Anthony Bennett with the Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo : Twitter)
The 2013 NBA draft has been revealing some gems previously undiscovered, but not at the top, just yet.
The Denver Nuggets traded the 27th pick to the Utah Jazz and they took Frenchman Rudy Gobert. "The Stifle Tower" is now known as one of the best products of a "weak draft" and even landing among top candidates in the Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards last season.
Such success stories prove that the draft is not an exact science, and the Cleveland Cavaliers know that all too well. They are riding on the success of two of their first overall picks: LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. However, they seem to have blown it in 2013 with Anthony Bennett.
The Cavs seemed all too willing to add Bennett along with 2014 first overall pick Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love. Who can blame them, since Bennett was putting up numbers underwhelming for a first overall pick.
Nothing confirms this assumption more than the fact that Bennett is now waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves-after they were rumored to have been shopping him.
Yahoo Sports' Shams Carania confirmed the buyout on Twitter, saying:
"Minnesota forward Anthony Bennett has reached agreement on a contract buyout, soon to free him on waivers, league sources tell Yahoo."
It seems ironic that a team that has a void at the power forward slot is the Cleveland Cavaliers-specifically because fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson is currently playing hardball with his team, asking for nothing less than a max contract.
King James Gospel, a Cavs fan site is considering this possibility. They list down the reasons why the Cavs should make a play for their former first pick.
Bennett still has a lot of "raw talent" and he displayed some of that for Team Canada this summer. Also, "Bennett is still only 22 years old and had enough talent that he was going to be drafted high, even if the Cavs didn't make him the #1 overall pick."
It is also a valid point that Tristan Thompson, if he takes the qualifying offer, would definitely bolt next year (if a better offer comes along).
Still, there are questions about Bennett's health, shot selection and whether LeBron James would like to take a chance with him over veterans, especially since Cleveland wants a title badly.
There would be other teams, Philadelphia and Portland comes to mind, with no urgency bugging them and with more room to let Bennett develop-which is what he needs at this point. However, the Cavs know Bennett more than any other team in the NBA, and if the Tristan Thompson is not resolved, the Cavs have a legitimate need.
