NBA G League

And-Ones: McCullough, Trades, 2020 Draft

Former first-round pick Chris McCullough has signed a G League contract and entered the NBAGL player pool, tweets Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days, noting that the former Syracuse power forward is eligible to be claimed off waivers.

The 29th overall pick in the 2015 draft, McCullough spent a season and a half in Brooklyn, followed by a season and a half in Washington. He appeared in just 59 total games for the two clubs, averaging 3.3 PPG and 1.9 RPG in 9.0 minutes per contest. Most recently, the 23-year-old joined the Pistons for training camp, then played in China for a month in the fall. He’ll be looking to earn another shot in the NBA once he lands with a G League team.

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

  • In an entertaining piece for The Athletic, Sam Amick speaks to veteran front office executives John Hammond (Magic general manager), Travis Schlenk (Hawks general manager), and Mike Zarren (Celtics assistant GM) about the process of negotiating and completing trades in the NBA. The three men revisited some of the deals they’ve made over the years in their current or previous management roles.
  • We’re still about five months away from the 2019 draft, but that didn’t stop ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Insider-only link) from looking ahead to 2020’s draft. Prep star Jaden McDaniels is Givony’s new pick for the No. 1 prospect in the 2020 class.
  • Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports provides some information on this season’s two-way contracts, listing the 13 deals which run for two years and don’t expire until 2020 (Twitter links). The Sixers, Mavericks, and Grizzlies each have both of their two-way players locked up through the 2019/20 season, per Smith.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/24/19

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

  • The Sixers have assigned Justin Patton and Zhaire Smith to the Delaware Blue Coats for rehab purposes, the team announced. Patton will begin practicing with limited and controlled contact as he works back from right foot surgery, while Smith will participate in non-contact practices as he returns from a Jones fracture in his left foot.
  • The Celtics assigned rookie forward Robert Williams to the Maine Red Claws, announcing the move on social media. Williams was selected by the Celtics with the No. 27 pick in the 2018 draft, appearing in 22 games so far this season.
  • The Hornets have recalled Dwayne Bacon from the Greensboro Swarm, the team announced in a press release. Bacon is holding season averages of 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 23 games with Charlotte on the year.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/22/19

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

  • The Bucks have recalled Christian Wood from the Wisconsin Herd, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Wood scored 34 points and brought down a franchise-record 23 rebounds for the team’s G League affiliate on Jan 19.
  • The Hornets have recalled Devonte’ Graham from the Greensboro Swarm, according to the team’s website. Graham has appeared in seven games for the Swarm this season and he’s averaging 22.4 points per game.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/21/19

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

  • The Bucks have recalled big man Christian Wood from the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s PR department tweets. Wood started three games for the Herd while on assignment and averaged 26.3 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG and 1.3 BPG. Wood has appeared in six games with Milwaukee this season.
  • The Hornets assigned forward Dwayne Bacon and guard Devonte’ Graham to the Greensboro Swarm, according to a team press release. Bacon had 20 points and nine rebounds in a loss to the Canton Charge Monday afternoon, while Graham was held to five points. They have played a combined 49 games with Charlotte this season.

Grizzlies Notes: Caboclo, Holiday, Gasol

While the Grizzlies are in agreement with Bruno Caboclo on a 10-day contract, that deal won’t be finalized today, according to Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian, who tweets that the signing might be done in time for Caboclo to play for Memphis in Wednesday’s game vs. Charlotte.

Once the deal is done, it will leave the Grizzlies with $377,860 in breathing room below the luxury tax threshold, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). If they want to avoid being a taxpayer, the Grizzlies will have to stagger their 10-day signings for the rest of the season, Marks notes. Of course, trimming a bit of salary in a pre-deadline trade could also create the flexibility necessary for Memphis to fill that final spot on its 15-man roster going forward.

Here’s more on the Grizzlies:

  • Justin Holiday, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, has seen his production fall off significantly since he was traded from Chicago to Memphis, as he’s averaging just 5.1 PPG on .265/.182/.917 shooting in eight games with the Grizzlies. David Cobb of The Memphis Commercial Appeal explores why Holiday’s transition hasn’t gone smoothly and how his new club will look to get him back on track.
  • There’s still no indication that the Grizzlies are seriously considering the idea of shopping Marc Gasol before next month’s trade deadline, but Frank Urbina of HoopsHype identifies four teams that could be fits if that stance changes. The Hornets, Wizards, Clippers, and Kings all make some sense, in Urbina’s view.
  • After being waived last week by the Grizzlies, Jarnell Stokes has rejoined the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the G League, tweets JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors. Stokes was on a two-way contract with Memphis and will be a candidate for a 10-day contract during the second half of the 2018/19 season.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/20/19

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

And-Ones: All-Rookie Teams, Trade Candidates, Europe, J. Young

Dallas guard Luka Doncic is the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year honors midway through the season, writes Ben Nadeau of Basketball Insiders as he selects his all-rookie teams. Doncic has transformed the Mavericks and has a chance to be the first rookie selected for the All-Star Game since 2011. Joining him as Nadeau’s first-team selections are the SunsDeandre Ayton, the GrizzliesJaren Jackson Jr., the KnicksKevin Knox and the HawksTrae Young.

The CavaliersCollin Sexton, the HawksKevin Huerter, the NetsRodions Kurucs, the KingsMarvin Bagley Jr. and the SunsMikal Bridges make up the second team, while the BullsWendell Carter Jr., the KnicksAllonzo Trier, the SixersLandry Shamet, the Clippers‘ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Timberwolves‘ Josh Okogie get honorable mention honors.

There’s more NBA-related news to pass along:

  • Jabari Parker and Robin Lopez of the Bulls are among the most likely players to be traded before the February 7 deadline, according to Shane Rhodes of Basketball Insiders. Parker couldn’t take advantage of an opportunity when Lauri Markkanen missed the start of the season with an elbow injury, but Rhodes suggests a change of scenery might help. Lopez has seen his playing time reduced this year, but the Bulls are determined to work out a trade rather than consider a buyout. Rhodes lists the KnicksEnes Kanter, the Magic’s Nikola Vucevic and the MavericksDennis Smith Jr. as other players with a good chance of being dealt.
  • After this week’s sellout for the Wizards and Knicks in London, the NBA is looking at other European venues, relays Martyn Herman of Reuters. NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum indicated that Paris is likely the next destination and Berlin may follow. “There has been a lot of interest in teams wanting to go to Paris because France is a hotbed for basketball,” Tatum said. “We have nine French players in the NBA now. It’s just a matter of building the right business case and having the right partners in those areas. It is an important market for many of our marketing partners. It’s just a matter of time.” He added that Spain and Italy don’t have arenas yet that are capable of hosting a game.
  • Former Celtics first-round pick James Young was waived this week by the G League’s Wisconsin Herd, tweets Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days. It’s the latest setback for Young, who was waived by the Bucks shortly before the season began.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/19/19

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

  • The Spurs assigned forward Chimezie Metu to their Austin affiliate so he would be available for tonight’s game against Iowa, the team announced on its website. Metu is averaging 14.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in 15 G League games.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/18/19

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

  • The Clippers recalled rookie guard Jerome Robinson from the Agua Caliente Clippers, the team’s PR department tweets. The 13th overall pick played eight NBA games early in the season but hasn’t seen the court since November 17th. Robinson has appeared in 12 G League games, averaging 20.1 PPG while making half of 3-point attempts in 31.0 MPG.

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/17/19

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