NBA G League Rumors | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: Hervey, College Alternatives, Stone, Grant

July 1st, 2021 at 10:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Forward Kevin Hervey, the Thunder’s second-round pick in 2018, is in advanced talks with Virtus Bologna, Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas tweets. Hervey appeared in 10 games with the Thunder during the 2019/20 season. He played for Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia last season.

We have more news from around the basketball world:

The creation of Overtime Elite, the G League’s Ignite and the Professional Collegiate League, along with international options, has expanded the choices of prospects beyond playing college ball. The New York Times’ David Gardner takes a closer look at the impact and complications those additional options are having on teenager basketball standouts.
Former NBA forward Diamond Stone has signed with Mets de Guaynabo in the Puerto Rican league, according to Sportando. Stone was selected in the second round of the 2016 draft but only appeared in seven games with the Clippers in his rookie campaign.
Former NBA guard Jerian Grant has officially signed a two-year deal with Italy’s Olimpia Milano, according to Sportando. Olimpia Milano’s interest in Grant was previously reported. Grant played in the Greek League this past season after being waived by the Rockets during training camp in December.

Central Notes: Cavs’ Lottery Pick, Buford, Diallo, Carlisle

June 25th, 2021 at 7:09pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Cavaliers will not just limit their interview and workout list for the No. 3 pick to USC’s Evan Mobley, the G League Ignite’s Jalen Green and Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Those players are widely considered the next three prospects beyond Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham, who is only expected to visit Detroit

Duke’s Jalen Johnson, who is ranked No. 9 by ESPN, was scheduled to meet with the Cavaliers on Friday. The Cavs are also expected to look at the G League Ignite’s Jonathan Kuminga (rated No. 5) and Florida State’s Scottie Barnes (No. 6). The latter met with Cleveland’s brass on Thursday, Fedor adds.

We have more from the Central Division:

Chase Buford is leaving his post as the Wisconsin Herd’s head coach in order to become the head coach of the Sydney Kings in Australia’s NBL, according to a team press release. “We are excited for Chase to pursue this opportunity with one of the best clubs in Australia,” said Herd GM Dave Dean. Buford, 32, led the Bucks’ G League team to a league-best 33-10 record before the 2019/20 season was suspended due to the pandemic.
Along with mulling what to do with the top pick, the Pistons must decide how high they’re willing to go on restricted free agent Hamidou Diallo, Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) writes. Diallo is projected to command somewhere in the neighborhood of the mid-level exception, which the Pistons could easily match. Marks also explores the team’s other pending decisions and its cap situation.
With his long track record and a four-year contract, Rick Carlisle will command respect in the Pacers’ locker room, J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star (subscription required) writes.

And-Ones: Ignite, Shaw, Coronavirus, Reaves, More

June 24th, 2021 at 2:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the G League Ignite essentially just played a month’s worth of games during their first season in 2020/21, but the NBA considered the program a success, as Chris Mannix of SI.com writes. Still, the team’s long-term future is uncertain, according to Mannix.

Although the Ignite were able to recruit a handful of top prospects both last year and this year, it’s unclear if the G League club would still be able to attract top-tier talent if the NBA does away with its one-and-done rule for the draft in the coming years. And if top prospects aren’t committing to the Ignite, NBA owners may become less eager to foot the bill for the developmental program, writes Mannix.

With no set timeline for the abolishment of the one-and-one rule, however, the Ignite are here to stay for now. According to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (Twitter link), the team has offered a contract extension to head coach Brian Shaw, who is expected to sign it soon.

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

Of the 149 players tested for COVID-19 between June 16-23, none returned a new positive test, the NBA and NBPA announced on Wednesday. So far, Chris Paul is the only player who has tested positive for the coronavirus since the postseason got underway.
Michael Pina of SI.com identifies several players whose strong showings in the playoffs are putting them in position for even bigger paydays on their next contracts, including extension-eligible players like Deandre Ayton and Kevin Huerter.
Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) takes a deep into the key offseason decisions facing all 30 NBA teams this summer.
As our JD Shaw confirms (via Twitter), former Mavericks forward Josh Reaves is in agreement with Turkish team Besiktas on a contract that will include an NBA escape clause. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando first reported the deal.

