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Prospect Profile: Dragan Bender (Part Two)

May 14th, 2016 at 4:19pm CST by Eddie Scarito

PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Bender is a likely top five pick, with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress slotting him No. 3 overall and Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranking him fifth on his big board. The 18-year-old is the second best power forward in the draft after Ben Simmons, according to Ford (Insider subscription required), though he is likely to take far longer to bear fruit at the NBA-level than the LSU freshman. Bender is going to face some competition from Henry Ellenson (Marquette) and Marquese Chriss (Washington) to be the second four selected in the draft lottery, though neither of those big men have quite as high an upside as the young Croatian.

RISE/FALL: While Bender is likely to face some potentially unfair comparisons to Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis, the success the Latvian enjoyed in New York this past season should prevent Bender from slipping too far in the draft lottery. With the NBA moving further away from the role of the traditional big man each passing season, Bender’s combination of size and skill makes him a rather desirable commodity among teams.

It wasn’t surprising in the least that Bender chose to skip this week’s NBA Draft combine in Chicago, as most of the projected top five selections generally avoid the risk of a poor showing at the event. The big man wasn’t likely to play his way into the discussion of the No. 1 overall pick this week, so it was wise to hold off on giving the majority of NBA executives their first in-person look at his skills. Bender should shine in the highly controlled settings his individual showcases will take place in, and cultivating an air of mystery can only serve to aid his cause.

The spot where Bender will ultimately be selected at will come into greater focus after the results of Tuesday’s draft lottery are announced. While he is certainly an intriguing player, a number of teams picking in the top 10 have more pressing needs and may lack the necessary patience to take on a project like Bender, who is almost assuredly going to spend more time in the D-League than on the NBA hardwood in 2016/17. I can see him going as high as No.3 overall and find it difficult to envision a scenario where he falls past the seventh selection.

FIT: While there aren’t many teams in the league that couldn’t use a versatile big man like Bender, the most likely landing spot for him will be with the Suns. Phoenix desperately needs to find a mobile power forward who can stretch the floor on offense and are a franchise that can afford to exercise patience with Bender. The Suns have an 11.9% chance at snagging the top pick this June, but the more likely outcome is that the franchise will end up in the No. 3 to No. 5 range, which is the perfect spot to pounce on Bender. The other teams potentially drafting ahead of the Suns are the Sixers, Lakers and Celtics, none of whom seem like a logical fit for Bender given the development time he will require. My prediction, barring any unforeseen event, is that Bender ends up in Arizona with the Suns.

FINAL TAKE: The success rate in the NBA for young international players taken in the lottery hasn’t been all that outstanding traditionally, which makes gambling a top five pick on Bender a risky proposition. But the success of Porzingis and the ever-improving competition level overseas lend some hope that Bender can duplicate the Knicks’ rookie’s success this season. The increasing demand for perimeter-oriented big men in the NBA certainly makes Bender an intriguing and valuable commodity, though he will require ample time in the gym, weight room and D-League before he is likely to reward the franchise that selects him.

(For Part One of Bender’s prospect profile, click here.)

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Southeast Notes: Skiles, Wade, Combine

May 14th, 2016 at 2:56pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Scott Skiles has likely damaged his reputation around the league after resigning from his post as head coach of the Magic after one season, Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel writes. But even if another NBA team were interested in hiring Skiles, his contract with Orlando included a non-compete agreement that would prevent such a move for approximately two seasons, Schmitz notes. Thunder coach Billy Donovan had a similar arrangement with the team after he backed out of an agreement to coach Orlando in 2007, the scribe adds.

One of the major issues between Skiles and the team was the lack of personnel input the coach had, Schmitz relays. GM Rob Hennigan has a clear plan in mind for the direction of the franchise, one that wasn’t apparently endorsed by the former coach, though the executive notes that communication was solid between the pair, Schmitz writes. “We had good dialogue throughout the course of the season and good dialogue means lots of different things,” Hennigan said. “It means disagreements, arguments, debates and jokes. We certainly had all of that.”

