In a stunning transfer, the Nets will signal Dru Smith, a 6’3” G League level guard, as a two-way participant. Smith, who had been two-way with the Warmth earlier this season, replaces Alondes Williams, who was waived on Thursday. Shams Charania was the primary with the information.
Brooklyn Nets signal G League Sioux Falls guard Dru Smith to two-way NBA deal, sources say @TheAthletic @Stadium. Smith has performed in 5 video games for the Warmth this season and is averaging 18 factors, 6.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds within the G League.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 13, 2023
The Nets confirmed the information early Friday afternoon…
On Saturday morning, Donovan Williams, who many thought would get the Nets open twice, agreed to signal a two-way contract with the Hawks, in line with Shams Charania.
Sources say the Atlanta Hawks will signal G League Lengthy Island G/F Donovan Williams to a two-way deal and waive Jarrett Culver. @TheAthletic @Stadium. Williams has averaged 15.6 factors for Lengthy Island this season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 14, 2023
Donovan Williams was a shock for Lengthy Island. A 6’6″ wing with a 7-foot wingspan and deep capturing abilities, he together with David Duke Jr. was Lengthy Island’s go-to man on each protection and offense not too long ago.
The Nets checklist is now 17. 15 normal contracts and two two-way contracts, max. David Duke Jr. is the Nets’ different two-way participant.
Smith, a 25-year-old defensive-oriented PG, had a short stint with the Warmth earlier this season. He has additionally performed the final two years for the Sioux Falls Skyforce within the G League. He had averaged 18.4 factors, 7.4 assists, 6.0 rebounds and a couple of.1 steals within the Warmth affiliate. He shot 31.3% from three, all numbers higher than his first season in Sioux Falls. In 4 years of collegiate play with Evansville and Missouri, Smith confirmed deep capturing abilities, capturing 37.3% from deep, together with 48.2% as a sophomore at Evansville and 39.8% as a senior at Mizzou.
After going undrafted by Missouri within the 2021 NBA Draft, Smith joined the Warmth within the 2021 NBA Summer time League and signed with Miami in September of that yr. He was fired earlier than the beginning of the season and joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as an affiliate participant. After one other summer time league stint final yr, he was signed to the Warmth as a two-way, then waived, re-signed, waived once more, and returned to the Skyforce for an additional season. In 5 video games with the Warmth from October to December, he averaged 2.2 factors, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.4 minutes per sport earlier than being waived on December 11. Listed below are some highlights…
Alex Schiffer, who overlapped with Smith at Missouri, tweeted his evaluation of Smith after his Athletic colleague’s tweet.
He can guard, he is bought type of an previous man’s sport. A pal as soon as joked that he could be the MVP of the 1960 all star sport. Good really feel for the sport and smart past his years. https://t.co/Qh7qHX3QrY
– Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) January 13, 2023
He led the SEC in steals as a junior and senior en path to All-SEC First Workforce and SEC All-Defensive Workforce honors.
The transfer was a shock in that many thought Donovan Williams, the Lengthy Island Nets’ 21-year-old swingman, or veteran NBA level guard Chris Chiozza, who additionally labored on the island, would get a two-way possibility when the Nets requested a waiver. Alondes Williams on Thursday.
Lengthy Island performs the Grand Rapids Gold Saturday night time at Nassau Coliseum. It is unclear whether or not Smith might be accessible for that sport or Sunday’s Brooklyn Nets vs. Thunder sport. The Nets introduced Friday that each Kessler Edwards and Day’Ron Sharpe have been assigned to Lengthy Island for Saturday’s sport.