Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Rumors: Wolves Look To Trade No. 1 Pick Anthony Bennett
Minnesota Timberwolves trade rumors are heating up as the 2015 NBA Draft approaches.
The Timberwolves want to trade former No. 1 draft pick Anthony Bennett in order to improve for the coming NBA season. Bennett was the first overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a surprise pick by the Cavaliers, shocking nearly every basketball analyst around the country. A report from ESPN.com on Monday (June 22) has the team trying to part ways with him immediately.
It is a bit shocking that the No. 1 pick from the 2013 NBA Draft could play for his third team in three NBA seasons. It might underscore how badly the Cleveland Cavaliers messed up that selection, but it also might simply indicate that Anthony Bennett hasn’t found a team that is the right fit for him yet. If these Minnesota Timberwolves trade rumors lead to something taking place, he will have played only 57 games for the team. Bennett didn’t see a lot of playing time, averaging just 15.7 minutes a night. He put up 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
It is unclear what the Timberwolves expect to get in exchange for Bennett, but it’s possible the franchise feels that Andrew Wiggins was enough of a “win” in the trade of Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Several teams around the league are trying to trade out of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, further hinting that a trading partner might actually be easy to find. As previously reported on the Inquisitr, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are trying to deal picks heading into draft day. This could make it easy to put together a three-team deal if the Wolves just want picks.
The Wolves are a team that is not shy about making trades and fans should expect that one might take place during the 2015 NBA Draft. The Wolves have the first overall selection after winning the league lottery, meaning at least one significant asset will be joining the team for the next season. If the front office can find a taker for the services of Anthony Bennett, it might also mean another first-round selection could be made.
This whole situation seems to indicate that Bennett simply has not been a fit for the Wolves, and shouldn’t necessarily be an indictment on his basketball talents. He just turned 22 years old, so there is a lot of basketball left in front of him. Hearing his name mentioned in Minnesota Timberwolves trade rumors might hurt the pride a little bit, but maybe that will get him to hit the gym even harder during the NBA offseason.
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