NBA G League Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Jeff Ayres Bolts D-League, Heads To Japan

February 16th, 2017 at 5:31pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Ex-NBA big man Jeff Ayres has signed with Toyota Alvark in the Japanese League, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

Ayres, 29, had been playing for the Lakers’ D-League affiliate, the D-Fenders. He has left that team to pursue overseas opportunities, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets. Ayres appeared in 22 games this season, averaging 12.5 PPG and 7.2 RPG.

He had another overseas journey last year, signing with CSKA Moscow, but the Russian team decided not keep him. Ayres changed agents — hiring BDA Sports — after that experience and then hooked on with the D-League in December.

The fact that Ayres opted to go overseas in the midst of the D-League season was an apparent concession that he wasn’t getting any NBA nibbles, despite his respectable stats.

Ayres, formerly known as Jeff Pendergraph, was part of the Spurs’ 2014 championship team, but wasn’t re-signed after the 2014/15 season. He was the first player selected in the 2015 D-League draft and spent much of the season in Idaho before joining the Clippers last January.

After playing on two 10-day contracts, Ayres signed with the Clippers for the remainder of the 2015/16 season. He appeared in 17 games for L.A., averaging 1.8 PPG and 1.3 RPG in limited playing time. Ayres has also played for the Trail Blazers and Pacers over the course of his NBA career.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/15/17

February 15th, 2017 at 10:15pm CST by Luke Adams

After a quiet Tuesday in terms of D-League moves, we have a few assignments and recalls to pass along for Wednesday. Here’s the latest:

10:15pm:

The Raptors have recalled Bruno Caboclo from Raptors 905, the team announced in a tweet. The third-year forward has played just eight NBA games this season.
The Grizzlies have recalled guard Wade Baldwin, center Deyonta Davis and forward Jarell Martin from their affiliate in Iowa.
The Heat are sending Okaro White to their Sioux Falls affiliate so he will be eligible for the D-League All-Star Game, tweets Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel.

1:31pm:

The Pelicans have recalled rookie forward Cheick Diallo from the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. Diallo had been playing for Charlotte’s D-League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, since New Orleans doesn’t have an affiliate of its own. He averaged 17. 0 PPG and 11.3 RPG in six games with the Swarm.
Rookies Chinanu Onuaku and Kyle Wiltjer have been recalled from the D-League by the Rockets, according to the team (Twitter link). The duo helped lead the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to a dramatic win on Tuesday, totaling 55 points and 16 rebounds between them.
The Pacers have recalled Rakeem Christmas from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced today in a press release. The D-League’s All-Star break is now underway, which is why Christmas and others are being recalled to their NBA teams today.

NBADL To Become NBA Gatorade League In 2017/18

February 14th, 2017 at 8:33am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA Development League will be re-branded next season, becoming known as the NBA Gatorade League, or the G-League. The news, which was first reported by E.J. Schultz of Adage.com and confirmed by Adam Johnson of D-League Digest, was announced today by the D-League.

The league’s new logo, which includes the Gatorade symbol, will be featured on all game balls, team jerseys, on-court signage, and digital assets, the league announced in today’s press release.

The deal with Gatorade will make the future NBAGL the first U.S.-based sports league to name an entitlement partner, according to Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg (via Twitter). NBA call-ups from the D-League had previously been known as “Gatorade Call-Ups,” and the two sides have had a working relationship long before today’s agreement. As NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum explains to Sam Amick of USA Today, the league is excited about the opportunities the new deal will provide.

“What we started talking about was a true partnership and how we could leverage Gatorade’s sports science expertise to be able to enhance the performance — the on-court performance — of our athletes in the Development League,” Tatum said. “That’s how we started having these conversations, and then it emerged into entitlement discussions because it was so linked in terms of the efficacy that they could provide to our players, the ability to enhance their performance, and recovery. It made so much sense to us to … align even more closely the two different brands together.”

The D-League, which is what we’ll continue to call it until the 2017/18 league year gets underway, continues to grow each year as it gets closer to becoming a true minor league for NBA organizations. In 2017/18, the league is expected to feature 25 teams, with only five NBA clubs – the Clippers, Nuggets, Wizards, Trail Blazers, and Pelicans – lacking affiliates. Of those 25 teams, 20 are fully owned and operated by NBA franchises.

Meanwhile, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will allow for NBA teams to carry a pair of extra players on “two-way contracts,” which will pay players at a different rate depending on which league they’re playing in at the time.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/13/17

February 13th, 2017 at 4:39pm CST by Milo Taibi

Here are Monday’s D-League Assignments and recalls from around the league:

The Trail Blazers have recalled Tim Quarterman and Jake Layman from the Windy City Bulls, the team announced via Twitter. Layman had been assigned to Windy City on January 23, and Quarterman on January 29. Quarterman has averaged 9.8 points in the D-League this season, and Layman has averaged 17.9.
The Magic recalled Stephen Zimmerman from the Erie BayHawks, the team announced via Twitter. Zimmerman has scored 10 points through eight NBA games this season, but has fared better in the D-League; recording 13.3 points with 8.9 rebounds with Erie.
The Nets have recalled Chris McCullough from their D-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, the team announced in a press release. McCullough, who last appeared in an NBA game on January 27 against the Cavaliers, has averaged 18.1 points through 30 D-League games this season.

