NBA G League Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Hoops Rumors Glossary: G League Assignments

November 24th, 2017 at 11:52am CST by Luke Adams

NBA G League teams have no shortage of ways to stock their rosters. They can add players through the G League draft, carry players on two-way contracts, acquire players via waivers, take on affiliate players from NBA training camps, and sign players they find in preseason tryout camps. Yet perhaps the most noteworthy players to pass through the G League come via NBA assignment.

The players assigned to the G League by NBA teams aren’t quite like other G Leaguers. NBA players receive their full NBA salaries while on G League assignment, whereas the G Leaguers without an NBA contract receive far more modest annual earnings that currently top out at about $26K.

Still, a G League assignment may come at a cost for an NBA player, since performance in the G League doesn’t count toward any incentive clauses built into an NBA contract. So if a player heads down to the G League on a rehab assignment and plays in a couple games for his NBA club’s G League affiliate, none of the numbers he puts up during that assignment would count toward the performance incentives built into his contract with the big club.

Of course, generally speaking, only longer-tenured veteran NBA players have incentives in their contracts, and most of those players won’t be assigned to the G League. Virtually all of the NBA players assigned to the G League have less than three full years of experience. That’s partly because NBA teams want to give their young players some extra seasoning — after all, before being re-branded as part of a sponsorship agreement with Gatorade, the G League was known as the “Development League” (D-League).

More importantly, players in their first, second or third NBA seasons are the only ones whom NBA teams can unilaterally send down to the G League. Otherwise, teams must get the consent of the players’ union as well as the player. It does happen on occasion though — fourth-year Raptors forward Bruno Caboclo has consented to multiple G League assignments so far this season, and Tony Parker has accepted G League assignments from the Spurs as well, as part of his injury rehab.

Once a player has been assigned to the G League, he can remain there indefinitely, and lengthy stints are not uncommon. However, since there’s no limit to the number of times an NBA team can assign and recall a player, assignments can also be very brief, particularly now that many teams are in close geographical proximity with their G League affiliates. In one case this season, the Grizzlies recalled Ivan Rabb from the Memphis Hustle, then assigned and recalled him again, all in the span of a few hours, in order to get him as much practice time as possible.

The Grizzlies are one of 26 NBA teams that either own their G League teams outright or operate the basketball operations of their affiliates in “hybrid” partnerships with local ownership groups. Teams that have these arrangements can set up a unified system in which the G League club runs the same offensive and defensive schemes and coaches dole out playing time based on what’s best for the parent club. That gives these NBA teams an advantage, so it’s no surprise that we’re moving toward every NBA team having a one-to-one affiliation — as recently as 2012/13, only 11 teams had such an arrangement.

Four NBA teams – the Nuggets, Pelicans, Trail Blazers, and Wizards – don’t have a G League affiliate of their own in 2017/18. However, those teams can still assign players to the G League via the “flexible assignment” rule. If, for instance, the Nuggets want to send Tyler Lydon to a G League team, any of the 26 teams may volunteer to accept him. Denver can choose from those clubs if there are multiple volunteers, but if no G League team raises its hand, the G League will randomly choose one of its teams to accept Lydon.

For more on the G League, check out our list of affiliations for this year and bookmark our G League news archive to track the latest updates on NBA players being assigned to or recalled from the G League. Be sure to check out our FAQ on two-way contracts as well — players on two-way deals can’t technically be assigned to and recalled from the G League, but they can be transferred back and forth between the NBA and the G League on a limited basis.

Note: This is a Hoops Rumors Glossary entry. Our glossary posts will explain specific rules relating to trades, free agency, or other aspects of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ was used in the creation of this post.

Versions of this post were initially published in 2012, 2013, and 2014 by Luke Adams and Chuck Myron.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/22/17

November 22nd, 2017 at 11:04pm CST by Luke Adams

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

11:04pm:

The Hawks have assigned swingman Nicolas Brussino to their Erie affiliate, the team announced in an email. He has played two games with the Hawks and four with the BayHawks this season.

2:55pm:

After playing key roles in the Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ 138-124 win on Tuesday night, Troy Williams and Zhou Qi have been recalled to the Rockets, the team announced today (via Twitter). Williams scored a team-high 26 points for Houston’s G League affiliate last night, while Zhou had 18 points and four blocks.
The Lakers‘ NBA and G League teams are both in action tonight, and it appears rookie big man Thomas Bryant will suit up for L.A.’s affiliate rather than accompanying the NBA squad to Sacramento. Bryant was assigned today to the South Bay Lakers, according to a press release.
Rookie guard Furkan Korkmaz has been recalled to the NBA by the Sixers, the team announced today in a press release. Korkmaz had a big game for the Delaware 87ers on Tuesday, recording 27 points and eight rebounds in a loss to the Wisconsin Herd.
The Pistons have recalled Henry Ellenson from the G League, according to a team release. Ellenson poured in 31 points to go along with 10 rebounds for the Grand Rapids Drive on Tuesday night.

