Dragan Bender
VITALS
From:
Croatia
Height/weight:
7-foot, 220 pounds
2015-16 stats (with Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv in Euroleague):
Points:
1.5
Rebounds:
1.2
Minutes
8.6
Overview
Among the players projected to be selected in the early portion of the first round, Bender is the most unfamiliar to U.S. basketball fans, as the only elite prospect who did not play in the NCAA last season. The Croatian big man, who won’t turn 19 until several weeks into the NBA’s 2016-17 regular season on Nov. 17, is described by many as symbolizing the league’s future, a skilled 7-footer who can pass and shoot. Although it’s easy to liken him to another international player – New York phenom Kristaps Porzingis – draft analysts caution against doing that, saying it’s not accurate. “Bender is not Kristaps Porzingis no matter how many people want to make that comparison,” NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper wrote. “Bender is a better distributor, Porzingis has better range.”
What draft analysts like…
When NBA teams pick in the first round, particularly in the lottery portion, they’re hoping to find a franchise-changing talent. There seems to be a consensus among draft experts that Bender could be that kind of player. “At 19 years old (Bender) is a long-term project, but also a potential future star,” FoxSports.com wrote. Noted SB Nation, “Bender is not quite as long (as Kristaps Porzingis), but brings similar tools that give him high upside.”
What draft analysts wonder…
As is the case with many players who are still in their teens, Bender probably needs to add some weight and muscle to hold up against the more physically-mature bigs of the NBA. “Stronger players can bully him on the post on both ends of the floor,” NBADraft.net assessed. “Has to bulk up to play at the next level, and appears to have a naturally skinny body type… Not strong enough to post up at a consistent level just yet.”
Post-lottery projections
Where various prominent NBA websites predict he will be picked, along with excerpted comments from the respective mock drafts::
- NBA.com (third to Celtics): "Some teams think Bender has a chance to be great and one GM said he could easily see the Croatian becoming the best player in the draft in time.”
- ESPN.com (fourth to Suns): “While the Suns would’ve loved to have jumped into the top two, (fourth) isn’t a bad outcome for them. They really need a stretch-4, and Bender is likely to be there for them to take.”
- The Vertical (third to Celtics): “Power forward has long been a position of need for the Celtics, and it was abundantly clear in the playoffs that Jared Sullinger is not a solution because of his struggles defensively. Enter Bender, whom many feel has a huge upside in today’s NBA because of his defensive versatility, perimeter shooting and outstanding feel for the game.”
- SI.com (fourth to Suns): “As a 7-foot power forward with three-point range, Bender fits exactly where the league is going. Meanwhile, the Suns have three excellent guards, two centers, and their previous power forward of the future (Markieff Morris) was last seen attacking Archie Goodwin on the bench. If Bender falls to No. 4, Phoenix will be ecstatic.”
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