SLC Stars news, notes and coverage

[Xiao Yao You]

Thought I'd try its own thread this year. See how it goes!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://gleague.nba.com/2021-nba-g-league-draft-order/

Stars picks

1st Salt Lake City: Zaire Wade
2nd Salt Lake City (via Stockton): Pedro Bradshaw
3rd Salt Lake City: JC Show(many teams passed on this pick)

other notables

1st round

6. Sioux Falls (From Grand Rapids): Brandon Knight
13. Grand Rapids (From Sioux Falls): Lance Stephenson
14. Greensboro (From Delaware via WES): LiAngelo Ball
15. Lakeland (From Texas via AUS): TJ Haws
21. Stockton (From Agua Caliente): Joe Young
24. Capital City: Rodney Pryor

3rd round

3. Fort Wayne: Will Vorhees

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Coming together

Udoka/Bolden
Fitts/Johnson
Hughes/Alston/Bradshaw
Butler/Teague/Show
Forrest/Wade

See who else is in camp shortly. Usually a couple from last years roster

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltlakecity.gleague.nba.com/roster/

last years roster. Brantley and I think Ferrell are signed elsewhere

[Xiao Yao You]

Jay King: The Maine Celtics announced their training camp roster, (https://*********.com/social/) which includes Ryan Arcidiacono, Juwan Morgan, Luke Kornet, Theo Pinson, Chris Clemons, Sam Hauser (two-way), Brodric Thomas (two-way) and local D3 legend Eric Demers, among others.
– via Twitter ByJayKing (https://twitter.com/ByJayKing)

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltlakecity.gleague.nba.com/stars-select-three-players-in-2021-nba-g-league-draft/


Salt Lake City Stars Training Camp begins Monday, Oct. 25. The team opens the 2021-22 campaign on Friday, Nov. 5 at Oklahoma City at 6 p.m. (MT). The Stars will host their home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. (MT) vs. Santa Cruz at Bruin Arena on the campus of Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville.



still no roster

[Xiao Yao You]

Tony Jones: Udoka Azubuike has been recalled to the Utah Jazz from the SLC Stars (https://*********.com/social/)
– via Twitter Tjonesonthenba (https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba)

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https://thejnotes.com/2021/10/25/utah-jazz-lebron-james-defense/

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Finally!

2021-22 Roster

Derrick Alston Jr.

Forward
Boise State/USA
6' 9" 188 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/derrick-alston-jr/)
20
Udoka Azubuike

Center/Forward
Kansas/Nigeria
6' 10" 280 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/udoka-azubuike/)
Brendan Bailey

Forward
Marquette/USA
6' 8" 200 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/brendan-bailey/)
5
Marques Bolden

Center
Duke/USA
6' 10" 249 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/marques-bolden/)
Pedro Bradshaw

Forward
Bellarmine/USA
6' 7" 185 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/pedro-bradshaw/)
KJ Feagin

Guard
San Diego State/USA
6' 1" 190 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/kj-feagin/)
24
Malik Fitts

Two-Way Contract
Forward
St. Mary's College/USA
6' 5" 230 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/malik-fitts/)
3
Trent Forrest

Two-Way Contract
Guard
Florida State/USA
6' 4" 210 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/trent-forrest/)
33
Elijah Hughes

Guard
Syracuse/USA
6' 5" 215 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/elijah-hughes/)
93
Nino Johnson

Center
Southeast Missouri/USA
6' 9" 245 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/nino-johnson/)
16
Alex Robinson

Guard
TCU/USA
6' 1" 180 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/alex-robinson/)
JC Show

Guard
Binghamton/USA
6' 3" 205 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/jc-show/)
Will Tavares

Guard
Fordham/USA
6' 6" 205 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/will-tavares/)
MaCio Teague

Guard
Baylor/USA
6' 3" 195 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/macio-teague/)
Zaire Wade

Guard
USA/USA
6' 3" 170 lbs
(https://gleague.nba.com/player/zaire-wade/)
Coaches

Nathan Peavy

Head Coach

Corey Hawkins

Assistant Coach

Ronald Allen

Assistant Coach

Lowell Egan

Assistant Coach

Juan Torres

Trainer

Jordan Harding

[Xiao Yao You]

strange that we hear all about Wade's son playing for the Stars but not Thurl's son. Looks like he can shoot and rebound a but. Says he's a small forward but at 6'8 he might have to be a stretch 4. Pretty young. Would be a senior in college. left After two years. Played abroad last year

Feagin looks like a pg or a combo guard. Also a shooter, Played abroad last year. Probably fighting for a roster spot?