Here’s more from the Southeast Division:

  • Dwyane Wade‘s solid 2015/16 campaign and postseason makes it unlikely once again that he would agree to a discounted annual salary in the range of $12MM, which was the Heat‘s initial offer to the veteran last May, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald writes. Wade, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, ended up inking a one-year, $20MM deal with Miami.
  • Kentucky sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis interviewed with the Hawks at the NBA combine in Chicago, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv relays (via Twitter). Also interviewing with Atlanta was California freshman forward Jaylen Brown, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution tweets.
  • Maryland junior power forward Robert Carter met with representatives from the Wizards at the combine this week and the player noted that one of the team’s focal points was him having a solid character, Daniel Martin of CSNMid-Atlantic relays. “They’ve seen me a lot. They say they’ve seen me play a lot,” Carter said. “Everybody was in there, pretty much everybody. The whole staff, GM, president, everybody was in there and they just talked to me about what type of person I am and I said, ‘Hopefully a good person.’ But they just talked to me about my game and that was pretty much it.“
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Prospect Profile: Dragan Bender (Part One)

May 14th, 2016 at 1:35pm CST by Eddie Scarito

OVERVIEW: Dragan Bender is the youngest player entering the 2016 NBA Draft, having just turned 18 in November. But despite his youth, the big man had to grow up fast after signing a seven-year deal with the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv at the age of 16. Bender’s playing experience includes participating in the under 16 European Championships in 2012 and playing professionally in the Croatian league when he was just 15-years-old.

While Bender has a wealth of potential, my biggest concern regarding his development is the inevitable comparisons to Knicks 2015 lottery pick Kristaps Porzingis that will be bandied about. Many teams and fans around the league will likely look to Porzingis’ solid rookie campaign and use that as the benchmark for what Bender should provide when he enters the NBA. Such lofty expectations may place undue pressure on the young big man and could serve to stifle his natural progression as a player. Bender is in no way as polished as Porzingis was when he entered the league, and it will almost certainly take him a few seasons to become a productive player in the NBA.

STATS: In 35 games Bender averaged 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and and o.6 assists in 12.2 minutes per outing. His slash line on the year was .426/.368/.719.

STRENGTHS: Thanks to the NBA’s growing obsession with stretch-fours, Bender’s combination of size and skill will certainly make him a desirable commodity this June. His measurements are impressive, with Bender standing a shade over seven-feet, owning a 7’2″ wingspan and a ridiculous standing reach of 9’3″. Bender isn’t a freak athletically, but he is extremely agile and has demonstrated solid footwork for such a young player. He is quick enough to guard opponents on the perimeter and is a hard-nosed player who doesn’t shy away from contact and competition. Traits that will serve him well once he hits the NBA hardwood.

Bender has worked hard to improve his outside shooting since turning pro, and while his form still needs refining, he appears to be well on his way to having a solid outside game. He is a versatile player who doesn’t need to score to have an impact on a contest, using his high basketball IQ and solid passing skills to help his team be successful. While he will likely be deployed at power forward, or perhaps even center if he bulks up, he is talented enough to play point-forward and facilitate an offense from the high-post.

WEAKNESSES: As with most young big men, Bender’s biggest drawback is his slender frame. While he is certainly no pushover, weighing in at around 225 pounds won’t help him survive the nightly abuse he is sure to receive once he enters the NBA paint area. Bender doesn’t appear to be one to shy away from physical play, which certainly serves to illustrate his competitive nature, but he isn’t nearly strong enough to be effective on a consistent basis versus bigger, stronger and older NBA players. The other concern reagrding Bender is that despite his wide range of skills, there isn’t one aspect of his overall game that can be considered elite at this juncture. There will be a considerable onus on whomever is coaching Bender to properly utilize his talents, which could be difficult until the player matures enough physically to play inside on a regular basis.

(For Part Two of our Dragan Bender Prospect Profile, click here.)

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Hoops Rumors Originals 5/8/16-5/14/16

May 14th, 2016 at 12:15pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week.

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Nets, Rockets Interested In Malcolm Delaney

May 14th, 2016 at 10:50am CST by Eddie Scarito

The Nets and Rockets have both expressed interest in signing Euroleague combo guard Malcolm Delaney this offseason, Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops.com reports. Brooklyn is currently the more interested and aggressive suitor of the two, Varlas notes. Despite having multiple overseas offers on the table, Delaney’s preference is to join the NBA, as he told Varlas in a recent interview.

