NBA Rookies - Anthony Bennett Is A Bust; Aside From Kyrie, Cleveland Cavs Have Wasted Draft Picks

The 2013 NBA Draft will be remembered as one of the worst drafts in history. What adds insult to injury are the poor choices of the teams, and Cleveland at number 1 has the worst lemon of the group.

In a draft lacking in clear, transcendent talent, the choice for Cleveland was propelled by scouting reports and team needs. Scouting reports are as just as good as the scouts and it wasn't easy this year. Bennett is a hybrid forward: he played power forward in college but has to make the transition to small forward in the big leagues.

Draft Express, a website dedicated to scouting NBA prospects, gave an accurate account of Bennett - he's athletic, versatile and efficient: "In addition to the efficiency his athleticism afforded him around the basket, Bennett also proves to be a potent jump shooter on paper. Bennett has uncommon scoring ability from the perimeter for player with his physical gifts."

It really as uncommon because it's non-existent.

Draft Express adds: "Bennett doesn't have too many weaknesses on paper situationally aside from his lack of prolific scoring ability one-on-one and in the post. It will be interesting to see if he can translate his efficiency to the next level and become a more dynamic threat creating for himself in the paint or facing up from the midrange in the coming seasons." The answer is 'neither.'

Benett's stats of 2.3 points and 3 rebounds with a player efficiency rating of 2.3, he's worse than the first pick of the second round.

It shouldn't be surprising, as Cleveland has always been relatively lucky in the lottery yet they would always make wrong, controversial choices. Their only successes were its number 1 picks - Lebron James in 2003 (it was a no-brainer) and the rather challenging Kyrie Irving pick (over Derrick Williams) in 2011. Williams has already been traded. Irving is now a superstar.

The Cavaliers has been a staple of the lottery in the past three years, which is proof of their incompetence. (The OKC Thunder only needed three consecutive lottery picks to become a contender)They had two first overall picks and two 4th overall picks.

Bennett being the other number one, the two 4th overall picks, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters, were not really bad players, but certainly not justifying their draft places.

A list of players drafted in 2011 and 2012 whom the Cavs could have drafted: Klay Thompson, Jonas Valanciunas, Kawhi Leonard, Tobias Harris of 2011 (also a weak draft) Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard (although justifiable to pass him because of Kyrie Irving) Harrison Barnes, John Henson. Those players are now contributors to their team, and aside from Lillard, would be a better complement to Kyrie Irving than anyone they have now.

Imagine a trio of Kyrie Irving, Andre Drummond and Kawhi Leonard. That's something Lebron James would consider playing with. But now, the only reason for the King to return Ohio is hosting drunk parties in his house.

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nba rookies
anthony bennett
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