NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/23/17
Here are the G-League moves from around the NBA today:
11:08pm:
- The Grizzlies have recalled Ivan Rabb from their Memphis Hustle affiliate, the team announced on its website. The 20-year-old is averaging 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds in 15 G League games.
1:29pm:
- The Cavaliers have recalled center Ante Zizic from the G League’s Canton Charge one day after assignment, per an official press release from the team. Zizic scored 23 points on 10-17 (.588) shooting and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Charge in last night’s game against the South Bay Lakers.
11:33am:
- The Hornets announced via press release on Saturday that guard Julyan Stone has been recalled from the team’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. Stone, 29, has appeared in four games for Charlotte this season, averaging 1.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG and 1.8 APG.
- The Hornets also announced (via Twitter) that two-way player Mangok Mathiang has been transferred to Charlotte from the G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm. Mathiang has appeared briefly in three games for the Hornets this season.
Atlantic Notes: Okafor, Jackson, Mills, Covington
The Nets led the Wizards by 40 points at one point in Friday’s win in Brooklyn but recently acquired big man Jahlil Okafor never left the bench. Okafor only played in two games with the Sixers before he was traded to the Nets. The team will not deviate from their plan of using Okafor until he’s in optimal physical shape, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes.
The Barclays Center fans chanted “We Want Okafor!” in the late stages of the game. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said it was tempting to send Okafor into the game but the team’s plans for Okafor are long-term.
“Yeah, I heard it, and I respect the fans and I understand they want to see him,” Atkinson said. “I think we’ve stated from the beginning there’s a plan for him. We’re going to stick with the plan. It was tempting, but again I think we want to put him in the best position to succeed. So we’re going to stick with the plan. I think that’s a little more down the line.”
Okafor, 22, has appeared in just one game with Brooklyn since the trade, posting 10 points and four rebounds in a loss to the Raptors on December 15. General manager Sean Marks has not given a definitive date on when Okafor should be in shape but estimated the former third overall pick is possibly two weeks away from regular playing time.
Check out other news from the Atlantic Division below:
- Phil Jackson‘s tenure as Knicks president may have resulted in numerous controversies but his draft selections are not given enough credit, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Carmelo Anthony was not thrilled with the Knicks on draft night in 2015 as trading Tim Hardaway Jr. and drafting Kristaps Porzingis felt like a rebuild to him, Berman writes. Porzingis has emerged as one of the premiere talents from the 2015 NBA Draft and this year’s pick, Frank Ntilikina, has shown flashes of brilliance, too.
- Current Knicks president Steve Mills, a trusted confidant of Jackson during his reign as president, wishes he was more vocal during the dysfunctional period, Mills said to the Associated Press (via New York Daily News).
- Sixers small forward Robert Covington is still experiencing back stiffness from a back bruise he suffered on December 9, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays. Covington said he feels pain on certain mornings and certain plays but he intends to play through the ailment.
Suns Sign Isaiah Canaan For Remainder Of Season
The Suns have signed point guard Isaiah Canaan to a minimum deal for the remainder of the 2017/18 season, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical (via Twitter).
Canaan was originally signed using the Suns’ hardship exception due to four players being out with injuries. In four games since joining the Suns, the 26-year-old has averaged 13.0 PPG and 5.0 APG. Earlier this week, Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said that Canaan’s performance earned him a longer look, possibly for the rest of the season.
“I think with what Isaiah’s done, we should plan on having him in Phoenix for the rest of the year, if not longer,” McDonough said (via Arizona Sports).
Phoenix waived Mike James — who had his two-way deal converted to an NBA deal — yesterday despite the 27-year-old rookie’s own success this season. In 32 games (10 starts), James averaged 10.4 PPG and 3.8 APG. Canaan — despite having played for five teams in five seasons — is still younger than the rookie James and the Suns elected to go with the younger, more experienced player.
Pacific Notes: Curry, Wilson, Williams, Lakers
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry suffered a sprained right ankle earlier this month, but a medical reevaluation on Tuesday revealed he has made significant progress in his recovery, the team announced. Curry is scheduled to begin modified on-court workouts in the coming days and will be reevaluated in a week, the press release noted.
The Warriors have played well in Curry’s absence, winning all five games since he suffered the injury. Even without their former two-time NBA Most Valuable Player award recipient, the Warriors remain a potent threat, led by the likes of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. However, replacing Curry’s production in the lineup is no small feat. In 23 games this season, Curry has averaged 26.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, and 5.1 RPG.
