FanPost

Reconciling The Draft

Many of you know me on this site as a highly active (and very opinionated) personality. A bit combative (and by a bit, I mean a lot.) Ultimately, I fell in on the Noel bandwagon almost from the start. But before we knew we had the #1 overall, there was some discussion as to who we should take at 3 or 4 (depending on where we believed we would end up.) Back then, the discussions brought up several names, to include Anthony Bennett. I was not a fan. Especially as a guy who believes that defense is important.

Instead of doing the "instant hate" reaction that I really desperately felt like doing, I shut things down. I had friends and family over this weekend anyways...so I thought a few nights to calm down and look objectively would do me some good. I did some lurking on here...even responded to a few of the more ridiculous posts. Ultimately, though, I figured I'd stay away and let cooler heads prevail.

It really hasn't done me any good though. I still don't get the pick. I still see holes at the 3 in our starting lineup next season...and I still see a massive hole in our biggest deficiency (interior defense/rim protection) out of the 5 spot. I also don't really see a viable/likely option for filling those. (I don't believe that we are going to get Andre Iguodala or attempt to get Andrew Bynum.) Karasev was a guy I LOVED at the 19 spot, but he's not likely to be starting material next season, is he? Maybe so. But he'll struggle (which I'm OK with.) However, this is Mike Brown's team...and Karasev starting over Gee seems a big far fetched.

But I digress. This is about Anthony freaking Bennett...and I still haven't completely reconciled the pick. I get the offensive talent, but he has his own set of injury concerns and defensive intensity concern. If Noel had injury concerns (and Alex Len had injury concerns) why is Anthony Bennett the pick at #1? I just don't get it. Granted, I didn't do the kind of scouting on him that I did on a lot of the other guys...but what I did see just didn't justify the #1 overall. I know that some have made the Charles Barkley comparisons (as a versatile offensive center) The thing is, he wasn't nearly the rebounder that "Sir Charles" was in college, though he did score more points. However, he wasn't nearly as inefficient. I haven't been able to find anything about Barkley that says he was a defensive liability either. So I really hate that comparison. If he turns out to be anything remotely close, I'd (of course) be happy...but I have officially gone from "Trusting CG" to "Wait And See."

It'll take the season for me to really settle down (assuming things do pan out.)

This is a Fan-Created Comment on FearTheSword.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff at FearTheSword

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