NBA: Anthony Bennett, Minnesota Timberwolves To Part Ways? Will He Sign With Toronto Raptors?
2013 first overall draft pick Anthony Bennett is on his road to becoming one of the biggest busts in the history of NBA. According to Yahoo! Sports, the Minnesota Timberwolves are in a contract buyout discussion with the UNLV product after not finding any trade partners as per sources.
The representatives of Bennett are the ones who initiated the buyout talks as they want their client to find a team that will allow him to have more playing time. The 22-year-old has no natural position as he is as tall as a small forward, but his frame is suitable for the power forward position.
As per NBA.com, the Minnesota Timberwolves are loaded with talent in the frontcourt with Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng, Adreian Payne, Damjan Rudez and Nemanja Bjelica as the young core of players. Veterans Kevin Garnett, Nikola Pekovic and Tayshaun Prince are also competing for playing time with Bennett.
Yahoo! Sports also reported that the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers have the cap space capability to trade for the former first overall pick and his $5.8 million salary, but both are uninterested. The Utah Jazz can also claim Bennett off waivers but are also not interested according to sources.
Minnesota acquired the 6'7'' forward from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Kevin Love deal, but he struggled to get minutes and has a problem with conditioning and injuries. Even with his current situation, Bennett still has the potential to be a rotational player if given the minutes.
Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities reports that Toronto Raptors are interested in the Canadian as he was born in Toronto. According to National Post, the Raptors only have 14 guaranteed contracts and adding Bennett will cover their hole at the power forward position.
The Toronto Raptors has no definite starting power forward with Luis Scola, Patrick Patterson and James Johnson battling for minutes. The 76ers are also interested if he clears waivers as Philadelphia is always looking for low-risk, high-reward deals since they do not have the will to win in the league in the coming years.
If Bennett doesn't realize his full potential, he could end up alongside Michael Olowokandi, Kwame Brown and Greg Oden as the worst first overall draft picks of all time. But if he does realize it, he could be a serviceable player to a borderline all-star like Joe Smith, Kenyon Martin and Andrea Bargnani, who were all first overall picks.
The Toronto-native has averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 41.2 percent from the field in his two-year career with the Cavaliers and Timberwolves, per Basketball-Reference.com.
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