Read up on other news out of the Pacific Division below:
- A pair of two-way deals with Jamil Wilson and C.J. Williams didn’t seem like major moves at the time of their signings, but both men have played considerable roles for the Clippers, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes. Two-way players are not permitted to spend more than 45 days with the NBA team but both Wilson and Williams have been burning through those days, providing an impact for a struggling Clippers team.
- While Wilson has been impressive for the Clippers, he could be on the chopping block by the end of the week as the Clippers may elect to sign a new two-way player once his 45 days are up, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter).
- The Lakers elected to go in a completely new direction last season and Kobe Bryant‘s former agent turned general manager, Rob Pelinka, was at the forefront of that change. With young talent in abundance and ample resources, Pelinka feels the team can soon lure the right players to the city of angels, USA TODAY’s Sam Amick writes. “We have as much cap flexibility, or cap health, as any team in the league. We know that this is a destination city for players to want to be in,” Pelinka said. “We have a legacy with our franchise that really can’t be duplicated, and we’ve got a pass-first, ball-sharing point guard (in Lonzo Ball), which players want to play with. So I think the culmination of all those forces is, like you said, we feel like we’ve become a destination again. Now it’s going to be Magic’s job, and my job with Jeanie’s guidance to complete the puzzle with the right pieces as we move forward.”
- Isaiah Canaan has been a revelation for the Suns in Devin Booker‘s absence, but the team would need to create a roster spot for him once Booker returns, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter).
Atlantic Notes: Hornacek, Okafor, Nets, Miles
After an entire season of uncertainty under former Knicks team president Phil Jackson, head coach Jeff Hornacek has the freedom to coach his team without interference, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes.
Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis said that without Jackson in the way, Hornacek — and even the team itself — feels more relaxed and capable of running the offense and defense efficiently. Last season, it was widely reported that Jackson insisted that Hornacek run a triangle offense; at one point, Jackson reportedly sat in on Knicks practices to make sure the offense was being implemented.
“He just has more freedom,’’ Porzingis said of the Knicks’ head coach. “He’s running the stuff he wants to run. He’s more comfortable and balanced. You also feel that confidence from [the coaching staff] in what they’re doing. Players always feel that. There’s a difference between last year, definitely.”
Entering play on Tuesday, the Knicks sport a record of 16-14, tied with the Wizards for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Offseason predictions were that the Knicks would not sniff the postseason picture but a strong start has propelled the team into playoff discussion.
“It’s a positive vibe at the Garden,” Porzingis said. “We’re having fun, playing hard. It’s different without [Anthony]. He was here a long time. My first two years we didn’t make the playoffs. We were supposed to make the playoffs. It’s different. We as a young team, expectations are not as high. If we keep playing at this level, the playoffs are realistic for us.”
Check out other Atlantic Division news below:
- Jahlil Okafor got his wish when he was traded to the Nets, ending a troubled tenure with the Sixers. However, the big man is not in NBA game shape and head coach Kenny Atkinson said Okafor would not see regular action until his conditioning improves, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “That’s why I’m happy I’m here with the actual NBA coaching staff that’s taking care of me every day,” Okafor said of leaving the Sixers. “When I was in Philly I was figuring it out on my own. I had my own trainer [Rick Lewis] that I’ve been working with since eighth grade working me out. But it’s a different level when you’re actually working with an NBA staff.”
- In a lengthy, in-depth feature, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer examines the Nets‘ rebuild after a disastrous 2012 trade involving future Hall-of-Famers and valuable draft picks that changed the future of the team.
- Offseason free agent signee C.J. Miles has been an impactful player for the Raptors this season, but he could provide the team with even more value, Blake Murphy of The Athletic writes (subscription required and recommended).
Los Angeles Notes: Bogut, Hart, Teodosic
Andrew Bogut broke his leg less than a minute into his Cavaliers debut last March, prematurely ending his 2016/17 season, Cavaliers tenure, and possibly his career. After a long summer of rehab, Bogut signed a one-year deal with the Lakers and has served as a mentor for the young NBA team, ESPN’s Nick Metallinos writes.
Bogut has not played much this season; he is averaging a career-low 7.7 minutes per game. He also has taken a DNP in 10 of the Lakers’ 26 games. Still, the Australian big man said he understood playing time would be limited when he signed with the team.