Dyson Daniels Signs With G League Ignite

June 20th, 2021 at 5:59pm CST by JD Shaw

Australian prospect Dyson Daniels has signed with the G League Ignite, he announced on social media (Instagram link). Daniels is eligible to be drafted in 2022.

“I feel that this is the best pathway for me to get to my ultimate goal; the NBA,” he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. “It has every resource I need in really good development, a great coaching staff and great competition to go against every day.”

Many evaluators believe Daniels, a 6’6″ combo guard, has a strong chance at being drafted in the first round next year. The 18-year-old joins Michael Foster, Scoot Henderson, Jaden Hardy and Fanbo Zeng as players who have committed to the program for the 2021/22 season.

The Ignite is entering its second season after being guided by veteran coach Brian Shaw last year. The team serves as a development program — consisting of both veterans and young players — that gives younger players unique experiences both on the court and off as they start their professional careers.

“My aim is to be one and done,” Daniels said, as relayed by Givony. “I know that with my work ethic in getting in the gym extra hours is going to give me the best chance at getting drafted. I’m going to do everything I can to get drafted and get drafted early.”

And-Ones: Wembanyama, CBA, NBA Ball, Cotton

June 18th, 2021 at 9:10pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Potential 2023 No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama is leaving his French team Nanterre, Jonathan Givony of ESPN tweets. The 7’2” Wembanyama has been recruited by the G League’s Ignite team and Overtime Elite, along with many pro teams around the globe, but the 17-year-old’s destination remains a mystery.

We have more news from the basketball world:

The Chinese Basketball Association could start its season without foreign players, Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia relays. Part or all of the CBA season could be be played without foreigners, according to a Chinese journalist, as a cost-cutting measure.
The NBA and Wilson will unveil at the draft combine later this month the new ball that will be used next season in league games, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Wilson Sporting Goods Co. has entered a multi-year partnership with the NBA, which has used a Spalding ball for 37 seasons.
Former NBA player Bryce Cotton was chosen as the NBL Most Valuable Player for the third time, according to a press release from the Australian league. Cotton averaged 23.5 PPG and 5.6 APG for the Perth Wildcats. Cotton played for Phoenix and Memphis during the 2015/16 season.

NBA G League Announces 40 Draft-Eligible Participants For Elite Camp

June 14th, 2021 at 2:47pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA G League has announced in a press release that 40 draft-eligible prospects are set to participate in the NBAGL Elite Camp next week in Chicago from June 19-21.

The G League Elite Camp is back this year after being canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event, which takes place right before the draft combine, will give a few dozen draft-eligible players an opportunity to impress scouts, coaches, and executives through strength and agility drills and 5-on-5 games.

As today’s announcement confirms, a select number of draft-eligible prospects participating in the G League Elite Camp will also be invited to attend the combine itself, which is scheduled for June 21-27 in Chicago.

The list of draft-eligible players who took part in the most recent G League Elite Camp in 2019 included a handful of prospects who were eventually drafted, such as Terance Mann, Cody Martin, Justin Wright-Foreman, Reggie Perry, and Dewan Hernandez.

Many of the draft-eligible participants in the 2019 Elite Camp also made it to the NBA after going undrafted, including Oshae Brissett, Chris Clemons, Tyler Cook, Tacko Fall, DaQuan Jeffries, Caleb Martin, Justin Robinson, and Max Strus.

Two years ago, this event also featured 40 G League veterans, for a total of 80 players. Based on today’s press release, it sounds like this year’s Elite Camp may be pared down to only include draft-eligible prospects, though it’s possible the NBAGL will announce more names within the next few days.

Here are the 40 draft-eligible prospects participating in the 2021 G League Elite Camp:

