Tag: Devontae Cacok

Report: Former Laker Devontae Cacok signs with Nets

Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Devontae Cacok is going to the Brooklyn Nets to compete for a two-way spot.

Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Devontae Cacok is ending his chapter in L.A. as he signed a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Cacok, 24, initially signed a two-way contract with the Lakers in 2019 and fulfilled the two years on his deal, but when he became a restricted free agent this summer, L.A. didn’t bring him back.

He went on to play for the Lakers in the Summer League in hopes of impressing enough to earn another shot elsewhere. Los Angeles went in a different direction for their new two-way players in Joel Ayayi and Austin Reaves.

Cacok played 21 total games over two seasons and averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 5.1 minutes a game. He shot 57.1% overall.

Now with Brooklyn, Cacok will have the chance to fight for the second, and final, two-way slot open. Kessler Edwards, the No. 44 overall pick in 2021, has the other.

He reacted to the news on Twitter:

Cacok can always say he is an NBA champion after being on the roster for the 2019-20 title run.

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Frank Vogel calls Devontae Cacok ‘a monster with his aggressiveness’

Ahead of the Lakers’ final scrimmage game on Monday, head coach Frank Vogel spoke very highly of Cacok.

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On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers will wrap up scrimmage play but will do so without LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma and Dwight Howard after opting to rest them ahead of the season restart.

The decision to sit those players will give others on the roster an opportunity to play a majority of the game against the Washington Wizards. One player that figures to have an extended chance to play is rookie center Devontae Cacok.

Cacok spent the majority of the season in the G League, per his two-way contract, with the South Bay Lakers. Cacok was named to the 2019-20 All-NBA G League First Team after averaging 19.4 points and 11.9 rebounds. He led all players in the G League with 27 double-doubles.

Ahead of the Lakers’ final scrimmage game on Monday, head coach Frank Vogel spoke very highly of Cacok, calling him a monster with his aggressiveness.

It’s going to be a great opportunity to further evaluate Kostas Antetokounmpo, Devontae Cacok and Talen Horton-Tucker. Those guys will get extended minutes today. Once we see the seeding games, we might not have as much as an opportunity to do that but we will today. … Devontae is just a monster with his aggressiveness on the boards, his physical play, his hustle aspect to his game. He just impacts the game.

Cacok went scoreless in 10 minutes played in the first scrimmage game last week and logged only three minutes on Saturday against the Orlando Magic. He will likely play most of the game on Monday and that could help him enter the restart with added confidence.

Cacok likely won’t log much time with the Lakers once the season restarts but Vogel said that he fully trusts him to use him should the need arise. The scrimmage on Monday will serve as an opportunity to knock off some of the rust for him and could help him prepare for the restart.

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2019-20 All-NBA G League: Mason, Cacok headline First Team players

The 2019-20 All-NBA G League Teams were announced on Friday with MVP Frank Mason III and Devontae Cacok headlining the First Team.

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2019-20 NBA G League Most Valuable Player Frank Mason III of the Wisconsin Herd and South Bay Lakers center Devontae Cacok headlined the group of All-NBA G League First Team players, which were announced on Friday.

Mason, who was named the MVP on Thursday, led the G League in scoring after averaging 26.4 points, five assists and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games. He tallied at least 30 points in five of his last six games prior to the season suspension, including a season-high 44 points on Feb. 19.

Meanwhile, Cacok led all players in the G League this season with 27 double-doubles after averaging 19.4 points and 11.9 rebounds, which ranked fourth among all players. He set a career-high with 32 points scored on Dec. 21 and later matched that on Feb. 4.

2019-20 All-NBA G League First Team

Player Team
Jaylen Adams Wisconsin Herd
Jarrell Brantley Salt Lake City Stars
Devontae Cacok South Bay Lakers
Frank Mason III Wisconsin Herd
Jarrod Uthoff Memphis Hustle

The All-NBA G League Second Team features Grand Rapids Drive forward Donta Hall, Lakeland Magic forward B.J. Johnson and guard Josh Magette, Agua Caliente Clippers forward Johnathan Motley and Maine Red Claws guard Tremont Waters.

2019-20 All-NBA G League Second Team

Player Team
Donta Hall Grand Rapids Drive
B.J. Johnson Lakeland Magic
Josh Magette Lakeland Magic
Johnathan Motley Agua Caliente Clippers
Tremont Waters Maine Red Claws

The All-NBA G League Third Team is composed of Long Island Nets forward Justin Anderson, Memphis guard Dusty Hannahs, Wisconsin forward Jemerrio Jones, Lakeland forward Vic Law and Delaware Blue Coats guard-forward Marial Shayok.

Anderson, Hannahs, Law and Shayok have played in the NBA this season, bringing the total to 13 of 15 players on the three NBA G League Teams who have competed in both leagues in 2019-20.

2019-20 All-NBA G League Third Team

Player Team
Justin Anderson Long Island Nets
Dusty Hannahs Memphis Hustle
Jemerrio Jones Wisconsin Herd
Vic Law Lakeland Magic
Marial Shayok Delaware Blue Coats

On June 4, the G League announced the 2019-20 season was officially canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic after the season was suspended indefinitely on March 12. The G League regular season was set to conclude on March 28.