Robinson a couple years out of school. Probably fighting Wade for backing up Trent? Another small guard. Definitely a pg. Maybe defends? Gets steals

Tavares 3 years out of college. Looks like a wing. Rebounds a bit.

Looks like only 10 on a roster not including two ways and Jazz youngsters so only one of these guys will get cut. I'd guess it's out of Feagin, Show and Tavares for the final spot

Looks like they have an exhibition game tomorrow and start playing in a little over a week!

[Xiao Yao You]

https://gleague.nba.com/games/20211030/SLCTEX/

a loss. Good game for Dok except for the turnovers it appears.

Alston, Bradshaw and Bolden had good games as well it appears on paper.

Johnson, Tavares and maybe Show fighting for final spots on team.

Too bad only Udoka from Jazz playing.

Season opener next Saturday

[Xiao Yao You]

https://saltlakecity.gleague.nba.com/roster/

looks like the roster is down to 10.

[Xiao Yao You]

Looks like Feagin and Tavares got cut and BJ Taylor was added

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Looks like Taylor is probably a combo guard that can shoot. Butler, Hughes and Fitts should be playing but probably aren't

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https://kslsports.com/471851/instant-replay-zaire-wade-knocks-down-three-for-first-bucket-with-stars/

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Stars were horrible. Wade's shot is pretty ugly. Needs to put on some weight. Don't think he was in the rotation. Udoka a and Teague were ok

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Looks like Robinson who started last game was cut and Carsen Edwards is replacing him. I think he was a first rounder? Going on 22 so another young guy

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Closer than last game but not good. Time for Butler, Hughes and Fitts to join and see what they can do. Teague and Udoka did ok

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Looks like the Stars made another roster move adding Gerard Tarin. Alex Robinson gone it appears

[Xiao Yao You]

https://kslsports.com/472657/zaire-wade-enjoying-life-in-utah-time-with-stars/

[Xiao Yao You]

Different Stars team with Hughes, Fitts and Butler starting. Butler dominating like I figured he would. Just let him keep doing that until he's ready to help the Jazz and dump Clarkson by the trade deadline. Fitts nice all around game including 7 assists and 3 blocks! Hughes hit some 3's which is encouraging. Not much else besides for turnovers. Udoka close to a double double with 3 blocks, 2 assists, 2 steals and only one foul while playing 34 minutes. Defensive battle so it looks like he might have a future. Maybe Whiteside and Clarkson will be expendable? Teague and Baily nice games as well

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.ksl.com/article/50286295/jazz-guard-jared-butler-shines-in-30-point-game-winner-night-for-stars


Butler can play the game of basketball. Whether it's orchestrating the offense, knocking down 3's, driving the lane or finding an open teammate, he can play the game at an elite level, and it's easy to see why he was Utah's primary target during the 2021 draft.



he can play at an elite level in the Gleague :facepalm

[Xiao Yao You]

Great comeback. Fitts was their best player. He might be able to help the Jazz at some point. Hughes seems to have improved his 3 but still kind of sucks. Udoka with boards and blocks but he will be the biggest player most games in the gleague. Butler another big game. Needs to cut the TO's

[Xiao Yao You]

Hughes finally has a big game! Udoka playing big minutes and staying out of foul trouble good news. 4 To's not pretty. Butler not shooting well but filling the box score as you'd expect. New pickup Tarin with a nice game, No Fitts

[Xiao Yao You]

https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/11/26/22800857/jared-butler-elijah-hughes-and-more-a-check-in-on-the-salt-lake-city-stars-zaire-wade-utah-jazz-nba