Derrick Alston Jr. (Boise State)
Keve Aluma (Virginia Tech)
Jose Alvarado (Georgia Tech)
Juhann Begarin (France)
Chaundee Brown (Michigan)
Jordan Burns (Colgate)
Marcus Carr (Minnesota)
D.J. Carton (Marquette)
Moussa Cisse (Memphis)
Kofi Cockburn (Illinois)
Oscar Da Silva (Stanford)
Darius Days (LSU)
Hunter Dickinson (Michigan)
Dawson Garcia (Marquette)
Marcus Garrett (Kansas)
Haowen Guo (China)
Jay Huff (Virginia)
DeJon Jarreau (Houston)
Carlik Jones (Louisville)
DeVante’ Jones (Coastal Carolina)
Balsa Koprivica (Florida State)
A.J. Lawson (South Carolina)
E.J. Liddell (Ohio State)
Mac McClung (Texas Tech)
JaQuori McLaughlin (UCSB)
Matt Mitchell (San Diego State)
RJ Nembhard (TCU)
Eugene Omoruyi (Oregon)
EJ Onu (Shawnee State)
Scotty Pippen Jr. (Vanderbilt)
Orlando Robinson (Fresno State)
Aamir Simms (Clemson)
Javonte Smart (LSU)
Mike Smith (Michigan)
D.J. Stewart (Mississippi State)
MaCio Teague (Baylor)
M.J. Walker (Florida State)
Duane Washington (Ohio State)
Aaron Wiggins (Maryland)
Jalen Wilson (Kansas)

International Notes: Satoransky, Olympics, Shayok, Landale

June 11th, 2021 at 1:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Bulls guard Tomas Satoransky is the only current NBA player on the Czech Republic’s preliminary roster for the Olympic qualifying tournament later this month (link via FIBA). Former NBA lottery pick Jan Vesely is among the other notable names on the roster.

Satoransky, Vesely, and the Czechs will be looking to earn a berth in the Tokyo Olympics by winning a six-team tournament that also features Canada, Greece, Turkey, China, and Uruguay. It won’t be an easy path, as only one of the six teams will advance to Tokyo. Canada’s roster features many NBA players, while Greece could have Giannis Antetokounmpo available if the Bucks don’t advance past Brooklyn in round two of the NBA playoffs.

Here are a few more notes from around the international basketball world:

Former NBA second-rounder Marial Shayok is joining Turkish club Fenerbahce, according to a report from Ismail Senol of beIN Sports (Twitter link; hat tip to Sportando). After being selected 54th overall in 2019, Shayok spent his rookie season with the 76ers, but was waived last November. The 25-year-old forward played for Frutti Extra Bursaspor in Turkey for most of 2021.
Former Saint Mary’s big man Jock Landale, who is currently playing for Melbourne United in Australia’s National Basketball League, is hoping to use the NBL playoffs as a springboard to a potential NBA contract, telling Matt Logue of News.com.au that he has received “a lot” of NBA interest this season. Landale also sought a move to the NBA last summer, but could have more luck this time around following a big year for Melbourne.
Nick Lagios, who will be the general manager of the NBA G League’s new franchise based in Mexico City, told Achilleas Mavrodontis of Eurohoops.net that he likes the idea of someday overseeing a European team’s basketball operations department. “Many people call me crazy because my dream job is to work as a GM or president in the EuroLeague,” Lagios said. “I think it would be a great experience working (for) a European team or a top-notch Greek team and I would love that in the future.”

And-Ones: Injuries, D. Rose, Summer League, Hardy, Appling

June 10th, 2021 at 8:01am CST by Luke Adams

While it’s hard to say definitively that a shortened 2020 offseason was responsible, injuries were up around the NBA this season, according to data compiled by Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com.

As Holmes details, this season’s All-Stars missed 19% of a possible 1,944 games, the highest percentage in NBA history. Additionally, teams were missing an average of 5.1 players per game due to injuries, rest, and non-COVID-related illnesses, which is the highest mark since ESPN’s Kevin Pelton began tracking that info in 2009/10.

Players and coaches alike have noted that the 2020/21 season has taken a greater mental and physical toll than a typical year, but the NBA insists that the rate of injuries over the last few months has been about the same as normal, Holmes writes.

“Injury rates this season were virtually the same as last season, and any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate,” NBA senior VP David Weiss told ESPN. “The number of serious injuries was lower this season than last season. Although more players this season missed a single game because of an injury or rest, injuries resulting in many games missed were in line with normal historical trends. To operate this season safely in a pandemic has been physically and mentally challenging for everyone involved, and players and teams have risen to the challenge and avoided an increase in serious injuries.”

