Closer look at: Anthony Bennett

[kdgoup]

Has Bennett come in to meet with the Cavs yet? If not, does anyone know if a date is set? Really interesting prospect. Seems like he could play the 3 but may have trouble with the quicker players at that spot...

He's going to visit cleveland next monday I feel like this kid is something special unlike the other top prospects except noel if healthy.

Here is the source : http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2013/06/unlv_power_forward_anthony_ben.html

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Has Bennett come in to meet with the Cavs yet? If not, does anyone know if a date is set? Really interesting prospect. Seems like he could play the 3 but may have trouble with the quicker players at that spot...

I tend to agree on this. He certainly has the range to play the 3. Also has the ability to create a shot. Defense may not be as big of a deal if he can fit within a scheme. I've read several pieces on him and he talks about work ethic and how he's not satisfied with his shot yet and needs to work hard.

I think Bennett has the highest upside of anyone in the draft, at least offensively. But I think he can be a good defender as well. UNLV didn't really focus on that at all, so it'd be hard to judge him in that regard. My gut tells me that the Cavs are debating between picking Bennett and Porter. Bennett can flex a bit (though Porter with some added weight likely could too). He's not as well rounded as Porter nor as pro-ready, but has a higher ceiling. I trust Grant on this one, so whatever he decides to do, I give him the benefit of the doubt. It's probably down to Len/Porter/Bennett. I have a feeling the McLemore is out. I think the knee issues with Noel will scare the Cavs off.

In the end, I think we go Bennett or Porter at 1 and then take a Center at 19. Unless they grade out Karasev really highly (and they could - I could see that).

 

[Akron330]

I would be happy with this kid. It sounds like some scouts and GM's think he is the best player in the draft.

If we were to take Bennett at #1, would you still go Karasev at 19 (or 13) or do you take the best bigman that's available?

Gimme Bennett, Karasev and make a run at Peckovic

 

[Futuredome]

Bennett is my guy as well. Just watching him makes me think he will be better than TT in this league and a potential superstar. No other guy gives me that comfort.

It would make TT expendable for a good center.

 

[CFIO]

Bennett is the third coming of Michael Beasley

First there was Mike Beasley a tweener that was a dominate scorer in college look at him now
Second there was Derrick Willims another tweener dominate in college look at him now
Do you guys really want Anthony Bennett the next of the tweeners that dominate college and don't do shit in the nba?

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I would be happy with this kid. It sounds like some scouts and GM's think he is the best player in the draft.

If we were to take Bennett at #1, would you still go Karasev at 19 (or 13) or do you take the best bigman that's available?

Gimme Bennett, Karasev and make a run at Peckovic

I'm not to sure they go for Karasev at 19 if they take Bennett or Porter. I think they'd be more likely to take a SF in the 2nd round (assuming they keep at least one of those picks). They could surprise, especially depending on what's available. If Mohammed is at 19, that could be hard to resist with his offensive upside and likely ability to play SF and SG.

If they draft Bennett or Porter, my guess is if they move up it would be for Cody Zeller. Adding him doesn't stop us from going after Pekovic. Could see us taking Bullock or Snell at SF if they're there at the top of the second. I doubt we keep all four picks, though I could see us keeping one of the two seconds.

As for Pekovic, it will take Hibbert money to even have a chance to pry him away from Minnesota. You could try to front load the deal, but will Minnesota match anything? And what is it worth paying for Pekovic?

 

[Akron330]

Yeah, I don't know what the Wolves will do or what kind of money it will take to land Peck.

I do know that I want him, he's 27, big and put up some solid numbers last year(16 and 8)

 

[Soar]

Bennett is the third coming of Michael Beasley

First there was Mike Beasley a tweener that was a dominate scorer in college look at him now
Second there was Derrick Willims another tweener dominate in college look at him now
Do you guys really want Anthony Bennett the next of the tweeners that dominate college and don't do shit in the nba?

Mike Beasley is the biggest headcase in the league. Who knows what he might have been. I think Bennett is much smoother offensively than Williams. I also think Williams hurt himself by declaring himself as only a SF. Don't think Minnesota was the best place for him either. And he really started having some big games at the end of last year. Wouldn't write him off yet. Tweeners do scare me though. A lot.

 

[cavfanintexas]

Mike Beasley is the biggest headcase in the league. Who knows what he might have been. I think Bennett is much smoother offensively than Williams. I also think Williams hurt himself by declaring himself as only a SF. Don't think Minnesota was the best place for him either. And he really started having some big games at the end of last year. Wouldn't write him off yet. Tweeners do scare me though. A lot.

If we want Bennett we should just trade for Williams and the 9th pick. Williams has shown that he is a NBA player, he maybe always a back up SF/PF but that is what I see Bennett being which is not bad just not for the 1st pick.

 

[DionWaters]

Bennett is the third coming of Michael Beasley

First there was Mike Beasley a tweener that was a dominate scorer in college look at him now
Second there was Derrick Willims another tweener dominate in college look at him now
Do you guys really want Anthony Bennett the next of the tweeners that dominate college and don't do shit in the nba?

*dominant

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

If we want Bennett we should just trade for Williams and the 9th pick. Williams has shown that he is a NBA player, he maybe always a back up SF/PF but that is what I see Bennett being which is not bad just not for the 1st pick.

I don't know if Williams is or will always be a backup. He started off poorly, but really turned it around in February. Though I think Bennett has more range than Williams and will be a better offensive player. I think Bennett would be better at SF than most people think, though I doubt he'd be put there all the time. I do believe he can split time at PF and SF. His defense will also likely improve with emphasis.

One of the things I really like about Bennett is his willingness to work, at least that's the sense I get from the interviews of him I've read and seen. He also strikes me as the only player in this draft that wants to be great. Noel doesn't strike me in that way. Porter is the 100% team guy who will be what you need him to be - and that's something I do like about him. But Bennett seems to be that guy who is never satisfied with his game, who wants to improve in every aspect, and who wants to be a dominant player. He's got a good motor and I think he has his head screwed on straight. I'd also guess he'd bond with TT really quick as both are proud Canadians that want to build basketball up back home.

 

[Nathan S]

I assume this is the nail in the coffin for him playing SF :chuckles:

EDIT: Oops, Howler beat me to it in the NBA draft thread.

 

[Lumthemad]

I had a feeling the Cavs interview didn't go all that well with him. Perhaps him being a bit tubby had a decent bit to do with all of that.

As Dion showed us, that kind of weight can go away pretty quickly...but still...that probably killed any hope of us taking him number 1 over all.

 

[mrWalrus]

I'm not worried about the weight one bit. In fact, I'd rather have guys go into their rookie campaign a little heavier so they start to muscle up during work outs. These guys are 19-21 - weight fluctuates so quickly. Later in their career is when you have to start worrying about the extra offseason pounds.

You don’t get a nickname like the “Round Mound of Rebound” by being svelte. While in college at Auburn, Barkley routinely weighed over 300 pounds, but thanks to Moses Malone, he learned how to stay a bit more "oval" during his Hall of Fame career. His post-career, however, is another story.

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I assume this is the nail in the coffin for him playing SF :chuckles:

EDIT: Oops, Howler beat me to it in the NBA draft thread.

Depends on how quickly he can drop it. He is recovering from surgery. I don't think he's ever going to be a full time SF.