The Hornets are sending several players from their 16-man roster to the Greensboro Swarm to participate in the NBA G League bubble, the team confirmed today.
According to a press release, second-year forward Jalen McDaniels has been assigned to the Swarm, along with rookies Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards. Additionally, two-way players Grant Riller and Nate Darling have been transferred to the Hornets’ G League affiliate.
McDaniels, Carey, Richards, Riller, and Darling will join a Swarm roster that features Admiral Schofield, the No. 1 pick in this month’s NBAGL draft, and affiliate players Kahlil Whitney, Xavier Sneed, Keandre Cook, and Javin DeLaurier, among others.
Hornets president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak told Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer earlier this week that Carey and Richards have looked somewhat “overwhelmed” during their first year in the NBA, and that the team welcomes the opportunity to get them regular playing time at the G League level — especially since the condensed NBA schedule has allowed for fewer practices than normal.
Since McDaniels and the two-way players have also been out of coach James Borrego‘s regular rotation in Charlotte, it makes sense that they’d also be sent to the G League bubble for developmental purposes, as Bonnell writes in a separate story.
While the Hornets will be able to recall any of those five players from the G League to rejoin the NBA roster at any time, those players are expected to spend some or all of the NBAGL season in the bubble, per Bonnell. Given all the protocols in place related to COVID-19, it won’t be as easy logistically for teams to constantly assign and recall players this season, so I imagine we’ll see less back-and-forth movement than usual between the two leagues.
Would love McDaniels to get some real reps and opportunities to grow. I think he has some potential as an interesting NBA rotation guy.
Is it wise to send that many players to the G League bubble when so many teams are struggling to get to the 8 man minimum? Or can guys be brought back from the bubble? If so, I don’t think the bubble will be very effective.
Looks like I should have waited for the last paragraph to be uploaded before commenting since it answers my questions.
I had assumed that they had to spend the whole time there and couldn’t rejoin their NBA team until afterwards. So I guess if a team has enough healthy players already, then it makes sense to send a few guys to the G-League, and then recall them if needed.
Why do the Hornets publicly criticize their young players?
Even if it’s true, there is a better way of telling the media their young centers look “overwhelmed” or that LaMelo is losing minutes because of turnovers…that stuff should stay in the locker room.
Some guys respond better to being called out publicly, some get approached 1:1. It’s coaches call (or should be anyway).
Carey to me has potential to be solid. I see him as old school 4. Needs to slim down a bit and get tighter.
Gleague is best thing right now. Playing and learning is much better than sitting and watching.
Hornets should trade for Drummond.. Zeller is not the answer at center and Byombo is meh…
Still early in the season, I just don’t see Biz as A good Backup Center anymore, I think Zeller can be, that said, I am going to leave whatever Decisions The Great Mitch make, in doing his job, and Respect the Decisions J.B. makes as the Head Coach whom was Appointed by Mitch, last year I still believed we would have made the Playoffs ,and this year we have added more Great Rising Stars, so I am not in A Panic mode, I have Patience, All Hornets Fans should. GO HORNETS