Sports stats



G League NBA G League

NBA D-League Update

January 21, 2015 - NBA G League (G League) News Release


TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SHOWCASE

After a five-day, 19-game sprint, the NBA Development League's top prospects have stated their case to NBA scouts and GMs with contracts on the line. Here are several takeaways from this year's NBA D-League Showcase, the marquee event of the minor-league season:

NBA teams are looking inward for prospects to call up

There's a common thread between the three prospects who signed 10-day contracts mid-Showcase -- Quincy Miller, JaMychal Green and James Michael McAdoo -- other than their top-five standing on NBADLeague.com's Prospect Watch entering the event. Each was called up to their D-League team's NBA affiliate, a sign that: 1) organizations are most comfortable with their own guys who've developed under their coaching staff and system, especially players like Green and McAdoo who spent training camp with the parent club; and 2) the teams felt the need to temporarily lock up their hot prospect before another franchise swooped in (prospects are free agents available to be signed by any NBA team).

A handful of NBA D-Leaguers appear ready to step onto an NBA floor right now

Who's next up after three of the league's top talents got the call? On the wing, look out for Erie BayHawks guard Seth Curry, who'd already proven to be a deadly shooter, a savvy player on and off the ball, and an improving defender even before Showcase. Grand Rapids Drive forward Willie Reed played like the best remaining big in the league in Santa Cruz with his ability to guard ball screens, stay straight up to protect the rim and finish inside offensively. Wings Chris Johnson (RGV), Chris Babb (Maine) and Damion James (Texas) are among the reliable options to fill out a roster, while point guards Bryce Cotton (Austin), Tim Frazier (Maine) and Lorenzo Brown (Grand Rapids) are strong upside plays.

The roster turnover is just beginning

January is crunch time for NBA D-League prospects, with 10-day deals available, NBA teams releasing players before their contracts become guaranteed for the rest of the season, and talent returning from overseas. In the days before Showcase alone, young wings Glen Rice Jr. (Wizards/Vipers, Toure Murry (Jazz/Vipers), Andre Dawkins (Heat/Skyforce) and Jared Cunningham (Clippers/87ers) infused the minor league with talent after being cut from the NBA. It's safe to say the player pool is about to get deeper as January flies by. Full story on NBADLeague.com

PROSPECT REPORT

Vander Blue, Los Angeles D-Fenders -- Blue has bounced around quite a bit for a guy in his second professional season, spending time with eight different teams (NBA, NBA D-League, international) since going undrafted in 2013 out of Marquette. Now with the D-Fenders, Blue has scored at least 30 points in six of his last seven games, including two at the NBA D-League Showcase in front of a packed house of NBA talent evaluators. On the season, he's averaging 20.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 24 games with Los Angeles. There's a lot to like about Blue from an NBA perspective, namely his size (6-5), athleticism and penchant for playing tough defense. He has a quick first step, is very effective in transition and plays with a high motor. Where Blue comes up a little short is as a perimeter shooter, passer and ball-handler. Successful combo guards at the NBA level usually do one, two or all three of those things well. Still, Blue has intriguing raw tools along with a solid work ethic. He also thrived in big games for Marquette, showing he wasn't afraid of the moment. His recent production certainly has him on the NBA radar.

NEWS & NOTES

Fort Wayne's Andre Emmett Named NBA D-League Performer of the Week Fort Wayne Mad Ants forward Andre Emmett was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 12 - Sunday, Jan. 18. Emmett (6-5, 224, Texas Tech) led Fort Wayne to a 2-0 record last week and averaged 28.5 points on .550 shooting (22-of-40), to go along with 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.0 blocks. On Jan. 13, he compiled 33 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals to lead the Mad Ants to a 153-131 victory over the Reno Bighorns. Fort Wayne, the defending D-League Champion, has won seven consecutive games and stands atop the Central Division with a 15-10 record. For the season, Emmett is averaging 20.2 points on .525 shooting, to go along with 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25 games. Other top performers considered included Austin's Bryce Cotton, Bakersfield's Earl Barron, Iowa's Kalin Lucas, Los Angeles' Vander Blue, Oklahoma City's Reggie Williams, Rio Grande Valley's Clint Capela (on assignment from the Houston Rockets), and Texas' Renaldo Balkman.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-assigned guard Jordan Adams, forward Jarnell Stokes and guard Russ Smith to the Grizzlies' NBA D-League affiliate, the Iowa Energy. This marks the fourth assignment to Iowa for both Adams and Stokes and the first for Smith, who had three prior stints this season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Adams (6-5, 209) averaged 22.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in 34.7 minutes over three games in his most recent assignment to Iowa (Dec. 12-21). Stokes (6-9, 263) averaged 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in 26.5 minutes in two games during his third stint in Iowa (Dec. 19-21). Smith (6-0, 165) has averaged 15.1 points and 5.9 assists in 24.9 minutes in seven games over three assignments for Fort Wayne ... The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned guard Joe Harris to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers' NBA D-League affiliate. Harris has appeared in 33 games (one start) for the Cavs this season, averaging 2.9 points in 11.5 minutes per game ... The Detroit Pistons have recalled guard Spencer Dinwiddie and forward Luigi Datome from the team's NBA D-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive. Dinwiddie, drafted 38th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, has appeared in seven games with the Drive, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game. In eight games for the Pistons this season, he is averaging 3.0 points and 12.4 minutes per game. Datome, who signed with the Pistons as a free agent in 2013, has appeared in three games with the Drive, averaging 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 25.3 minutes. In 35 career NBA games, he holds averages of 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 0.2 steals in 7.1 minutes.

Today's Quote

DEREK FISHER, on Langston Galloway, whom the Knicks signed from their NBA D-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks:

"Langston has been what we thought he could be. Which is why we wanted him with our organization since this summer. Not just making shots but having the type of mindset you want to have on your team. For a young guy, he's tough-minded, not afraid to compete against the best. He's showing that."

New York Post, Jan. 21, 2015

Check out the NBA G League Statistics

• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...

NBA G League Stories from January 21, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central