When the Wolves were finally able to announce the blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Love to the Cavaliers, two of the three pieces they received in return were easy to categorize.
Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, was the clear jewel of the trade. He was the deal-maker and the deal-breaker. His superstar potential made it possible for the Wolves to feel good about dealing an established star player.
Thaddeus Young, a power forward with credentials, came over to fill Love's spot in the lineup, contribute points and rebounds, and help mentor some of the team's younger players. He was the known commodity in the deal.
The third piece, though, was Andrew Anthony Bennett. He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2013, then had a disastrous rookie year. The only thing you could say about him was that he had the potential to be a boom or a bust — a true wild card. But his potential was intriguing, nonetheless.
In early preseason action, Bennett — now healthy — has shown off some of those skills that led the Cavs to make the power forward the top pick a year ago. He plays with energy, he has a nice mid-range jumper and he could be a fan favorite. His nickname, "Big Daddy Canada," is also fantastic.
We don't imagine a strong contribution from Bennett will make much of a difference in the bottom line for this year's Wolves team. It's still a group that will struggle to win 35 games and likely will settle in more around 30 by season's end.
But if Bennett can continue to contribute when the real games start, he certainly has the opportunity to make the Wolves better in the future — and to make the Love trade look even better as well.
