Category: Gators in NBA

Former Florida C Colin Castleton signs two-way deal with Grizzlies

Former Florida center Colin Castleton has signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies two weeks after being waived by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Former Florida big man [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] has signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, the team announced on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old played three seasons with the Gators, leaving the program after the 2022-23 season to pursue his NBA career. He spent his rookie year as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Lakers after going undrafted.

Castleton started 23 of 24 games for the South Bay Lakers during the NBA G League Showcase Cup and regular season, averaging a double-double (16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds). He appeared in 16 games during the NBA regular season for the Lakers, contributing 1.5 points over 3.7 minutes per game. Los Angeles waived him on October 19.

“Beginning in the 2017 offseason, NBA rosters expanded from 15 to 17 players with the addition of two spots for players under ‘Two-Way Contracts,'” per the NBA G League site. “NBA teams may have up to three players under NBA Two-Way Contracts who may be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team. Players signed to Two-Way Contracts are paid one salary for their time in both leagues.

“Only players with three or fewer years of NBA service are able to sign Two-Way Contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.”

Memphis recently signed Jay Huff to a standard NBA contract, opening up the third two-way spot. Castleton gives the Grizzlies some frontcourt depth behind 2024 first-round pick Zach Edey, who is considered a project player. Through five games, Edey is averaging 8.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while playing limited minutes.

Castleton is a similar player to Edey in that he struggled to space the floor but provides solid defense and rebounding. He averaged 2.49 blocks per game at Florida, setting a program record, and put up 1.5 blocks per game in the G League last year. USA TODAY Sports named him the Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.

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Highlights from Al Horford’s first NBA title with the Boston Celtics

Here’s a look at what Al Horford contributed in the Boston Celtics’ 18th NBA championship.

After 17 years of grinding away against the best players in the world, forward/center Al Horford won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

In doing so, he became the first Dominican-born basketball player to win a ring. Horford is also the tenth UF alumnus to have earned an NBA ring, joining college teammates [autotag]Corey Brewer[/autotag] and [autotag]Udonis Haslem[/autotag] on the list.

Despite his advanced age of 38, the Gator great was a regular contributor to his team’s cause — including an offensive outburst from behind the three-point arc to set a new NBA playoffs record.

Across 19 playoff games, he put up 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 blocks in 30.3 minutes per game played.

Gators hoop legend Al Horford earns first career NBA title with Boston Celtics

It took the two-time college champion 17 years to reach the NBA promised land, and it finally happened with the Boston Celtics.

The last member of the Florida Gators’ back-to-back national title-winning men’s basketball team in the NBA finally achieved what he had accomplished twice as a collegian.

After 17 years of grinding away against the best players in the world, forward/center [autotag]Al Horford[/autotag] won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics on Monday night. In doing so, he also became the first Dominican-born basketball player to win a ring.

Horford’s trophy did not come cheap either. Despite his advanced age of 38, the Gator great was a regular contributor to his team’s cause — including an offensive outburst from behind the three-point arc to set a new NBA playoffs record.

During the 2023-24 regular season, Horford averaged 8.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a block while playing 26.8 minutes per game. Across 19 playoff games, he put up 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 blocks in 30.3 minutes per game played.

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Gators hoops legend defies Father Time, sets NBA 3-point record

Al Horford just keeps trucking in the NBA with his 28th birthday right around the corner.

Former Florida Gators standout and two-time college basketball national champion [autotag]Al Horford[/autotag] might be in the twilight of his NBA career but he is far from finished.

The 37-year-old is still producing in his 17th professional season, as demonstrated on Saturday when he dropped 23 points for the Boston Celtics en route to a 114-111 comeback victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. Horford nailed seven of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc, becoming the oldest player to ever drain that many threes in an NBA playoff game.

One of those treys came on an amazing play assisted by Jayson Tatum.

“We always talk about spacing, making sure we’re in the right spots. I trusted that he was going to be there, he trusted that I was going to make the right read,” Tatum said of the connection. “That was a hell of a shot that he made.”

All seven of his three-point makes were critical in the Game 3 victory.

During the regular season stretching over 65 games, Horford averaged four three-point attempts per game while draining 1.7 of them, good for a 41.9% clip. Over the course of 13 playoff games in 2024, he has heaved 75 attempts from downtown, landing 26 of them for a 34.7% average.