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Lakers will bring two-way players Cacok, Antetokounmpo to Disney World

The Lakers plan on bringing both players signed to two-way contracts to the Walt Disney World Resort when the season restarts.

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As the NBA prepares to converge at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly set to bring 17 players with them, including two two-way players, according to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times.

Teams are awaiting word from the NBA on how they may utilize players signed to two-way contracts once the season restarts on July 31. Currently, two-way players would be left out of the bubble environment in order to limit party sizes but teams are petitioning the NBA to allow the inclusion of two-way players as insurance for potential sickness or injury.

Despite questions on how two-way players may be used, the Lakers plan on bringing all 17 players on the roster, including Devontae Cacok and Kostas Antetokounmpo, according to the report.

The league informed teams they will be allowed to travel with about 35 people, including players, as a way to hopefully reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections. The Lakers will take 17 players, which includes two two-way players, to Walt Disney World, which is where teams will stay in mostly secluded hotels that are on the campus of ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

Cacok recently revealed that the Lakers were set to call him up from the G League just before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. He emerged as one of the top players in the G League this season, though it remains to be seen if either Cacok or Antetokounmpo will log much time with the Lakers.

(h/t Lakers Nation)

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Lakers’ Devontae Cacok was set to be called up prior to NBA suspension

The Lakers two-way rookie recently revealed he was set to be called up from the G League before the season was suspended.

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Los Angeles Lakers two-way rookie Devontae Cacok revealed recently that he was set to be called up from the G League prior to the season getting suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As Cacok explained to Matt Evans on “The Lake Lake Show” podcast, he played on March 11 in the G League with the South Bay Lakers and was set to earn a call-up the next day. The Lakers were scheduled to play the Houston Rockets on March 12 but the game was eventually postponed.

That day [on March 11] of our G League game was a very interesting day because there had been a lot planned out. I had some family coming in, the next day the Lakers were supposed to play the Rockets. I was supposed to get a call-up the next day and we had a G League game the day before. We started hearing about things and games being canceled in the NBA when we saw the Oklahoma [City]-Utah game get canceled. That was the first time really I started getting calls that the NBA was probably about to get suspended.

Cacok started the 2019-20 season in the G League but eventually earned a two-way contract with the Lakers in December. He emerged as one of the best players in the G League prior to the season suspension and was apparently close to making his NBA debut.

Cacok led all players in the G League this season with 27 double-doubles after averaging 19.4 points and 11.9 rebounds, which ranked fourth among all players.

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Ranking the 30 best players of the 2019-20 NBA G League season

With the NBA G League season likely to be canceled soon, Rookie Wire took a look at the best players to suit up this year.

As the NBA braces for a lengthy hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the growing belief around the league is that the G League season will soon be canceled.

The G League regular season was set to conclude on March 28 and the decision to end play is likely an easy one to make given the financial burden it places on organizations. While the season will soon be canceled, all G League players will be paid through the end of the year.

The NBA itself is preparing for the possibility of returning to play in mid-to-late June as the best-case scenario after the CDC recommended on Sunday that all events with 50 or more people be canceled for two months to help slow the spread of the virus.

With the G League likely set to be canceled, Rookie Wire decided to take a look at the best players to suit up this season as there have been some spectacular performances from around the league.

Players must have appeared in at least 20 games to be considered. Stats were used from the NBA G League, Basketball-Reference and RealGM.

30. Donta Hall, Grand Rapids Drive

Hall, who finished second in double-doubles among all players with 22, emerged as a strong post player with the Drive this season. He was named to the 2019-20 Midseason All-NBA G League Team and was solid all season long in his first year as a professional.

29. Christ Koumadje, Delaware Blue Coats

The 7-foot-4 center led the G League in blocks with four per game and was seventh in rebounding. He recorded two triple-doubles this season with points, rebounds and blocks and tied the mark for most rebounds in a game by an individual player at 24.

28. Kyle Alexander, Sioux Falls Skyforce

Alexander quickly became one of the best big men in the league this season and his play resulted in a two-way contract from the Miami Heat. He finished fifth in blocks and 14th in rebounding with the Skyforce to cap a productive first year.

27. Eric Mika, Stockton Kings

The former BYU product placed 29th in scoring among all players and second in rebounding. Mika recorded 16 double-doubles and tied the G League season-high of 24 rebounds by an individual player. He eventually earned a 10-day contract from the Kings in February but was not signed to a second one.

26. Paul Watson, Raptors 905

Watson was named to the 2019-20 Midseason All-NBA G League Team and continued his strong play for the rest of the season. Watson scored in double figures in each of his 30 games played in the G League and eventually earned a two-way contract from the Toronto Raptors.

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Lakers rookie Devontae Cacok leads the G League in double-doubles

The two-way rookie has recorded six straight double-doubles in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Devontae Cacok recorded his G League-leading 24th double-double of the season Monday night on assignment with the South Bay Lakers.

