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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 10/28/18

October 28th, 2018 at 8:22pm CST by Eric Spyropoulos

Here are Sunday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

  • The Nets assigned rookie forward Dzanan Musa to the Long Island Nets, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post (via Twitter). Musa has only played 11 minutes so far this season after he recovered from a preseason ankle injury. This will likely be the first of many assignments and recalls for Musa, who was the 29th overall pick in the 2018 Draft.
  • The Pacers have recalled Ike Anigbogu from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced today in a press release. Anigbogu, a second-year center, may get a chance to suit up for Indiana in Monday’s game against Portland.
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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 10/26/18

October 26th, 2018 at 8:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Here are Friday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

  • The Lakers assigned rookie forward Moritz Wagner to the South Bay Lakers on an injury rehab assignment, according to a team press release. Wagner, the 25th overall pick, missed the preseason due to a left knee contusion he suffered on July 10th. The University of Michigan product has been medically cleared to return to action.
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Central Notes: Payne, Korver, Cavs, Pistons

October 25th, 2018 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of Kris Dunn‘s MCL injury, Mark Schanowski of NBC Sports Chicago suggested that it was time for the Bulls to spin the point guard roulette wheel again. While he acknowledged that Cameron Payne, Shaquille Harrison, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Tyler Ulis were all options, Schanowski argued that Chicago’s best option at the point might be Zach LaVine, who is most effective with the ball in his hands.

In the Bulls’ first win of the season on Wednesday night, LaVine did handle the ball most in crunch time, but before the game reached that point, it was Payne who enjoyed a breakout performance. As Mark Strotman of NBC Sports Chicago details, Payne followed up a poor first half by making seven 3-pointers in the second half, good for a career-best 21 points.

“It was a huge night for Cam, huge confidence booster,” Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said. “You know, Cam works as hard as anybody on this team. It’s great to see that hard work pay off and it’s a confidence booster, something he can build on.”

Payne has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency since being acquired by the Bulls at the 2017 trade deadline, but Wednesday’s showing was a step in the right direction, and he should get more opportunities in the coming weeks, with Dunn expected to be sidelined at least another month or so. Payne will be eligible for restricted free agency at season’s end, so he’ll have a chance to improve his stock if he keeps playing well.

Here’s more from around the Central division:

  • Cavaliers sharpshooter Kyle Korver isn’t concerned if his playing time is cut back or if his role is unpredictable from game to game, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “I think we’re trying to figure a lot of things out across the board,” Korver said on Wednesday. “Trying to find lineups that work, trying to find a fun style of play. There’s a lot of new here and it hasn’t been that long yet. This is a great job for me, whether I’m playing or not, so I’m going to come every day and work hard.”
  • Korver’s comments came prior to the Cavaliers‘ fourth straight loss on Wednesday night, a game that didn’t impress fellow veterans Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, as Joe Vardon of The Athletic relays. “We need everyone in this organization that gets paid by the Cleveland Cavaliers to make sure everyone is here to fight and no one has quit yet,” Thompson said after the Cavs were blown out at home by Brooklyn.
  • When an NBA team hires a new head coach, it has a ripple effect on that club’s G League affiliate. In an interesting piece for MLive.com, Peter J. Wallner takes a closer look at how the Grand Rapids Drive, led by coach Ryan Krueger, will work to implement new Pistons coach Dwane Casey‘s philosophy at the NBAGL level this season after growing accustomed to Stan Van Gundy‘s system and style.
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Pelicans To Get G League Affiliate For 2019/20

October 24th, 2018 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

OCTOBER 24: In their press release officially announcing their new G League affiliate, the Pelicans indicate that the club isn’t expected to begin play in Birmingham until 2022/23, meaning it will spend three seasons in Erie.

OCTOBER 23: The Pelicans will launch a G League affiliate that will begin play in the 2019/20 season, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, the new G League franchise will eventually play in Birmingham, Alabama, but will start in Erie, Pennsylvania, while arena renovations are completed in Birmingham.

Rumors of a potential G League affiliate for the Pelicans have persisted for multiple years now. Back in March 2017, we heard that New Orleans was expected to have an NBAGL team of its own in place for the 2018/19 season, but the club took longer than anticipated to finalize the location and the details.

Later in 2017, the Pelicans were said to be leaning toward Shreveport, Louisiana or Pensacola, Florida as the eventual home of their G League team, having apparently ruled out various cities in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. However, Alabama will be the home of the new franchise after all, once Birmingham’s arena is ready to go.

Currently, Erie is home to the BayHawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate. The Hawks, who took over the Erie squad in 2017/18, are spending one more year in Pennsylvania while work on their new G League arena in College Park, Georgia is completed. When the Hawks’ affiliate moves out of Erie at the end of the 2018/19 campaign, the Pelicans’ new expansion affiliate will be ready to move in.

