The best thing about top overall pick Anthony Bennett’s tremendously disappointing rookie season is that it 
has provided cover for some tremendously disappointing seasons by other rookies.
Namely, Otto Porter.
Porter was taken third in the 2013 draft by the Washington Wizards and has been worse than Bennett. Much worse.
Bennett is averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting just 35 percent from the floor. Pedestrian numbers, for sure, and unacceptable for a top pick who is expected to contribute right away.
But Bennett looks like Wilt Chamberlain compared to Porter, who is averaging 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds while shooting 30 percent. Through February, he had 37 points in 215 minutes.
Porter isn’t even the best rookie from Georgetown. Undrafted college teammate Hollis Thompson is averaging 5.8 points and 3.4 rebounds for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Here are some other third overall picks in NBA drafts this century: Pau Gasol, Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams, James Harden and Al Horford. Even the Wizards themselves snagged Bradley Beal with the third pick in 2012.
Adam Morrison also was a third overall pick. But before you start comparing Porter to Morrison, keep in mind that Morrison averaged nearly 12 points per game in his first season, winning a Rookie of the Month award and making the All-Rookie Second Team. It wasn’t until he tore his ACL in his sophomore training camp that his NBA career unraveled.
If you’re looking for a recent parallel to Porter, try Enes Kanter, a power forward taken third overall by Utah in 2011 and forced to sit and watch behind Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. Even Kanter did manage to average 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds as a rookie.
Porter is a small forward who has been buried behind Trevor Ariza and Martell Webster all season. His debut campaign wasn’t helped by the fact that it started in similar fashion to Bennett’s – with an injury. A hip flexor strain forced him to miss nearly all of training camp and the first month.
But recent injuries to Washington’s frontcourt – most notably Nene, Kevin Seraphin and Webster – provided a window for Porter. In Monday’s loss to Memphis, he got 10 minutes off coach Randy Wittman’s bench and made the most of them, knocking down his first two 3-pointers of the season to spark a late rally by the Wizards.
“Opportunity arises, be ready,” Wittman said. “I thought he came in and made a couple shots.”
“I’m going to stay ready,” Porter told the Washington Post. “I look at it as, learn from it. Always stay ready. This was a prime example. We had a man go down today, Martell, so opportunity presents itself, take full advantage.”
With Webster still sidelined with a sore back, Porter played a season-high 22 minutes in Wednesday’s win over Utah. While he did not score, he was somewhat active with two rebounds, two steals and three fouls.
Despite his recent activity, this is going to be a highly forgettable season for Porter. Once Webster returns, he will be relegated to sitting and watching as the Wizards head to the playoffs for the first time in six years.
In the postseason, Wittman likely will lean heavily on a bench that already had Webster and Al Harrington and has been recently upgraded with veterans Andre Miller and Drew Gooden.
There is one thing working in Porter’s favor, however. Like many rookies in this class, he is well-positioned to win Most Improved Player next season.
On to the rankings.