“It’s true that I’ve already had good offers from European clubs. Regarding Olympiacos and Panathinaikos that you mention, I know that it’s very likely they want to sign me. The NBA is the big priority and I’m not going to respond to any of the offers until the NBA matter clears up. If something happens and this prospect doesn’t work, then I’ll look at all the options and make a decision. I want to be closer to my family and enjoy basketball even more,” Delaney said.

“Last summer I was very close to signing with an NBA team. At the last second, something happened with the team’s salary cap and the deal wasn’t finalized,” the guard continued. “This year, I think my prospects are better… I’m going to wait for the NBA even if I have to risk losing offers from Europe. There is also China, a market that I view seriously, because it gives me the option to play a few months with a very good contract and then be available either for the Euroleague or the NBA.”

Delaney went undrafted out of Virginia Tech in 2011, and the closest he has come to NBA action was a summer league stint with the Pistons in 2012, though he was involved in discussions with the Rockets in 2014, but ended up heading overseas to play in Germany instead. In 58 combined games this past season, Delaney averaged 14.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 30.9 minutes per outing. His shooting line on the season was .409/.361/.871.

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Week In Review 5/8/16-5/14/16

May 14th, 2016 at 9:00am CST by Eddie Scarito

Warriors point guard Stephen Curry won the MVP award by a unanimous vote. He’s the first-ever unanimous winner. Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James each fell one vote shy of winning MVP unanimously in 2000 and 2013, respectively. Curry collected 130 first-place votes from writers and broadcasters as well as the fan vote, according to the league. Kawhi Leonard finished second in the voting, followed closely by LeBron James. Thunder stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were fourth and fifth, respectively. The balloting system awarded 10 points for a first-place vote, seven points for a second-place vote, five points for a third-place vote, three points for a fourth-place vote and one point for a fifth-place vote.

Here’s a look back at more of the notable events from around the NBA this past week…

NBA Draft News

  • Kansas junior combo guard Wayne Selden was unable to participate in draft combine workouts this week after undergoing surgery to repair a small meniscus tear in his right knee. He was replaced by Miami senior shooting guard Sheldon McClellan.

Withdrawals

Workouts

Miscellaneous News

  • The Grizzlies parted ways with head coach Dave Joerger.
  • Scott Skiles resigned as coach of the Magic.
  • Spurs GM R.C. Buford won the Executive of the Year award.
  • The Kings signed Dave Joerger to a four-year, $16MM deal to be their new head coach.
  • Hornets point guard Kemba Walker underwent surgery Monday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
  • Mavs point guard Devin Harris underwent successful surgery to repair damage to his left big toe and left thumb.
  • The Kings dismissed assistant coaches Chad Iske and John Welch.
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Latest On Grizzlies Coaching Search

May 14th, 2016 at 8:00am CST by Eddie Scarito

8:00pm: The Grizzlies have received permission to interview Tibbetts, tweets Chris Haynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

10:04am: Memphis has been granted permission by San Antonio to interview Messina, Spears relays (via Twitter).

9:26am: The Grizzlies have requested and been granted permission by the Heat to interview assistant head coach David Fizdale for their vacant head coaching position, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated reports (Twitter links). The date of the sit down has yet to be determined, Spears adds. Miami is scheduled to square off against the Raptors on Sunday in the deciding game of their seven game playoff series. Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical was the first to relay that Memphis would have interest in speaking with Fizdale.

Fizdale, 41, has been on the Heat’s coaching staff since 2008 and has been a part of two NBA Championship teams during his tenure. He has also served as an assistant coach for the Warriors (2003/04) and Hawks (2004-2008).

Former Pacers coach Frank Vogel is widely believed to be the front-runner for the Memphis job, as Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal wrote in a story about a meeting that took place this week between GM Chris Wallace and former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins. Wallace has downplayed the significance of that rendezvous. Memphis interviewed Hornets assistant Patrick Ewing on Thursday for the post. Ex-Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, and Blazers assistant Nate Tibbetts are also among those on the team’s list of candidates, as Wojnarowski reported.

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Community Shootaround: Kenneth Faried

May 13th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried saw his playing time dip this season thanks to the emergence of big men Joffrey Lauvergne, Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic, as well as late season struggles with soreness in his back. The 26-year-old made 67 appearances for the team this season and averaged 12.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 25.3 minutes per outing. While those numbers weren’t far off his career averages, the energetic forward didn’t appear to be a good fit in coach Michael Malone‘s offense at times, which raises some questions about his long-term future in Denver.

