OT Minnesota progressing on contract buyout with former No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett.

[Schilly]

(re-post from another thread)
We have 18 on the roster right now, including Diaz (who's signed with Unicaja Malaga), Pressey and Frazier (one of whom I think is likely not to make it through camp), Miller (who I think will not break camp with the team) and Alexander and Montero. Right now I think we're pretty good for roster spots with the guys we have. So if we did pick up Bennett (whether off of waivers or a UFA deal), he'd take the spot of either one of the projects (Alexander, Connaughton or Montero) OR one of the "established" players (Kaman? Crabbe?). I think we still have room for "competition" during camp.

And we don't have to make that decision til after camp. Diez isn't under contract so he doesn't count. Bennet makes 18, meaning we have to trim 3. Miller I think is definitely one, Pressey or Frazier is one then it comes down to IMO Alexander or Montero. We wouldn't claim Bennet off waivers with intent to then waive him. The other option is and I think it may have some merit is to combine Kaman and Crabbe in a trade, if we want to give Alexander and Montero a season long look. My gut feeling though is Alexander is the Odd man out.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I wouldn't be disappointed if we lost out on Bennett, much rather the opposite

I say we forget bringing Bennett here & show Vonleh some respect/show him that we believe in him (I personally don't think he needs extra motivation) by not bringing in someone to make Vonleh "prove" he's our guy. Again, not worried Bennett would take Vonleh's spot but any chance that could even potentially undermine Vonleh's development, I'm against.

But........If Bennett could play some 3 then he would not be effecting Vonleh's minutes. I have my doubts that he could, but if Jay thinks there is a possibility then it is really Bennett vs Harkless for getting into the SF rotation.

The more I type, the more I realize he is not a good fit for us. I have talked myself out of it. But if we do go after him then I will assume Jay and Neil see some potential.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Denny is correct. Bennett went from atrocious to just bad. A big improvement.

I just don't see the upside. He has a rep for very poor defense, he doesn't shoot the three well, but likes the long two, he has never been a good rebounder for a PF.

Wasn't that a perfect description of Aldridge four years ago?

 

[Schilly]

If Bennett is affecting Vonlehs minutes, then it's because he is playing at or better than Vonlehs level.... Tell me how that is bad?

 

[oldfisherman]

Wasn't that a perfect description of Aldridge four years ago?

LMA’s reputation four years ago was he was a good starting caliber PF, but he played soft.

Bennett’s reputation is that he might be a decent bench player some day, put he does not put enough effort into improving his game, especially on defense.

Comparing LMA to Bennett is like comparing a professional stand up comedian to an amateur clown.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

If Neil can con him into a 2-year deal with a TEAM option for a 3rd at $3 mil per, he should totally do that. I am a bit worried about him hurting team chemistry, so why would I do it?

Trade Coming Soon. I think Neil's plan is that once these guys have shown they can play (hopefully midseason), then make a consolidation trade. A player with his upside on a crappy contract could be very valuable.

O-live says he went on waivers yesterday. If so, he clears waivers tomorrow.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

LMA’s reputation four years ago was he was a good starting caliber PF, but he played soft.

Bennett’s reputation is that he might be a decent bench player some day, put he does not put enough effort into improving his game, especially on defense.

Comparing LMA to Bennett is like comparing a professional stand up comedian to an amateur clown.

I wasn't trying to say they were comparable. Obviously Aldridge has a superior post game, is bigger, more talented overall, etc. The point is that the negatives listed in the post to which I was responding were equally applicable to another player who has since completely dispelled most of them (he still takes too many long jump shots), which suggests that they are not necessarily career-defining traits for Bennett, especially considering that he hasn't even played as many career minutes as Moe Harkless had in his rookie year.

He's still much too much of an unknown to act like the book on him has been written.

 

[Reep]

Wasn't that a perfect description of Aldridge four years ago?

Yes, except that Aldridge had the physical attributes and college numbers to justify hope in more. Bennett does not.

 

[Reep]

If Bennett is affecting Vonlehs minutes, then it's because he is playing at or better than Vonlehs level.... Tell me how that is bad?

During the evaluation time, any minutes one gets takes away minutes from the other. Both need game time experience against NBA players. In order to truly evaluate both, you would have to do so by giving each half the experience they would get otherwise.

If we were talking about Julius Randle v. Vonleh, I would totally agree with the logic, even though it would cut the experience of both. I just do not see any evidence--on either end of the court--that would justify taking minutes from Vonleh to give to Bennett--who has never shown signs of being anything other than a classic scoring 3/4 tweener (puts up points, but can't defend and cant rebound).

