2016 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Lottery Edition

Dragan Bender. 3. player. 18. <strong>Age:</strong> 18 (11/17/1997)<br /> <strong>Height, Weight, Wingspan:</strong> 7’0.5″, 216 pounds, 7’2″<br /> <strong>Slash Line:</strong> .426/.368/.719<br /> <strong>Season Averages:</strong> 12.2 MPG, 4.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.8 ORPG, 0.7 BPG, 0.7 3PM <p>The Boston Celtics didn’t lose by remaining at No. 3 in the 2016 NBA Draft. Missing out on Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons is disappointing, but Boston has a chance to select its next Kevin McHale.</p> <p>Dragan Bender may be an unknown in most basketball circles, but he’s been heralded by NBA executives since long before this year’s string of mock drafts rolled around.</p> <p>Bender has been on the NBA Draft radar for years, which gives credence to the belief that he’s a Top 5 lock. He isn’t some European phenom who’s just now surfacing, but instead a prospect whom scouts and executives have been closely monitoring since he first turned pro at 15.</p> <p>Chances are, Bender will come off the board in the Top 5, if not the Top 3.</p> <p>Bender is a near 7’1″ big man with a 7’2″ wingspan and an advanced offensive attack. He can play from the post, face up and drive, space the floor from beyond the arc, and operate via both the pick-and-roll and the pick-and-pop.</p> <p>As for what you can expect of Bender, he patterns his game after Toni Kukoc. That’s not a bad path to follow.</p>. Power Forward. Maccabi Tel Aviv