Faried has three years and more than $38.764MM left on the extension he signed in 2014. The forward’s salary is likely end up below market value after the expected free agent feeding frenzy that is set to occur this summer, courtesy of the significant increase in the salary cap that is set to kick in, which is good for the team. But if Faried is forced into a reserve role in the future it could prove to be a distraction if he is unwilling to accept the change, as Ben Dowsett of Basketball Insiders noted.

This brings me to today’s topic: Should the Nuggets look to trade Kenneth Faried this summer?

Take to the comments section to share your thoughts on whether or not Denver should hang onto Faried at all costs, or if you believe it is time for the team to find a new home for the player. If you are of the mind that Faried should be shipped out, regale us with your trade ideas for him. We look forward to what you have to say.

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Atlantic Notes: Jackson, Poeltl, Selden, Ellenson

May 13th, 2016 at 10:21pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the annual NBA Draft Combine in full swing this week, here are the latest updates regarding the teams of the Atlantic Division:

  • Knicks team president Phil Jackson is still not among those representing New York at the combine, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv tweets. Assistant GM Allan Houston and interim coach Kurt Rambis have been observing workouts and speaking with players in Jackson’s absence.
  • LSU junior combo guard Tim Quarterman has a workout set for May 20th with the Nets, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders relays (Twitter links). The team interviewed former Oregon small forward Elgin Cook, Hamilton adds.
  • Former Gonzaga power forward Kyle Wiltjer has a workout scheduled next week with the Sixers, Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly tweets.
  • The Knicks interviewed Kansas junior shooting guard Wayne Selden, Zagoria tweets. The interview was conducted by Houston, the scribe notes.
  • The Celtics have a workout scheduled on Wednesday with North Carolina State sophomore power forward Abdul Malik-Abu, Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald tweets.
  • Utah sophomore center Jakob Poeltl met with representatives from the Sixers today, Derek Bodner of Philadelphia magazine relays (on Twitter).
  • Former Baylor small forward Taurean Prince has a workout set with the Sixers for May 20th, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer relays (Twitter links). The scribe also notes that the team interviewed Marquette freshman big man Henry Ellenson.
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Magic To Contact Frank Vogel

May 13th, 2016 at 9:05pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Magic intend to contact former Pacers coach Frank Vogel regarding their head coaching vacancy, GM Rob Hennigan told Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. It’s unclear if Vogel would have any interest in joining Orlando, Robbins notes. Vogel, who was dismissed last by the Pacers last week, is reportedly the front-runner to take over for Dave Joerger with the Grizzlies and is also under consideration for the head coaching slots of the Rockets and Knicks. Orlando is scrambling to recover from former coach Scott Skiles‘ sudden resignation on Thursday.

“Sort of the fulcrum of what we’re looking for,” Hennigan said, “is someone who puts an emphasis on the defensive end of the floor, someone who puts an emphasis on player development and also someone who puts an emphasis on building lasting connections with the players on our roster.” The GM didn’t specifically say that description fit Vogel, but the coach certainly did well developing a young Indiana squad into an Eastern Conference contender during his time with the Pacers. Hennigan also added that the team will cast “a wide net” for candidates and that possible targets don’t necessarily have to have NBA assistant-coaching or head-coaching experience, which means college coaches may also be in the mix, Robbins writes.

This will be Hennigan’s third coaching search since taking over as GM in 2012, Robbins notes. When asked what he learned from his first pair of forays into the coaching market, Hennigan told the scribe, “The importance of really getting to know each candidate personally, first and foremost, and making sure that each candidate understands what we’re about as an organization and what our values are and what our vision is. And, then, of course, making sure we’re aligned philosophically as it relates to style of play and the type of character we want our team to exude on a daily basis.”

The Pacers went 250-181 in parts of six seasons under Vogel, who inherited the head coaching job, his first in the NBA, when the Pacers parted ways with Jim O’Brien in January of 2011. That record doesn’t include his postseason mark of 31-30, with Indiana making back-to-back conference finals under Vogel in 2013 and 2014.

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