The Anthony Bennett experiment is over. After working him out for weeks during the summer, supporting him on Team Canada during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and signing him to a one-year, $1 million contract, the Nets Monday waived the overall No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
To replace him, they will sign 6’9” journeyman Quincy Acy, who had been playing for the Texas Legends in the D-League. The deal is reportedly a 10-day contract.
Marc Stein of ESPN tweeted it out first.
The Brooklyn Nets are signing Quincy Acy to replace Anthony Bennett, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 9, 2017
The Nets just released former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett and will sign Quincy Acy to a 10-day deal to replace him, ESPN sources say
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 9, 2017
The Nets are Acy’s sixth team in six seasons in the NBA. The 26-year-old Baylor product played six games for Dallas earlier this season, but was cut November 17. He played only 48 minutes in six games.
Stein said his release was not popular in the Dallas locker room. Mavs had to cut him to sign a back-up PG after their top three lead guards went down.
Mavs teammates were crushed when Quincy Acy was let go to address a backcourt injury crisis. Hard to believe he didn't get a call-up sooner.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 9, 2017
His most productive season came two years ago when he played 68 games for the Knicks, starting 22. He averaged 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds, shooting 45.9 percent overall and 30.0 percent from deep.
This year, for the Legends, the Mavericks’ affiliate, he’s averaged 17.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and two blocks, improving his three point shooting to nearly 40 percent.
Acy becomes the 18th player to wear the Nets uniform this season. The team record is 22.
Without confirming the deal, Acy posted a biblical verse on Instagram and expressed his gratitude for opportunities.
For Bennett, it appears the Nets decision is the end of the road for the 6’8” power forward who was playing for his fourth team in four years after being taken No. 1 by the Cavaliers in a surprise move. As he had with the Cavs, Timberwolves and Raptors, Bennett had a few good games offensively, but his lack of defense and BBIQ did him in.
The Canadian native worked out for two weeks at HSS Training Center in July, then joined Team Canada for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Nets sent assistant coach to Italy to watch him and Bojan Bogdanovic play in FIBA “friendly” games, even according to reports, helped him with an insurance issue that permitted him to play for Canada. Then, on his return, Brooklyn signed him to a one-year deal with a second year as a team option.
Kenny Atkinson used him intermittently and publicly offered praise for his effort, as did Brook Lopez, but Atkinson stopped using him after the turn of the new year, playing him only three minutes in the last seven games. That turned out to be a signal that the experiment was over. Monday’s announcement sealed it.
- Anthony Bennett, Cut by Nets, Stands Out Among N.B.A. Busts - Benjamin Hoffman - New York Times
- Nets waive Anthony Bennett, former No. 1 overall pick - Mike Rose - Newsday