“I knew there wasn’t going to be a whole lot of minutes because I was the 15th guy signed to the roster,” Bogut said to ESPN. “I’ve just been trying to mentor some of the younger guys. We’ve got a really young and inexperienced team that bring a lot of energy and talent, so just some direction is needed every now and then and being one of the elder guys, [I’m] just trying to help them in the locker room.”
The Lakers are built on young talents such as Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, and Jordan Clarkson. In his age 33 season, Bogut said that being a mentor is more important than having minutes.
Check out other news coming out of Los Angeles:
- Lakers rookie Josh Hart had an impressive first NBA start on Wednesday against the Cavaliers, posting 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. After four collegiate seasons at Villanova, Hart said he is prepared for the big stage and head coach Luke Walton agrees, Bill Oram of the Orange County Register writes.“It showed where he came from as a college player winning a national title and playing with a big-time program for many years,” Walton said of Hart’s performance. “That big stage did not faze him at all today.”
- After missing two months due to a foot injury, Clippers point guard Milos Teodosic will be on a minutes restriction as the organization tries to keep him healthy, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes. “Milos, because of the minutes restrictions, we can’t play him on back-to-backs,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said. “So we have to sit him.” However, Rivers noted that this is temporary and that Teodosic’s minutes restriction should be lifted later in the season.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/16/17
Here are the G League transactions for today:
- The Spurs announced on Saturday that guard Derrick White has been recalled from the team’s G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs. Through six games with San Antonio, White averaged 1.5 PPG and 1.5 RPG in less than eight minutes per game.
- The Pacers announced on Saturday that T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu have been assigned to the team’s G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Leaf has appeared in 25 games for the Pacers this season, averaging 3.3 PPG; Anigbogu has appeared in just six games for the Pacers.
- The Jazz has recalled Tony Bradley from their G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, the team announced (via Twitter). The 19-year-old has appeared in seven games for Utah this season.
Community Shootaround: Carmelo Anthony’s MSG Return
Carmelo Anthony will play his first game at Madison Square Garden since he was traded to the Thunder in September, ending a near seven-year stint with the Knicks. To add to the drama, the Thunder enters MSG one night after defeating the Sixers 119-117 in triple overtime, a game in which Anthony played a season-high 47 minutes.
Anthony’s tenure with the Knicks included historic scoring performances, playoff appearances, and a tumultuous conclusion. Despite everything, Anthony admits that he misses New York, given how long he donned a Knicks uniform and his roots in the city.
“How could I not miss New York?” Anthony said (via ESPN’s Royce Young). “I became entrenched into not just the Knicks, but the city as a whole. Those are my roots, the people there, I became one of them. I’ve embraced New York City, I embraced the culture, embraced everything about the city, so yeah, definitely.”
In an ironic twist, Oklahoma City and New York both enter Saturday night’s contest holding eighth place in their respective conferences — but the Knicks have the better record (15-13 vs. 14-14). The Thunder acquired Anthony and Paul George before training camp, joining the reigning Most Valuable Player, Russell Westbrook, with two All-Stars. However, the Knicks, led by Kristaps Porzingis, have surprised many with their strong start.
Anthony said that if he stayed with the Knicks — something he discussed as a possibility with several former teammates during the offseason — the team would likely be playing just as well. Anthony spent most of the summer at a Manhattan gym building the legend of Hoodie Melo, an internet phenomenon of a rejuvenated Anthony playing pickup games in a hooded sweatshirt. ESPN’s Ian Begley writes that that gym overlooking the Hudson River was Anthony’s safe haven while trade negotiations were ongoing.
Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated compiled a list of memorable return games, including LeBron James‘ first game in Cleveland with the Heat, Shaquille O’Neal‘s first game in Los Angeles with the Heat, and even Anthony’s first game in Denver with the Knicks. All of those games were memorable and Saturday’s return will likely make lists for years to come. For now, Anthony remains focused on the Thunder as he embraces Saturday night’s pageantry.
“It’s always a show. Coming back to the Garden is always a show,” Anthony said. “Of course I want to win. I want to win for many reasons. I want to win because I’m on the opposite team now. I want to win because we have a chance to sweep this road trip. And then I just want to win. It’ll be fun to win back in the Garden now that I’m on another team and knowing the things we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to create and where we’re trying to go as a team.”
