Minnesota Sports Forum

Boy...Bender seems like a project to me, but I suppose that's OK if we plan on spending some money on a big man FA like Noah. But it's hard to see us getting much positive production out of Bender until at least year 2 or 3.

Q12543 wrote:Boy...Bender seems like a project to me, but I suppose that's OK if we plan on spending some money on a big man FA like Noah. But it's hard to see us getting much positive production out of Bender until at least year 2 or 3.

My thoughts exactly. Big time upside if he were to eventually put all the pieces together and build his body appropriately, but he's also arguably the biggest gamble in the draft considering where he's projected to be selected. I mentioned in one thread that I don't see him playing a ton the first couple years.

Camden wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Boy...Bender seems like a project to me, but I suppose that's OK if we plan on spending some money on a big man FA like Noah. But it's hard to see us getting much positive production out of Bender until at least year 2 or 3.

My thoughts exactly. Big time upside if he were to eventually put all the pieces together and build his body appropriately, but he's also arguably the biggest gamble in the draft considering where he's projected to be selected. I mentioned in one thread that I don't see him playing a ton the first couple years.

Definitely a gamble. Like I said in another thread, there are guys with much higher floors than Bender. But this is one gamble I wouldn't mind. We've got a good developmental coach now, I have some trust that Bender would come on fast.

Camden0916 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Boy...Bender seems like a project to me, but I suppose that's OK if we plan on spending some money on a big man FA like Noah. But it's hard to see us getting much positive production out of Bender until at least year 2 or 3.

My thoughts exactly. Big time upside if he were to eventually put all the pieces together and build his body appropriately, but he's also arguably the biggest gamble in the draft considering where he's projected to be selected. I mentioned in one thread that I don't see him playing a ton the first couple years.

I don't think it's smart to take a guy for what he can give you in his early years. We are building for the long-term here, not to compete for a title in the next year or 2. Bender may not give much until year 3 or 4, but that's exactly when we would need his contribution because that's when Towns, Wiggins and Lavine will be entering their prime years. You just can't teach 7' with a handle so if he puts it together it gives us a monstrous frontcourt. I think you swing for the homerun again and bring in some vets to take care of the short-term because we can afford a miss and benefit that much more from a hit. Obviously you don't want to miss, but I don't think it kills our future potential if we do. I don't think Bender is going to be a bust, but you never know.

khans2k5 wrote:

Camden0916 wrote:

Q12543 wrote:Boy...Bender seems like a project to me, but I suppose that's OK if we plan on spending some money on a big man FA like Noah. But it's hard to see us getting much positive production out of Bender until at least year 2 or 3.

My thoughts exactly. Big time upside if he were to eventually put all the pieces together and build his body appropriately, but he's also arguably the biggest gamble in the draft considering where he's projected to be selected. I mentioned in one thread that I don't see him playing a ton the first couple years.

I don't think it's smart to take a guy for what he can give you in his early years. We are building for the long-term here, not to compete for a title in the next year or 2. Bender may not give much until year 3 or 4, but that's exactly when we would need his contribution because that's when Towns, Wiggins and Lavine will be entering their prime years. You just can't teach 7' with a handle so if he puts it together it gives us a monstrous frontcourt. I think you swing for the homerun again and bring in some vets to take care of the short-term because we can afford a miss and benefit that much more from a hit. Obviously you don't want to miss, but I don't think it kills our future potential if we do. I don't think Bender is going to be a bust, but you never know.

That wasn't where I was going with my post. I agree that you don't draft a player for what you're going to get in year one or year two. I meant that he might not be the player we hope him to be and can't transition from a minimal role on a really good Euro team to the NBA game. That is no guarantee even for college players playing 30+ minutes and yet Bender averaged 14.5 MPG in the Israeli Basketball Super League and just 12.9 MPG over the 2015-16 season. He's pretty much a prospect that you're drafting on potential and hope, not production and substance. That's okay if you have the cojones to make that move, but he is far from a sure thing. He might not be good enough to make that impact in year three or year four either.

I expect that he should be a rotation player sometime during his second year. He's a year younger than Porzingis was so I assume if we draft him he'll be get a year to develop his game and build his body before he is expected to contribute.

The problem with the Bender/Porzingis comparison is that Zingis was playing a lot more with a much bigger role overseas before he was drafted. He was at least somewhat seasoned. Bender is no where near as experienced as KP was coming out.... which means not only are his strengths perhaps overrated, but his weaknesses haven't been picked up on yet due to minimal playing time. There's the flip side of that too, but it goes back to the previous point that Bender is a big gamble.

There really isn't much video on Bender at the professional level to form any solid conclusions, so you have to believe that whoever uses a high pick on him is going to do it based on extensive workouts. Does anyone believe Thibs/Leydon would draft Bender based on report from Booth and Djurisic? Until we hear some verifiable reports of Thibs and/or Leydon on a plane to Israel or Hervzegovina or wherever Bender is, I'm not buying the rumors.

longstrangetrip wrote:There really isn't much video on Bender at the professional level to form any solid conclusions, so you have to believe that whoever uses a high pick on him is going to do it based on extensive workouts. Does anyone believe Thibs/Leydon would draft Bender based on report from Booth and Djurisic? Until we hear some verifiable reports of Thibs and/or Leydon on a plane to Israel or Hervzegovina or wherever Bender is, I'm not buying the rumors.

When the Wolves were making the deal to bring in Thibs Layden DX tweeted how Layden was a tireless scout and was everywhere. I'm sure the guy has seen Bender numerous times. Remember he has been a top international prospect for a couple years. This isn't some out of nowhere guy. It's absolutely a risk but he isn't some mystery man to NBA franchises. He is very well known. The pick is going to be based on potential but name the prospects in the draft that are probably 7' barefoot with likely ability to handle the ball shoot the 3 and play their butt off. There is probably a decent floor for the guy also and I think that's a bit of his appeal. I still don't think he drops to #5 i'll want him bad.

I don't give a rip if Bender can't play much for 2 years. Sign a FA PF if you are that concerned about having a solid player there. Cut Payne and eat his salary if you have to to get a roster spot. There is going to be some bargain solid rotation PFs this team can sign for not a ton of money if they want someone to help the team out off the bench.