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Dragan Bender on Waivers

I've said before that I wouldn't mind a Bender signing, as long as we're realistic about what it might achieve. This wouldn't be a Bradley/Niang replacement. It's a play that there's untapped talent that can be brought out over the long term.

Compare some of Bender's stats to Bradley's (Per RealGM) (ordered by season chronologically):
NBA PER: Bender: 5.4, 7.1, 9.4, 10.2; Bradley: 9.5, 19.0, 20.4
Summer League PERs: 2.4, 12.4, 5.4; Bradley: 18.2, 25.0, 35.4
Preseason PERs: Bender: 1.9, 9.0, 1.0, 33.3; Bradley: 11.7, 26.3, 40.7

(I recognize that PER is a stat that might as well have been invented to make Tony Bradley look good, but I still don't think you can discount the magnitude of the differences here.)

I wouldn't even attempt to sign Bender until it's obvious that there's no Harkless/Udoh/someone else(?) stuff happening -- in other words likely early March.
To be fair to Tony, his per 36 scoring and rebounding numbers are pretty much identical to Gobert's. Not comparable in any other way of course, but it's somewhat impressive.
 
Starting for the decimated Warriors tonight, solid minutes at center thus far. Just like Quin burning a T.O. so he could issue a late challenge on an obviously bad call last night, this team is always behind the curve. Even Bogey was just a happy accident.
 
4 pts and 3 TOs in 22 minutes. he missed all four of his 3pointers and then fouled out. the warriors are trying to lose, so I guess he did his job perfectly.

He actually looked pretty good in his first stint on the court... which was all I saw. He has to hit his threes... I think he's 0-8 since they signed him. I think he is a 35% 3 point shooter that could go to 40%, but he might always be one of those guys that has a nice looking shot that doesn't go in enough.
 
4 pts and 3 TOs in 22 minutes. he missed all four of his 3pointers and then fouled out. the warriors are trying to lose, so I guess he did his job perfectly.
His defensive assignment was AD and he was at least involved. He looked good from what I saw like he belonged on the court with those guys - you kinda forgot the two steals and four boards which is better than our stretch guys get in 22 mins.
 
He actually looked pretty good in his first stint on the court... which was all I saw. He has to hit his threes... I think he's 0-8 since they signed him. I think he is a 35% 3 point shooter that could go to 40%, but he might always be one of those guys that has a nice looking shot that doesn't go in enough.
Yeah he was shooting the three at a 44% clip when the Bucks released him. Kid's not afraid to body up, he's a seven foot stretch, and as Frank Layden used to say when they signed the raw Mark Eaton, "you can't teach height". Scored a nifty hook over McGee when I was watching.
 
this guy has 0.2 CAREER win shares. 0.2!!! he's played more than 3,600 minutes. it's like he is a ghost on the court, never doing anything quantifiable. if he does manage to turn it around, it will be a hell of a story.
 
His defensive assignment was AD and he was at least involved. He looked good from what I saw like he belonged on the court with those guys - you kinda forgot the two steals and four boards which is better than our stretch guys get in 22 mins.
He was more active than I ever remembered him being... In Phoenix he just looked like he hated basketball. He will never be the guy people thought he was when drafted top 5, but if he can shoot 35-40% from 3 I'd bet he will be an NBA player... though he may just give up and take the European money because it is a really good financial move.
 
this guy has 0.2 CAREER win shares. 0.2!!! he's played more than 3,600 minutes. it's like he is a ghost on the court, never doing anything quantifiable. if he does manage to turn it around, it will be a hell of a story.

He was so bad in Phoenix I completely wrote him off... but his recent time in the G league was pretty dang good... he was so young and its a big adjustment for international dudes... plus Phoenix was a complete **** show last couple years... now they are semi-functional. He turned 22 recently... like when he was picked people didn't think he'd be good right away and he was super young. This is his fourth year in the league, but he's basically the same age as some of the guys that will be drafted this summer.

Not saying he is good... I'm just curious to see if some things get figured out. He is big and moves so well and has some skill as a passer and shooter. If he likes basketball and is a worker there is potential he could realize. He was dead and now I'm intrigued. I just think if he's a worker why couldn't he be as good as say Meyers Leonard. Not the end all be all, but a backup 5 that gives a different 5 out look.
 
Another nice line from Bender in the GS win in Phoenix last night. In 30 mins he had 13 pts 50% shooting 3-6 from three, 9 boards, 4 assists, three blocks and one steal. Better line than Ayton.:eek:
 
What’s the difference between Dragan Bender and Threebor Pliess? Aside from the name, obviously.
 
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