Another Cavalier draft surprise

Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers surprised observers with their selection of Dion Waiters in the first round, and with the first pick overall this year, General Manager Chris Grant pulled another surprise as he passed over the more publicized players and tapped UNLV forward Anthony Bennett with their first pick.

Bennett looks to me to be a tweener, capable of playing as a quicker smaller power forward or using a power game to be successful as a small forward.
Bennett was the Mountain West freshman of the year as he averaged just under 16 points a game and 8 boards with the Rebels.

Bennett has loads of athletic ability and can run the floor for a 250 pounder, but needs to play more physically to hang with bigger players in the paint.
Bennett is capable of hitting the spot-up jumper and will take the ball to the hoop in possessing a versatile offensive game.
The physical skills are there for Bennett to succeed, the question is can he play more physically, pick up some defensive skills, and not fall into the trap of the tweener at the NBA level?
I'm ok with the pick, although I really liked Kansas guard Ben McLemore as the top player overall.
I was in favor of passing on the injury-plagued big men as both Nerlens Noel and Alex Len have injury issues along with games that do not seem to be of impact in the league.....


Cleveland still had another first-rounder with the Lakers pick at 19 and this time, the Cavaliers used it on a player that had been rumored to head to Cleveland.
Russia's Sergey Karasev is 6'7 and is more of a shooting guard than a small forward, although he would not be out of place if forced into duty at the three spot.
The 19-year-old shot 36% from three-point range in European league play and is a legitimate threat from beyond the arc.
Karasev is the type of outside shooter that the Cavaliers have none of on the current roster and if he decides to play in the NBA this season, he becomes a rotation member immediately.
As with most Europeans, the biggest question is toughness on the defensive end, and can he be more than just a wide-open jump shooter?


The Cavaliers owned the 31 and 33 picks in round two and weren't expected to make picks to keep if they were unable to make any trades for veterans.
The team was not going to go into next season with four rookies and rightfully so.
At 31, the team selected Allen Crabbe, a guard from California, and sure enough-swapped Crabbe to Portland for two future second-rounders.
I really liked Crabbe as a player and I wish they would have kept him, but I do understand the thinking, if not the deal itself.

Two picks later, the surprising pick was Carrick Felix of Arizona State, a guard/forward that features a hustling style on the defensive end, which should suit Mike Brown's style well.
The 6'6 Felix isn't afraid to hit the boards, is an explosive dunker and can run the floor a bit, but will need to prove that he has a consistent outside shot.
From his highlights, he reminds me of Shane Battier on the defensive end, with better athletic ability, but again questions about his shooting...


Are there questions about this draft?
Certainly.
The draft seemed to be one of the weakest in years and there really was no sure thing, other than maybe Ben McLemore, who is not a franchise changer himself.
No matter who the Cavaliers took first, there would be questions.
Anthony Bennett? Tweener. Nerlens Noel? Limited offensive skills and injuries.Alex Len?Injuries and limited upside. Otto Porter? Perhaps he is as good as he is going to be.
Any of these players have their questions.
Time will tell whether the gamble on Anthony Bennett will be the right one...