BREAKING: Brooklyn Nets Reportedly Release Former NBA 1st-Round Pick

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Brooklyn Nets will waive Darius Bazley.

UPDATE: The Brooklyn Nets have officially waived Darius Bazley.  

OFFICIAL: The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on forward Darius Bazley.

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 19, 2023

Darius Bazley is coming off a year where he played for the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder.    

He averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest while shooting 45.4% from the field and 37.7% from the three-point range in 43 games.   

This summer, Bazley signed a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, but Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reports that he will now be waived.  

Via Charania: "The Brooklyn Nets are waiving forward Darius Bazley, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Bazley averaged 5.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 42.9 percent 3-point shooting in preseason and is now expected to receive interest as a free agent."

The Brooklyn Nets are waiving forward Darius Bazley, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Bazley averaged 5.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 42.9 percent 3-point shooting in preseason and is now expected to receive interest as a free agent.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2023

Bazley was initially the 23rd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and has played four seasons in the league (for the Suns and Thunder).   

His career averages are 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest while shooting 41.1% from the field and 31.0% from the three-point range in 228 regular season games (he has also appeared in seven NBA playoff games). 

The Nets are waiving Darius Bazley, per @ShamsCharania.

The forward is set to get interest in free agency after shooting 42.9% from deep in preseason action. pic.twitter.com/45JEDbqjSW

— ClutchPoints NBA (@ClutchPointsNBA) October 19, 2023

Considering Bazley is only 23 years old, he could be an excellent addition to many teams. 

The regular season will begin in less than one week, so he will be a name to watch.

Darius Bazley HAMMERS it for OKC 💥 pic.twitter.com/jMfBWUI0EQ

— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2021

Meanwhile, the Nets will play their first game of the 2023-24 regular season when they host Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center on October 25. 

They are coming off a year where they got swept by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA playoffs.