Pelican Pipe Dream Offseason? (Long Read)

Free Agency

Nikola Pekovic, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Stats

Pek highlights

vs Celtics

Status on July 1: Restricted free agent(NBA.com)

What he’s selling: With the eternal premium on productive big men, Pekovic showed flashes of being an absolute nightmare in the low post for opposing teams. A 7-foot, 300-pound block of granite, Pekovic averaged 16.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg last season and held it down in the Timberwolves’ frontcourt without Kevin Love available for the majority of the season. He’s got a size/skill-set combination that makes him a rarity in a league that treasures big men who can play high impact basketball on both ends of the floor.

What he’s not saying: The only problem with Pekovic is the 174-game sample size teams have to work with in evaluating the upside of a big man who is 26 and perhaps already deeper into his physical prime than you want a third-year player to be.

What he’s worth: The Houston Rockets used a three-year, $25 million offer sheet to pry Omer Asik away from the Chicago Bulls last summer. An offer like that could work similar wonders for someone trying to slip into the Twin Cities and sneak out with a starting center.

Likely landing spot(s): Minnesota can’t afford to let him walk, not with the regime change and whatever other roster changes Flip Saunders and his new crew have in store. Plus, Pekovic has become a cult favorite in Minneapolis.


NBA Draft

Anthony Bennett, SF, UNLV

Highlights

scout report

Strengths(valleyofthesuns.com)

There are very few certainties going into this year’s NBA Draft, but Anthony Bennett being far and away the most polished frontcourt player at the offensive end is unquestionably among them. While he may look like an undersized four at 6-foot-8, the UNLV standout is a multidimensional scorer and a terrific threat both in the lane and from the perimeter.

Bennett is freakishly athletic for his size, finishes at the rim extremely well with either hand and surprisingly has some touch in the paint when pushed away from the basket.

While the Toronto native has the length and athleticism to be a terrorizing force down low, it’s his knack for the three-point shot that really gives opposing defenders reason to panic. As a freshman, Bennett averaged exactly one three-point field goal make a game and shot 37.5 for the season. On four separate occasions, he made three or more in a game. Although it’s not his primary offensive weapon, Bennett’s ability to face up to the basket and hit jump shots with confidence will almost certainly play an important role in how successful he is at the next level.

Question marks

Heading into the draft process, Bennett’s defensive laziness, up-and-down motor and size were among the major concerns NBA scouts had, but at this point, those are secondary to his health.

On May 8, the UNLV forward went under the knife to repair the rotator cuff in his left shoulder. At the time of Bennett’s surgery, his recovery time was listed at about four months – meaning his draft stock wouldn’t be influenced by the NBA Combine or individual team workouts.

Bennett’s shoulder issue presents a small red flag only because he was injury-plagued throughout his last two years in high school as well. His surgeon, Dr. David Altchek, however, said the damage done to his rotator cuff was by no means considered career-threatening and that Bennett is expected to make a full recovery.

While teams would have liked to have seen what Bennett could do in a controlled setting like the NBA Combine, all and all, his absence shouldn’t affect where his name is called on June 27.

“You always would prefer a guy is healthy, works out for you and can play in summer league,” one GM told ESPN.com. “However, I don’t think in this case that it will really matter. We got a good feel for his game. He’s one of the most NBA-ready prospects in the draft. I wouldn’t blink taking him in the Top 5 as long as the surgery is successful.”

X-factor

Although he spent just a year with the Running Rebels, Bennett did more than enough to prove his worth as a top 5 pick. The former McDonald’s All-American has all the traits that make for a great low-post scorer — 7-foot-1 wingspan, impressive footwork and an ability to create space for himself in the lane or at the basket — but he also has a few that are not common for one-year college prospects.

Among NCAA frontcourt players, Bennett was as efficient as they come in 2012-13. Per 40 minutes, he averaged over 26 points per game and had a true shooting percentage around 60 percent.

He can score in just about every way imaginable – dunks, tip-ins, eight-foot floaters, free throws three-point shots – and did so at a very consistent level as a freshman.

Laziness might be a concern at the defensive end but it’s never been one for Bennett at the offensive end. He is relentless on the glass, an above-average ball handler and a threat to score regardless of where he is on the floor.

Few other players being considered in this year’s lottery can say that.

Bennett can space the floor and has the threat of a jump shot, but he also has the quickness to beat his man to the basket and isn’t afraid to get physical on the glass.


Projected Depth Chart

C Nikola Pekovic/ Robin Lopez/ Jason Smith
PF Anthony Davis/ Ryan Anderson/ Jason Smith
SF Anthony Bennett/ Farouq Aminu/ Darius Miller
SG Eric Gordon/ Austin Rivers/ Darius Miller
PG Greivis Vasquez/ Austin Rivers/ Brian Roberts