In many ways, signing with the Mavericks is a dream come true for Quincy Acy.
The forward signed with the Mavericks yesterday, fulfilling a goal he’s had for practically his entire life. Not only is his NBA career extending, but he’s moving forward with his hometown team. Acy graduated from Horn High School in Mesquite before playing college ball at Baylor.
“It’s a blessing to be around my friends and family and be able to play for the team that I loved growing up,” Acy told ESPN Radio in Waco today. “It’s just surreal. I’m kind of still in shock, I think. It’s amazing.
“The stars aligned and I ended up in a great place, in a great organization which happens to be where I’m from. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation, a better coach, a better organization, ownership. From top to bottom, it’s just a great situation.”
The forward appeared in 59 games last season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He has a reputation as an energetic, scrappy player who isn’t afraid of mixing it up on the inside or chasing after rebounds, but last season he flashed potential as a three-point shooter, connecting on 38.8 of his long-range attempts. It’s not uncommon for power forwards these days to possess three-point range, but it was a bit of an unexpected look for Acy, who attempted just seven 3s in college and 77 total in three seasons before last.
“I’ve been putting in the work,” he said. “I think I had the ability, you know, but in college I was called to do what I did best. I just added the 3-point shot whenever I needed to. It’s kind of keeping me around. Whatever I need to do to stick, whatever I got to do to play, I’m always open to doing.”
Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle loves his floor spacing, and he also embraces the challenge of developing young players’ offensive repertoire, on top of their general understanding of the game. You can bet he and the Mavs coaches will be working closely with Acy and teammate Dwight Powell to help the big men continue to expand their range all the way out to the arc. Acy will be learning from one of the best to do it, of course, in No. 6 all-time scorer Dirk Nowitzki.
“He likes his way,” Acy said of Carlisle’s coaching style. “He wants players to play his way, and I’m always open to that. I’m always open to coaching. I love coaches that know what they’re doing and know what they want.”
The 25-year-old forward is a four-year vet in the NBA but has never played for a team which qualified for the playoffs. The Mavs have made aggressive efforts this summer to get younger, but not without compromising a shot at the playoffs. Dallas has qualified in 15 of the last 16 seasons, a stretch the organization does not plan on ending anytime soon. Still, that doesn’t mean national expectations are high — the Mavs are currently considered a bit of a sleeper to compete in the loaded Western Conference, a slight Acy relishes.
“I like that we’re a sleeper team and we don’t have super-high expectations, because I know we’re going to work and we’re gonna surprise a lot of people,” Acy said.
During the summer, Acy said he’s been working out in the Dallas area with former Baylor teammates Ekpe Udoh and Cory Jefferson, who played for the Mavericks in the Orlando Summer League. Next weekend he’s putting on a free basketball camp at Horn High School in Mesquite, and what happens the rest of the summer is up to him.
The good news, though, is the Mavs won’t have to worry about him coming to Dallas in time for training camp. Acy is already home.
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