And-Ones: Blair, Hayward, Warriors/Thunder Ratings

February 12th, 2017 at 7:30pm CST by Milo Taibi

The Los Angeles D-Fenders of the D-League traded for DeJuan Blair, according to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. Adam Johnson of D-League Digest shed further light on the deal, reporting that the Texas Legends acquired a future draft pick in exchange for Blair. A seven-year veteran of the NBA, Blair signed to play with the Legends on January 17, averaging 10.6 points through six games with Texas.

Lazar Hayward signed a deal with Guaros de Lara of Venezuela, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports. A native of Buffalo, NY, Hayward appeared in 20 games with the Long Island Nets this season, averaging 12.3 points with 5.3 rebounds. Hayward’s last NBA appearance came with the Timberwolves in 2012/13.
Kevin Durant‘s return to OKC drew massive TV ratings, garnering a 4.1 metered-market rating, Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman reports. Saturday’s marquee match-up drew the highest ratings of any non-Christmas NBA game since 2013. The game’s peak ratings, Dawson writes, came between 10-10:15 pm with a 4.7 rating.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/12/17

February 12th, 2017 at 5:33pm CST by Milo Taibi

Here are Sunday’s D-League Assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

The Raptors recalled Bruno Caboclo, Jared Sullinger, and Fred VanVleet from their D-League affiliate, the Raptors 905, the team announced on Twitter. All three players received 27+ minutes in Raptors 905’s game against Canton on Saturday, with Jared Sullinger recording a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds).
The Pacers assigned Rakeem Christmas to their D-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced on its official website. This maneuver should allow Christmas to receive D-League minutes on an off-day for the Pacers. Christmas has made just three NBA appearances since January 29, recording five points in that span.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/11/17

February 11th, 2017 at 10:56pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Here are Saturday’s D-League Assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

The Pistons have recalled Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije from their D-League affiliate, the Grand Rapid Drive, according to a team press release. Ellenson is averaging 18.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in the D-League this season, while Gbinije is averaging 13.5 points and 1.8 steals per contest.
The Sixers have recalled Chasson Randle from the Delaware 87ers, according to a team press release. Randle was in uniform against the Heat, but did not see any action.
The Knicks have assigned forward Maurice Ndour and Marshall Plumlee to their D-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, according to the team’s Twitter feed.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/10/17

February 10th, 2017 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

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

The Sixers have assigned rookie guard Chasson Randle to the Delaware 87ers, the team announced today in a press release. Randle joined the Sixers about a month ago but has seen his minutes fluctuate during that stretch. He’ll have the opportunity to get plenty of playing time for Philadelphia’s D-League affiliate tonight against Canton.
The Spurs have recalled Bryn Forbes from the D-League, according to a press release issued by the team. Forbes posted 22 points in his most recent game with the Austin Spurs on Thursday.
The Raptors made a series of D-League moves today, recalling Delon Wright and assigning Jared Sullinger and Fred VanVleet (Twitter links). Assuming their assignment lasts until tomorrow, Sullinger and VanVleet will play in Saturday’s game for the Raptors 905.
The Jazz have recalled Joel Bolomboy from the Salt Lake City Stars, per a team release. Bolomboy had been on his 13th D-League assignment of the 2016/17 season.
The Wizards have assigned Danuel House to the Delaware 87ers via the flexible assignment rule, the team announced in a press release. House, who has appeared in just one NBA game this season, has had his rookie season curtailed by a right wrist fracture. A former member of the Texas A&M Aggies, House has averaged 15 points in two D-League games.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/9/17

February 9th, 2017 at 3:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Thursday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

Rookie big man Diamond Stone has been recalled by the Clippers, according to Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com (via Twitter). Stone averaged 19.7 PPG in three games during his latest stint with the Salt Lake City Stars, though he also received a pair of DNP-CDs. Since the Clips don’t have a D-League team of their own, Stone has played for other teams’ affiliates this season, including Golden State’s and Utah’s.
Chris McCullough continues to bounce back and forth between the NBA and D-League, having been reassigned to the Long Island Nets today, the team announced in a press release. Brooklyn’s D-League affiliate isn’t in action again until Saturday, so we’ll see how long McCullough’s assignments lasts this time around.
We missed this announcement on Wednesday, but the Pistons have sent Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije back to the Grand Rapids Drive. Stan Van Gundy expects the duo to remain on assignment through Friday’s game, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (Twitter link).

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/8/17

February 8th, 2017 at 9:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Wednesday’s D-League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:

9:19 PM:

The Nets have recalled McCullough, according to a team press release. He was recalled in time to suit up for the Brooklyn in tonight’s matchup against Washington.

3:47 PM:

The Pacers have recalled Georges Niang from their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Niang chipped in 11 points and four rebounds for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants during Tuesday’s win.
Chris McCullough was assigned to the D-League this morning, according to a press release issued by the Nets. The second-year forward played for the Long Island Nets in this afternoon’s loss to Canton — we’ll see if he’s recalled to Brooklyn in time for the team’s game tonight against Washington.