[RELATED: NBA G League Affiliations For 2018/19 Season]

The Pelicans will become the 28th of 30 NBA teams with their own NBAGL affiliate. The Nuggets and Trail Blazers are the only other NBA clubs without G League teams of their own, though ESPN’s Jonathan Givony suggests (via Twitter) that the Nuggets may also look to have an affiliate in place for the 2019/20 season, perhaps in the northwest suburbs of Denver. If that happens, Portland would be the lone holdout.

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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 10/23/18

October 23rd, 2018 at 9:45pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Earlier today, it was reported that the Pelicans will become the 28th franchise to launch a G League affiliate. The new franchise will begin next season and play its games in Birmingham, Alabama. Arena renovations aren’t expected to be ready by the time the 2019/20 season starts, so the team intends to begin its history in Erie, Pennsylvania.

With New Orleans adding a G League team, only the Nuggets and Trail Blazers are without an affiliate, and Denver may be next in line — ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported today (via Twitter) that the Nuggets will also attempt to have an affiliate in place for the 2019/20 season, perhaps in the northwest suburbs of Denver.

As for the franchises with G League affiliates this season, only one team made a move today…

  • The Jazz have assigned Tony Bradley to the Salt Lake City Stars, per the team’s Twitter feed. This is Bradley’s first G League assignment this season.
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NBA G League Affiliate Players For 2018/19

October 23rd, 2018 at 3:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Throughout the offseason and preseason, NBA teams are permitted to carry 20 players, but that total must be cut down to 15 (plus a pair of two-way players) in advance of opening night. However, up to four players waived by teams prior to the season can be designated as “affiliate players” and assigned to their G League squads.

The players have a say in this decision. If they’d prefer to sign with a team overseas, or if they get an opportunity with another NBA club, they’re under no obligation to become affiliate players.

Most NBA and international teams have fairly set rosters by late October though, so having the opportunity to continue playing in the same system appeals to many of those preseason cuts — especially since many of them will be in line for bonuses worth up to $50K after having signed Exhibit 10 contracts. Plus, they’ll continue to be NBA free agents while they play in the G League.

There are a few other rules related to G League affiliate players. A player whose returning rights are held by a G League team can’t become an affiliate player for another club, which is why undrafted rookies make up a substantial portion of the league-wide list of affiliate players.

Additionally, an affiliate player must have signed with his team during the current league year, which explains why we often see players signed and quickly waived in the days leading up to the regular season. And, of course, not every NBA team has a G League affiliate, so there are three teams – the Pelicans, Nuggets, and Trail Blazers – with no place to send affiliate players.

With all that in mind, here are the NBA G League affiliate players to start the 2018/19 season, based on training camp roster announcements from the league’s 27 squads:

Atlanta Hawks (Erie BayHawks):

Boston Celtics (Maine Red Claws):

Brooklyn Nets (Long Island Nets):

Charlotte Hornets (Greensboro Swarm):

Chicago Bulls (Windy City Bulls):

Cleveland Cavaliers (Canton Charge):

Dallas Mavericks (Texas Legends):

Detroit Pistons (Grand Rapids Drive):

Golden State Warriors (Santa Cruz Warriors):

Houston Rockets (Rio Grande Valley Vipers):

Indiana Pacers (Fort Wayne Mad Ants):

Los Angeles Clippers (Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario):

Los Angeles Lakers (South Bay Lakers):

Memphis Grizzlies (Memphis Hustle):

Miami Heat (Sioux Falls Skyforce):

Milwaukee Bucks (Wisconsin Herd):

Minnesota Timberwolves (Iowa Wolves):

New York Knicks (Westchester Knicks):

Oklahoma City Thunder (Oklahoma City Blue):

Orlando Magic (Lakeland Magic):

Philadelphia 76ers (Delaware Blue Coats):

Phoenix Suns (Northern Arizona Suns):

  • None

Sacramento Kings (Stockton Kings):

San Antonio Spurs (Austin Spurs):

Toronto Raptors (Raptors 905):

Utah Jazz (Salt Lake City Stars):

Washington Wizards (Capital City Go-Go):

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And-Ones: NBAGL Showcase, Raptors, Spurs, Bazley

October 23rd, 2018 at 2:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA G League will hold its Winter Showcase in Las Vegas from December 19-22 this year, according to a press release issued today by the league. The event has historically taken place in the new year, but will happen in December this time around to give NBA teams the opportunity to scout G League talent before the 10-day signing period begins and the two-way guarantee deadline arrives.