“I’ve been very blessed to still be in this position, to be able to play at this type of level, to be part of a team like the Celtics,” Horford said. “I’m really making sure that I’m doing everything I can to contribute to the team. … This position that I’m in right now, it’s pretty unique. I’m very grateful for it.”

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Former Gators standout sinks amazing 31-foot shot for NBA Playoffs win

A heckuva shot from a heckuva player on Friday night.

The Indiana Pacers needed someone to step up on Friday night inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the New York Knicks, and one unexpected player made it count when it mattered most.

Former Florida Gators guard [autotag]Andrew Nembhard[/autotag] was the man of the moment, draining a 31-foot three-pointer to break a 106-all tie with the final seconds of the clock ticking away. Trailing in the series 2-0 coming in, the Pacers needed a miracle to stay afloat and 24-year-old out of Montverde Acadamy in Clermont was a vessel for divine intervention.

Indy ended up prevailing over New York, 111–106, following a missed three-point attempt on the ensuing possession and a pair of Aaron Nesmith free throws to seal the deal.

“Huge shot by him, huge shot,” teammate Tyrese Haliburton said of Nembhard’s three-pointer to ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters after the game. “We just dug in and made enough plays at the end, and he made a big shot there.”

Game four of the semifinals will take place on Sunday, May 12, in Indianapolis with a tipoff time slated for 3:30 p.m. ET.

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Former Gator Tre Mann traded at NBA deadline

After three years in Oklahoma City, former Gators guard Tre Mann is headed to Charlotte in a trade deadline deal.

Former Florida guard [autotag]Tre Mann[/autotag] was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, Feb. 8, just ahead of the 3 p.m. trade deadline.

Oklahoma City is acquiring All-Star forward Gordon Hayward in exchange for Mann, guard Vasilije Micic, forward Davis Bertans and two second-round picks. Mann has the highest upside of the group, but he’ll still have to prove himself to break into the rotation.

The former five-star recruit played two seasons with the Gators from 2019-2021. As a sophomore, he led the team averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. The Thunder took him with the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and he broke out as a rookie.

Mann started 26 games in 2021-22 and shot 36.0% from three-point range as he averaged 10.4 points a night. That efficiency waned in the 2022-23 season, though. His minutes from 22.8 a night to 17.7, and he finished the season shooting just 31.5% from the distance.

Meanwhile, the Thunder continued to add depth to its guard rotation, forcing Mann out. A trade was the best thing for his career at this point, as Mann was averaging 9.2 minutes per game before being traded.

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Former Gator forward gets two-way deal with Los Angeles Lakers

Two former Gators will share the court for another season now that Alex Fudge has signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Former Florida forward Alex Fudge left school early to start his professional career, and that gamble seems to be paying off. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Fudge and the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a two-way contract for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Fudge signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Lakers as an undrafted free agent, allowing him to play in the NBA Summer League. While he averaged just 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds over six appearances, Fudge’s one block per game and overall defensive prowess impressed enough to earn the last two-way deal on the roster.

Former Gator center Colin Castleton is also on a two-way deal with the Lakers, so the two will share the court for at least another season.

Fudge transferred to Florida after just one year at LSU. As a sophomore, he averaged 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds over 32 games and 11 starts. He showed glimpses of elite offensive talent, but his game will likely need some work before being ready for the NBA.

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Former Gator Colin Castleton standing out during NBA Summer League

For The Win’s NBA staff writer Bryan Kalbrosky recently took a look at the top five players in this year’s summer league action.

Former Florida basketball standout Colin Castleton did not hear his name called during the draft back on June 22 but was still able to sign on with the Los Angeles Lakers on an undrafted free agent contract. It appears that the Lakers’ gamble on the ex-Gator was a good one, as the center has performed well during the NBA Summer League schedule.

For The Win’s NBA staff writer Bryan Kalbrosky recently took a look at the top five players in this year’s summer league action, which includes the UF alumnus. The big man has put up numbers similar to what he recorded during college, which bodes well for his future in the league.

After signing a two-way deal with the Lakers, undrafted free agent big man Colin Castleton looked outstanding during summer league.

