Underperformer: Dragan Bender, Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns have lost nine games in a row and counting now. With a 19-53 record, the Suns look to be on their way to outdoing last season’s debacle of a season that saw them go 24-58.
Bender is a 7’1″ center Phoenix drafted fourth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. In his second season, he’s hit the old “sophomore slump” and it’s gone beyond his scoring numbers. In 24.6 minutes per game, Bender is averaging an offensive rating of 99.9 and a defensive rating of 111.5. That generates a net rating of -11.5 on average when Bender is on the floor.
To make matters worse, the big man has yet to register a double-double in the NBA. Yes, he’s more of a threat on the perimeter, shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range this season. Defensively, he’s probably guarding the other team’s center, who most likely plays inside. Considering he’s in the paint, at least defensively, he should be getting a lot more rebounds.
Next: 2017-18 Week 23 NBA Power Rankings
For example, Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons, Bender registered an offensive rating of 70.0 and a defensive rating of 108.9 with a net rating of -38.9 facing a frontcourt of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. If things continue to slide, Dragan Bender’s name could come up soon in trade talks.