Suns waive forward Anthony Bennett, guard Peter Jok
Oct 11, 2017, 2:31 PM | Updated: Oct 12, 2017, 8:39 am
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Phoenix Suns waived forward and 2013 first-overall pick Anthony Bennett along with rookie guard Peter Jok on Wednesday.
Both sat out the Suns’ last preseason game Monday against the Utah Jazz due to injuries.
Bennett was listed as out with a lower back strain, and Jok had a right groin strain.
“Those two guys are targeted to go play for our G League team in Prescott Valley for the Northern Arizona Suns,” Suns general manager Ryan McDonough told Burns & Gambo on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
McDonough added that an ankle sprain and the back injury didn’t allow the Suns to get a good look at Bennett through camp.
After being picked first by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bennett has never averaged more than the 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds on 42 percent shooting in 16 minutes per night for the T-Wolves in 2014-15.
His greatest successes have come in FIBA tournaments with the Canadian National team, where he formed a relationship with current Suns assistant Jay Triano, the team’s head coach, while finding his role as an athletic, energy big man.
There did not appear to be a spot on the Suns’ roster for Bennett, who would have been playing behind forwards Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender, Josh Jackson and T.J. Warren, all of whom are Phoenix first-round picks.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Jok came to camp to showcase his shooting prowess for a roster that was hit by injuries to shooting guards Brandon Knight and Davon Reed. The Suns filled their backup role by trading for Troy Daniels just before the start of training camp.
Jok, an Iowa product, told the Des Moines Register upon signing a training camp deal he expected to join the Suns’ G League squad in Prescott Valley if he did not make the Phoenix roster.