As ESPN’s Jonathan Givony notes (via Twitter), the event will also incorporate more than 20 players from the NBA Academies, a network of elite basketball training centers from around the world. That should make the event more appealing for scouts and executives, and Givony wonders (via Twitter) if the league may eventually have players who sign the G League’s new “select contracts” participate in the showcase as well, adding even more intrigue to the event.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • Based on the first week of the 2018/19 NBA regular season, it looks like both the Raptors and Spurs may be able to claim victory in the biggest trade of the offseason, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
  • In the view of Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the G League’s new “select contracts” are a step in the right direction, but aren’t necessarily the answer, especially over the long term. Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports also spoke to Michele Roberts, the director of the National Basketball Players Association, about the G League’s new offerings.
  • Kevin Durant supports Darius Bazley‘s plan to earn some money while waiting to become draft-eligible, as Logan Murdock of The San Jose Mercury News writes. “I wonder what he’s going to do on the basketball court,” Durant said of Bazley, who opted to skip college for an internship and endorsement deal with New Balance. “But it’s good that he’s going to make some money while not playing.”
  • In an extremely informative breakdown for ESPN+, Bobby Marks examines the salary cap and roster situations for all 30 NBA teams.
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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 10/22/18

October 22nd, 2018 at 9:45pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Here are Monday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

  • The Pacers assigned center Ike Anigbogu to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, according to a team press release. Anigbogu, a 2017 second-round pick, played three minutes in one of the Pacers’ first three games this season after seeing action in 11 games as a rookie.
  • The Grizzlies assigned rookie guard Jevon Carter to the Memphis Hustle’s training camp, the team announced on its website. Carter has yet to make his regular-season debut but the No. 32 overall pick appeared in five preseason games, averaging 2.6 PPG in 11.8 MPG.
  • The Lakers assigned forward Isaac Bonga to the South Bay Lakers, the G league team tweets. Bonga, the No. 39 selection this June, was acquired from the Sixers in a draft-night deal. The 18-year-old Bonga averaged 3.6 PPG and 2.4 RPG in 10.8 MPG during five preseason games but has yet to make his regular-season debut.
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2018 NBA G League Draft Recap

October 20th, 2018 at 2:37pm CST by clarkcrum

The Jazz’ G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, selected five-year NBA veteran Willie Reed with the No. 1 overall selection in this year’s G League draft. Reed, 28, has played for the Nets, Heat, Clippers, and Pistons, holding career averages of 4.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 152 career contests. Some other notable selections include:

Onuaku, 21, was just recently waived by the Trail Blazers. He was selected in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft, and has extensive G League experience, playing in 83 total games for the Rockets’ G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers the past two seasons.

Warrick, 36, last played in the NBA during the 2012-13 season with the Charlotte Bobcats, where he appeared in 27 games and scored 7.0 PPG. In 526 career games, the Syracuse product averaged 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Last season, the veteran played with Ironi Nahariya of the Israeli Premier League.

Blair, 29, last played in the NBA during the 2015-16 season with the Wizards, where he appeared in 29 games and averaged only 7.5 minutes per contest. In 424 career games, the big man averaged 6.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Blair most recently played professionally for San Lorenzo de Almagro in Argentina.

The full results of all four rounds of this year’s G League draft can be viewed here.

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Southeast Rumors: Bamba, Vucevic, McGruder, Melvin

October 19th, 2018 at 8:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Magic lottery pick Mohamed Bamba will come off the bench and have his minutes monitored, John Denton of the team’s website reports. Coach Steve Clifford doesn’t feel the 20-year-old 7-footer is ready to jump into the lineup any time soon. “I want him to play 82 (games), and he’s going to be out there and playing quality minutes,” Clifford said. “But he’s just not ready to play starter’s minutes against starting players. (A reserve role) is a big part of how you bring a player along. He’s in a role that’s ideal for him.” The unspecified minutes restriction is designed to have him “playing his best in March and April,” Clifford added.

We have more from the Southeast Division:

  • The Magic can be expected to do their due diligence and gauge starting center Nikola Vucevic’s trade value, according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic. Vucevic is in his walk year and will enter unrestricted free agency in July. Vucevic doesn’t fit president Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond’s desire for length and versatility, Scotto adds.
  • Rodney McGruder and Derrick Jones Jr. have been effective as starters during the first two games, which further complicates the long-range plan for the Heat’s rotation, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes. With Dion Waiters, James Johnson, Justise Winslow and Wayne Ellington currently sidelined, finding enough playing time for rotation-worthy players hasn’t been an issue, Winderman continues. When those players return, Miami will have 13 players who arguably should be in the rotation, Winderman adds.
  • Former WNBA star Chasity Melvin has been named an assistant coach with the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate, according to a Swarm press release. Melvin, who played 12 WNBA seasons, is the first female coach in franchise history. She was hired through the NBA Assistant Coaches Program.
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