Seven former Syracuse basketball players find themselves on G League rosters. We look at where these guys ended up and how those in the NBA have fared.
The NBA season is young, as just a handful of games have been played. Four former Syracuse basketball players are on an NBA active roster. We will look at those guys as well as the seven G League players set to start their 2019 seasons.
Dion Waiters
Coming off a tumultuous start to the season, Dion Waiters still has not suited up for the Miami Heat. On Tuesday, Waiters was reinstated from his suspension. However, he remains inactive. It is unknown when Waiters will return or if he will even play another game for the Heat.
Jerami Grant
Through three games this season, Jerami Grant has recorded multiple highlight plays. So far, he has been coming off the bench but making a positive impact.
Grant is averaging just over 10 points a game with three rebounds and one assist per game. Although its a small sample size, Grant has improved his free throw percentage. So far, he is seven for nine on the year.
If Grant can continue his uptick in stats, then look for him to get good run time this season.
Michael Carter-Williams
Michael Carter-Williams is currently battling for playing time in Orlando. Right now, he is getting game action, but that could deteriorate. With the emergence of Markelle Fultz actually showing his potential, this could lead to a reduction in minutes for MCW.
But for now, the 28-year old is vying for time. Through three games, he is averaging 2.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. Hopefully, his defensive efforts will continue to show alongside an increase in offensive production.
G League
On Monday, G League teams announced their camp rosters. A few Syracuse names appeared across the league. We will look into who went where. Also, what their contracts mean towards their NBA futures.
G League camps run until November 7th when rosters are official. So the following players may not be on these teams come time to start the season.
Oshae Brissett
Out of the former Orange players in the G League, Oshae Brissett is the only player with a two-way contract. The Toronto Raptors signed Brissett and have the option for him to play for both their G League affiliate and the NBA club.
Currently, Brissett has traveled with the Raptors but hasn’t seen any minutes. It is likely that he will see his first action in the G League with the Raptors 905.
The Raptors 905 tip-off their first game on November 8th against Grand Rapids Drive at home.
Tyus Battle
Tyus Battle is signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves to an exhibit 10 contract. Battle will suit up for the Iowa Wolves. This contract would provide a bonus to Battle if he is on the Wolves roster for more than 60 days.
This is Battle’s first pro experience and hopes this can launch him into an NBA career. For three seasons with the Orange, the former guard was a leader in the locker room and on the court. He averaged 16 points a game and had stellar performances in clutch moments for ‘Cuse.
Tyler Roberson
Tyler Roberson is returning for his second season with the Agua Caliente Clippers. As a returning player, his spot with the squad is pretty safe. Last season, he averaged 9.3 points a game and 6.3 rebounds. More than half of those boards occurred off the offensive glass.
Tyler played in 15 games last season for the Clippers affiliate. He has yet to play in an NBA game. The 6-foot-8 forward was not known as the biggest scoring threat for the Orange, but he was a formidable rebounder. He averaged 6.1 rebounds per game in his collegiate career.
Andrew White III
Andrew White III played his grad-transfer season at ‘Cuse after transferring from Kansas and Nebraska. White was a top scorer for the Orange, averaging 18.5 points per contest.
In 2017 he became an undrafted free agent. Eventually, White was picked up by the Hawks, where he played 15 games in both the G League and the NBA. Later that season, he got moved to the Celtics affiliate.
Now, he is returning to play for the Westchester Knicks. He will still go through the camp process, but as a G League veteran, his spot also seems safe.
Tyler Ennis
Tyler Ennis played one season at ‘Cuse before declaring for the NBA draft. He was selected number 18 overall in 2014. Since then, he has played for 4 NBA squads. Ennis will be making his second stint in the G League this upcoming season.
Ennis will join Brissett in Canada for the Raptors 905. The guard has a lot of professional experience and needs to prove he’s got what it takes to make it back into the league.
BJ Johnson
BJ Johnson began his collegiate career at Syracuse before transferring to La Salle. Johnson made a name for himself with the explorers. He appeared in 7 NBA games last season. In 2019 he will start in camp with the Lakeland Magic.
Frank Howard
Frank Howard was the starting point guard a season ago for the Orange. After leaving school, he went overseas to play in Hungary. However, he was cut and is back in the states taking a shot in the NBA.
Unlike the other former Orange players, Howard is on the roster on a tryout basis. He will play for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The Vipers are affiliated with the Rockets. Howard will tryout with the squad during camp and hope to make the team. We will know by November 7th if Howard will be retained or released.