NBA Notebook: Lamar Stevens confident he can make the Celtics' roster and help defensively

Henry Woo Jr. didn't believe Lamar Stevens would reach the NBA. 

Woo, the Illinois and South Korea native and former Division III basketball player, who broke into player development by sending former Magic center Khem Birch film as a favor through a mutual friend, heard from Stevens' agent that they had interest in working with him. So Woo decided to attend Stevens' game for his Cavaliers as he played on a two-way contract against Birch's Magic. 

"He was heavy in the post and played almost like a Charles Barkley type of player, it was very mid-post and in," Woo said. "He would shoot a three here and there, but his shot mechanics really didn't look great and he wasn't an elite level defender at Penn State. So I was like, 'it's hard for me to see how that would translate to the NBA' ... (but) he was guarding Terrence Ross, ... one of those guys at the time with the Magic who was one of the most prolific bench scorers in the NBA, and I saw Lamar just take him out of the entire game and I ended up keeping tabs on him the whole year."

Stevens transformed into a three-and-D wing with the Cavs, who invested in him throughout his rookie season where he shot 16% from three, and the team helped him develop into a player who could appear in 63 games and average 6.1 points per game while focusing on defense. Last year, Stevens' third in the NBA, he started 25 games as one of the Cavaliers' primary wings and helped Cleveland beat the Celtics in the March overtime game where Grant Williams said imma make both game-winning free throws. Stevens scored eight points and grabbed six offensive rebounds in the final quarter into overtime after Williams didn't hit either, heating up after sitting for the first three in an effort that undoubtedly captured Boston's attention. 

The Celtics signed Stevens to an Exhibit 9 training camp contract late this offseason as they aimed to maintain the kind of roster flexibility that led to the Jrue Holiday trade last week. Now, Stevens and Woo feel confident he'll make the roster, with Stevens forming a close-knit relationship with Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and flashing both his trademark physicality and improved shooting confidence across Boston's preseason games. The Cavs traded Stevens to the Spurs in the Max Strus sign-and-trade, making him ineligible to return after San Antonio waived him, while hoping a similar defensive player in Isaac Okoro develops. Cleveland's occasional starting forward will now come off the end of Boston's bench. 

"(He's) physical," Mazzulla said. "Makes us work. Smart. We went to a couple of things in the Philly game where he had the ability to execute coverages defensively. We went to a couple of sets that we're not used to running that he handled well, and so he competes at a high level and he's really smart learning and communicating the game." 

Stevens averaged 5.3 PPG and 3.3 RPG on 44.8% shooting last year, hitting 31.6% of his threes to set his career high. He also became integral to Cleveland's culture as part of the league's best defense. Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said following the March win over Boston that it wouldn't have happened without Stevens' efforts. The Cavs began awarding a junkyard dog chain to the player who flashed the most grit in a win. Stevens won several of them, saying he finished first or second on the team, including back-to-back ones over that March stretch. 

The traditional started when Stevens and others would bark following big plays on the bench, setting a culture for grittiness that he embodied on the team. He remembered other departments off the court with the Cavaliers buying into the chain too, which they'd award after a strong week of work by one of the team's marketing employees. A massive Cavs logo came attached to the chain, which the previous winner would award to the next while taking a team photo. He sees a similar mindset at Boston's practice.

"Just viewing (Mazzulla) in practice and how he goes after guys and just tries to pull the best out of him," Stevens said. "He's a fierce competitor and he's going to scratch and claw and do what's needed to be done, do the dirty work that's needed to be done to secure a win. I think I'm the same way. I'm ok with diving on the floor. I'm ok with taking charges or going for offensive rebounds or making an extra sprint to get a block or whatever. I think we're definitely made up from the same toughness mindset of doing whatever it takes to get a win." 

Woo and Stevens understood the importance of shooting in the NBA though, leading to his Cleveland departure despite Woo believing Stevens ranks among the top-10 defenders in the league. They began working on his shot after his rookie year by reviewing all 25 threes he attempted on film. It showed Stevens releasing the ball differently each time, leading to only four makes. 

