If Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach Mike Brown was also serving as general manager, it appears that UNLV forward Anthony Bennett would be his selection with the first-overall pick in the impending 2013 NBA Draft.

ESPN’s Chad Ford, in a theory-based piece regarding the Cavs and the No. 1 pick, says that Brown is a big fan of the offensively gifted athlete from the Running Rebels.

“Head coach Mike Brown is pushing for Bennett,” writes Ford. “Brown’s son, Elijah, was recruited by UNLV last year (but ultimately signed with Butler) and Brown made visits with his son to watch the Running Rebels play. Brown fell in love with Bennett and wants to coach him. He has support in the Cavs’ front office, because Bennett might be the most offensively talented player of the top six in the draft and would add scoring punch to the Cavs’ offensively challenged frontcourt.”

While Bennett—6-foot-8, 240 pounds with a seven-foot wingspan and high-end leaping ability—is supremely gifted on the offensive side of the ball, the knock on him is that he is undersized and tends to get lost on defense. An explosive leaper who can also hit the mid-range shot, Bennett could easily wind up as the best player to come out of this draft. His fit with the Cavaliers, however, remains a huge question. Brown’s preference for the player undoubtedly raises an eyebrow given his position and profile .

[Related: Cavalier NBA Draft Film Room: Anthony Bennett]