 

[Denny Crane]

Yes, except that Aldridge had the physical attributes and college numbers to justify hope in more. Bennett does not.

Bennett averaged 16/8 in college on .533% FG and .375% 3pt.

Aldridge averaged 15/9 in college his last season on .569% FG and he took 0 3pt shots. He averaged 9/6 in 16 games as a freshman.

Bennett is at least 3 inches shorter. They weigh the same.

 

[Reep]

Bennett averaged 16/8 in college on .533% FG and .375% 3pt.

Aldridge averaged 15/9 in college his last season on .569% FG and he took 0 3pt shots. He averaged 9/6 in 16 games as a freshman.

Bennett is at least 3 inches shorter. They weigh the same.

In addition to the obvious physical advantages, Aldridge had more rebounds and blocks and played in a much tougher conference. That is what I would have looked at. Regarding build, I also would not have drafted Derrick Williams for exactly the same reason. Undersized power forwards who specialize in scoring almost never succeed. If I'm looking at Bennett's trajectory it looks a lot more like Williams than Millsap.

If Bennett was a great defender then I might consider it more, but he isn't. I will say that I think there is a place in the NBA for a tweener who can hit the three and defend. That just isn't the case here.

 

[Pinwheel1]

In addition to the obvious physical advantages, Aldridge had more rebounds and blocks and played in a much tougher conference. That is what I would have looked at. Regarding build, I also would not have drafted Derrick Williams for exactly the same reason. Undersized power forwards who specialize in scoring almost never succeed. If I'm looking at Bennett's trajectory it looks a lot more like Williams than Millsap.

If Bennett was a great defender then I might consider it more, but he isn't.

I thought of Williams as well in terms of a comparison. There are definitely some similarities between the two. But I think Bennett is better suited for posting up, and Williams is better from the perimeter. But you are right about being leery about undersized PF's.

I still think Bennett can be a good NBA player, but because he is a tweener......he may not be suited as a starter. The key is Jay Triano, what does he know about Bennett mental make up? Can AB get past the stigma of being a mistake as the #1 pick, and just work his ass off to help a team win? Cause he has talent.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

In addition to the obvious physical advantages, Aldridge had more rebounds and blocks and played in a much tougher conference. That is what I would have looked at. Regarding build, I also would not have drafted Derrick Williams for exactly the same reason. Undersized power forwards who specialize in scoring almost never succeed. If I'm looking at Bennett's trajectory it looks a lot more like Williams than Millsap.

If Bennett was a great defender then I might consider it more, but he isn't. I will say that I think there is a place in the NBA for a tweener who can hit the three and defend. That just isn't the case here.

BTW, I agree--Derrick Williams is the perfect comparison for Anthony Bennett--a tweener PF who has physical tools, but not in the right combo to be an impactful player. Some Blazer fans (including myself, I must admit) wanted him as a potential return on a Batum sign-and-trade 3 years ago. He wouldn't have been worth that deal, and Bennett likely wouldn't be worth whatever we would have to give him (specifically including playing time).

 

[Hobbesarable]

(re-post from another thread)
We have 18 on the roster right now, including Diaz (who's signed with Unicaja Malaga), Pressey and Frazier (one of whom I think is likely not to make it through camp), Miller (who I think will not break camp with the team) and Alexander and Montero. Right now I think we're pretty good for roster spots with the guys we have. So if we did pick up Bennett (whether off of waivers or a UFA deal), he'd take the spot of either one of the projects (Alexander, Connaughton or Montero) OR one of the "established" players (Kaman? Crabbe?). I think we still have room for "competition" during camp.

This. Bring him in and see how he does during camp.

 

[RR7]

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/09/northwest-notes-bennett-waiters-leonard.html

The Timberwolves shopped Anthony Bennett all around the league, even offering him in exchange for a top-55 protected second-round pick that would be unlikely ever to end up in Minnesota, but nobody had interest, several league sources tell Grantland’s Zach Lowe. A trade would have put a team on the hook for his entire salary of nearly $5.804MM for this season, and the same would be true if a team claims him off waivers.

Can't imagine we'd claim him if we didn't trade for him.

 

[Pinwheel1]

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/09/northwest-notes-bennett-waiters-leonard.html



Can't imagine we'd claim him if we didn't trade for him.

Unless for some reason Minny was asking for more than just a 2nd round pick. Maybe that's why we heard the initial rumors, but then the talks fell a part.

 

[Reep]

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/09/northwest-notes-bennett-waiters-leonard.html

Can't imagine we'd claim him if we didn't trade for him.

