Anthony Bennett attributed much of his rookie-year struggles to a shoulder injury that prevented him from working out last summer. Back in shape and fresh off a strong summer league showing, the last thing anybody should be asking Bennett to do is to stay off the court for a month, right?
Well, about that …
It appears Bennett’s agent and the Cleveland Cavaliers are doing everything they can to avoid the forward sustaining an injury between now and Aug. 25, when NBA rules will allow them to deal Bennett, along with this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love.
In that vein, Bennett was pulled from a Toronto pro-am event by his agent, Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune reported Wednesday.
While it seems wise for the Cavs not to risk an injury to one of the key pieces of a deal for Love, holding Bennett out of competitive play for the next month seems less than ideal. As Bennett himself has said this summer, he gains and sheds weight at the drop of a hat, so three weeks on the elliptical machine probably isn’t going to cut it.
Of course, Bennett’s removal from the pro-am might be completely unrelated to a Love trade. The connection is largely speculation — informed speculation, but still speculation — based on previous reports of a Love from Wiggins/Bennett swap.
Only the Cavs and Bennett’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, know for sure whether yanking Bennett has everything or nothing to do with Love.
