Cavaliers to draft Canadian Anthony Bennett No. 1?

At this point it’s very possible that Toronto native Anthony Bennett will make history tonight as the highest drafted Canadian in the NBA Draft. But how high could he go? At Sports Interaction, Bennett’s odds are at -106 to be drafted within the first five picks. However, now there is some talk that the Cleveland Cavaliers, who draft first, might be interested in the former UNLV Runnin’ Rebel.

The Cavs have a history of drafting talent north of the border, too. They made Tristan Thompson the highest-drafted Canadian when they took him at No. 5 back in 2011. Now, if they do decide to snag Bennett at No. 1, that would be making history with an exclamation mark.

There isn’t a consensus No. 1 in the draft among Kentucky centre Nerlens Noel, Maryland’s Alex Len or Georgetown’s Otto Porter, so why not Bennett? Cavaliers coach Mike Brown reportedly wants to draft Bennett after Brown’s son met him at UNLV. Plus, Bennett could certainly help Cleveland’s frontcourt.

Bennett might be a bit undersized for a forward at 6-foot-8, but scouts are drooling over his explosiveness, especially in this draft. This year there are a lot of big men with injury concerns or limitations, so size with natural athletic ability is at a premium. Bennett is coming off a shoulder injury, but that isn’t expected to impact when he hears his name called tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“Some people are saying I’m a tweener,” Bennett told the Charlotte Observer earlier this month. “I’m not too tall for a power forward and not too fast for a (small forward). But I just feel like if I go out and play hard it will eliminate all that.”

The historic night for Canadian basketball likely won’t end after Bennett is off the board either. Gonzaga big man Kelly Olynyk could go in the top 14, which would mark the first time two Canadians were drafted in the same lottery. Not long after that Toronto’s Myck Kabongo will likely take the stage with NBA scouts predicting he will be drafted by the middle of the second round.