Anthony Bennett has officially cleared waivers, and now, it is time to look for a new home. But the question is where?
When word came out that the Minnesota Timberwolves were waiving the 2013 top rookie pick, four teams had reportedly expressed interest in the 6-foot-8-inch Canadian power forward. Such included his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers; the Portland Trailblazers; Philadelphia 76ers; and the Utah Jazz.
But now, it seems that none of them is budging and a new team has entered the mix in possibly snagging the Canadian player. That team is the Toronto Raptors, who are likely to sign Bennett to a one-year minimum deal.
Bennett has yet to prove his worth since entering the league in 2013. He was the top pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers that season but ended up riding the bench rather than showing off his wares.
He has been plagued by weight issues and injuries, hindering him from gaining any ground. While he did try to work on his game in 2014, Bennett was eventually sent packing with another top rookie pick in Andrew Wiggins to the Timberwolves in the Kevin Love deal.
This year, Bennett found himself dispensable with the selection of Karl-Anthony Towns. The T-Wolves have a loaded frontline and Bennett was already being dangled in the trade market as early as June before the actual 2015 NBA Draft.
Aside from the fact that Toronto is the hometown of Bennett, it remains to be known why the Raptors have shown interest in the 22-year-old forward.
Could it be because he is still young and can still develop?
Such could be the case and seeing that he is still young, proper mentoring and guidance could transform Bennett into a force. It may be a risky move but a low-cost and short-term at that. Could such possibly reap dividends for the Raptors?
