Nets Part Ways with Anthony Bennett

The Anthony Bennett NBA experiment may have just reached its bitter end, with the worst team in basketball dishing out the final blow.

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on the former No. 1 overall pick, ending his short stint with the team.  After being selected with the top pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bennett never found a home in the league.  He bounced around from Cleveland to Minnesota, then to his hometown of Toronto before finally signing with the Nets.

Bennett worked out for the Nets for two weeks back in July, before departing to play for Team Canada in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.  When he returned, Brooklyn inked him to a one-year contract with a team option for a second year.  He played sparingly for head coach Kenny Atkinson, averaging 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games.

His release almost appeared to be imminent after he logged seven total minutes in his past three games.  His lack of defense was the main reason why he was unable to stay on the court.

Brooklyn is replacing Bennett by signing 26-year-old forward Quincy Acy to a 10-day contract.  The journeyman will be playing for his sixth team in six NBA seasons.  He was cut by his hometown Dallas Mavericks on November 17 and was playing for the Texas Legends, their D-League affiliate.

Acy will become the 18th player to wear a Brooklyn Nets uniform this season.  The franchise record is 22.

Notes: Reserve guard Spencer Dinwiddie’s contract became guaranteed over the weekend.  The Nets had signed him to a partially guaranteed contract worth $100,000 last month and had until Saturday to release him.  His deal for the rest of the season is now worth $726,000.

Dinwiddie’s deal also calls for him to participate in the team’s off-season conditioning program, as well as suit up for the Nets in summer league play.  If he is on next season’s roster, he will make an additional $250,000.

In 13 games with the Nets, including one start, Dinwiddie has averaged 5.8 points in just over 16 minutes per game.