Cacok, who is signed to a two-way contract, tallied his sixth-straight double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds during a 134-128 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars. The undrafted center from UNC Wilmington shot 9-of-16 from the field in 26 minutes off of the bench.

Cacok has proven to be dominant down low this season in the G League. He often connects on lobs and putback dunks in the paint and has emerged as a strong pick-and-roll option with the Lakers.

Cacok was a standout with the Lakers during Summer League and eventually earned a two-way contract in December. In 29 games played with South Bay, Cacok is averaging 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and one steal. He ranks fourth among qualified players in rebounding.

South Bay returns to action on Wednesday against the Stockton Kings.

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Lakers have a lot of reasons to be excited about rookie Devontae Cacok

The Los Angeles Lakers recently cut rookie Zach Norvell to make room for 23-year-old big man Devontae Cacok, who signed a two-way contract.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently cut rookie Zach Norvell to make room for 23-year-old big man Devontae Cacok, who signed a two-way contract.

Cacok, who played four seasons for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks in college, was an undrafted free agent that impressed in the NBA summer league. He averaged 20.2 points and 14.3 rebounds per 36 minutes when combining his play in the Sacramento and Las Vegas summer leagues.

He joins Kostas Antetokounmpo as the second two-way player for the Lakers. ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that Cacok will have 32 days of service available for Los Angeles during the 2019-20 season.

His first day of NBA eligibility is a road game against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night. Considering that Lakers superstar Anthony Davis was limping and is listed as questionable with a sore ankle, it is possible Cacok may get some frontcourt minutes with JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard.

While shorter than other players at his position, Cacok has been an excellent rebounder for the South Bay Lakers. His rebound percentage (24.4 percent) currently ranks second-best among all qualified players in the G League.

He had 19 points and 15 rebounds against the Northern Arizona Suns when they played on December 13. Despite only starting two games, he has had a double-double in 12 of his first 14 appearances.

Cacok’s rebounding has always been one of his strengths, as he led all NCAA players with a whopping 13.5 rebounds per game as a junior. Last season as a senior, his defensive rebound percentage (33.4 percent) was No. 1 overall among all college players.

But on the offensive side of the ball, Cacok has long been a reliable source of offense. As a sophomore, he had the best field goal percentage (80.0 percent) in the NCAA. The big man was 167-of-196 (85.2 percent) on attempts at the rim during that 2016-17 season. (He also won his conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award during that campaign).

More recently, Cacok was 15-for-18 (83.3 percent) as the roll man in pick-and-roll during summer league, per Synergy. He was the most efficient player on high pick-and-rolls among all players who had at least 10 possessions.

He is currently 19-for-23 (82.6 percent) on these opportunities for the South Bay Lakers.

While his height may indicate he should play more as a wing than as a power forward or center in the NBA, getting some run at the next level will provide a more accurate indication of his upside as a pro.

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Lakers sign Devontae Cacok to two-way deal, waive Zach Norvell Jr.

The Los Angeles Lakers called up one of their players from their G League squad, replacing one of their other two-way players.

The Los Angeles Lakers made a roster move earlier this week and no, likely won’t affect their season-long outlook. However, it’s still interesting to see what the Lakers believe they need at this point in the season when it looks like they have everything under control with a 22-3 record.

The Lakers announced on Wednesday that they signed G League forward Devontae Cacok to a two-way contract after the forward recorded 10 double-doubles in 12 G League games. In a related move, the Lakers waived guard Zach Norvell Jr., according to The Athletic/Stadium’s Shams Charania.

However, the double-doubles stat only tells part of the story of Cacok’s impact in the G League. His current rebound percentage of 24.9% would be the highest in the history of the G League, according to Dakota Schmidt of the G League blog Ridiculous Upside.

With LeBron James running the show offensively, Rajon Rondo shooting the ball well from the 3-point line and Alex Caruso providing quality play on both ends, perhaps the Lakers made the decision they don’t need more players who are score-first oriented like Norvell. While Norvell had some big scoring performances in the preseason, Cacok’s efficiency and rebounding in the G League has been undeniably better.

Cacok was in training camp with the Lakers and joined the team on their trip to China after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with them in the summer.

Lakers to waive Zach Norvell, sign Devontae Cacok to two-way contract

Cacok leads the G League this season with 10 double-doubles while he is fifth in rebounding among all players.

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly waiving rookie Zach Norvell Jr. and signing Devontae Cacok to a two-way contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Norvell was previously signed to a two-way contract with the Lakers after going undrafted out of Gonzaga. In 12 games with the South Bay Lakers, Norvell is averaging 13.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists this season in the G League.

Cacok was a standout with the Lakers during Summer League before joining the South Bay Lakers of the G League to start the season. Cacok is averaging 16.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 12 games played. He leads all G League players with 10 double-doubles and is fifth in rebounds.

Cacok started off the season by recording six straight double-doubles and has failed to accomplish the feat in only two games thus far. After scoring a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds on Tuesday, Cacok has four straight double-doubles.

By signing a two-way contract, Cacok is eligible to spend up to 45 days in the NBA while playing the rest of the season in the G League with South Bay.

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