Woo didn't believe in overhauling the form Stevens tried to stick to, especially since he liked what Stevens showed from 15 feet, where he shot 39.4% as a rookie. During their summer sessions, Stevens will shoot roughly 500 threes per day and 2,500 each week, or up to 3,000 if he adds a sixth day to his schedule. Woo said Stevens could reach the 35% threshold this year, but they're more focused on attracting attention to attack closeouts rather than hitting any specific number. 

"His rookie year, he really used his guide hand too much to push his shot and he never held his follow through," Woo said. "I think for guys who can't shoot, you have to give them some foundational habits that they can do every time. So they know, 'hey, this is what I'm supposed to be doing.' We focused on him holding his follow through, getting his guide hand out of his shot, changing his shot pocket to where it's coming straight up and down, and not really across his face." 

"He's worked tirelessly at it, he's been great. I give him a ton of credit and, he really went from someone who I remember, he said, 'I was uncomfortable shooting three so far and that adjustment form was so difficult,' to now... I know he was 1-of-5 (against the Knicks), I know it's 20%, (but) he makes one more. He's 40%. So I give him credit for even shooting five in even in a preseason game...I don't think he's ever shot five in any game in his career." 

Sam Hauser broke out of a shooting slump in Boston's win over Philadelphia on Wednesday and Svi Mykhailiuk rained in 6-of-11 threes so far in a hot start with the Celtics, Mykhailiuk also on a non-guaranteed deal vying for minutes. Oshae Brissett shot poorly to begin the preseason, but hammered home an impressive put-back dunk that officials erased late in Sunday's win at home. Stevens flushed his own, tracking a Payton Pritchard three that he caught off the rim and dunked with two hands. 

In three preseason appearances, Stevens scored 18 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and recorded an assist and a steal. He chose the Celtics this summer, despite the lack of any guarantee, because he thought he could provide some of the toughness outgoing players like Grant Williams and Marcus Smart provided. The competition remains high on the perimeter, but Woo imagines Stevens earning minutes with Boston's regular contributors for his ability to guard the league's best players. 

Stevens put that on display at the Danny Rumph Classic in his hometown Philadelphia and the Drew League over the summer, along with trainer Alex Bazzell's private LA runs where he lined up against Kevin Durant in front of celebrities like Drake. Devin Booker, Michael Porter Jr., Jalen Green and Chet Holmgren also participated in the scrimmages, and Durant missed 4-5 times straight while Stevens embraced defending him. Stevens didn't meet Drake, but his brother Louis did. Stevens focused guarding on-ball and navigating pick-and-roll coverages, while taking strides offensively as a dribbler.

"It's like playing in a big game in LA or Miami, same type of vibe," Stevens told Boston Sports Journal. "Getting a chance to compete against a high-level talent is something you don't take for granted. You want to put your best foot forward and learn what you can and just be a sponge in those opportunities while competing ... for Durant in particular, it's about not allowing him to just get easy catches where he wants, and also just making him take tough shots that you're anticipating, with a really good contest, and sometimes that's not even enough because he's really good." 

That'll require picking up Boston's complex screening system, something another competitor in Dalano Banton spent eight weeks learning this summer, but a conversation with Brad Stevens upon joining the roster convinced Lamar Stevens he could carve out a role on this team. Boston showed the most interest in him, Woo said, and vice versa. He arrived days before training camp, which required a fast track learning process with the team's coaching staff. Stevens didn't screen as often with Cleveland and mostly played the guard position when he entered the league as a cutter. 

Woo and Stevens went to the gym on Tuesday night in Philadelphia before the third preseason game to reassess his misses, finding more consistency on his form. In-season, they'll usually shoot closer to 100-150 made threes on the court together. Like many of his teammates, he's trying to figure out where his shots will come from, but Stevens never used to emphasize his own offense. He wouldn't even think about stats. Neither did Mazzulla while discussing the traits he's looking for from his array of forwards seeking to back up Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, almost describing Stevens' game, toughness, competitiveness, basketball IQ  -- and understanding your role.

