Loser No. 1: Dragan Bender
If someone said “Marquese Chriss was just traded” with no context, it would seem like Dragan Bender would benefit. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case given the full picture.
In the past it was expected that Trevor Ariza would start at the 4, and that Chriss and Bender would be fighting for backup minutes. With Chriss gone, Bender would theoretically be able to have all the backup minutes to himself.
Unfortunately, Anderson is coming over in the deal, and he’s taking the starting 4 spot. Now, if Ariza moves to the bench, Bender moves down to third on the depth chart at his position.
Even if Ariza plays at the 3, he’ll still get backup minutes at the 4, as will T.J. Warren. In short, a guy that might’ve played 12 minutes per game as a power forward this year got swapped for one who might play 25-30 minutes there. Not good for the third-year Croatian.
It’s possible that Ryan Anderson can teach Bender the true meaning of being a stretch 4, and suddenly Bender will be bombing 30-footers right and left and looking like the No. 4 overall pick that he truly is. Don’t hold your breath for that outcome, though.