For one, Jared Butler has shown that, at least on the offensive end, he’s a stud. Through three games played, Butler has averaged 23.3 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.3 rebounds (albeit shooting 45.9% from the field and 29.4% from three). While his efficiency hasn’t been great, Butler’s ability to score and make plays off the dribble has been impressive. Just take a look at the highlights from his G-League debut, one which ended with him hitting a game winner:



his D was good with the Jazz. Has to shoot better. I think his release might be too slow for this level. We'll see


With Elijah Hughes, many of the same sentiments are true. He too has had an impressive start to his season, averaging 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He even put up this impressive performance a few nights ago:



Had 1 big game. Let's see it every night


Like Butler, most of Hughes’ question marks come from the defensive end. I think he’s got the offensive skillset to make an impact in the NBA, but he needs to continue to improve on defense. Over the course of the last year, he’s looked better, but he still has a lot more growth ahead of him before Quin Snyder trusts him with real minutes. With that said, I think he’s buying himself more time with the way he’s played in the G-League.



remains to be seen if he has the skill set. His 3 has improved it would appear


Unfortunately, I don’t believe Udoka Azubuike has done the same. While he’s averaged 9.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, he hasn’t done anything to really impress me this season. He continues to, at times, look totally lost on the court. I’m genuinely beginning to worry that if he doesn’t show growth by the end of the season, he’ll end up turning into a loss for Utah. It feels unfair to continually compare Dok’ to the players that were drafted around him; the Jazz picked Azubuike where they did, he had nothing to do with it. Still, it’s hard to not look at players like Desmond Bane, who were clearly more NBA ready at the time, make such a significant impact on their team. Azubuike still has a load of untapped potential and I believe that he has a path to the NBA. I just wish that path was clearer than it is now.



the only guys I'd look to compare him to are centers picked after him because they needed a center. Bane wouldn't be playing for the Jazz. Udoka is playing big minutes and staying out of foul trouble. Those are both signs of growth. He's young. Bradley grew a lot in the Gleague(literally as well) and Udoka is probably a better fit


Malik Fitts, one of Utah’s two-way contract players, has played well in a pair of outings for the Stars. He’s averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3 assists a game, all while shooting 51.9% from the field. The combination of Fitts’ shooting and size (6-5 with a 7 foot wingspan) gives him real promise as a 3-and-D wing.



He's the most exciting prospect after Butler. He might be able to help the Jazz. 7 foot wingspan could be the answer to the 4 and allow Royce back to the wing where he belongs


After a breakout first game where he scored 10 points on 4-7 shooting, Zaire Wade has faced some struggles in the G-League. For him, more than anyone else on the roster, per-game averages don’t matter. His purpose in the G-League is to learn and develop against fringe-NBA talent. The growing pains he’s experiencing now will serve him well in the future.



He should be in college or Australia or something. He's physically not ready. Certainly has some talent but isn't getting much time while the Jazz guys are there


Brenden Bailey, an American Fork High School alumnus, has averaged 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game.



he's no Thurl

[Xiao Yao You]

Watching game now. Udoka's injury looks bad. Was putting no weight on it. Don't know if it's the same one that kept him out for months last year. Definitely worrisome if he can't stay on the floor. Oni was probably already gone but it certainly looks even more likely now. They will need another 5

[Xiao Yao You]

Butler looked good again in their latest loss. Hughes continues to be mostly unimpressive

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Looks like a couple more roster moves

JJ Avlla and Jared Wilson Frame added Show and Taylor gone

[Xiao Yao You]

Shams Charania: Sources: The NBA G League is postponing its season until Jan. 5. G League finished up its Showcase in Las Vegas this week and was set to restart play Monday, but now delayed in resuming season as COVID-19 cases rise and influx of call ups to NBA teams (https://*********.com/social/).
– via Twitter ShamsCharania (https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania)

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Games pushed back again. 3 new players

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https://www.ksl.com/article/50328012/slc-stars-acquire-g-league-rights-to-former-byu-standout-yoeli-childs

nice!