"He wouldn't look too good with the team that's not trying to win," Woo said. "I think what he brings sometimes doesn't show up in a box score. You can kinda get caught up in a guy scoring four points and you're like, 'oh man, he didn't play well, he had four points,' ... he used to care less about stats. I have to hammer him on, 'hey, you still gotta score points,' but he doesn't, to his core, care about any of that stuff. He just wants to be a guy that impacts winning. He wants to help the team win. That's all he cares about him. Guys like that are invaluable to franchises that are trying to win a championship like the Celtics. He just felt like that was the best place for him and couldn't agree more." 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta: John Collins acknowledged constant trade rumors didn't help him find his footing late during his Hawks tenure, leading to his trade to the Jazz this summer as an effective salary dump. Teammates like Trae Young lamented Collins' loss over the past week, as Collins praised his new Utah locker room for its lack of ego and collective interest in winning. 

The Hawks now face a critical season following the deal, Trae Young and Clint Capela now the team's primary lob connection, while Onyeka Okongwu matched Young's 12 points, showing his offensive improvement. Rookie guards Kobe Bufkin and Seth Lundy hit shots, while Saddiq Bey and Jalen Johnson started the preseason opener in place of De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic. 

Boston: Kristaps Porziņģis shined while Jrue Holiday came off the bench in their preseason Celtics debuts, Porziņģis hitting a three on the first possession and contesting shots throughout while Holiday began 2-for-10. Holiday returned as a started on Wednesday in Philadelphia and fared better, while his defensive acclimation went far more smoothly in both games. Payton Pritchard averaged 21.3 points per game appearing in all three games, having just signed a four-year, $30 million extension last weekend. Two-way guard Jay Scrubb tore his ACL in practice this week. Anticipating a choice between Derrick White, Al Horford and even Holiday, according to Tim Bontemps, Joe Mazzulla sees Boston having multiple starting lineups this year. 

Knicks legend Jeff Van Gundy will join the Celtics as a consultant, attending meetings in Boston regularly, but he will not join the team's bench. 

Brooklyn: Harry Giles played his first game since 2021, dropping 16 points and 10 rebounds in an effort that excited Jayson Tatum. The Nets blew out Israel's Maccabi Ra’anana, but Ben Simmons' visible fluidity returning from back surgery and Giles' getting his legs under him previewed a season where strides by fliers will excite fans most. Simmons posted six points, six rebounds and nine assists in the win. Cam Thomas scored 26 points. 

Charlotte: Miles Bridges, already suspended for 10 games to begin this season over domestic violence charges, turned himself in after police issued an arrest warrant for allegedly violating a protection order. Court documents accuse Bridges of throwing billiard balls and smashing a car window that his two children were inside. The protection order against Bridges by his former girlfriend and mother of his children came as part of a no-contest plea by Bridges over the summer in response to multiple charges of domestic violence. The Hornets, who kept Bridges' rights as he sat in restricted free agency for the entirety of last season, brought him back on a one-year qualifying offer worth $7.9 million. Police released Bridges on $1,000 bond. The Hornets acknowledged the reports, and refrained from further comment. Charlotte also waived center Kai Jones, a 2021 first-rounder, following bizarre behavior. 

Cleveland: Started Max Strus at forward in their first two preseason games after acquiring multiple wings in the offseason to address their biggest weakness last offseason. Strus posted 13 points, six rebounds and five assists against Orlando on Thursday after a slower preseason debut against Atlanta. Rookie Emoni Bates hit a go-ahead three with 11 seconds left in their loss to the Hawks, which Trent Forrest answered for the win on the following possession. Bates posted 10 points, going 2-for-5 from three, before adding 12 in 12 minutes over the Magic. Damion Jones started in place of Jarrett Allen, who will miss at least two weeks with a left ankle bone bruise. 

Dallas: Lost to Real Madrid in an exhibition where former Madrid star Luka Dončić played only several minutes before succumbing to his left calf strain and Kyrie Irving sat out. Irving's groin soreness worsened, Jason Kidd said, with both stars likely done for the preseason as they ramp up for opening night. Grant Williams posted eight points and nine rebounds, while former Celtics Guerschon Yabusele and Vincent Poirier poured 37 points and 19 rebounds on Dallas' front line while Poirier blocked six shots. Dončić vowed to return to Madrid, as Nico Harrison promised Dallas will play there again within three years. Dončić joined Real Madrid at 16 and played there for three seasons before Dallas drafted him No. 3 overall in 2018. 

"I was waiting for this game all summer," Dončić said. “With the exception of not being able to play more, it was all very special. The whole day was very special.”

