Anthony Bennett

[blommen]

Woj is so much better at breaking news than every other reporter combined, no denying that. But that has greatly over shadowed the fact he's an awful feature writer that has routinely showed high level of bias and perpetuated false ideas.

Agreed, where Woj excels is in his reporting due to his contacts and he has shown himself capable of writing interesting opinion pieces, such as the piece he wrote on Jordans HOF speech. those contacts come with a price though. he has to cowtow to the wims of the front offices he relies on and that makes him a prime target for furthering agendas. furthermore he has become such an institution in NBA coverage that's it's basically career suicide for anyone to call him out on any of this. It's a shame really, 'cause he actually is a pretty good writer.

 

[macbdog]

Please note, Woj quotes sources in his assertion- he doesn't have to back it up because to do so would be to expose his source. He can simply say ' this is what my sources, the same ones who feed me the info you all eat up in my Woj Bombs, told me'. Also note how ambiguous it is: 'several top NBA execs'. Several could be two. Who is defined as 'top'? Exec is also ambiguous- GM? President? Vice President? Director of some kind? It is possible that Riley and another exec didn't have Bennett in their top 10. It is possible they just said it to get in a dig, too.

This is all pointless, though- we all know that when Woj editorializes, he is either grinding an axe, waxing a knob or both. I think we can see the motivations behind both his info and this article without looking too hard.

 

[I'mWithDan]

I honestly think teams like the Cavs / Spurs / Warriors are the best teams for someone like AB. He doesn't need to be thrust back in to the lineup and expected to play 25 minutes a game. What he needs is for a team to slowly rebuild his confidence, give him an environment in which he can improve (out of the spotlight) and hope he slowly regains some of his game.

He's only 22 years old. I was even shocked to see how young he still is. There's plenty of examples of players who have started off really slow, bounced back and became productive players later in their career. He looked good in the Pan Am games and he's been working his ass off, from reports. I don't know if AB will be one of those (who bounces back) but I think he's worth a flier if you're talking 14th / 15th man. The situation where he will for sure fail (IMO) is one where he'll be counted on immediately. I just hope he and his agent understand that.

 

[Cavatt]

I was always shocked at how bad he looked at basketball.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Hope he ends up in Portland...looked good playing for Triano and Vanderpool.

 

[Walter White]

LeBron is one of the few players in the league that could turn him around. He might make him look more valuable than Tristan (which would be a nightmare considering these contract negotiations). Not a shot at TT, just saying LeBron has made people look good his entire career and earned people pay days. Look at Daniel Gibson.

 

[macbdog]

im happy for him.

he doesnt want to play, and he doesnt have to worka day in his life.

fucker doesnt even like basketball. tried it for a few years and he doesnt have to worry abou tmoney.

Unfortunately I think you nailed it- I don't think he really wants to be an NBA player. He wouldn't show up out of shape again if he did. You don't see any drive, at all, because if you did he wouldn't be such a failure with his skills. His best landing shot may be in another career.

 

[I'mWithDan]

Unfortunately I think you nailed it- I don't think he really wants to be an NBA player. He wouldn't show up out of shape again if he did. You don't see any drive, at all, because if you did he wouldn't be such a failure with his skills. His best landing shot may be in another career.

Is he really out of shape?

He looked trim and in shape at the Pan Am Games, as well as during some of the summer workout videos he's posted.

Site note, trainer is wearing the KI's...so you know he's legit.

 

[Kbiz]

He looks the most in-shape he's looked his entire NBA career in those videos. Maybe he just needs a wake up call.

He has talent. He just needs to commit himself professionally. I mean he was what, 19, when he came into the league? I was not ready for a full-time profession at 19, i'll tell you that much.

 

[pl4tinum]

If his contract didnt blow I'd snag him back up in a heartbeat.

 

[Rich]

The shit stain at Deadspin you are referring to is Kevin Draper, the guy who wrote this back in December- the article that essentially exposed how Woj gets his info for the army of NBA fans who put him on a white pedestal. It also included for the first time that the NBAs investigation into leaked memos in 2011 that led to Joe Dumars 500k fine was linked to Woj. And Draper did contact Woj for a response but naturally was ignored. Fact is, though, you wouldn't know shit about Woj and his sources if it wasn't for this particular shit stain at Deadspin.

He works for Gawker. That's strike 1, 2, and 3.

 

[kookoo]

Hope he ends up in Portland...looked good playing for Triano and Vanderpool.

He wasn't even in at the end of the game they should/could have won. There is one good Canadian player on that team. CORY JOSEPH. No, Andrew Wiggins, Olynyk. How bad do you have to be if Aaron Doornekamp is in instead of you?

 

[The Process God]

At a 14th/15th man, Bennett's a no-brainer, IMO. With our luxury tax situation on top of us having to use part of one of our TPEs, however, I'm unsure of whether or not the Cavs would take a flyer on him because getting him might prevent us from being able to get another player we want with the TPE. It also might put Dan in an uncomfortable place financially and make him less willing to spend over the next few years.

It's just so tough to pass up on Bennett because it would be one of our very few chances to add high-potential talent to this team, let alone at a big man position. Bennett's offensive talent is still there, and his superb strength and athleticism are better than ever. If he ever figured out the mental aspect of things, he could definitely at least be a good starter or better.

 

[Rich]

Bennett was the 14/15th man last season. He was bad at it.

I know that you were high on him when he was picked, but how can you still possibly hang onto the notion that he's a "high-potential" player.

And it doesn't really matter, because even in the unlikely scenario that Gilbert actually would want Bennett back on the team, if a single team with cap space wants him, we lose and they win.

 

[Walter White]

yea not sure on that last tweet. I think plenty of people had him top 10. I wouldn't bat an eye at the Cavs being the only team that had him #1 overall.

It was such a weak draft that it makes me understand the reasoning. It isn't like there was an obvious choice so we whiffed big on him. Gobert might be the most valuable player in the draft and he was taken 27th. Oladipo was probably the only "clear" choice there but we already had a PG. And he isn't a franchise player or probably even a second option on a good team.

We should have traded down but hindsight is 20/20. We got Delly undrafted so we made up for it by nailing that. One of the great undrafted pick ups.