Cyclones in the pros (Hoops) - 2024-2025

[I-stateTheTruth]

Well, the football team is the focus of most of our attention at the moment but hoops seasons are upon us (or have started in Europe). So, again, I'm starting this year's thread to post about our ex-Cyclones. While most of the attention will be on the NBA guys, I'll try to keep up some with other pros that Cyclones fans care about.

Here are the four that we know will be on opening day rosters in the NBA:

* Georges Niang - Cleveland Cavaliers
* Monte Morris - Phoenix Suns
* Tyrese Haliburton - Indiana Pacers
* Talen Horton-Tucker - Chicago Bulls

It'll be interesting to see how each of these fit into rotation plans early in the year. Maybe we can get some guys that go the G Leauge route throughout the year.

I'll do some posts below to catch you up on some of the guys overseas.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

As noted in the article, Matt Thomas returned to Alba Berlin for another season, which is a little suprising because his season was not considered a success last year. Perhaps that's why they waited until August to re-sign him.

The European season sort of parallels the soccer season so Alba has already played 11 games in 2 different competitions, getting off to a sluggish start. Alas, the Iceman is injured - not sure what the ailment is - so he has not yet appeared in any games.

Alba is a good club with good crowds and they compete this year in the Euroleague, the German BBL and the cup competition (in-season tournament, if you will).

Alba is 1-3 in the Euroleague so far and 2-2 in the German League.

Let's hope that the Iceman gets healthy and bombs in 45% of his threes this year.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

(Even if you don't care about Nick Weiler Babb draining a couple threes, the Germany commentator is worth the 30 seconds)

Nick Weiler Babb returns to play with German sporting powerhouse Bayern Munich. I hope that you saw but he is now a dual citizen of Germany and USA and played in the Olympics (including vs. Team USA).

Here's a quick shot of Nick's traditional stats in the German League so far (3-2 record for Bayern):


He's averaging half that amount in 4 EuroLeague games - 5.5.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Regarding Deonte Burton, it appears that he has returned to his first professional league in South Korea. This is from asia-basket.com (published AUG 21)::

KCC Egis (KBL) strengthened their roster with the addition of 30-year-old USA international 193cm swingman Deonte Burton (college: Iowa State) for the 2024-25 season. He played most recently at Mets de Guaynabo in the Puerto Rican BSN league. In the 14 games he recently played, he recorded very impressive stats: 17.9ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.6apg, and 1.5spg last season. The last team he played for was the Kings in the NBA G League

article: https://www.asia-basket.com/South-K...Burton-ex-Guaynabo-agreed-terms-with-KCC-Egis

I never heard about him playing in Puerto Rico, which would've been this summer. It's possible that this website is wrong because there are TWO Deonte Burtons that are pro BB players, around the same age.

However, it appears that the G League's Wisconsin Herd in DB's home state now have his rights, if / when he returns to the USA (not sure how that works, exactly):

The Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, has acquired the returning player rights to Jordan Ford and Deonte Burton....

Burton, a 6-4, 240-pound forward started his professional career overseas with the Wonju DB Promy in the Korean Basketball League in South Korea. In July 2018, he signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder and appeared in 71 games with the Thunder over the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. During those seasons, Burton also appeared in 35 games for the OKC Blue posting averages of 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. The following season, he joined the Maine Celtics for 32 games and averaged 15.1 points and 6.2 rebounds. For the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Burton played for the Stockton Kings in a combined 78 games. During his time with Stockton, Burton received an NBA Call-Up after signing a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings.

article: https://wisconsin.gleague.nba.com/n...layer-rights-to-jordan-ford-and-deonte-burton

I believe that the Korean league has not yet begun its season.

 

[hoosman]

Hasan Ward signed by Celtics 2 days ago.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Hasan Ward signed by Celtics 2 days ago.

Yeah, I hope he can stick with their G League squad. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract and most of those guys are brought with an eye to the G League.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

This is a really good summary of of Monte's situation in Phoenix. Sounds like he's the only true PG on the team and this writer thinks he'll get 15 to 20 minutes per game. I was surprised that he only go the vet minimum $2.8M (only, haha) but he was injured so much of last year.

Monte Morris breakdown: What to expect from Suns backup PG

Here's a look at what the Phoenix Suns can expect from Monte Morris after they signed the backup point guard in 2024 NBA free agency.

gophnx.com

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

 

[ClonerJams]

Not a surprise. He gets to develop in the G league now.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

I didn't realize THT signed an Exhibit 10 contract, too. Looks like he'll stick with the Bulls, for now.

