NBA Executives confused why Cleveland Cavaliers won't and Anthony Bennett to D-League

Dec 29, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Anthony Bennett reacts during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors won 108-104. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA season is almost at the halfway point and players that were drafted this summer are starting to come into their own. Not everyone is becoming a star, but the majority of the league is managing to do a lot better than No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett.

While the Cleveland Cavaliers had executives sympathize with them this past week, saying that no one saw the troubles Bennett is having coming, that still doesn’t mean they aren’t confused by the Cavs. According to Chris Mannix from Sports Illustrated, many NBA executives are confused as to why the Cavaliers won’t just send Bennett down tot he D-League.

Cleveland loses, and Anthony Bennett picks up another DNP-CD. Rival execs continue to be mystified at why Cavs don’t demote him.

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) January 27, 2014

For some reasons, the Cavaliers have refused to demote Bennett to the D-League to gain some needed experience. He wouldn’t be the only first-round rookie to be sent to the D-League and give his struggles it would hardly be an insult. What’s more insulting seems to be allowing him to sit on the bench and not develop, something that is now entirely on the Cavaliers as an organization.

Topics: Cleveland Cavaliers

Josh Hill

Josh Hill is Editor of FlickSided.com. He has been with Fansided since Novemember 2010 when he joined The Pewter Plank before taking over as Editor at Pippen Ain't Easy the following month, serving as editor until 2012. He has appeared on ESPN Radio and had work featured on SI.com, FOXSports.com, ESPN.com and CBSSports.com.

Jamie Wilson

the only reason I can think of not sending Bennett to the D-League is that he is really that bad. The Cav’s just do not want to expose Bennett and the organization to more second guessers when Bennett flops in Canton
- heisenburg
  
  This is 100% the reason and it’s been evident for months now. The guy can’t even finish a dunk for gods sake. The front office is trying to save face.
AsILayDyingFan

The article says that no one saw this coming. As a UNLV basketball fan, it was obvious that he wasn’t ready for the NBA. Bennett would disappear in games against good teams, he hardly played defense, and he was a one man team at times to the detriment of everyone on the floor for the Rebels. Personally, I questioned his fitness level and he seemed to look like he was carrying more weight than he should. The guy needed to spend another year in college. Financially I guess it worked out, but hard to believe that it is going to help him professionally in the league.
Shaleane Marie

the last paragraph