really overstate how underwhelmed I have been.
Exactly. Dunn or Brown for me.
Finally, people are beginning to catch on.
Kris Dunn, and then trade Smart - if we insist on keeping the pick.
I'd rather move it for Okafor.