Wow, if that is true then certainly not.

 

[Natebishop3]

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2015/09/northwest-notes-bennett-waiters-leonard.html



Can't imagine we'd claim him if we didn't trade for him.

Unless we can sign him without giving up a pick. Honestly, at this point, I just don't know if I'd sign him or not.

 

[RR7]

Unless we can sign him without giving up a pick. Honestly, at this point, I just don't know if I'd sign him or not.

Yeah, sorry, didn't mean to imply we wouldn't try to sign him. Just that it seems unlikely we, or anyone, would claim him off of waivers.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, sorry, didn't mean to imply we wouldn't try to sign him. Just that it seems unlikely we, or anyone, would claim him off of waivers.

Yeah. I'm sure he'll land somewhere. He's still really young and he has talent. Hell, I'd want him if we weren't completely full up on young bigs.

 

[Reep]

Wish we could help him get to Toronto, for a price.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

no one wants him for $6 mil/year. Someone, including possibly us, will want him on the cheap.

 

[Natebishop3]

Wish we could help him get to Toronto, for a price.

Probably could.... but wouldn't be able to trade him for a few months.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Damn I guess it is tomorrow. The exact same time I am boarding a plane to leave the country for 10 days.......

http://www.blazersedge.com/2015/9/24/9390929/anthony-bennett-portland-trail-blazers-free-agency

 

[Reep]

I'm convincing myself that it would be a mistake to let go of Alexander for Bennett (if that is the choice they have to make).

Bennett is 22, Alexander 19. Alexander obviously has the superior physical dimensions.

Compare their freshman years in college (per 40 to equalize):

Bennett 22 pts (53%); 12 reb; 1.8 block BPM 5+3=8
Alexander: 16 pts (57%); 12 reb; 3.0 block BPM 3+5=8

Bennett is the better offensive player, Alexander the better defender.

I don't care if they get Bennett, but I really don't want them to cut Alexander to do so unless they see some major flaw in him.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm convincing myself that it would be a mistake to let go of Alexander for Bennett (if that is the choice they have to make).

Bennett is 22, Alexander 19. Alexander obviously has the superior physical dimensions.

Compare their freshman years in college (per 40 to equalize):

Bennett 22 pts (53%); 12 reb; 1.8 block BPM 5+3=8
Alexander: 16 pts (57%); 12 reb; 3.0 block BPM 3+5=8

Bennett is the better offensive player, Alexander the better defender.

I don't care if they get Bennett, but I really don't want them to cut Alexander to do so unless they see some major flaw in him.

Yeah, and it would suck to cut Frazier because that's Dame's best friend on the team.

 

[Reep]

I was trying to look for a good comp for Alexander based on height, length, skillset and weight. The closest comparison is Amare, who is a bit taller, but has a shorter standing reach.

I saw in an interview that Cliff thinks that is who his game is like. Not many players that short with that big a reach that weigh over 230 lbs.

 

[Norman Dale]

I don't think the Blazers want to be on the hook for Bennett's 5.8 mill this season so that they can keep a major portion of their cap space, which I think is around 17 mill. They didn't trade for Bennett as they would have taken on his salary and they won't pick him up off the waiver wire because if they did, they would have to pay his salary this year. I believe they will let him clear waivers and then due to his relationship with our coaches, he will sign a min contract. Minny will have to pay his entire salary this year and then he makes another mill off us. The Blazers then cut Miller, Pressey and Montero, giving them a chance to see what they have this year with their bigs. They could always make a trade with some of the older players, like Kaman and Henderson, but they might as well let their contacts expire at the end of the year to give them even more space next summer. Either way, can't wait for the season to start next week!

 

[riverman]

I don't think the Blazers want to be on the hook for Bennett's 5.8 mill this season so that they can keep a major portion of their cap space, which I think is around 17 mill. They didn't trade for Bennett as they would have taken on his salary and they won't pick him up off the waiver wire because if they did, they would have to pay his salary this year. I believe they will let him clear waivers and then due to his relationship with our coaches, he will sign a min contract. Minny will have to pay his entire salary this year and then he makes another mill off us. The Blazers then cut Miller, Pressey and Montero, giving them a chance to see what they have this year with their bigs. They could always make a trade with some of the older players, like Kaman and Henderson, but they might as well let their contacts expire at the end of the year to give them even more space next summer. Either way, can't wait for the season to start next week!

Great Avatar!

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

My guess is that his agent negotiated the buyout to be about what the team he wants to go to is offering. I have not seen enough from him to get excited about. Doubt he gets claimed at his price.