Before being hired by the Knicks in the spring of 2018, David Fizdale was a highly sought-after head coaching candidate, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski, who suggest that Fizdale had offers from the Hawks and Suns and was the leading candidate for the Hornets‘ opening as well. However, Fizdale was focused on New York and turned down other offers even before he received any assurances from the Knicks.
Here are Tuesday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Hornets recalled Cody Martin from the Greensboro Swarm, the team announced. The move concluded Martin’s fifth stint in the G League this season.
- The Rockets have sent Isaiah Hartenstein down to the G League, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston relays (Twitter link). The big man has appeared in eight games for Houston this season.
- The Kings have assigned Wenyen Gabriel to the Stockton Kings, the team announced on its Twitter feed. The power forward has seen action in seven games for Sacramento this season.
- The Magic have sent Melvin Frazier Jr. and Amile Jefferson to the G League, the team’s Twitter feed reveals. Frazier and Jefferson suited up for the Lakeland Magic earlier tonight.
- League sources tell O’Connor that Davis Bertans (Wizards), Marvin Williams (Hornets), J.J. Redick (Pelicans), and Marcus Morris (Knicks) are among the veterans who are candidates to be dealt before the deadline. Redick likely won’t be moved, but multiple execs believe New Orleans could strongly consider the idea if the right offer comes along.
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- Hornets second-year player Miles Bridges has bounced back and forth between power forward and small forward this season and it’s been a tough adjustment defensively, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer notes. “We’re throwing a lot at him. He’s having to adjust on the fly,” coach James Borrego said. “On the defensive end, he has a different (tough) matchup every night. He’s got to bring the urgency. I’ve seen growth on the defensive end. On offense (averaging 12.6 points on 45% shooting) he’s been solid.”
Here are Monday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:
- The Hornets assigned forwards Jalen McDaniels and Caleb Martin and guard Cody Martin to the Greensboro Swarm, according to a team press release. That same trio had been recalled from the Swarm on Sunday. McDaniels, a rookie from San Diego State, has appeared in 12 games with the Swarm, averaging 17.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 2.4 SPG in 31.6 MPG. Caleb Martin, an undrafted rookie, has seen action in 10 games for the Swarm, averaging 17.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 3.9 APG in 34.6 MPG. Cody Martin, like McDaniels a second-round pick in the June draft, has averaged 18.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 4.6 APG in 35.5 MPG through five outings with the Swarm.
- The Wizards assigned and then recalled forwards Isaac Bonga and Admiral Schofield and guard Justin Robinson from the Capital City Go-Go, the team’s PR department tweets. The trio joined the Go-Go for a practice.
Several teams are monitoring the potential trade availability of Hornets forward Marvin Williams, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Charlotte is carrying a handful of high-priced veterans on expiring contracts, but Williams appears to be the most appealing trade chip in that group. Williams’ cap hit ($15MM) isn’t quite as pricey as Bismack Biyombo‘s ($17MM), and he has been a more reliable contributor in recent years than Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($13MM).
After starting 347 of 388 games during his previous five years in Charlotte, Williams is coming off the bench this season. Although his counting stats (7.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG) are modest, he has shot well in 24 games (20.3 MPG), with a career-best .496 FG%, plus a .400 3PT%.
No team is in position to absorb a $15MM salary outright using cap room or a trade exception, so Charlotte would have to take back some money in any trade involving Williams. The 33-year-old doesn’t have significant trade value, but the Hornets could probably acquire an asset for him if they’re willing to take on an unwanted contract or two.
Here are Sunday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:
- The Hornets have recalled Cody Martin, Caleb Martin, and Jalen McDaniels from the Greensboro Swarm, the team announced today in a press release. Charlotte made these moves in advance of its home game against Atlanta.
- The Nuggets have recalled forward Vlatko Cancar, the team announced on social media today. Cancar, 22, was drafted by the team No. 49 overall in 2017 and signed his rookie contract back in August.
