Central Notes: Liggins, MCW, Bucks, Stuckey
Cavaliers shooting guard DeAndre Liggins has long been heralded as a scrappy, defensive stopper, but a recent stint in Cleveland’s rotation has pushed the 28-year-old journeyman into the spotlight. After winning the D-League Defensive Player of the Year award last season, Liggins has thrived with the defending champions, especially now that he’s seeing more time with the first unit.
“The biggest difference now,” Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue tells ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, “[Is that] he’s playing with the starters and now he doesn’t have to handle the ball as much. He doesn’t have to make plays. So now he can just do what he does, and that’s defend, maul people on defense.”
The wing, who models his game after fellow Chicago native Tony Allen played over 20 minutes three times last week while filling in for the injured J.R. Smith. Smith returned to the Cavaliers’ starting lineup on Saturday night, but it appears likely that Liggins will continue to see more action than he had been seeing prior to the opportunity.
You can read more of McMenamin’s in-depth discussion with Liggins – one that touches on his personal history and the domestic assault charges that nearly derailed his career – at ESPN. Here’s more from around the Central:
- Fred Hoiberg is uncertain when the Bulls will be able to welcome reserve point guard Michael Carter-Williams back to the lineup, says ESPN’s Nick Friedell. Asked if a return by the end of the month was possible, Hoiberg suggested that the team will have a better idea when the guard removes his soft cast. Out since October 31, Carter-Williams only switched into his soft cast last week.
- If the Bucks have decided to locate their recently announced D-League affiliate in nearby Racine, Wisconsin, official word hasn’t yet trickled over to the mayor of the city. As Patrick Leary reports for The Journal Times, the franchise has not made it clear whether or not it will occupy the forthcoming $46MM Racine Event Center and the delay has impacted the publication of a facility financing package. For a while now, the Bucks have been in the process of choosing a location for an affiliate, but the timetable been pushed back on multiple occasions. Other possible Wisconsin locations include Oshkosh and Sheboygan.
- Bucks veteran Jason Terry has impressed coaches and opponents around the league, says Chase Hughes of CSN. At 39 years and 85 days old, Terry is the third oldest player in the NBA. Recently Wizards head coach Scott Brooks cited the guard’s willingness to prepare every day and to maintain his body as the keys to his longevity.
- The Pacers have several options at the two down the stretch, but recently head coach Nate McMillan has shown a proclivity to role with 10-year veteran Rodney Stuckey instead of starter Monta Ellis. As Nate Taylor writes at the Indy Star, McMillan has played Stuckey with the rest of the starting unit in the final minutes of each of Indiana’s past three games. Taylor reports that it’s Stuckey’s ability to contribute on both ends of the floor that has earned him the extra playing time.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 12/12/16
Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
8:20pm:
- The Jazz have recalled Joel Bolomboy from the Salt Lake City Stars, the team announced via press release. The second-round pick posted a team-leading 23 points and 12 rebounds with the D-League affiliate on Sunday night. Bolomboy has seen action in seven NBA games so far this season, most recently on November 25.
- The Kings have recalled rookie Georgios Papagiannis from the Reno Bighorns, but he isn’t expected to play tonight, reports James Ham via Twitter. The 13th overall pick has averaged 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game across six contests with the Sacramento affiliate but has seen just one game of NBA action on the year.
- In addition to recalling Bembry (noted below), the Hawks have assigned forward Mike Scott to the affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, marking his second D-League stint since returning from a knee injury, Vivlamore writes for the AJC.
1:46pm:
- The Hawks have recalled DeAndre’ Bembry from the D-League, tweets Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Assigned to the Salt Lake City Stars on Saturday, Bembry scored 19 points for Utah’s affiliate on Sunday.
- The Pacers have recalled Georges Niang from their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Niang, a 2016 second-round pick, played in three games with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants during his NBADL assignment. His most impressive game came on Saturday, when he recorded 22 points, six boards, and six assists in a win over the Texas Legends.
Austin Kent contributed to this post.
Monta Ellis To Miss At Least A Week
Monta Ellis won’t play in tonight’s game against the Hornets due to a strained groin, and Pacers head coach Nate McMillan confirmed that the veteran guard also won’t travel on the team’s upcoming road trip to Miami, New Orleans, and Detroit (Twitter links via Wheat Hotchkiss of Pacers.com). That puts Ellis on track to miss Indiana’s next four games, and at least a week of action.
Ellis, 31, is averaging single digits in points this year for the first time since his rookie season. Although he’s still playing over 31 minutes per game, Ellis is only getting up 8.5 shots per contest, well below his career average of 15.8. Overall, he has recorded 9.7 PPG to go along with 3.7 APG, 3.3 RPG, and a .433/.300/.840 shooting line.
Ellis’ up-and-down play in Indiana, combined with his $10.77MM salary, has resulted in some trade speculation, but there’s no indication at this point that the Pacers are looking into moving him. Indiana almost certainly won’t need to make a roster move to account for his absence either, even if his recovery extends beyond a single week, since the team has been fairly healthy overall.
With Ellis sidelined, players like C.J. Miles, Glenn Robinson III, and Rodney Stuckey could see an uptick in their playing time. Meanwhile, Ellis, who had appeared in at least 80 games for four straight seasons, will see that streak snapped this year.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 12/6/16
Here are Tuesday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
6:55pm
- The Hawks have assigned forward Mike Scott to the Delaware 87ers of the NBA D-League via the flexible assignment rule, the team announced via press release. “Mike has worked extremely hard to return to full health after missing training camp and the early part of the season. In discussing with Mike how he could get himself back in game shape and contributing to the team faster, we agreed that the best way would be to do an assignment with Delaware where he could play meaningful, competitive minutes,” coach/executive Mike Budenholzer said.
