Craig Sword Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Eastern Notes: Pistons, Bulls, Rozier, Knox

September 23rd, 2020 at 9:16pm CST by Jovan Alford

The Pistons began their in-market training camp on Wednesday with several players from their G League affiliate participating, according to Rod Beard of the Detroit News (Twitter link). Tre’Shawn Thurman, Tra-Deon Hollins, Adam Woodbury, Khalil Iverson, and Craig Sword all played with the Grand Rapids Drive this season.

Beard also reports (via Twitter) that Pistons center Justin Patton had surgery Tuesday to repair a fractured right pinky finger. Additionally, Tony Snell returned home for personal reasons, and Jordan McRae will not be participating in the team portion of the in-market camp.

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

The Bulls have reportedly hired Vanja Cernivec as an international scout, per Daniel Greenberg (Twitter link; h/t Real GM). Cernivec spent the last five years working in the NBA’s office in Spain as manager of basketball operations. He also played professional basketball in Slovenia.
After wrapping up his first season with the Hornets, Terry Rozier is ready to take on a larger role, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. “I’ve had a lot of time over six months to figure out how I can be a better leader: Get to the guys, talk to them how they like it,” Rozier said. The combo guard averaged 18.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 4.1 APG this season, after inking a three-year free-agent deal last summer with Charlotte. Rozier also spoke about how hard its been not being able to play in an organized game in six months. “I’m not going to sugar-coat and say, ‘Ah, six months is nothing.’ It’s been tough on all of us.”
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is hoping that assistant coach Kenny Payne can help unlock Kevin Knox‘s potential, writes Marc Berman of the New Post. Knox has struggled to find his footing since being selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. This season, he averaged a modest 6.4 PPG and 2.8 RPG in 17.9 MPG, but Thibodeau has been impressed with the 21-year-old in the team’s in-market training camp. “Kevin’s come in and he’s done quite a bit of work,’’ Thibodeau said. “I’m getting to know him and he’s getting to know me and it will take some time. But I like what he’s done so far.”

Pistons Sign Tre’Shawn Thurman, Cut Craig Sword

October 18th, 2019 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons have made another minor change to the back of their roster, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed forward Tre’Shawn Thurman and released guard Craig Sword.

After starting his college career at Omaha, Thurman transferred to Nevada for his senior season. He averaged 8.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 1.1 SPG in 34 games (26.3 MPG) for the Wolf Pack in 2018/19.

While Sword is expected to join the Grand Rapids Drive – Detroit’s G League team – as a returning-rights player, Thurman will likely be designated as an affiliate player after he’s waived.

The Pistons currently have 20 players under contract and will have until Monday to get down to a maximum of 17 (including two-way players) for the regular season.

Pistons Sign Craig Sword, Waive Todd Withers

October 17th, 2019 at 10:10pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons have made a minor change to their roster, announcing tonight in a press release that they’ve signed guard Craig Sword and waived forward Todd Withers.

Sword, who played college ball at Mississippi State, went undrafted in 2016 and has spent much of his professional career since then playing for the Erie BayHawks in the G League.

After averaging 9.5 PPG and 3.3 RPG in 49 games (23.7 MPG) for Erie in 2018/19, the 25-year-old had his NBAGL rights traded to the Grand Rapids Drive – Detroit’s G League affiliate – last month.

That trade and today’s signing signal that Sword – like Withers – will join the Drive for the coming season as a returning-rights player. His deal with the Pistons figures to be an Exhibit 10 contract, which will put him in line to earn a bonus worth up to $50K after he spends at least 60 days in Grand Rapids.