Kendall Marshall Finished With G League

November 22nd, 2017 at 5:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kendall Marshall, who played for four teams in four NBA seasons, has decided to retire from the G League, tweets Chris Reichert of 2 Ways and 10 Days. It’s not clear if this means Marshall is just leaving the league or if he is done with basketball completely, although 26 would be an early age to retire for someone with no recent major injuries.

The point guard was waived by the Bucks in early October and has been playing for the Agua Caliente Clippers. He appeared in three games, averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 assists in 14.2 minutes. Marshall has previous G League experience in Bakersfield, Delaware and Reno.

The 13th selection in the 2012 draft, Marshall was never able to find a long-term NBA home. He spent a year with the Suns before being traded just before the start of the 2013/14 season to the Wizards, who waived him three days later. He was picked up by the Lakers, then spent partial seasons with the Bucks and Sixers. The Jazz traded for Marshall and waived him on the same day in August of 2016, and he hasn’t found an NBA job since.

Marshall was part of the U.S. team that captured the gold medal at this summer’s FIBA AmeriCup tournament.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/21/17

November 21st, 2017 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

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

3:57pm:

The Cavaliers have recalled rookie center Ante Zizic from the G League, the team announced today in a press release. Zizic made his debut for the Canton Charge on Monday, racking up 14 points and 16 rebounds.
The Rockets have sent rookie Zhou Qi to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, tweets Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Feigen expects Zhou to return to the NBA after the Vipers’ Tuesday night contest vs. the Memphis Hustle.

3:01pm:

The Sixers have assigned rookie guard Furkan Korkmaz to their G League affiliate, the club announced today in a press release. Korkmaz, who has averaged 15.0 PPG in three games with the Delaware 87ers so far this season, figures to suit up for the club on Tuesday night against the Wisconsin Herd.
The Pacers have recalled 2017 second-round pick Ike Anigbogu from the G League, according to a press release from the club. The rookie center started two games during his assignment, averaging 12.0 PPG and 7.5 RPG for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in those games.
After sending him to the G League on Monday, the Raptors have recalled rookie forward Alfonzo McKinnie, the team announced today (via Twitter). McKinnie recorded 17 points and six boards for the Raptors 905 last night.
The Pistons have assigned second-year big man Henry Ellenson to the G League, the team announced today in a press release. Ellenson, who has appeared in just six NBA contests this season, figures to play major minutes for the Grand Rapids Drive in Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Blue.
Rookies Khem Birch and Wesley Iwundu continue to yo-yo-back and forth between the NBA and the G League, having been assigned to Lakeland again today by the Magic (Twitter link).

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/20/17

November 20th, 2017 at 3:25pm CST by Luke Adams

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

3:25pm:

The Bucks have recalled 2017 second-rounder Sterling Brown from the G League, the team announced today in a press release. Brown averaged 25.5 PPG in two games with the Wisconsin Herd during his assignment.

2:17pm:

The Knicks have recalled rookie shooting guard Damyean Dotson from the G League, according to the team (via Twitter). Dotson, assigned to the Westchester Knicks for Sunday’s game, scored 23 points in the team’s victory over the Lakeland Magic.
Magic rookies Khem Birch and Wesley Iwundu, who were on the other side of Sunday’s Lakeland/Westchester matchup, were recalled to the NBA today, the team announced (via Twitter). Birch and Iwundu both had double-doubles on Sunday, combining for 34 points and 23 rebounds for Orlando’s G League affiliate.
The Raptors have sent Bruno Caboclo and Alfonzo McKinnie to the G League, per the team (Twitter link). Both players should be active for Monday’s Raptors 905 contest vs. the Greensboro Swarm.
Big man Georgios Papagiannis has been recalled to the NBA by the Kings, tweets Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. Papagiannis grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds for the Reno Bighorns on Sunday, chipping in 12 points in the club’s loss to the Long Island Nets.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/19/17

November 19th, 2017 at 8:30pm CST by ChrisCrouse

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

8:30pm:

The Cavaliers assigned center Ante Zizic to their G League affiliate, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. The big man has seen limited action for the big league club this season.

