Fab to NBA discussion

[osullfam]

I bleed orange and love Fab. That said, an objective evaluation:
Fab took a great leap on the defensive end from freshman to sophmore year. Now a very good shot blocker. His weight loss has allowed him to hustle and be in better position.
Why he isn't close to NBA ready:
1) rudimentary offensive game;
2) not a very good rebounder. Tries to swat the ball out, vs. be in position to grab it;
3) Maybe most importantly, do you see what NBA big men look like? They are chiseled, muscular freaks of nature (think Dwight Howard). 7'0" 245 #'s will just get run over in the big boys league.

Will Fab get there eventually? My orange heart says hell yes. It's just not after this year.

 

[jdubs30]

NBA teams have a history of taking big men who are very raw because they think they can turn them into the next great center. They are much more willing to take a chance on a raw 7 footer than a raw 6'3 PG.

With that being said, Fab has shown flashes and while he does have a long way to go, I believe he WOULD be drafted this year. But if he sticks around he has a chance to become a lottery pick.

Basically, if Fab needs the money he could leave after this year and get drafted; or he could stay around for 1 more year, improve his game and become a top 10 pick.

 

[SkanSU]

First I don't believe that Fab needs the money ... it seems to me that his family in Brazil aren't exactly hurting. Second, yes without question Fab needs to improve his offensive skills and his rebounding. But third ... I saw a completely different and dominant Fab last night. I was one of those who said he would never leave until after next year ... and he would be unbelievable next year... what a front line we would have!!! Given that if he continues to grow and show the same skills we saw last night and actually improve through the rest of our schedule and dominates Drummond (who is a one and done) ... and if we go deep into the NCAA's he just might go ...maybe not a lottery but certainly high first round.

 

[jdubs30]

I wish Fab got more touches on offense. He's shooting 58% from the field (80% from the line) in December and usually does a pretty good job when he gets the ball in post; he's also a terrific passer. We're gonna need a decent low post presence at some point this year...

 

[cuseatduke]

I'm not sure it's relevant whether he's ready or not. Fab is from a poor Brazilian town. This is not Andrew Luck we are talking about. It would be silly of him to turn down a guaranteed NBA contract. Put yourself in his shoes for a second here. I think all of these types of posts about players being "ready" are off point. The NBA hardly cares whether or not you are ready, they care whether you have potential, and if you're not in a great economic situation you should probably take the money.

 

[jdubs30]

I'm not sure it's relevant whether he's ready or not. Fab is from a poor Brazilian town. This is not Andrew Luck we are talking about. It would be silly of him to turn down a guaranteed NBA contract. Put yourself in his shoes for a second here. I think all of these types of posts about players being "ready" are off point. The NBA hardly cares whether or not you are ready, they care whether you have potential, and if you're not in a great economic situation you should probably take the money.

I know that his dad died when he was very young, like 3 or something. He only had 1 relative in the US, they lived in Miami and he lived with them when he went to Sagemont. So I'm not totally sure about his financial situation, but I don't think the money would hurt him...

 

[OrangeCrush22]

I wish Fab got more touches on offense. He's shooting 58% from the field (80% from the line) in December and usually does a pretty good job when he gets the ball in post; he's also a terrific passer. We're gonna need a decent low post presence at some point this year...

I agree, he's a good passer and decent ball handler, too. So I don't understand why we don't go to him more.

 

[stuckinbig11]

NCAA Championship and he goes !!

 

[Henny & Coke]

Some recent college big men (with similar college stats as Fab this year) and where they were drafted:

2006: First round, pick #9 overall: Patrick O'Bryant, 7-0 250lbs, Bradley - Left after 2 years, averaged 13.4 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, 25.7 minutes per game Soph year totals. (against poor competition)

2006: Second round, pick #34 overall: Paul Davis, 6-11 270lbs, Michigan State - Stayed all 4 years, his Senior averages were 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1 steal and 0.9 blocks, while also shooting 87% from the free-throw line, and was 6-19 from three-point territory.

2008: First round, pick #23 overall: Kosta Kufos, 7-0 265lbs, Ohio State - Left after 1 year, averaged 14.4 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocked shots per game.

