Anthony Bennett Cut by Turkish Basketball Team to Make Room for Pero Antic

NBA draft bust Anthony Bennett was reportedly released by Fenerbahce of the Turkish Basketball Super League to clear a roster spot for Pero Antic.

On Tuesday, Bugra Uzar of Eurohoops.net reported the European team was forced to decide between Antic and Bennett due to a limitation on the number of non-Turkish players on the squad.

Bennett made a minuscule impact across nine Euroleague appearances for Fenerbahce. He averaged 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds while shooting 26.3 percent from the field in seven minutes per game.

The first overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013 was better in seven domestic league outings, checking in at 9.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest, according to Uzar.

Bennett joined Fenerbahce in January after running out of opportunities in the NBA. He made unsuccessful stops with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets after one year with the Cavs.

In all, the 24-year-old UNLV product averaged 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 151 games in the NBA. He shot 39.2 percent overall, including 26.1 percent from three.

Peter Botte of the New York Daily News noted Bennett said after signing with Brooklyn last July he was still focused on showcasing his long-term potential.

"I got picked No. 1 for a reason, so I'm just taking that with pride. Just got to come in here and work every day on my craft," he said. "I wouldn't say [I want to] prove them wrong. I really pretty much don't pay attention to it. It's a process. It's not a sprint; it's a marathon, from what everybody tells me."

He's never displayed signs of becoming a player worthy of the top pick. Even moving to Europe, which is typically a better fit for a player with his smaller frontcourt frame, didn't lead to a significant uptick in production.

Bennett will likely continue to receive chances based on the hope everything will eventually click and he'll become an impact player. The reality is he'll likely be restricted to reserve duty in the NBA or any of the top European leagues for the rest of his career.