Fansided

2016 NBA Draft: where are they now?

By Brandon Jefferson

TORONTO, ON - MAY 7: Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) reaches in on Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43). Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers in1st half action of Round 2, Game 5 of NBA playoff play at Scotiabank Arena. Raptors win 125-89 and now lead series 3-2. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 7: Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) reaches in on Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43). Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers in1st half action of Round 2, Game 5 of NBA playoff play at Scotiabank Arena. Raptors win 125-89 and now lead series 3-2. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 23: Dragan Bender poses with Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted fourth overall by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 23: Dragan Bender poses with Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted fourth overall by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

4. Dragan Bender, Phoenix Suns

Entering the 2016 NBA Draft, Croatian big man Dragan Bender was easily one of the most intriguing prospects available. Bender was a member of one of the top teams in the EuroLeague (Maccabi Tel Aviv) and had a skill set that isn’t often seen in a seven-footer on the basketball court. Bender was billed as a playmaking big who was capable of playing on the perimeter as a creator. Bender had been playing professionally overseas since he was 15 years old. Bender would not turn 19 until a month into the 2016-17 season and it was easy to project great things coming down the pipe for whatever team took Bender on draft night.

Armed with two top 10 picks, the Phoenix Suns were a team that had a lot of options on the night of the 2016 NBA Draft. Given that the team had just made one of the best picks in franchise history a year ago when they took Devin Booker 13th-overall there was hope that the team could strike gold once more in the draft; though selecting fourth and eighth overall put a damper on the expectations of just how good the player they could get would be. Yet, on draft night arguably one of the best prospects fell to them at four and they took Bender. The idea of pairing Booker and Bender was tantalizing and too good for Phoenix to pass up at the moment.

After dealing with some turmoil the season before bringing Bender onboard (Morris twins trades and firing Jeff Hornacek), the Suns were getting ready to start from scratch and this pairing seemed like a great way to jump-start the rebuild in Phoenix. However, that promise never got off the ground. Despite joining Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only 18-year-olds to score 10-plus points in an NBA game Bender’s rookie year would be largely forgettable — starting with a woeful performance in the Las Vegas Summer League. He played just 43 games and missed the bulk of that time due to a bone spur in his right ankle.

Following a brief resurgence in his sophomore season, Bender tumbled back down to earth again in the 2018-19 season. It began with the embarrassment of being a third-year player being on a summer league roster–where he underperformed once again–and ended with him playing just 46 games total. The addition of No. 1 overall pick, DeAndre Ayon, did nothing to help ease Bender’s burden and after beginning the season in the starting lineup he was soon a complete afterthought for the franchise.

In October, the Suns elected not to pick up the fourth-year team option on Bender’s contract and unless another team is willing to take a swing on the 21-year-old international it’s more likely he plays in Europe than America next season.

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