2008: Second round, pick #35 overall: DeAndre Jordan, 6-11 265lbs, Texas A&M - Left after 1 year, averaging 7.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He averaged 20 minutes and 1.3 blocks per game.

2009: First round, pick #24 overall: Byron (B.J.) Mullens, 7-0 275lbs, Ohio State - Left after 1 year, averaged 20.3 minutes, 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks per game.

2010: First round, pick #29 overall: Daniel Orton, 6-10 255lbs, Kentucky - Left after 1 year, averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game.

2010: Second round, pick #33 overall: Hasan Whiteside, 7-0 235lbs, Marshall - Left after 1 year, averaged 13.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.4 blocks, 26.1 minutes per game. (against poor competition)

2010: Second round, pick #47 overall: Keith "Tiny" Gallon, 6-9 303lbs, Oklahoma - Left after 1 year, averaged 10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 24.0 mintues per game.

Can you say that you would rather have drafted some of these guys than Fab Melo right now? It's pretty obvious that the NBA will take a chance on a 7 footer.

 

[SouthCampusHero]

One word: THABEET.

 

[shermstheman]

One word: THABEET.

Thabeet- no game. Fab- huge upside. Enjoy him while you can.

 

[BlackKnight76]

I could see it going either way at this point. If his offense continues to come along, and he starts putting up some 15 point games with regularity, I think he leaves. If he's still mostly putbacks and dunks, we might get a year 3.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Fab will get drafted based upon size, potential, athletic ability and upside. Keep in mind, Fab started playing basketball in the 9th grade (in Brazil), transferred to the US to get more exposure, but had to sit out 1 year (Florida transfer rules). He only played 1 year of organized high school ball.

Then he came to Syracuse, got a bit out of shape, and had a harsh reality check of what it takes to play at this level.

His upside is huge because he's just learning the game. He's got great mobility for a big man. Few guys out there have similar leaping ability. His years of playing soccer and being fleet of foot will really pay off for him.

I think he has a bigger upside than the last Brazilian big man to get to the NBA, Nene, who has had quite a career at Denver, continuing to improve after a decade of working hard at his game. Fab is bigger and moves better than Nene.

 

[SouthCampusHero]

Based on info I heard from a VERY solid source, the coaching staff is using the nba to motivate Fab. I strongly believe he will leave after this year...but it will be his decision.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Thabeet- no game. Fab- huge upside. Enjoy him while you can.

I agree, however the 7'3" Thabeet had some decent numbers in the same Big East. He played three years and during that third year, he averaged 13.6 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 4.2 bpg in 31.8 minutes of action. I was never a big Thabeet fan, but when you are 7'3" and you have decent enough stats, you can see why he was taken 2nd in the draft.

 

[jdubs30]

Based on info I heard from a VERY solid source, the coaching staff is using the nba to motivate Fab. I strongly believe he will leave after this year...but it will be his decision.

Yeah didn't JB kind of hint that Dion and Fab will leave after this year? It was strange to hear because usually he doesn't even speak about that stuff this early.

 

[SouthCampusHero]

Yeah didn't JB kind of hint that Dion and Fab will leave after this year? It was strange to hear because usually he doesn't even speak about that stuff this early.

No idea. I didn't read JB's comments. What I personally heard was from a conversation I had about two months ago.

The staff knows about fabs potential. The nba knows about fabs potential. The only hinderence to his development are the NCAA limitations to practice time. But like I said, the decision is his. The staff will NOT be surprised if he leaves. They are motivating him...

 

[44cuse]

I bleed orange and love Fab. That said, an objective evaluation:
Fab took a great leap on the defensive end from freshman to sophmore year. Now a very good shot blocker. His weight loss has allowed him to hustle and be in better position.
Why he isn't close to NBA ready:
1) rudimentary offensive game;
2) not a very good rebounder. Tries to swat the ball out, vs. be in position to grab it;
3) Maybe most importantly, do you see what NBA big men look like? They are chiseled, muscular freaks of nature (think Dwight Howard). 7'0" 245 #'s will just get run over in the big boys league.

Will Fab get there eventually? My orange heart says hell yes. It's just not after this year.