It’s time for your input: Did Carmelo Anthony make the right decision to force his way out of New York? Would he, the Knicks or both be better off if he had stayed? Do you consider Anthony’s career with the Knicks a success despite the inconsistency and messy breakup?
Cavaliers Notes: Calderon, George, Holland
Derrick Rose, Iman Shumpert, and others have tried to hold down the Cavaliers‘ point guard vacancy while Isaiah Thomas recovers from a hip injury. Veteran Jose Calderon, however, has stepped into a prominent role and provided stability, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes.
Through 20 games (14 starts), Calderon is averaging 4.3 PPG, 1.9 APG, and 1.3 RPG. Those numbers are hardly eye-catching, but they have been consistent; several members of the roster appreciate the impact that the 13-year NBA veteran has had.
“He’s an oldie but goodie,” Cavaliers forward Kevin Love said. “Whether he’s playing five minutes or 35 minutes, he’s going to be Jose and go out there and knock down shots, play with a lot of poise. He’s been great for us.”
As Fedor writes, Calderon maintains a stellar assist-to-turnover ration in addition to his shooting and defensive skills. That makes him a threat on both ends of the court, which has allowed the Cavaliers to win 12 of 13 games since Calderon was named the starter.
“He settles things down. He’s always been a safety valve for a team,” Dwyane Wade said. “I used to hate when we played against him because he never turned the ball over, he never made risky passes and obviously as he’s been showing lately he can knock open shots down. It’s been good for us. He’s been stable for that position, for that group and for the team.”
Check out other news from the Cavaliers organization below:
- As the Thunder struggle to find consistency, Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon addressed the possibility of the Cavaliers pursuing Paul George as a trade target. Vardon notes that the Cavaliers would be following the Warriors’ model of utilizing four superstar caliber players to win — if they acquired George. The former Pacers All-Star was a Cleveland target this past offseason but ultimately went to Oklahoma City.
- Cavaliers guard/forward John Holland, currently signed to a two-way deal, suffered a left shoulder subluxation on Wednesday while playing for the team’s G League affiliate, the Canton Charge, the team announced. Holland will miss 4 to 6 weeks and his status will be updated as appropriate.
Los Angeles Notes: Ball, Bryant, Teodosic, Gallinari
After Lonzo Ball‘s outspoken father, LaVar Ball, recently made critical comments of the Lakers and head coach Luke Walton, the organization held a private meeting with LaVar, asking him to tone down his remarks, ESPN’s Ramon Shelbourne writes.
The elder Ball confirmed the meeting — which was organized by Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka — took place and said both sides finding common ground is critical to both his son and the team.
“It was the best thing, man. Everybody’s going to try to make it an ego thing, like I’m trying to tell them what to do or they’re trying to tell me to tone it down,” LaVar said of the meeting. “It’s not about that. It’s about coming together and to get a solution to this problem.”
Among LaVar’s criticisms were Walton not playing Lonzo for long enough stretches, adding that he could coach his son better. Walton downplayed LaVar’s comments in recent days and has praised Lonzo’s team-first mindset and contributions. As the season — and Lonzo’s career progresses — LaVar said he would continue speaking his mind with the goal of helping his son improve.
“It may sound crazy to other people, but I really just want the best for Lonzo, and the best for Lonzo is going to be what’s best for the organization,” LaVar said. “Because if everybody winning, we good.”
Read up on more news coming out of Los Angeles:
- Former Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has made several comments about Lonzo in recent days and his latest take on the 20-year-old point guard directly addressed his father, Bill Oram of the Orange County Register writes. Bryant said that pressure placed on Lonzo is “completely inconsequential” as long as he proves himself on the court. “The only time that matters is when he has to think of an answer,” Bryant said. “What matters is what he does in the gym before practice, during practice and after practice. That’s the only thing that matters.”
- Michael Lee of Yahoo Sports profiled Clippers rookie point guard Milos Teodosic, chronicling his journey from one of the most creative passers in the game as an international player to a starter in the NBA.
- Danilo Gallinari returned to the Clippers lineup after missing 13 games with a glute injury and he will now likely miss several games with a new glute injury, ESPN’s Lawrence Murray writes. Injuries have allowed Gallinari to appear in just 11 games this season, averaging 13.4 PPG. “It’s been that type of season thus far,” head coach Doc Rivers said. “Things can change. Right now, they are, they keep changing back to somebody getting hurt.”