He’s back.
Former number one overall pick Anthony Bennett has signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Phoenix Suns, his fourth team since originally being drafted by the Cavaliers in 2013.
Let’s make one thing clear: Anthony Bennett is simply a training camp body in order to promote competition at the power forward spot. Bennett will not make the Suns’ opening day roster, not just because of his own lack of skills, but because of the continued development of Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.
Phoenix Suns
By all accounts, it seems that he signed with the expectation that he will spend the majority (if not all) of the season with the Suns’ G-League affiliate, the Prescott Valley Suns. Maybe he really enjoys the weather?
The Suns, I imagine, simply want to give off the illusion that Bennett has a potential of making the roster, which in turn will convince Marquesse and Dragan to show more effort throughout training camp.
Now, why am I so sure that Bennett will not make the Suns in October? Wasn’t Bennett a college star who averaged 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting 53.3% from the field at UNLV while also making history history as the first Canadian player to be drafted first overall?
True, but this is also the same Anthony Bennett who couldn’t even keep a roster spot on a sad Brooklyn Nets roster.
Last season he only appeared in 23 games and only averaged a meager 5 points and 3.4 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game. He also only shot 41.3% from the field.
Anthony Bennett is bad, and will most likely be cut before the regular season.
Funny thing is, you think he would have a chance with the Alan Williams injury. The Suns are now in need of a big man to help provide relief minutes from Alex Len and Tyson Chandler.
Len and Chandler will also likely not play a full season healthy which truly emphasizes the need for at least one more backup big.
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That big man will not be Anthony Bennett. He has had three stints on three different NBA teams, all of which have resulted in failure.
It is this failure that pushed teams away from signing him. The man deserves the best of luck in his career which could perhaps lead to a successful career overseas. But the NBA is where the best of the best play, and Anthony Bennett is simply not a part of that club.