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?

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befuggled

November 22nd, 2013 at 8:29 AM ^

At least not for worst no. 1 pick.

They were both busts, but they showed enough promise to start multiple seasons in the NFL. Carr was basically the only starter in Houston for five years, and I think Couch lost the starting job in his fifth year. They weren't successes, but they weren't clearly over their head, either.

Joined: 07/01/2008

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tbeindit

November 21st, 2013 at 10:10 PM ^

I remember before the draft when people were trying to talk about Bennett.  I am a Pistons fans and said, if he was available for the Pistons, they should pass.  Cleveland had the #1 pick and took him.  Bennett plays like a 4, but is sized like a 3.  It's just a bad combination for the NBA.  Really doubt he will ever work out, but there's always a chance

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03 Blue 07

November 22nd, 2013 at 12:51 AM ^

Yes- this is an excellent comparison. I'm definitely going to monitor Bennett's career arc more closely over the next couple years, as Jamarcus and references to Purple Drank are always outstanding. As an aside and PSA, Purple Drink/sizzurp/lean is bad news, kids. See, e.g., the numerous Houston and New Orleans-area rappers who have had addiction issues with it and/or died from it. 

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orobs

November 21st, 2013 at 10:17 PM ^

If you're willing to go back far enough, larue Martin (1972) and it's not even close Dude lasted 4 seasons with 5.3 ppg Picked above bob mcadoo and Julius Erving

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03 Blue 07

November 22nd, 2013 at 12:57 AM ^

Crazy. Lebron was the best #1 pick of his generation. So he left. That sucks.  But objectively, he gave Cleveland more production, more quickly, and took a team farther, than any player of his generation as a #1 pick, or, hell, even draft pick of any kind. Kobe had Shaq. So did D Wade. Duncan? Never dominated the league like Lebron has, etc. Lebron was the best player in the league while he was still in Cleveland, and was for a few years while there. He had guys like Eric Snow, etc....Comparable in many ways to what A.I. did for Sixers, except a significantly better player, overall, than A.I.

He also invigorated a franchise owned by a guy who uses comic sans, went to MSU, and needs spell check/has too much Jim Irsay going on/issued that absurd letter or letters right after "The Decision." So you can't be upset, at all, about Lebron as a draft pick. 

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cbs650

November 21st, 2013 at 10:27 PM ^

he's not the worst ever but it may be the the worst fit. you don't take tweener forwards as the number one pick. Plus you have Thompson, Gee, Zeller, Varejo, Clark and Bynum. where in Bennett gonna get minutes. Throw in a guy like Miles who can play the three as well and he's just not gonna be in the rotation which for a top pick can affect your play. and while at UNLV he played longer than 5 minute stretches

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Sac Fly

November 21st, 2013 at 10:31 PM ^

In 1964 the Red Wings drafted Claude Gauthier #1 overall, in 1965 the Rangers drafted Andre Veilleux with the 1st pick. There's no record to say why, but neither player ever made it to the NHL or spent any time in the minor leagues.

Joined: 04/03/2010

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GoBlue_55

November 21st, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^

No, he's played in a hand full of games. Give him a chance. Shame on the Cavs for not doing the research into his medical history. Kwame Brown was/is pretty terrible. Let's not forget about Greg Oden being taken #1 overall either.

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ca_prophet

November 21st, 2013 at 10:44 PM ^

Ryan Leaf could have gone #1 over Manning (rumor had it that the Chargers preferred him, and they were not alone). Tony Mandarich was also second overall behind Troy Aikman.

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nowicki2005

November 21st, 2013 at 10:48 PM ^

He would be a very good center right now if it weren't for health. I commend him for even trying to come back, at least the guy actually loves playing basketball. Cleveland may be geniuses because I feel that team should be a lot better than what they are currently doing. Maybe they knew he would suck and are hoping to get wig gin, parker, etc.

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nowicki2005

November 21st, 2013 at 10:48 PM ^

He would be a very good center right now if it weren't for health. I commend him for even trying to come back, at least the guy actually loves playing basketball. Cleveland may be geniuses because I feel that team should be a lot better than what they are currently doing. Maybe they knew he would suck and are hoping to get wig gin, parker, etc.

Joined: 06/28/2011

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NinjaDMM

November 21st, 2013 at 11:15 PM ^

I live in Las Vegas and it was well known AFTER the NCAA season that Anthony had asthma. He was interviewed here on ESPN 1100 after the season was over basically coming out with the asthma and sleep apnea. This was COMMON KNOWLEDGE to all. So to say Cleveland found out after the fact is completely horse shit. Bennett was a stud at UNLV. He played in bursts, he would tire quickly, get a blow, then come back in. He could dominate the mountain west. He could shoot the three, take the ball up the court, post, and had a good mid range game. I'm a season ticket holder for UNLV (moved to Vegas in 09) and enjoyed watching him. Something happened around the midway point of the season and he became a midrange to three pointer shooter, wouldn't bang down low, grab boards, I don't know what it was, but he was different after that. He will be a solid player in the league (my opinion).

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SanDiegoWolverine

November 22nd, 2013 at 3:12 AM ^

I was really interested in if he was number quality as this was in December or early January so I was eyeing him the whole time. The guy was lazy, didn't care about defense, and only rebounded if the ball fell in his lap or he could do a put back dunk. What was there to like about this guy? He also looked out of shape. He was like a less skilled worse shooting Michael Beasley. 

Scouts fall in love with this SF/PF tweeners with skills but as we've seen with Beasley and Derrick Williams it's not the best idea.

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