NBA Draft: Every NBA team’s worst draft pick

11. Cleveland Cavaliers – Anthony Bennett (2013)

Often regarded as the worst first overall pick of the modern era, Anthony Bennett’s NBA career was doomed from the start. If Cleveland was planning to stockpile draft picks to lure LeBron James back to the Promised Land, this Anthony Bennett pick almost screwed that up completely.

Given his status as the first Canadian player to ever be picked first overall, the pressure was on Bennett. He showed talent at UNLV, averaging 16.1 points per game and 8.1 rebounds. A lottery selection wasn’t that far-fetched, but first overall was a stretch, and Bill Simmons’ reaction to the pick said it all:

Needless to say, his time with the Cavaliers couldn’t have gone any worse. At 4.2 points per game and three rebounds per game, there was no hesitation in giving him the bust label. The pressure on him grew to produce out of his slump, but it never happened.

Thankfully for the Cavs, GM LeBron James was able to include him as part of the Kevin Love deal, but he didn’t exactly land on his feet in Minnesota. He got to reunite with his compatriot Andrew Wiggins, but he didn’t fare much better. He averaged 5.2 points, 0.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds, all career highs. The Toronto Raptors were practically the only team willing to take him on a flyer, and that was largely due to the hometown discount, but he spent more time in the D-League than with the actual team.

Just three seasons into his NBA career, and one legitimately questions whether Bennett will play another NBA game in his life. Looking back at the 2013 draft class, the Cavs could’ve easily chosen Victor Oladipo, Nerlens Noel, or the Greek Freak. If they had played their cards right in this draft, maybe the Love deal never would’ve happened.

Next: 10: Toronto Raptors