Sauce Castillo scores 100 points in 24 hours

Pretty darn impressive.  Can he get a COVID year?

It's been my understanding that putting up high scoring number in the g league doesn't mean much, iggy was doing it also when he was there. The league wants you to improve in other areas so guys sometimes get no looks scoring high there unfortunately. Hope he moves up and does the same though.

Went back the other day and watched the entire Kentucky Elite 8 game on You Tube.  Two things:

1. Wow what a game;

2. Wow that game hurt.

Kinda reminds me of Manny Harris. Both started off in NBA and did decent but for whatever reason they didn't stick, both go to G league and tear it up. Maybe even overseas. But there is no way he doesn't belong in the league. 🤞🏼

I can see why he never quite stuck in the NBA but he's still one of the best all-around shooters I've seen in college.  We all gushed about Steph Curry (and rightfully so) in college but Stauskas shot 47/44/83 for his college career while playing against really good competition most nights.  And he only played 2 years - I can't imagine how he'd have blown guys away as an upperclassman.

Not really worthy of its own thread, but Franz Wagner is currently kicking ass for the Magic too.

Last night against the Pacers he went for 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. He's currently the Magic's 2nd leading scorer at 15.7 ppg.

The Magic continue to be horrible and will have another top 4 pick this year, very likely #1 overall. Eventually they're going to get enough players to be good, one would think. Whenever that happens Franz looks like he'll be an important piece of the team.

There's a term in baseball called "being a 4-A player". Basically you're too good for AAA but you're just not quite good enough / deficient in one area enough to not make it in the next tier. So you're kind of stuck in this purgatory of being dominant in the minors and earning a short term call up to the big squad every once in a while, but your shortfalls are known enough that you don't figure into the big league team's long term development strategy. Nik might be just one of those guys. And that's not a knock-- you're basically in the top 3% instead of the top 2%. 

The major hurdle for him getting back to the NBA is the minimum veteran salary, which is currently around 2 million a year. Would a front office rather spend around 1 million and try developing a younger player for a couple years or sign a veteran for one season to play 0-8 minutes a game?

Replying to A2Townie re Nic sticking in the NBA.

He played here for the Cavs for the 2018-19 season and was pretty bad.  Didnt play a lick of defense and only shot 36% from 3 so not like he was lighting it up from outside.  In fact 36% made him the 141st best three point shooter in the leage that year so not great Bob.  In the G League he's not exacty facing top shelf defensive effort like he did in the NBA where he REALLY struggled to get his shot off.

Nik's was a great college player and I'm happy he's tearing it up in the minors.  But he was definitely struggling during his stint in the big leagues.

@mgrow

I agree. But all I'm saying is I think he's better than the worst 5% of players who stick around the league. There are some really bad players in the league. Nik actually has a good skill set. But for whatever reason when the bright lights are on he's not getting it done. 

And in regards to Manny Harris who could flat out ball and there was something more to why he couldn't stick in the league. I don't know.

So about 80 points US? #CanadaJokes

Manny could only go to his right. Overplaying that shut him down.

I'd like to see him get a shot with the Pistons. They could use some sauce in their game. Maybe he could take some minutes away from Killian Hayes. On a side note, I recently watched my first G league game on ESPN+ a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. Some quality basketball was played and there were a few former Wolverines to root for. 

The 4-A analogy is apt.  Those players usually do well in Japan.  

re Stauskas: Great player, but not sure the NBA is for him.  That man man needs to go and get him some of that international money.  Whatever the G-League is paying these days, I'm pretty sure overseas is paying more.  

@BlueLikeJazz  yeah, Franz is doing better than I thought.  I thought he would top out at a Tayshaun Prince/Igoudala level where he is a do-everything sidekick (which is still a very high ceiling to be clear).  But how he's already adjusting to the NBA game, I'm done putting any limits on him. 

Stauskas needs to go to a team that will let him hunt his shot, much like MIami did with Duncan Robinson.

Having Stauskas stand in the corner and wait for someone to pass to him doesn't work.  IMO He needs an offense where he is constantly moving and people are looking for him as a top option.