Wolves owner on Bennett trade speculation: 'We shouldn't assume he'd go'

The first Canadian to be drafted first overall in the NBA may not play in his home country, but he could be staying put in the league's northern-most city.

With the Nov. 2 deadline date looming for the Minnesota Timberwolves to pick up the fourth-year option on his rookie-scale contract, Anthony Bennett has become a stalwart in the rumor mill.

The Wolves have a crowded frontcourt and several young players to develop, so Bennett, who was acquired in the Kevin Love trade last offseason, has been assumed and reported superfluous in the team's long-term plans.

But while owner Glen Taylor didn't go so far as to say the team would pick up his $7.3-million option for 2016-17, he did tell Darren Wolfson of KSTP that a Bennett trade isn't necessarily in the cards.

"We shouldn't assume he'd go," Taylor said Tuesday. "Anthony has had a good summer."

A good summer was always going to be pivotal for Bennett, who hoped to drop 15 pounds due to concerns over his conditioning. He appears to be in great physical shape after spending most of the summer with the Canadian national team. He performed efficiently, if inconsistently, over three international tournaments with Team Canada.

Expectations were artificially inflated when Bennett was made the top selection in a 2013 draft without a clear first pick, and medical issues derailed his rookie campaign. He needed offseason shoulder surgery before his pro career even began, struggled through sleep apnea and asthma that hurt his conditioning, and ultimately required a tonsillectomy to remedy the issues. On top of all that, he suffered from vision issues and eventually underwent laser eye surgery.

Still 22, Bennett took moderate statistical strides as a sophomore last season, and the Wolves will surely evaluate with a discerning eye his progress through training camp.

Even in a rising cap environment, their option on Bennett is substantial. Should the Wolves deem it too rich for their taste - even if Bennett shows marked improvement in the preseason - expect his name to pop up in trade rumors once again.