NBA D-League Update
Published on March 25, 2014 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
CURRY STAYS AFTER IT
It wasn't a geography lesson, nor was Santa Cruz Warriors coach Casey Hill responding to a request for driving directions. It was a life lesson.
"You can go two directions after a Call-Up," Hill told NBADLeague.com last week. "You can say, 'This is what I really wanted and I don't want to be in the D-League so I'm not gonna go hard.'
"Or you can say, 'That's what I want -- and I'm gonna get it.'"
Seth Curry chose the latter.
The Duke product's blistering start earned him a December Call-Up to the Memphis Grizzlies after just 12 NBA D-League games, but it ended 10 days later. While his numbers, particularly his assist totals, have leveled off since, it's the fine-tuning he's done to his game that makes him more ready for the next level this time around, after signing a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 21.
Transitioning to the point offensively has come fairly naturally to Curry, just like it did for his brother; it's the other end of the court that remains a work in progress.
"He's got everything he needs offensively to be a point guard," said Hill. "Defensively, he just needs to continue to improve guarding ball screens, his ball pressure and being a little bit more of a pest."
Curry mostly played off the ball in college, oftentimes in a three-guard lineup, which meant having to guard bigger wings on a regular basis. This season, he's been matching up with point guards more frequently.
"It's been different going from guarding the wing in college to guarding the point guard position," said Curry. "I feel like I've done it well all year. It's just a matter of getting reps."
Surprisingly, Curry's had more success inside the arc than beyond it, shooting a so-so 36 percent from long range. That should change as he makes the switch from go-to guy to role player, at which point decision-making will be the key to his NBA future offensively.
"The main [adjustment] is handling the ball full-time," Curry said. "I feel like I can get my shot pretty much whenever I want. It's about balancing how aggressive I am offensively with how much I get my teammates involved."
More from NBA D-League.com
Prospect Report
Maalik Wayns, Rio Grande Valley Vipers -- Though he wasn't drafted in 2012, after three productive seasons at Villanova, Wayns' appeal from an NBA standpoint didn't all of a sudden change. He has good size and strength at the point guard position; he's good in the pick-and-roll game; and he has a good offensive awareness overall. For these reasons, Wayns has spent the bulk of the last two seasons with the Sixers and Clippers, in between stints in Rio Grande Valley. Most recently, he was waived by the Clippers on Jan. 16, as the team began shaping its roster for the stretch run, creating space to sign players like Glen Davis and Danny Granger. Wayns has appeared in 11 games for the Vipers this season, averaging 12.3 points and 4.2 assists. Should he not earn a Call-Up this season, Wayns will likely catch on with an NBA team for Summer League. He doesn't turn 23 until May 2, so he still has youth on his side as he sizes up his options for the future.
NEWS & NOTES
D-Fenders' Costner and Armor's Reed Named Co-Performers of the Week
Los Angeles D-Fenders forward Brandon Costner and Springfield Armor forward Willie Reed were named NBA Development League Co-Performers of the Week for games played Monday, March 17 - Sunday, March 23. The award is the first for both players this season. Costner (6-9, 235, North Carolina State) led the D-Fenders to a 2-1 week, including wins over the Austin Toros and Santa Cruz Warriors. For the week, Costner averaged 27.0 points on 59 percent shooting from the floor to go with 11.3 rebounds. He recorded a season-high 38 points and 14 rebounds in the team's 140-121 win over the Warriors on March 22. For the season, he is averaging 14.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 26.7 minutes. Reed (6-10, 220, St. Louis) helped the Armor record a 2-2 week, securing wins against the Erie BayHawks and Canton Charge while averaging 18.3 points on 56 percent shooting, to go with 19.3 rebounds, including 7.5 offensive rebounds. His 24 rebounds against the BayHawks on March 17 tied the Armor's franchise record. On the year, Reed is averaging 14.8 points, 10.1 rebounds and 31.8 minutes.
AROUND THE D-LEAGUE
The Canton Charge has acquired guard Kyle Randall (6-1, 185, Central Michigan) from the available player pool and waived guard Anthony Harris, the team announced today. Randall, 22, played in 24 games with Fort Wayne this season (one start) and averaged 4.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.7 steals in 16.2 minutes per game. After playing his first three years of college basketball at UNC-Greensboro, he transferred to Central Michigan for his senior season (2012-13) and played in 32 games, averaging 18.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 34.5 minutes per game.
NBA G League Stories from March 25, 2014
- Portland Assigns Allen Crabbe - Idaho Stampede
- Trail Blazers Assign Allen Crabbe To D-LeagueâÃâ¬Ãâ¢s Idaho Stampede - G League
- NBA D-League Update - G League
- Charge Acquire Kyle Randall - Cleveland Charge
- Dominant Fourth Quarter Lifts Jam Past D-Fenders - Bakersfield Jam
- D-Fenders Fall in Hard Fought Battle with Jam - Los Angeles D-Fenders
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