He averaged 20.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per 40 minutes for Los Angeles. He was 8 of 11 (72.7%) as the roll man during ball screens, per Synergy, and 6 of 8 (75.0%) when cutting to the basket.

His blend of rim protection and offensive playmaking is hard to find.

Castleton is one of just three high-major players on record since 2008 to reach challenging thresholds for assist rate (15.0 percent) and block rate (9.0 percent) in the same season, via Bart Torvik.

He is also one of just three Division I men’s college basketball players on record with at least collegiate 140 assists, 140 blocks and fewer than 200 fouls.

He recorded at least six assists in more than half of his games during summer league for the Lakers.

19.8 percent of his passes led directly to a shot from a teammate at Florida last season. That ranked top-15 among all notable undrafted free agents who played in NBA 2K24 Summer League, per Stats Perform.

Castleton also set 0.13 dribble handoffs per touch last season, also via Stats Perform, which ranked top-15 among notable UDFA as well. These actions give him tremendous value as a connective piece for Los Angeles.

Castleton is just about 6-foot-11-inches in socks and his wingspan is nearly 7-foot-4-inches.

According to Stadium Speak, his closest physical comparisons include Chris Bosh and Mike Muscala.

He could potentially crack the rotation in the frontcourt for the Lakers if they become depleted by any unexpected injuries or if they do not make any more transactions to replenish their frontcourt depth.

The NBA Summer League continues on Monday night as the Houston Rockets take on the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the final game of the season, starting at 9 p.m. EDT.

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Two former Gators sign with Los Angeles Lakers as UDFA

Two former Gators were scooped up by the Los Angeles Lakers organization after going undrafted.

Neither [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] nor [autotag]Alex Fudge[/autotag] heard their name called on Thursday night, June 22, as the 2023 NBA draft came and went, but both signed contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers by the end of the night.

Castleton is joining the storied franchise on a two-way contract, which is a guaranteed deal with an NBA franchise to play for its pro team and its G-League affiliate. Dan Woike of the LA Times reported the news first. Although any significant NBA  playing time is unlikely, Castleton can work his way up from the unofficial 16th or 17th spot on the roster.

Fudge is on an Exhibit 10 contract, which can turn into at two-way contact but must be done before the start of the regular season, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. He’ll have less job security than Castleton with the one-year deal not being guaranteed. Fudge can join the team for training camp and will make around $50,000 if he spends more than two months with the G-League affiliate South Bay Lakers.

Both forwards were key pieces of Florida’s starting lineup in 2022-23. Castleton, a fifth-year player who transferred from Michigan after one season, crossed the 1,000-point threshold as a Gator and was a three-time All-SEC forward. His final days in Gainesville were spent on the bench due to injury, though.

Fudge only spent one year at Florida after transferring from LSU. He broke into the starting lineup after injuries forced changes. As a scorer, there’s work to be done, but Fudge is a solid defensive player with incredible athleticism. He’ll put a few players on a poster in the G-League, assuming he gets the chance.

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Former Florida SG Bradley Beal part of major NBA trade deal

Former Gator Bradley Beal is joining up with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on the Suns in hopes of bringing home The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy to Phoenix.

After 11 seasons with the Washington Wizards, former Florida shooting guard [autotag]Bradley Beal[/autotag] is headed out West to play with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in Phoenix, according to ESPN.

Beal signed a five-year extension on his contract with the Wizards last July, which means Phoenix will control him for four years. In return, the Suns are expected to send over a 38-year-old Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and several second-round picks. The Wizards are also moving two additional players in the deal.

Everything isn’t set in stone just yet, but Beal to Phoenix seems fairly locked in. The biggest hurdle right now is finding a third team that wants Paul since the Wizards would likely buy him out. Beal had to waive a no-trade clause to green-light the deal, though, so there shouldn’t be any hold up on his end.

The Suns were already a potent force with Paul, and swapping in Beal should allow the offense to run through Booker or Durant with Deandre Ayton manning the paint.

Beal is turning 30 later this month (June 28), but he averaged 23.2 points on 51% shooting a season ago. He only played 50 games because of injuries, but that’s a large enough sample to pull from. Beal averages 22.1 points per game on his career and was over 30.0 from 2019-21.

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