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

League spokesperson Tim Frank confirmed that the first-place MVP vote awarded to Knicks point guard Derrick Rose was the result of a cumulative fan vote rather than from a media member, per Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link). While that makes some sense, it’s still a bit odd, given that past fan votes for the MVP award haven’t been nearly so outside the box, writes Dan Feldman of NBC Sports.
As previously reported, the Las Vegas Summer League will return this year from August 8-17, the NBA confirmed on Wednesday in a press release. All 30 NBA teams will be involved and will play five games apiece — the two teams with the best records after four games will meet in a championship contest on August 17.
Meanwhile, the NBA G League has officially confirmed the previously-reported news that five-star recruit Jaden Hardy is joining the G League Ignite for the 2021/22 season. Hardy is considered one of the best prospects in the 2021 recruiting class.
Keith Appling, a former Michigan State star who had a brief stint with the Magic during the 2015/16 season, was charged with murder on Monday, per an Associated Press report. Appling is accused of killing Clyde Edmonds, 66, in Detroit on May 22. He was initially arrested on May 24.

Cavaliers’ G League Affiliate Moving To Cleveland

June 9th, 2021 at 1:22pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Canton Charge, G League affiliate of the Cavaliers, will be moving to Cleveland for next season, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The Charge have played in Canton for nine seasons, but as their 10-year contract with the Canton Memorial Civic Center expires, Cavaliers ownership wanted to bring the team back to Cleveland.

“When we acquired the franchise and relocated it here to Northeast Ohio, our goal was to create the best operation and experience in the G League, both on the court and off,” said Cavaliers’ CEO Len Komoroski. “We’ve had success working towards both those goals and that remains our commitment and focus.”

The team will be called simply “The Charge” during the transition, but the team hopes to officially rebrand as “The Cleveland Charge” by the start of the 2021/22 season, which is set to tip off in November. The Charge will now be based out of Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center. The Cavs are hoping this will lead to a long-term partnership between the G League team and the Wolstein Center.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Charge to the Wolstein Center and we look forward to collaborating with Rock Entertainment Group on what’s next,” said CSU President Harlan Sands.

As Fedor notes, this move by the Cavaliers is indicative of a larger league-wide trend of teams trying to keep their G League affiliates closer to home. The Charge are expected to use the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, the Cavaliers’ home court, as well as Cleveland Clinic Courts, the team’s player training and development facility.

As the relationships between professional teams and G-League teams become more dynamic, this will allow teams to optimize their player development goals, synchronize philosophies, and better monitor progress.

“As we look to the future, we’re very pleased to now be able to continue the growth of the Charge at the Wolstein Center,” said Charge general manager Brendon Yu. “The proximity to Cleveland Clinic Courts and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse creates an enhanced synergy between the two teams and will foster even greater personnel development that will be very impactful for us.”

The team reiterated its commitment to remaining engaged in its relationship with the community of Canton, especially through youth programs, including the Junior Cavs Camp.

And-Ones: Vanterpool, Mack, Championship, Jones

June 6th, 2021 at 7:58pm CST by JD Shaw

Longtime Blazers assistant David Vanterpool could receive strong consideration for multiple head coaching vacancies across the league, Jordan Schultz of ESPN tweets.

The Celtics, Magic and Blazers all recently opened up their head coaching positions, with more teams potentially on the horizon. Many league observers are monitoring the Pacers and Pelicans after both clubs finished with underwhelming campaigns.

Vanterpool, who has been linked to past coaching vacancies, served as Minnesota’s associate head coach this season, but he won’t return to the team for 2021/22. Prior to joining the Wolves, he spent five years as an assistant with CSKA Moscow and seven years as an assistant with Portland.

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Former NBA guard Shelvin Mack has left Panathinaikos in Greece, according to SDNA.com (hat tip to Sportando). Mack departed from the club due to personal reasons. The 31-year-old was drafted at No. 34 overall in 2011 and holds eight years of NBA experience, the most recent of which was with Charlotte in 2018/19.
David Aldridge of The Athletic examines how the past failures of some teams could provide fuel in the championship race this season. The Bucks and Clippers are two prime examples of such, with Milwaukee getting revenge against Miami in the first round and Los Angeles avoiding another playoff collapse on Sunday.
Michigan transfer DeVante’ Jones has received an invite to the G League Elite Camp, which is set to be held from June 19-21 in Chicago, a source told Hoops Rumors. Jones remains an intriguing mid-major prospect for the draft, averaging 19.3 points per game with Coastal Carolina last season. The 23-year-old also averaged 7.2 rebounds per game and finished third in the NCAA in steals per game (2.8). For more information on draft-related dates and deadlines this year, click here.