2016 Mock Draft: Simmons, Ingram, Bender still on top

This selection will be made with heavy anticipation from the Boston Celtic’s faithful. Will Danny Ainge keep the selection? Will they draft Bender? Or do they swing for the fences and pull the trigger on a huge upside guy like Marquese Chriss? The most recent DraftExpress mock has Chriss going here to the Celtics, but Bender has massive upside as well, AND fits a need for the front court. Again, teams should be drafting based off talent and upside, however if two players are equal but one fits better, that could take them over the edge. <p>Bender is extremely talented at just 18-years old. He’s 7-1 and though his sample size in Europe has been relatively small, he’s shown flashes of his immense ability even at an early age. While he would help bolster the Celtics’ front court, he prefers to play on the perimeter and shot 41 percent from the land of plenty for Tel Aviv across all competitions last season.</p> <p>While comparisons to Kristaps Porzingis will inevitably arise, Bender should be viewed on a different learning curve. Zinger came over as a much more polished 20-year old prospect last season, so immediate expectations should be tempered a bit when it comes to Bender.</p> <p>All things considered, whoever selects him will get a player with the best nickname of the draft in “The Dragan”.</p> <p><em>To read more about Dragan Bender, <a href=. PF. Israel. Dragan Bender . 3. player. 18