Andrew Bynum, Marc Gasol, Kendrick Perkins, Chris Kamen. Not saying you are wrong at the macro level, but not all nba centers are chiseled.

44cuse

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I have no inside info, and don't claim to have any, but if I'm an NBA GM that has a team that made the playoffs as a 6 to 8 seed there is not a chance Fab gets by me.

 

[CusefanATL]

NBA teams have a history of taking big men who are very raw because they think they can turn them into the next great center. They are much more willing to take a chance on a raw 7 footer than a raw 6'3 PG.

With that being said, Fab has shown flashes and while he does have a long way to go, I believe he WOULD be drafted this year. But if he sticks around he has a chance to become a lottery pick.

Basically, if Fab needs the money he could leave after this year and get drafted; or he could stay around for 1 more year, improve his game and become a top 10 pick.

Exactly. Fab has more shown just as much potential - if not more - than andrew bynum ever did. keep in mind fab has only played bball for like 5 years. look at the jump he made from frosh to soph. if he makes a similar jump 3 or 4 years in a row, he is on his way to an nba hall of fame career.

 

[SouthCampusHero]

Not sure who many "chisled, muscular freaks" (as the OP claims) are true NBA centers in the league right now. So many are long and skinny or overweight and under 7 feet tall. Fab...five years from now...kind of reminds me of todays Andrew Bogut. I hate making that comparison because both are international players but...Bogut doesnt like to go inside anymore now that he developed a mid-range jumper and he is a hit-and-miss rebounder (no pun intended). Fab could be an above average passer as a center just like Bogut. Their builds are similar and they may have the same amount of athletic ability. Im not saying Fab is a lottery pick by any means but I could see him working his way to the quality center that Bogut is (or at least close to it).

 

[Madbiker]

Fab is a work in progress. His development over the offseason and so far this year is amazing. But he has a long way yet to go. He reminds me of a sophmore Rony Seikaly (for those who go back that far). If he stays another year, he will develop a much better offensive game. Hope he stays another year. In those days, NBA teams only paid for guys who were ready and could produce. Now they pay huge three year guaranteed contracts to underclassmen who clearly are not ready to play just to sit on the bench and watch.

 

[Czar]

Not sure who many "chisled, muscular freaks" (as the OP claims) are true NBA centers in the league right now. So many are long and skinny or overweight and under 7 feet tall. Fab...five years from now...kind of reminds me of todays Andrew Bogut. I hate making that comparison because both are international players but...Bogut doesnt like to go inside anymore now that he developed a mid-range jumper and he is a hit-and-miss rebounder (no pun intended). Fab could be an above average passer as a center just like Bogut. Their builds are similar and they may have the same amount of athletic ability. Im not saying Fab is a lottery pick by any means but I could see him working his way to the quality center that Bogut is (or at least close to it).

What? Bogut is a Top 5 Rebounder in the NBA dude.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

I wish Fab got more touches on offense. He's shooting 58% from the field (80% from the line) in December and usually does a pretty good job when he gets the ball in post; he's also a terrific passer. We're gonna need a decent low post presence at some point this year...

If you watch him, he doesn't always present well. Many times, he just stands there and lets the defender play in front of him without fighting for position.

I too wish he'd get more touches inside, but you have to work to create position for yourself so that your teammate can dump the ball inside to you. Fab still has a long way to go with that.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

I bleed orange and love Fab. That said, an objective evaluation:
Fab took a great leap on the defensive end from freshman to sophmore year. Now a very good shot blocker. His weight loss has allowed him to hustle and be in better position.
Why he isn't close to NBA ready:
1) rudimentary offensive game;
2) not a very good rebounder. Tries to swat the ball out, vs. be in position to grab it;
3) Maybe most importantly, do you see what NBA big men look like? They are chiseled, muscular freaks of nature (think Dwight Howard). 7'0" 245 #'s will just get run over in the big boys league.

Will Fab get there eventually? My orange heart says hell yes. It's just not after this year.

Fab will be 22 in June. He has a finite lifespan for playing in the NBA and many teams will pay him a lot of $$$ to sit on the bench while he develops. If he continues to play the way he is playing, he'll likely be gone...whether he is polished or not.