- Sheldon McClellan is also headed to the 87ers via the flexible assignment rule, with the Wizards wanting him to get some solid playing time, Candace Buckner of The Washington Post relays (Twitter links). The guard is expected to remain in Delaware for several games, Buckner adds.
3:14pm
- The Celtics have recalled rookie guard Demetrius Jackson from the D-League, the team announced today (via Twitter). Jackson hasn’t seen much action in Boston, but has been very effective for the Maine Red Claws, averaging 19.6 PPG, 6.5 APG, and 5.9 RPG in eight contests.
- The Rockets have assigned rookie forward Kyle Wiltjer to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the club announced today (via Twitter). Even with Donatas Motiejunas not reporting to the team, the Rockets have more than enough depth at power forward, and can afford to have Wiltjer practice and play in the D-League.
- Rookie forward Georges Niang, the 50th overall pick in the 2016 draft, has been assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, according to a press release issued by the Pacers. Indiana’s D-League affiliate doesn’t play until Thursday, but the squad’s next five games are at home, so it’ll be interesting to see how long Niang’s assignment lasts.
Hill Finds A New Home In Utah
- The Pacers thought they needed to unload George Hill to switch to an up-tempo style, and the Jazz were happy to take him, writes Nate Taylor of The USA Today Network. Hill has brought stability to the point guard position in Utah, while providing the Jazz with an upgrade in ballhandling and defense. “I knew he was a good defensive player, a team player, an unselfish guy,” said teammate Rudy Gobert. “I thought that was great for our team. A guy that’s tough and unselfish and can shoot the ball and create. He can do a lot of things. I knew he was a very good player.”
George To Make Return On Sunday?
- Paul George, who has missed six of the last seven Pacers contests with an ankle injury, says he has to reestablish himself as the team’s leader once he is able to return to game action, Nate Taylor of USA Today relays. “I think just sitting out and watching, I’ve got to get back to being the guy for us,” George said. “I’ve got to have the trust of the team, I’ve got to have the trust of the organization. This has been my group, this has been my team. I’ve got to get back to that. That’s what I’m looking forward to, being our leader.” The swingman intends to play in Indiana’s contest against the Clippers on Sunday, Taylor notes.
Paul George Plans To Play, Carry Team
- Pacers star Paul George plans to return to action on Sunday after missing six of the last seven games with an ankle injury, according to Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star. George feels like his team, which is one game under .500, needs his leadership on the court. “I think just sitting out and watching, I’ve got to get back to being the guy for us,” he told Taylor. “I’ve got to have the trust of the team, I’ve got to have the trust of the organization. This has been my group, this has been my team. I’ve got to get back to that.”
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 11/28/16
Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
11:00pm:
- The Nets have assigned forward Anthony Bennett to their Long Island affiliate, the team announced in a press release. He has played 10 games for Brooklyn, averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per night.
2:32pm:
- The Warriors have recalled rookie center Damian Jones from the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. It’s not clear if Jones is ready to make his NBA debut quite yet, or if he’s just being called up to practice with Golden State for now.
- A day after he was on the receiving end of an emphatic dunk by Wayne Selden, forward Rakeem Christmas has been recalled by the Pacers, according to a team release. Christmas contributed 18 points and seven boards to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants’ win on Sunday.
- The Magic have assigned rookie center Stephen Zimmerman to the Erie BayHawks, the team announced today (via Twitter). A second-round pick in June, Zimmerman has only appeared in two regular season games so far for Orlando.
- Chris McCullough continues to be shuttled back and forth between the Brooklyn Nets and the Long Island Nets. The team announced today in a press release that he has been sent back to the D-League, where he has appeared in four games so far for Long Island, averaging 17.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG.
Robinson Takes Advantage Of Opportunity
- Injuries have given Glenn Robinson III a chance to play and he’s taking advantage of it, writes Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star. The third-year forward has turned in two impressive games as he fills in for Paul George and C.J. Miles. “I didn’t want him to worry about trying to replace Paul’s points,” said Pacers coach Nate McMillan. “You can’t do that. I wanted him to relax and offensively not put any pressure on himself. I did want to see him pick up his pace on the defensive end of the floor and that’s where I really wanted him to focus and work hard.”
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 11/25/16
After a quiet Thanksgiving, NBA teams are once again assigning players to their D-League affiliates, or recalling them to their 15-man squads. Here are Friday’s D-League assignments and recalls:
- The Pistons have recalled rookies Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije from the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. The duo combined for 21 points and 24 rebounds for the Grand Rapids Drive on Wednesday night.
- The Pacers have sent Rakeem Christmas back to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced today (via Twitter). Christmas, who ran into foul trouble during his last D-League contest, figures to suit up for the Mad Ants tonight against the Long Island Nets.
- Rookie guard Wade Baldwin has been recalled from the Iowa Energy by the Grizzlies, the team announced today in a press release. The 17th overall pick has appeared in nine games for the Grizzlies, but got an opportunity to play more minutes and a bigger role in the D-League, averaging 18.5 PPG in his two games with Iowa.
- The Hornets have assigned Aaron Harrison to the D-League, according to a press release issued by the team. Charlotte’s affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, will play back-to-back games against Erie on Friday and Saturday, giving Harrison a chance to earn some playing time.