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Anthony Bennett Rumors: Why The Washington Wizards Should Acquire Him

By Ben Mehic

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“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is a cliche phrase that’s often applicable to the NBA. Players who were once coveted can lose their luster in mere games before ultimately losing their spot in the league.

Anthony Bennett, a former first overall pick, is a player who’s not as coveted as he was after he shook David Stern’s hand in 2013. The Cleveland Cavaliers took a gamble on Bennett and selected him first overall even though he was projected to go anywhere from the third pick to late in the lottery.

The versatile Canadian forward played his college basketball at UNLV and displayed a skill-set that’s transferable to the next level.

Bennett averaged just over 16 points and 8 rebounds per game in 2013 with the Rebels, and his ability to score inside and out made him an intriguing prospect to scouts around the league. The 6’8″ forward shot nearly 38 percent from three in his last season with the Rebels.

Unfortunately, due to a number of unforeseen obstacles — including his weight issue, sleep apnea and shoulder surgery — Anthony Bennett struggled to adapt with the Cavaliers.

He showed flashes of his potential during the preseason, scoring 14 points in a single quarter, but his inability to score during the regular season became a spectacle.

Bennett was eventually involved the deal that included Cleveland’s first overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, for Kevin Love.

In just 57 appearances with the Minnesota Timberwolves and under 16 minutes per game, Anthony Bennett averaged roughly 5 points and 4 rebounds for Flip Saunders’ squad. He made just 42 percent of his shots and was often in-and-out of their rotation.

After Saunders acquired Adreian Payne from the Atlanta Hawks, Bennett’s playing time steadily decreased. For what it’s worth, Payne’s numbers were equally as bad — he made less than 42 percent of his shots and played over 23 minutes per game.

Minnesota has the number one overall pick in this year’s draft and will select Karl Anthony-Towns. With that said, according to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Wolves will look to clear up some room for their new addition.

Anthony Bennett is reportedly on their trading block:

"The Minnesota Timberwolves have made former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett available via trade in advance of Thursday’s NBA draft, according to league sources."

Even though he’s a former first overall pick, there are still a number of question marks surrounding Anthony Bennett.

He slimmed down after arriving to Minnesota, but teams will inevitably question his weight and commitment to staying in game-shape.

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Bennett’s confidence was shook in Cleveland and he never truly recovered.

He’s talented enough to succeed, but if his confidence is low, then he’s going to continue to struggle.

That’s another aspect of Bennett’s game that teams will certainly consider.

Anthony Bennett will probably never live up to his draft selection, but he still has the tools to succeed.

That’s why I believe the Washington Wizards should attempt to acquire him.

Washington will add a stretch four this off-season, whether it’s through the NBA Draft, free agency or possibly even a trade. Bennett has shown that’s he’s capable of knocking down the outside shot, it’s just a matter of hitting them consistently.

A change of scenery can often help players that lost their luster. For instance, take a look at Hassan Whiteside and his emergence with the Miami HEAT.

Whiteside was an NBA reject, but after he was given a legitimate chance to play by the HEAT, he flourished. He always had the skill-set to play well, but more importantly, his confidence skyrocketed and he’s become a key rotation player.

Teams won’t flock to acquire Anthony Bennett and he could probably be had for cheap. Washington has a few players on their roster — namely Martell Webster and DeJuan Blair — that they can get rid of without losing much. They also possess the 49th overall pick in this year’s draft along with the rights to Tomas Satoransky.

None of these pieces are game-changers, but they could be intriguing enough to dump Anthony Bennett  — a player who might thrive or could be out of the league after this upcoming season.

I have an irrational about of confidence in John Wall and Bradley Beal. Wall, in particular, has proven that he’s capable of making players around him better. Anthony Bennett isn’t a super athlete, but he’s still capable of running in transition. Bennett would get plenty of open looks in D.C., which is something he didn’t get much of during his time with the Cavaliers and Timberwolves.

Not only would Bennett benefit from playing along side the best back court in the Eastern Conference, but he’d benefit from playing with proven veteran players. Paul Pierce might return, but the Wizards will still have Nene, Marcin Gortat, Kris Humphries and Ramon Sessions — all of whom have become great leaders in the locker room.

Anthony Bennett doesn’t have any pressure on him anymore. He’s already been labeled a bust. A change of scenery could help him find the confidence that he’s been missing since arriving to the NBA a few years ago.

The NBA Draft is just a few days away and teams will be constantly communicating. If Saunders calls Ernie Grunfeld, then he should try to acquire Anthony Bennett, especially if he’s not looking to get much back.

Next: Evaluating Paul Pierce's Impact In D.C.

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