5:02pm:

The Lakers have recalled Ivica Zubac and Josh Hart from South Bay Lakers, Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum Sportsnet tweets. In his latest two-game stint with Los Angeles’ G-League affiliate, Zubac averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per contest.
The Knicks have assigned Damyean Dotson to their G-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, per the team’s Twitter feed.
The Heat have recalled Derrick Walton Jr. from their G-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the team announces via press release. Walton will continue to shuffle back and forth between the two clubs, as he’s on a newly established two-way deal.
The Hawks have recalled Nicolas Brussino, Tyler Dorsey, and Miles Plumlee, from the team’s G League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, according to a team press release.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/17/17

November 17th, 2017 at 8:58pm CST by Luke Adams

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

After assigning Jarell Martin and Deyonta Davis to the G League earlier today, the Grizzlies recalled the duo, according to the team (Twitter links). Martin and Davis participated in shootaround with the Memphis Hustle this morning, returned to the Grizzlies for practice, and have since been reassigned to the Hustle, per a team press release.
The Raptors also made a pair of G League moves, sending Alfonzo McKinnie to the G League early in the day, then recalling McKinnie along with Bruno Caboclo later in the afternoon (Twitter links). Both players could be active for Toronto tonight against the Knicks, with Norman Powell and Delon Wright sidelined.
The Sixers have assigned rookie guard Furkan Korkmaz to the G League, the club announced in a press release. The Delaware 87ers are in action tonight, so Korkmaz figures to suit up for them in their game against Erie.

And-Ones: E. Okafor, Perkins, S. Brown, Wood

November 16th, 2017 at 1:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Two NBA veterans have been among the most impressive G League standouts early in the season, writes Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Emeka Okafor, 35, has spent the past four years recovering from surgery on a herniated disc in his neck. He joined the Sixers for training camp and opted to stay with the organization’s affiliate in Delaware. He is averaging 14.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game and is shooting better than 60% from the field.

Kendrick Perkins was the Cavaliers’ final roster cut and went to Cleveland’s affiliate in Canton. He is averaging 13.0 points and 10.3 rebounds through three games. He has dropped weight and may still be able to help an NBA team at age 33.

There’s more news from the NBA and the G League:

Today is an important day for four players who were claimed off waivers during the offseason, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. The Bulls‘ David Nwaba and Kay Felder, the Hawks‘ Nicolas Brussino and the Bucks‘ DeAndre Liggins are all now eligible to be traded.
The Sixers used the remainder of this year’s cap space for the renegotiation/extension with Robert Covington, leaving just eight teams with cap room, according to Marks (Twitter link). They are the Bulls [$15.1MM], Mavericks [$12.5MM], Suns [$8.9MM], Pacers [$6.1MM], Kings [$4.3MM], Nets [$3.4MM], Hawks [$589K] and Magic [$549K].
Veteran guard Shannon Brown has been claimed from the G League player pool by the Wisconsin Herd, tweets Chris Reichert of 2 Ways and 10 Days. The 31-year-old last played in the NBA in 2014, when he appeared in five games with the Heat.
Christian Wood has joined the Delaware 87ers as a returning player, according to Reichert (Twitter link). He played 13 games for the Hornets last year and ended the season in the G League.
International stars are having a greater impact on the NBA than ever before, writes Tom Ziller of SB Nation. Many of the league’s best young players hail from overseas, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kristaps Porzingis, both considered early-season MVP candidates, along with Ben Simmons, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. Ziller credits former commissioner David Stern for his focus on expanding the league to overseas markets. That strategy not only created more revenue, it exposed the NBA to an international audience and created a new reservoir of players.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/15/17

November 15th, 2017 at 10:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

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

The Pacers sent center Ike Anigbogu to their Fort Wayne affiliate, the team announced on its website. A second-round pick in June, Anigbogu has seen limited playing time in Indiana, amassing 17 minutes in six games.
The Thunder recalled guard Terrance Ferguson, who was sent to Oklahoma City Blue on Tuesday. Ferguson turned in a 24-point performance for the G League team.
The Hawks assigned swingman Nicolas Brussino and center Miles Plumlee to their Erie affiliate. Brussino has appeared in four games for Atlanta, while Plumlee has yet to play because of a strained right quad.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/14/17

November 15th, 2017 at 8:45am CST by Luke Adams

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

The Lakers completed a series of G League moves on Tuesday, assigning Josh Hart and Ivica Zubac to the South Bay Lakers while also recalling Thomas Bryant, per a team release. L.A.’s affiliate plays its next game on Wednesday, so Hart and Zubac should get a chance to play major minutes if they remain on assignment through the day.
First-round pick Terrance Ferguson was assigned to the G League by the Thunder, the club announced in a press release. Ferguson took advantage of his opportunity to suit up for the Oklahoma City Blue on Tuesday night, scoring a team-high 24 points in a 122-118 win over the Texas Legends.
Second-year center Damian Jones was re-assigned to the G League on Tuesday by the Warriors, according to Mark Medina of The Bay Area New Group (Twitter link). Jones has spent most of the season with the Santa Cruz Warriors, but was recalled for brief stint in Golden State this week.