OT: Is Anthony Bennett the worst #1 pick ever?

Submitted by mGrowOld on

There are busts, players who got hurt, players who never realized their potential, players with drug issues, family issues, drug & weight issues (I'm looking at you Jamarcus Russell) but when it comes to absolute futility my Cleveland Cavaliers Anthony Bennett stands alone. It certainly appears that the Cavs GM Chris Grant has massively whiffed on his controversial selection.

Granted we are a mere 12 games into the season but ask yourself if you've ever seen anything quite like this before from any NBA player, much less the #1 pick in the draft:

5 for 37 from the floor (that's 13.5%)

1 for 13 from three (that's 8% - you keep firing Anthony)

And 2 for 4 from the free throw line (yippie.....50%)

And the topper is the Cavs found out after the selected him that he suffers from both sleep apnea and asthma making it difficult for him to stay on the court for more than five minutes at a time.  Unhappy Cavs coach Mike Brown also added "he likes to stay out late" which certainly isn't helping his cause either.

Last night Bennett entered the game and the first time he touched the ball he immediately air-balled a three pointer.  The Cavs are now talking about sending him down to the D-League which would be the first time that I can recall that the #1 pick in the draft couldn't even stay on the team's active roster for his first year.  

Worst #1 pick ever?  I nominate Anthony Bennett and like they say around here OIC (Only In Cleveland).  Can you think of anyone worse?

lilpenny1316

November 21st, 2013 at 9:54 PM ^

He's more of a lifetime acheivement award nominee in my book.  Bennett is still 20 so I'll give him a couple years before putting him in the "worst ever" category. 

mGrowOld

November 21st, 2013 at 9:57 PM ^

I thought about him too.  But his first year he shot 94 for 243 or 38%.  For Bennett to reach that lofty level of excellence he'd have to shoot lights out for the rest of the season.  But I agree, Brown is definitely in the conversation.

MGoChippewa

November 22nd, 2013 at 12:53 AM ^

Kwame definitely wasn't worthy of a #1 pick, or even a first-round pick, for that matter; but he wasn't a total waste.  He at least made himself valuable off the bench in the meat of his career. I really don't see Bennett doing that unless he starts taking care of his body and, you know, giving a shit.  Bennett's on pace to take his rookie contract money back to Canada and buy all the denim he can afford.

MH20

November 21st, 2013 at 9:58 PM ^

If Bennett is the worst then Andres Bargnani has to be the second worst.  Though that 2006 draft was absolutely abysmal so most would be considered busts.

EDIT: Somehow I forgot about Kwame.  He's gotta be the worst.

DOUBLE EDIT: Greg Oden. Duh.  Portland, you so stupid.

mGrowOld

November 21st, 2013 at 10:00 PM ^

I thought about Oden but hard to say he's the worst given that injuries have kept him from being able to perform cause when he was in the game he was pretty good.  Not so with Bennett, he just sucks - he cant blame knee problems like Oden.

Plus with Oden I always wanted to see his birth certificate.  That dude seemed REALLY old.

03 Blue 07

November 22nd, 2013 at 12:44 AM ^

Yes. That, and the fact that there is still a chance that he can play. He should be okay, structurally. The problem is that long term, he'll break down again. But it would not shock me to see him be able to play in the NBA for a season or two of games before another injury, which seems inevitable given his medical history. 

GoBlueInNYC

November 21st, 2013 at 9:58 PM ^

How does a professional sports organization not know all of the medical conditions that the player they're taking #1 overall in the draft has, including something like asthma?

(He asks, knowing full well that his avatar was inspired by two WRs discovering they needed glasses in as many years.)

MGoChippewa

November 22nd, 2013 at 1:01 AM ^

Those picks were pretty hard to mess up. LBJ and Kyrie were the consensus picks in their respective drafts. Every time CLE has to make a decision, they botch it. Waiters and Bennett being the obvious examples. Personally, I include Thompson too because I like Valanciunas' upside way more. Think of the Cavs with Drummond instead of Waiters....

Benoit Balls

November 22nd, 2013 at 9:29 AM ^

just wow.  I think Chris Grant has "smartest guy in the room" syndrome.  The Waiters pick was definitely a WTF moment. He came on towards the end of last season, but we are back to WTF this season.  I stand behind the TT pick.  He may not have the highest ceiling in the world, but he is a solid double double guy and his shooting really has improved since he switched his shooting hand.

And Mike Brown seems like a really good guy and all, but re-hring him is yet another WTF moment.

1 percent

November 22nd, 2013 at 9:48 AM ^

Yeah no. they could have taken Derrick Willimas over Kyrie. Because of Kyrie being hurt in college no one knew what they were getting from him. They made the right pick. Lebrons draft was one of the best classes of all time. They could have taken Melo, Wade. They made the right pick You're wrong about both of those scenarios. Dion is good and has the chance to be really good in this league. Tristan Thompson has been playing at an all star clip. Me thinks you're just not a Cavs fan

.

You could say the same thing about this class. Is there anyone that was a clear cut #1 or is anyone (MCW aside) that's been tearing up the league. There hasn't been a rookie doing much of anything. Oladipo maybe.



B-Nut-GoBlue

November 21st, 2013 at 9:59 PM ^

Yea I've heard its been bad over there with him. I didn't know a few of the points you brought up (Sleep apnea/asthma, partier I gather from the staying out late?). It's too early to tell but at this rate it's not looking good.

mGrowOld

November 21st, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^

I'm going to have to exclude baseball from my debate WMUgoblue.  Because I'm sure there are screwed up picks there every year and I know nothing about it.  I'll give you that one and probably 50 more in baseball.  

I guess I was thinking basketball & football.  More draft-centric sports if you will.  But yours IS a good one!

03 Blue 07

November 22nd, 2013 at 12:46 AM ^

Give him some time. So he's 20, and stays out too late. He probably was picked too soon, is immature, and needs to ride pine. That doesn't mean he can already be the worst #1 pick ever. I feel like you have to wait at least 3 years to say that, no? Seems a tad early; we are still in November of his rookie year. 

Now, worst start ever for a Number 1 pick? Oh, God yes.