2017 NBA Manifesto
Dragan Bender
PF/C, 7’1, 225lbs, 19 years old, 1 year of experience
Painfully raw at this point, and did not even have that much in the way of flashes as a rookie. He was brought in knowing it would take time, and his first season confirmed that. The physical profile intrigues, hugely, but the skills are undeveloped, and the awareness even less so. Bender just sort of flopped around the court, normally around the perimeter, putting up shots from outside with an ugly form, missing them, avoiding the foul line on offence, while grabbing too much on defence. And then he got injured. Projectable, very projectable, especially defensively where he looked less unsteady, but a very slow start to his NBA career thus far.
Player Plan: Three years of rookie scale salary remaining. He needs to be good, but there is a long way to go until he is, so keep him and intensely develop both his skills and his body.
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PF/C, 7’1, 225lbs, 19 years old, 1 year of experience
Painfully raw at this point, and did not even have that much in the way of flashes as a rookie. He was brought in knowing it would take time, and his first season confirmed that. The physical profile intrigues, hugely, but the skills are undeveloped, and the awareness even less so. Bender just sort of flopped around the court, normally around the perimeter, putting up shots from outside with an ugly form, missing them, avoiding the foul line on offence, while grabbing too much on defence. And then he got injured. Projectable, very projectable, especially defensively where he looked less unsteady, but a very slow start to his NBA career thus far.
Player Plan: Three years of rookie scale salary remaining. He needs to be good, but there is a long way to go until he is, so keep him and intensely develop both his skills and his body.