Denver: Michael Malone's father Brendan Malone died at 88 this week, a prominent assistant who coached the Detroit Pistons' defense during the 1988-1995. Brendan later became the first head coach in Toronto Raptors history, and continued to coach, primarily as an assistant, until 2016 across various organizations. He reached the Finals in 1999 on Jeff Van Gundy's Knicks staff, and later served as an assistant to Michael on the Kings. 

Gregg Popovich called Malone over the summer when he saw Nikola Jokić front-flip into a river in July as part of his championship summer in Serbia. 

"What the hell is your guy doing?" Popovich asked about Jokic, according to Malone. "I've been in that river, man. What is he, crazy?"

Detroit: Killian Hayes seemed out of Detroit after the team added multiple guards this summer, but a strong preseason and training camp pulled him back into the Pistons' backcourt picture. He averaged 14.5 PPG and 5.0 APG, while grabbing six steals in the first two preseason games and shooting 57.1% from the field. Jalen Duren is squarely the team's starting center ahead of opening night, with Detroit excited about his facilitating skills.

Golden State: Chris Paul called his transition to the Warriors seamless in an NBC podcast appearance. Despite concerns about his fit in Golden State's system, Paul credited his two decades of experience and multiple team changes so far in that career with allowing him to play alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green's motion offense built more around handoffs than pick-and-roll. Paul posted six points, four rebounds and five assists in a brief preseason debut in the starting lineup, as more optimism builds that the Warriors could find a way to make this work. Yet skepticism still feels warranted. 

"I got 19 years of experience," Paul said. "The game hadn't changed unless they started shooting with something different.... I feel like, what I've been fortunate is this isn't my first time changing teams. It's not the first time I've heard outside noise, so every time I change teams, everyone says 'it's not gonna work.'"

Houston: Referees ejected Dillon Brooks minutes into his Rockets preseason debut against the Pacers for colliding below the belt with Daniel Theis before Alperen Şengün, Cam Whitmore and Jabari Smith Jr. delivered a blowout win with double-figure scoring efforts. Smith Jr., my preseason favorite for most improved player, poured in 22 points in an even larger win for Houston over the Pelicans. Ime Udoka's defensive emphasis shined in both exhibitions, which will clearly become the team's calling card as it juggles multiple lineups and game plans to turn the Rockets' recent losing around.

Indiana: Aaron Nesmith flashed a more rounded offensive game, scoring 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting against the Rockets on Tuesday after assessing his weaknesses over the offseason. Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker arrived in the meantime to challenge him for the power forward minutes he dominated on a team that's greatest weakness centered around that position. Nesmith expects to move to the small forward spot, making more reads and driving from above the three-point line rather than banging, rebounding and focusing on defense like last season. Pacers adviser and Celtics legend Larry Bird recently remembered his greatest moments in a segment with NBA Top Shot. 

Clippers: The growing construct for a James Harden trade to the Clippers involves LA acquiring more picks and assets from a third team that the 76ers can utilize to pull off a trade for a new all-star guard. Adrian Wojnarowski expects the Clippers to become more active with those efforts in the coming weeks, while Terance Mann remains off limits as Harden's focus remains fixated on LA and no other suitors have emerged for the Sixers star. That leverage could push negotiations into the season, as neither side faces urgency to finalize a deal with an aggressive overture. No apparent star to replace Harden will become available in the immediate future either, and it's hard to imagine one like Zach LaVine pushing Philadelphia into contention. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George made their returns to from their injuries in the spring, combining for 19 points in each of a pair of exhibitions against Utah. 

“Downside of it is, we still don’t know plays," Leonard said. "Some of the guys don’t know the plays so when we get back to practice we really got to focus on that. We can’t have the same, you know, downfall that we did last year. We have to start it now and be able to build and adjust once we get down into April.”

Lakers: Anthony Davis scored 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting with five rebounds and a pair of threes in his latest preseason game against the Warriors. The shooting spurt should encourage the team, as Davis' erratic shooting, the worst among volume shooters in the league since 2020, played into the Lakers' floor spacing inconsistency last season. LA showcased far more prowess behind the three-point line with its new-look roster (16-34), with Gabe Vincent and Cam Reddish sitting out the exhibition. Christian Wood praised the Lakers' coaching staff's ability to put him in positions to succeed. LeBron James, who played in his second game of training camp, scored 12 points in 18 minutes before grabbing an early dinner on the bench. 

