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Thursday, August 7, 2014

76ers were interested in Anthony Bennett prior to 2013 Draft

Anthony Bennett is reportedly heading to Minnesota, along with Andrew Wiggins, in the Kevin Love deal that will take place towards the end of the month. That doesn't necessarily mean that the Sixers involvement in a deal is dead. They liked Bennett before last year's draft, and they likely like him still.

Check out the original article from Philly.com here.
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In Sam Hinkie’s first major move as GM, the Sixers traded All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nerlens Noel at the 2013 NBA Draft.

As Noel finally prepares to hit the hardwood for the Sixers this season, the move seems like old news. However, considering some recent rumors, it remains relevant.


The move was certainly surprising when it went down on draft day, but it was actually in places days before the draft, and though the Sixers ended up with Nerlens Noel, there were two other players that would have got the deal done.

CSN’s Dei Lynam reported after the draft last summer that Noel was one of three players that would have gotten the deal done; Anthony Bennett and Victor Oladipo being the other two.

Image from bleacherreport.com 
Bennett of course ended up going first to Cleveland, followed by Oladipo to Orlando, and Noel falling to Philly, but in light of the recent rumors of Bennett potentially being Philadelphia-bound, the organization’s early interest is interesting.  

Bennett spent much of his rookie campaign out of shape and injured, but whatever interest the Sixers had in him last summer likely remains, as the kid is only 21 and far from done developing. He already appeared to be in better shape at the LVSL, and after a season in Brett Brown’s boot camp he won’t have a choice but to be in solid shape.

He may never live up to the hype that comes with being a top pick, but Bennett could still be a very good NBA player. He is an athletic forward that can rebound, shoot, and stretch the floor; there’s always room for a player like that on a roster in today’s stretch-the-floor-oriented NBA. Next to a couple post-oriented players in Noel and Embiid, Bennett could provide a nice compliment. Bennett is far from done developing into the player that he will become, and there’s a chance he could be successful coming through the Sixers’ system.

A top pick just a year removed from his selection is far value for Thaddeus Young and his costly contract, especially if some future picks are tossed in.

If a Thaddeus Young trade did beget them Bennett, the Sixers would then possess the first, sixth, and eleventh picks of the 2013 NBA Draft. Considering that one has already proved to be an impact player, and the other two still have ample opportunity to do so, that would be pretty impressive.

The Cavaliers aren’t going to make any moves until late August when they can act on a Kevin Love trade and deal 2014 top pick Andrew Wiggins, so any movement with the Sixers likely won’t happen that time. 
Even then, the terms of a trade are far from set in stone, and it is difficult to determine all the speculative details at this point. But, based on the team’s previous interest, the recent rumors involving Bennett and the Sixers should not be so surprising. 

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