Bulls To Retain Talen Horton-Tucker

Horton-Tucker came to camp on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract, but will stick with the Bulls for now.

www.hoopsrumors.com

 

[simply1]

I didn't realize THT signed an Exhibit 10 contract, too. Looks like he'll stick with the Bulls, for now.

Bulls To Retain Talen Horton-Tucker

Horton-Tucker came to camp on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract, but will stick with the Bulls for now.

www.hoopsrumors.com

Such a weird trajectory

 

[simply1]

Conditt is in Spain playing with Gran Canaria fwiw

 

[brokenloginagain]

Big season for Monte. If he plays well, he can probably sign one last $20-$40m contract for his last 3-4 years in the league.

THT is wild - just shows you how competitive the league can be where one day you're signing for big bucks as a 21 yr old and now he might be out of the league 4 yrs later.

 

[HFCS]

Big season for Monte. If he plays well, he can probably sign one last $20-$40m contract for his last 3-4 years in the league.

THT is wild - just shows you how competitive the league can be where one day you're signing for big bucks as a 21 yr old and now he might be out of the league 4 yrs later.

He’s had some games where he looks like a star big bodied pg too. Just lack of consistency. Monte is flip side where he’s never looked like a star but always like a guy any team could always plug in.

 

[c.y.c.l.o.n.e.s]

Hard to feel too bad for Talen. Has already earned $33 million and will earn over $13,000 per game for every game he sticks with the Bulls. Not bad for someone who is only 23.
Hope he can make a leap forward, though.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Naz Mitrou Long is plying his trade in Grecce again this year. Naz started last season in Lithuania and only averaged 4 PT in his short stint there. He signed with traditional powerhouse Olympiacos of Piraeus, Greece in November of last year (3-yr contract). Olympiacos competes in the Greek League and EuroLeague and he averaged 1.8 points in 9 EuroLeague and 5 PPG in 22 league games. He shot 14% from 3PT in EuroLeague games and 31% in league games. It'd be good to see that percentage come up.

The good news for 3sus is that he got his Greek citizenship (via his mother) in December so he no longer is considered a "foreign" player. Olympicacos has started 2-2 in the EuroLeauge and 3-0 in the Greek League. Naz has only played 2 games which tells me he's been injured.

This year, Olympiacos has long-time NBAer (and French Olympian) Evan Fournier starting at point guard so I'm guessing Mitrou Long will continue to come off the bench.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Pre-season Talen Horton-Tucker highlight reel - not to give it too much importance, but he looks lively and aggressive in these. My guess is that he won't start the season in the Bulls' rotation but maybe he can play his way into it.

 

[CyberJJJ]

Well, the football team is the focus of most of our attention at the moment but hoops seasons are upon us (or have started in Europe). So, again, I'm starting this year's thread to post about our ex-Cyclones. While most of the attention will be on the NBA guys, I'll try to keep up some with other pros that Cyclones fans care about.

Here are the four that we know will be on opening day rosters in the NBA:

* Georges Niang - Cleveland Cavaliers
* Monte Morris - Phoenix Suns
* Tyrese Haliburton - Indiana Pacers
* Talen Horton-Tucker - Chicago Bulls

It'll be interesting to see how each of these fit into rotation plans early in the year. Maybe we can get some guys that go the G Leauge route throughout the year.

I'll do some posts below to catch you up on some of the guys overseas.

Interesting if I have this correct, This is Monte's 5th team, Georges' 4th, Talen's 3rd, and Hali's 2nd.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

As noted above, George Conditt jumped from Puerto Rico / G League to the Spanish League. team Gran Canaria (known as Draemland Gran Canaria when its sponsor is included). Gran Canaria is way down in the Canary Islands so George won't be shoveling snow this winter.

It appears that he's backing up ex UVA Cav (and M. Thomas' old teammate at Valencia), Mike Tobey. Gran Canaria is currently 3-1 in the Spanish League, tied for 2nd place. Internationally, they compete in the EuroCup, a step below the EuroLeague and they're also 3-1 in that competition.

He's averaging 17 MIN / 6.3 PT in the league and 18 MIN / 4.5 PPG in EuroCup.

Seeing his progress after ISU has been awesome, including watching him in the Olympics this summer.

He had a big debut game in the Spanish League and here are his highlights from it (the 2nd play is a drive and reverse layup, the likes of which we never saw from him in Ames)

 

[Dgilbertson]

Hard to feel too bad for Talen. Has already earned $33 million and will earn over $13,000 per game for every game he sticks with the Bulls. Not bad for someone who is only 23.
Hope he can make a leap forward, though.

That’s an insane amount of money given what he’s produced in the league. Proud for him though. Hope the return home makes for a solid fit.