[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Bennett was a curious choice to say the least to go first overall in 2013 and seems well on his way to becoming the least productive number one overall pick in NBA history. His career has basically been a disaster so far, struggling to get mins even  on bad teams and failing to even really resemble an NBA player when he does play. By now it’s obvious that Bennett will never live up to his draft position, but does anybody still believe that he can at least salvage some type of career as a role player?

Brooklyn is a team with several options in the frontcourt but nothing really set in stone besides Brook Lopez at either forward position. Bennett will likely be given a legitimate chance to compete for playing time on a rebuilding team. This may be his best and possibly last chance to prove he belongs in the league. It’s crazy that we are even having the discussion just 3 years after he was drafted first overall, but that seems to be where things are at right now.

 

 

 

[TRC1991Participant]

He has no discernible skill, he’s a beast dunker but he can’t shoot and has no position 

[ph90702]

The worst thing that happened to him was going #1 overall.  I think his career would have been different if he wasn’t drafted #1 overall.

[OhCanada-Participant]

It may have somewhat ruined his work ethic. I think now that his rookie contract is up he will obtain some sense of ambition. A 1st overall pick NBA rookie scale contract is a lot of money for a kid from Jane and Finch.

[ph90702]

He’s always been somewhat lazy.  That’s why he got worse over time at UNLV.  He wasn’t properly conditioned, and he started to wear down.

[canadabasketballisrisingParticipant]

 no reason he caqnt be a role player off the bench… at best

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 If he’s going to make it as a role player he really needs to find what his niche can be and how he can help a team. Right now he’s basically just a big athletic body. He has raw talent but doesn’t really do anything particularly well and doesn’t have a particularly good awareness for how to use his talent in a game situation.

 He really needs to pick one or two skills that are  valued in today’s NBA and focus on developing those skills. He has the physical tools be an above average pick and roll defender and rebounder if he put the work in. If he can develop a reliable mid-range jumper I could see him functioning in sort of a Brandon Bass type role. Not what you would necessarily expect out of a number one pick but a guy that most teams would still love to have. Bennett is going to have to have to put the work in to get to that point though.

[JordoParticipant]

Granted Bennett has always been a bit  chunky and there have been questions about his commitment and his IQ for the game. But it seems like he’s the fall guy. That draft had no clear cut "gotta have him" player. If you go back Ben McClemore, Cody Zeller, and Alex Len were all considered for the top spot at one point. Hypothetically if one of them goes #1 were talking about them being bust for completely different reasons. 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 It’s true there was no clear cut number one and I understood the cavs reasons for taking Bennett even if I didn’t agree with them. However, while guys like oladipo, len, Zeller, and McLemore haven’t exactly developed into stars yet either, all have shown a lot more than Bennett so far. 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 It’s not his fault he was drafted number one overall.  I mean he was poorly conditioned in college and the guy just has a poor work ethic.  Some guys just don’t have the fire and passion and love for the game of basketball, and Anthony Bennett seems to be one of those guys.  It’s unfortunate because the guy has talent, but nobody can make him work hard.  Maybe he’ll catch one somewhere as a role guy off the bench, but it doesn’t look good for him right now.  

[theballerwayParticipant]

Another issue was coach Brown a notorious offensively challenged coach.  Ideally his role would be that of a face up forward. With Ktrie and Dion fighting for shots and Browns total lack of structure he was almost set up to fail. After missing time with the injury ,I remember him just jacking 3s and missing he wasn’t really implemented into the offense(mainly because there wasn’t much of one. Now if he had more bbiq he could have found ways to make himself useful starting with getting some boards and actually venturing into the paint. I just think in a different setting or even a different coach his story could have been different. At worst an improved Brandon Bass -(more range and some close out slashing ability).

He still has the same questions about his motor and drive so I don’t wanna say it was the coaches fault just a poor situation for development and structure

[JordanC20Participant]

 I think what would help him more than anything is him being a 3 point threat and not worry about anything else…maybe he could have a similar career to what Patrick Patterson is having.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 I actually disagree completely. I think he needs to forget about the 3-point shot for now. He has never shot it consistently. I believe he needs to focus on defensive rebounding and being a better pick and roll defender. He has the physical tools to be a contributor in both of those areas and those are skills that will get him on the court. Offensively, I think he needs to focus on playing without the ball, finishing in the paint, and developing a reliable mid-range jumper (maybe he can expand his range to the 3-point line in time.) I think the idea of wanting to play on the perimeter too much is part of what got him into trouble in the first place.

[MopgrassParticipant]

1st pick and no one ever gave him 25 minutes a game. He never got more than 15. I’m not saying he played well enough to deserve it, but they didn’t play him enough to find out. That wrecks confidence. When your confidence is shot, your jumper is the 1st thing to go. 

He actually made his jumper in college, but it always looked awkward. It looks a lot like Julius Randle’s. It really looks like their shoulder muscles get in the way. I don’t know much either can physically fix their form. Bennett is more athletic and more able to maneuver around someone (instead of through). I think if they put full confidence in him (unlikely), he could find his way. 

[mowestenParticipant]

 Was he in good enough shape to play more than 15 minutes per game? Funny, because I hear the very same excuses here for Bennett that I hear from middle age moms when they complain about their kid not getting enough PT for their high school team.

Bennett hasn’t played well enough to earn additional PT. He has a questionable work ethic, dating back to college. He has been out of shape, and you have to ask yourself: if a guy can’t be bothered to get in shape, what are the odds he is in the gym every day working on his game?

Blaming the fact that he was the No 1 pick on his lack of success? Really? He has been given chance after chance because he was the No. 1 pick. If he was a second rounder, he would be hooping in China right now.

 

 

[A Lil EnglishParticipant]

Harsh but i have to agree with mowesten. What pick you are should have no effect on your ability to earn playing time after you move teams twice – if you are good with lottery talent and motivated to improve you should be pushing for a starting spot by now.

I believed in him after Cleveland but after once he got low playing time with a poor Timberwolves frontline I gave up on him being able to break through. I then watched him play for Canada and thought he looked good so when he signed with the Raptors I expected him to do well but again he didn’t earn any time in his hometown where he should be comfortable, I’ve officially given up on him ever being a starter.

 

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