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Life in the NBA hasn't been too kind to Anthony Bennett. After the Cavaliers shockingly took the UNLV product with the first pick in the draft two years, he was injured, out of shape, and maligned as a rookie in Cleveland before being shipped to the Timberwolves as part of the Kevin Love trade in 2014. With another disappointing season behind him, Bennett maybe on the move again, per ESPN's Marc Stein:
ESPN sources say that, in advance of Thursday's draft, Minnesota has made former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett available via trade
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 22, 2015
So how does this pertain to the Sixers?
Come to me, Anthony Bennett.
— Michael Levin (@Michael_Levin) June 22, 2015
Michael Levin, lover of every NBA prospect since the dawn of time, would love for Sam Hinkie to make a play for Bennett. Should they?
The Sixers have had interest in Bennett previously. Per CSN's Dei Lynam, the blockbuster trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans still could've gone down even if Nerlens Noel wasn't on the board for New Orleans, as Hinkie had the same deal in place with the Pellies if either Victor Oladipo or Bennett himself were available with the sixth pick in the 2013 draft.
Talks of Bennett landing in Philly crept up once again the following son, as the Sixers were originally slated to receive Bennett in return for Thaddeus Young as the third team in the Love trade, per the Daily News' Bob Cooney, before ultimately ending up with a better return in the Heat's future protected first rounder.
Bennett won't come cheap for any team that is trying to acquire him, as his salary is still tied to his status as a former top pick. He will make just over $5.8 million in the 2015-16 season and has a team option worth more than $7.3 million the following year.
Those numbers likely wouldn't be too off-putting for a Sixers team flush with cap space, but Bennett has just been awful for the first two years of his career, shooting 39.3% from the field and 26.3% from three, that it makes it hard to imagine him having much trade value, if any at all, beyond the cache of the being a former #1 pick.
What would you give up for Bennett? The #47 pick this year? A future second rounder from Hinkie's war chest? Anything at all?