Memphis: Marcus Smart (abdominal) will likely miss the preseason as he ramps-up toward the team's regular season opener while Steven Adams remains day-to-day in his return from last season's knee injury. Smart praised the team's defensive culture, and said they can lead the league on that end. The NBA determined Ja Morant can practice and travel with Memphis as part of his re-acclimation to the team during his 25-game suspension.  

“Here’s a 24-year-old kid, he’s figuring it out as he goes as a young man in the league,” NBA executive Joe Dumars. “Incredible talent. And early on in his career, a lot has come his way. I personally think the worst thing you can do is completely ostracize this kid from everything with his team.

Miami: Jamal Cain quietly shined in a short-handed Heat effort against the Spurs, scoring 24 points and 10 rebounds while most tuned in to watch Victor Wembanyama. Cain played on a two-way deal early last season and competes among another unsung roster trying to thrive in spite of the team's inability to land Damian Lillard. Dru Smith, Orlando Robinson, Cole Swider and Duncan Robinson scored double-figures in the loss, while former Celtics big man Justin Champagnie grabbed 11 rebounds. Jimmy Butler, who guest edited Sports Illustrated's preseason issue, missed the game with a dental procedure and hasn't played yet this preseason. 

Milwaukee: Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will make their preseason debuts on Sunday against the Lakers after sitting out the early Bucks preseason games. Adrian Griffin emphasized physicality in practices leading up to the team's first full effort, with Jae Crowder trying to break into a rotation he fell out of last postseason after Milwaukee traded five second-rounders to acquire him from Brooklyn. Crowder led the Bucks' offense with 14 points in their loss to Memphis and MarJon Beauchamp's 18 points led a win over the Bulls. Those two players will need to provide the team's wing depth, shooting and especially defense and rebounding while Khris Middleton ramps back up into action. Middleton said he's on track for opening night.

"That’s the plan. I mean, sometimes things change, but so far, I’ve been on pace with everything that I’ve been doing," he said. "So we’ll go over the schedule again, see where I’m at, see how I feel. Just keep tracking things that way. I don’t want to set a hard date of when I’ll be out there because it’s all feel and comfort. And they’ve been doing a great job of making sure every step of the way I’ve been feeling great and feeling like myself and so far I have been." 

New Orleans: Zion Williamson struggled in his first action since January, scoring four points with four rebounds and two assists on three shots in 22 minutes. He allowed 22 points as the primary defender on Jabari Smith Jr., raising concerns about his defense that existed in his past successful spurts of play too. Beyond his health, key complementary teammates beginning the season injured doesn't bode well for a smooth Williamson return, however much you weigh a preseason performance. The Pelicans plan to ease the burden on Williamson offensively by implementing Warriors elements into their offense. Namely, they want to put him in positions off the catch as a threat, whether in the short roll, high post or threatening to post-up, then passing. 

“He’s a really smart basketball player. He understands spacing. He understands when to attack. When to make the right play,” CJ McCollum said. “I thought we had some pretty good possessions.”

New York: Jalen Brunson and Immanuel Quickley impressed against Boston's second unit, as the Celtics sat their entire top six in a back-to-back preseason trip to New York on Monday. The Celtics will host the Knicks on Tuesday, giving them a chance to weigh their new-look roster against a confident array of New York scorers, also including RJ Barrett and new addition Donte DiVincenzo. All four players reached or approached double-figures, with Tom Thibodeau projecting Brunson to emerge further as the group's leader. New York challenged Boston as fiercely as any team last year.

Elsewhere, Julius Randle signed a sneaker deal with Sketchers and the New York Post made the case for extending Thibodeau before his contract expires in 2025. Josh Hart hasn't played yet in the preseason, with no official injury designation, reportedly limited in practice and banged up. 

