The NBA G League held it’s expansion draft for the 2017-18 season on Wednesday.
Selections were made by the Erie Bayhawks (Atlanta Hawks), Memphis Hustle (Memphis Grizzlies), Wisconsin Herd (Milwaukee Bucks) and the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario (Los Angeles Clippers), allowing each team to obtain the rights to a maximum of 11 players.
The teams will retain each player’s rights for two seasons.
Players eligible for the G League Expansion Draft came from a pool of players from the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. Each G League team from the 2016-17 season was allowed to protect up to nine players, while the four expansion clubs could select up to 11 unprotected players. No more than two players could be selected from any one G League team.
For the Austin Spurs, Cady Lalanne and Youssou Ndoye were the two selections in the G League Expansion Draft.
Lalanne, who recently signed in Italy with New Basket Brindisi, was selected in the 10th round by the Wisconsin Herd. Meanwhile, Ndoye was selected in the 11th round by the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. Former Austin Spurs/Oklahoma City Blue guard Bryce Cotton was also selected in the draft by the Clippers.
Both players took their talents internationally since their stint in the G League during the 2015-16 season. While we’ve covered Lalanne extensively since playing for the San Antonio Spurs Summer League team a few months ago, Ndoye’s quietly progressed into a reliable player.
Ndoye recently played for JL Bourg-en-Bresse of France’s second-tier basketball league, LNB Pro B. The 26-year-old Ndoye averaged 14.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for Bourg, helping them to a championship and a promotion to top tier LNB Pro A.
While both players were selected in the expansion draft, there’s no guarantee they will ever suit up for their respective teams.
Most players opt to sign more lucrative deals overseas, but if they ever return G League, the team that drafted them will retain their rights.
