And-Ones: Skiles, White, D-League, Butler

Despite the Magic being out of the playoff hunt, which gives the team an opportunity to evaluate its younger players for the future, coach Scott Skiles noted that playing time will still need to be earned through hard work and performance, Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel relays. “It’s imperative that we get away from just playing guys regardless of what they do. That’s a terrible mistake, in my opinion. I don’t think that’s how guys develop properly,” Skiles said.

You also have to verbalize it to guys — and it has been a whole bunch of times — we want guys to earn their minutes and understand how you perform is important,” Skiles continued. “If you’re a young player and you have a bad game or something, you certainly don’t want them sulking or getting too down about it. But on the other hand, you want them to have some sense of urgency that, ‘I have to perform. This is big-time pro sports,’ and it’s not just, ‘That’s OK because I’m here to develop and by Year four I’ll magically be [a great player].’ That’s not the way it works.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Suns affiliate player Terrico White has a signed contract to play for Israel’s Nes-Ziona at the end of the D-League season, according to international journalist David Pick (Twitter link), bringing clarity to some conflicting reports about his status. White, the 36th pick in the 2010 draft, was on Phoenix’s NBA roster for the preseason this past fall.
  • Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler said that he doesn’t think he’ll need to undergo surgery this offseason on his injured left knee, K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune relays (via Twitter). Butler also noted that he hasn’t been informed by any doctors that the malady would require going under the knife to repair, Johnson adds.
  • The Thunder recalled Josh Huestis from their D-League affiliate, the team announced via press release.
  • The Celtics have recalled Coty Clarke and James Young from their D-League affiliate in Maine, the team announced. This concludes Clarke’s second assignment to the Red Claws and Young’s 11th.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

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