Houston Rockets: Complete 2019 offseason grades
Signing Anthony Bennett
Once upon a time, Anthony Bennett was regarded as one of the top basketball players in the country.
The five-star forward — who chose to attend UNLV in 2012 — averaged 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game through 35 games in his lone campaign out in the Sin City.
That was despite averaging only 27.1 minutes per contest due to nursing a shoulder injury, as Bennett shot 53.3 percent from the field en route to leading the Runnin’ Rebels to the NCAA Tournament.
Yet in spite of faring well against his peers at the prep and collegiate level respectively, the former Findlay Prep standout would soon be in for a rude awakening at the next level.
Bennett, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, would only produce a string of mediocre performances during his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Followed by putting together less than subpar outings during his second year as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the player who was once heralded as the quintessential can’t miss prospect would fail to develop into a key rotational player in the Twin Cities.
Including the NBA itself, as the young man who once drew comparisons to Larry Johnson would soon find himself out of the league as fast as he entered the professional ranks.
"“I had Bennett ninth on my board [before the 2013 NBA Draft],” one anonymous NBA executive said per hoops writer Sam Vecenie when asked about the former McDonald’s All-American two years ago. “I was shocked that the Cavs took him at one. But having said that, I’m even more shocked that he’s out of the league. I didn’t think that would ever happen.”"
https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/1099036111014219777
Now, Bennett is seeking to do whatever it takes to reclaim what is left of his career, as the player who is deemed as arguably the biggest draft bust in league history could be on the cusp of making an epic comeback.
Within minutes after inking Chandler to a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum, Bennett and the Houston Rockets agreed to terms on a non-guaranteed contract that will grant the honorable mention All-American a chance to compete for a roster spot at training camp.
"“It’s life. It’s just the way the ball rolls,” Bennett told Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times when asked about his career during his time playing at the 2018 NBA G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas. “I’ve just tried to play the hand I’ve been dealt. Every year has been a struggle. Every year has been a challenge. Something new has always come up. But every year, I’ve been able to stick with it. I think that says a lot about me. A lot of people would’ve quit.”"
Although most scouts might question whether or not Bennett has what it takes to emerge as a versatile defender and rebounder at the NBA level, the 6’8″, 245-pound talent has recently found a way to reinvent himself as of recent times.
Despite shooting a putrid 26.1 percent from the field through his first four seasons, Bennett has emerged as one of the top big men in the NBA G League, averaging 12.2 points on 53.7 percent shooting from the field last season with the Agua Caliente Clippers.
In addition to one of the best stretch-4s in the process, as Bennett shot a career-best 44.9 percent from beyond the arc last year.
Should he show signs of improvement on the defensive end, then Bennett might very well have a chance at earning yet another shot in the league with the Rockets.
On top of an opportunity to redeem lost service time in the process, as his ability to shoot and help space the floor is likely make him a low-risk, high-reward prospect to watch during the preseason.