- The Hornets have assigned rookie small forward Cody Martin to the Greensboro Swarm, the team tweets. Martin has appeared in 16 games for the Hornets, averaging 11.8 minutes. He is shooting just 35.7% from the floor.
Here are Wednesday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
- The Bucks assigned power forward Dragan Bender to the Wisconsin Herd, the team’s PR department tweets. The fourth overall pick of the 2016 draft has averaged 21 PPG and 10 RPG in five starts with the Herd.
- The Knicks assigned rookie forward Ignas Brazdeikis to the Westchester Knicks, the team’s PR department tweets. He’s appeared in six games with the NBA Knicks, averaging 7.0 MPG in those outings.
- The Cavaliers assigned rookie swingman Dylan Windler to the Canton Charge, the team’s PR department tweets. He has yet to make his NBA debut. The first-rounder is working his way back into basketball shape after recovering from a leg injury.
- The Pacers recalled Victor Oladipo and Edmond Sumner from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team tweets. They practiced with the Mad Ants as part of their injury rehabs. There is no timetable for their return, the team adds.
- The Clippers assigned center Mfiondu Kabengele to the Agua Caliente Clippers, the team tweets. The rookie first-rounder out of Florida State has appeared in six NBA games, averaging 3.8 MPG in those outings.
- The Hawks recalled rookie forward Bruno Fernando and guard Tyrone Wallace from the College Park Skyhawks, the team tweets. Fernando, a second-round pick, is averaging 4.5 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 12.7 MPG while playing 21 games with the NBA team. Wallace has averaged 3.1 PPG in 12.0 MPG in 13 games with Atlanta.
- The Thunder recalled center Justin Patton from the Oklahoma City Blue, according to a team press release. In eight games with the Blue, Patton is averaging 10.3 PPG and 7.5 RPG in 26.2 MPG.
- The Hornets recalled Cody Martin from the Greensboro Swarm, according to a team press release. The rookie guard appeared in three games with the Swarm, where he averaged 14.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 5.3 APG in 34.3 MPG.
Bismack Biyombo‘s four-year, $68MM contract has been viewed for years as an albatross, but as that deal nears its end, the Hornets aren’t simply waiting for it to expire. In a regular role off the bench this season, the veteran center has played some of the best ball of his career, averaging a career-best 7.8 PPG with 4.0 RPG in just 16.2 MPG.
While Biyombo won’t get another contract like the one he signed in 2016, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer doesn’t believe a new deal with the Hornets is out of the realm of possibility. On a more modest salary, the 27-year-old big man could be a fit as a rim-protecting center off the bench, and it sounds like he’s open to the idea of remaining in Charlotte beyond the 2019/20 season.
“I love it here. This is my home — I started here,” Biymobo said. “Seeing the organization move in the right direction, seeing guys succeed (matters).”
Here’s more on the Hornets:
- Dwayne Bacon has had an up-and-down season so far, having fallen out of the starting lineup – and the rotation – since the Hornets’ first 10 games. However, the young shooting guard, who can be a restricted free agent at season’s end, is staying positive as he looks to earn another opportunity, Bonnell writes for The Charlotte Observer. “I think I have the perfect mindset to play 15 years in the NBA, because I can accept every obstacle and I’m always going to be ready. I don’t come with ego,” Bacon said. “I’m the same guy every day: I smile like I just scored 30 points. When you have an ego in this sport, you won’t get far. If I came in here all mad, thinking ‘Oh, you guys are playing and I’m not,’ that’s just selfish of me. I know this is going to come around.”
- In another article for The Charlotte Observer, Bonnell explores what we’ve learned about the Hornets based on the first quarter of the club’s season.
- After spending his first four NBA seasons with the Hornets, Frank Kaminsky is uncertain about how to feel playing against his old team as a member of the Suns tonight, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The former lottery pick said he would try to treat it like just “another game” but admitted it was a new experience for him.