Kai Sotto, a 7’2″ center from the Philippines, will not return to the G League Ignite, as he and the team have mutually agreed to part ways, the club announced today in a press release.
Sotto was one of several young prospects who joined the Ignite, the NBAGL’s new select team, for its inaugural season in 2020/21. However, he didn’t end up appearing in any G League games, having left the Ignite in January to train with the Philippines National Team at the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Qatar. That event was ultimately canceled, but Sotto won’t head back to the G League bubble at Walt Disney World for the home stretch of the NBAGL season.
“Kai and the team both understood the challenges for him to rejoin Ignite given the current international travel constraints, quarantine times and health and safety protocols,” NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim said in a statement. “Kai will always be part of the extended Ignite family and we wish him continued success as he pursues his NBA dreams.”
A four-star recruit, Sotto arrived stateside in 2019 and joined The Skill Factory, a prep program based in Georgia. A handful of colleges were believed to be keeping an eye on the big man, including Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and USC, but he opted to go pro, joining the Ignite as he pursued an eventual NBA career.
Given that this season didn’t exactly play out as he likely envisioned, it’s unclear whether Sotto still intends to enter the 2021 draft. If he does, he’ll be something of a mystery to NBA teams, who didn’t really get a chance to scout him at all this season.
I am sure he will do just fine in the draft…teams will take a flyer on him and his height
Maybe late in the 2nd round. He sounds like a poor man’s Zhou Qi.
poor man’s zhou qi? hes Filipino btw.
Are you saying that because he’s Asian?
Nobody is gonna bite on this kid. Way overrated because of the high school team he played on. Has absolutely no shot whatsoever at guarding pick n roll. Selected him to the G-League team created unrealistic expectations for this kid.
When did you see him play?
lmao its like saying jokic doesnt deserve to be an allstar just cuz hes slow and cant play defense
Will be interesting to see his situation play out
Here’s a 4-team trade
Houston Rockets
Larry Nance Jr.
Tristan Thompson
Isaac Okoro
Kostas Antetokounmpo
Tacko Fall
Talen Horton-Tucker
Los Angeles Lakers
P.J. Tucker
Gus Williams
Chris Edwards
Tremont Waters
Boston Celtics
Eric Gordon
Montrezl Harrell
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dante Exum
Daniel Theis
Aaron Nesmith
Rodions Kurucs
Terrible.
Soooo… you’re a Houston fan, huh?
No Philadelphia.
Right JBL, how did Houston get that return for unloading Gordon and giving up Tucker?
Well that would get the Cavs the top pick.
As bad as that deal is for Cleveland, they would deserve the top 3 picks.
So you want the lakers to trade a up and coming player who frank loves in tht and their best player off the bench ? For what a lot of nothing
Part 2 Picks
Los Angeles Lakers
2021 Second-round draft pick (via. Boston)
Cleveland Cavaliers
2022 First-round draft picks (via. Houston)
lmao are u sillivan’s bro or something?
Delete this
tf kind of trade is tat lmao this proposal’s bunch of wack tbh. and btw gus williams is retired already
Lmaooo
Kai Sotto is a very excitin’ player! Can’t wait to see him in the NBA!
He can do a bit of everything, shoot a bit, rebound, pass… I really think he can be close to All-Star level in a few years!
Kind of reminds me of a “poor man’s” Jokic!
He is not a good player. Bad feet. Very limited mobility. Offensive skills are still developing. He needs 4 years of college. He should go ahead and join his G-League team. He will be in the G-League next year.
offensive skills still developing??? wtf lmao hes a solid passer and post shooter. u mean defensive skills. they dont need him to have much mobility or defense if the team already has a bunch of shooters. like wut jokic is doing rn. floor spacing
Jesus christ, @El Don, the kid can’t even make it to the first 60-picks of most mock drafts ……. and he’ll be close to All-Star level in a few years time, in your book?
Indeed, you can’t teach height and the kid has some decent passing skills – but his overall speed and mobility are far from NBA standards.
He’s still young though, needs some serious burn time somewhere in Europe or the G-League.
El Don is going to root for kids from islands… apparently, even islands on the other other side of the world!
but they might have talent and upside that u may not know. it will be interesting to see the development of the next asian superstar who might be this one
the next yao ming? idk. i mean hes an excellent post shooter and shot creator.
or maybe shawn bradley, hopefully not like a robert swift supersonic pick. could develop like bol bol too.
The Warriors should by a 2nd rounder and take this kid. It would probably put them in the black on jersey sales alone.