Oklahoma City: Chet Holmgren scored 21 points with nine rebounds in a battle of the titans with Victor Wembanyama to tip-off the preseason, going to work in 16 minutes of defense and powerful rolls to the basket. Holmgren looked stronger after missing his first full season with an ankle injury, blocking a shot and finishing 7-for-10. He hit both threes he attempted, adding to the intrigue he could challenge Wembanyama for rookie of the year and propel the Thunder into the west playoffs as the league's surprise team. He went on to score 16 points in 21 minutes against Detroit. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made ESPN's top-10 list, ranking just behind Jayson Tatum among the league's best players, adding to the intrigue of this group. 

Philadelphia: James Harden spoke for the first time this preseason, sitting out both of the team's games against the Celtics as Nick Nurse assured he's approaching action ahead of the team's opener in two weeks. Harden reiterated his desire for the team to trade him, emphasizing a fractured relationship with Daryl Morey, who he did not name. He does not see those ties reestablishing in the future, as Harden pictured himself retiring in a 76ers uniform and said the team didn't support his intention to remain with the team. Harden has participated in training camp activities with the team, but a split looms. 

“It’s not even about this situation. This is life,” Harden said. “When you lose trust in someone, it’s like a marriage. When you lose trust in someone, you know what I mean? It’s pretty simple.”

Phoenix: The Suns scored 46 points in their first half together on the way to a 130-126 win over the Pistons that displayed the new core's offensive firepower and defensive limitations. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined for 35 points in 13-15 minutes, while Jusuf Nurkić scored five alongside them. Grayson Allen, Chimezie Metu, Saben Lee and Yuta Watanabe all scored double-figures off the bench, with Josh Okogie starting alongside the team's stars through the first two games. Nassir Little and Eric Gordon received opportunities on Thursday, Gordon dropping 20 points. 

Sacramento: Worth monitoring after they struggled in two preseason games, Mike Brown noting offensive changes and challenges to the group in training camp after they leaned almost entirely on that side of the ball last season. He also emphasized rookie Sasha Vezenkov will need to earn his minutes, starting and shooting 3-for-10 against the Lakers as one of only four double-figure scorers in the loss. Only three did so against Toronto. 

"I'm making it hard for the guys right now because I truly believe that in order to have some long-term success, everybody from myself to the rest of the staff, specifically the players, they have to be put in uncomfortable positions and try to figure it out," Brown said. "Offensively, we're playing out of our flow. We've got two things in offensively that we're playing a lot out of and as we go along we may add some stuff."

San Antonio: Victor Wembanyama combined for 42 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks across his first two preseason games, the latest against the Heat's second unit a mesmerizing display where he hammered a left-handed dunk by stretching his arm over Thomas Bryant's head, flashed more smooth dribble moves and caught an alley-oop starting from the three-point line when Tre Jones made the pass. Wembanyama edged out Chet Holmgren in their first duel and looks every bit the game-changing player analysts projected as he rose through France to become the most hyped No. 1 prospect since LeBron James. Shooting, passing, health and physicality will all stay worth monitoring, as will the quality of the Spurs roster around him, but he's going to be must-watch television in every game he plays in this year.

Toronto: Jake Fischer reported that the Raptors do not prefer to sign Pascal Siakam to an extension, which could change his stance on not committing to any team that would trade for him entering the final year of his contract. Siakam can make nearly $200 million over four years by extending with Toronto, but wouldn't lose much, if any, money by landing in a new situation when accounting for taxes and other factors. Still, the best option for Siakam financially remains re-signing with Toronto next summer, making his loyalty to the organization so far understandable. It's hard to see it lasting. 

Utah: Still debating numerous point guard choices, including Collin Sexton, curiously ranked ahead of Derrick White in ESPN's top-100, Talen Horton-Tucker, long-time Danny Ainge favorite Kris Dunn, along with rookie Keyontae George. Jordan Clarkson will likely fill a sixth man role with the team as he has for most of his career. Expectations remain high in Utah despite changes, as Will Hardy hopes to make the rebuilding process short. 

“As a staff, we have a lot of work to do in order to determine to figure out what the groups can and should be,” he said.

Washington: Danilo Gallinari returned to the floor for his first official action since tearing his ACL last summer, scoring four points in 12 minutes against the Hornets off the bench while Daniel Gafford returned to his starting center role. Rookie Bilal Coulibaly became the game's story though, expected to earn steady minutes after showing poise in training camp. They haven't ruled out G-League reps either, after he scored 12 points in 28 minutes Thursday.