Jonathan Wasserman

Stephen Gosling/NBAE via The G League continues to help develop prospects into NBA players.
Based on last season's standouts and/or brief flashes after call-ups, we have highlighted seven names who deserve an early look or could emerge as regularly used bench options later in the year.
In certain cases, it may take an injury for a deep team to have a need for a G Leaguer. But we're mostly ignoring team situations for now, given how quickly they can change.
Instead, these are players who appear ready to graduate and make the jump, or who have a specific skill set that could lead to a plug-and-play fit.
We only looked at players who played more minutes in the G League than the NBA last year, regardless of whether they're signed to pro deals or not.

Colin Castleton, South Bay Lakers

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Current status: Two-way contract, Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers could look to Colin Castleton soon for backup center minutes.
He's coming off a strong summer league after averaging a double-double in the G League. And still, as efficient as he's been scoring from the post and finishing plays, it's the passing that's popped most.
Though the 24-year-old wouldn't be able to provide L.A.'s frontcourt with the same athletic ability as Jaxson Hayes, he could give it a different look with his ability to facilitate and even create for himself playing back to the basket.
He shows excellent patience and poise with the ball, along with impressive touch around the key.
At 6'10", 250 pounds, Castleton has flashed enough skill, IQ and size for shot-blocking to justify a call-up and the chance to earn minutes behind Anthony Davis.

Johnny Juzang, Salt Lake City Stars

Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Current status: Under contract, Utah Jazz
Johnny Juzang looked like a pro with the Utah Jazz late last season, after he averaged 20.5 points in 34 games for the Salt Lake City Stars.
He shot 41.6 percent from deep in 20 NBA appearances, and it's no question that the main draw to the 23-year-old is his shotmaking. He shot 45.6 percent on catch-and-shoot chances, per Synergy Sports .
Juzang also made 57.6 percent of his twos, though. He capitalized in transition and from off the ball, showing a good feel on his drives, touch in the lane and timing on his cuts.
Utah does have potentially higher-priority prospects to develop, including 2024 lottery pick Cody Williams and former first-rounder Brice Sensabaugh. But Juzang made a compelling case for minutes in both the G League and his 372 NBA minutes.

Leonard Miller, Iowa Wolves

Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Current status: Under contract, Minnesota Timberwolves
Shooting was considered a pre-draft swing skill for Leonard Miller, and he's made encouraging improvement with the Iowa Wolves.
A 6'10" wing or forward, he can be used in a variety of ways with his size, passing, slashing fluidity and shotmaking capabilities. He's shown he can handle in transition, attack closeouts in the half court or roll and pop off screens. A more reliable three-ball ultimately unlocks the scoring versatility that the Minnesota Timberwolves should covet.
Miller has also been an active rebounder dating back to his time with Ignite.
Minnesota did just draft Terrence Shannon Jr., who's over three years older than Miller. But its 2023 second-round pick deserves the first crack at joining the rotation, particularly if he's able to build on the progress he's made with his shot.

Taze Moore, Rip City Remix

Noah Graham/NBAE via Current status: Two-way contract, Portland Trail Blazers
Taze Moore was just rewarded a two-way contract after a strong year for the Rip City Remix, a pair of 10-day contracts with the Portland Trail Blazers, an MVP showing at the Canadian Elite Basketball League and a productive debut for G League United at the Fall Invitational.
The 6'5" guard packs exciting speed and explosiveness for blowing by and finishing above the rim. His value on the floor revolves mostly around rim pressure and energy. He's lightning in space or the open floor, and he mixes in effective footwork off the dribble to get to his spots and the basket.
Shooting has always held him back, but he's been effectively streaky with an ability to catch fire in a way that a non-shooter can't. He also averaged 5.5 assists, leveraging his quick first step and gravity into secondary playmaking.
Regardless, the ultimate draw to Moore stems from energizer potential as a change-of-pace guard who's highly active and constantly in attack mode.

Drew Peterson, Maine Celtics

David Dow/NBAE via Current status: Two-way contract, Boston Celtics
Finding an opportunity with the NBA champions would be difficult for any G Leaguer or two-way player. If we're just talking about prospects who've made a good case for a call-up, Drew Peterson looked the part with the Maine Celtics.
The 24-year-old offers an appealing mix of shooting and passing for a potential connector role. He triple-doubled twice last March. At 6'9", he shows an impressive comfort level making plays and passes as a pick-and-roll ball-handler.
Peterson compensates for limited athleticism with positional size, range, body control in the lane and unique playmaking ability for his height.
While he doesn't offer the same three-point volume or track record from deep as Sam Hauser, who the Celtics extended for $45 million, Peterson does provide a different layer of versatility with his live-dribble passing.

Hunter Tyson, Grand Rapids Gold

Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Current status: Under contract, Denver Nuggets
The No. 37 pick in 2023, Hunter Tyson spent last season putting up big scoring numbers with Grand Rapids Gold. He was one of the most productive shotmakers in the G League with 97 made threes in 28 games.
Tyson has a plug-and-play game, thanks to a comfort level from off the ball as a spot-up/ movement shooter and cutter. But at 6'8", 215 pounds, he also uses his size to capitalize inside the arc on drives and post-ups.
The Denver Nuggets could call on Tyson for extra spacing and positional physicality after he played just 48 total NBA minutes last year and put up 23.8 points per game with Grand Rapids.

Alondes Williams, Sioux Falls Skyforce

Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Current status:
His shot has improved since leaving Wake Forest, though it's the ability to put pressure on the rim that should drive his value. Aside from his nifty handle, change of speed and toughness finishing around the basket, he's demonstrated admirable playmaking ability to create a more balanced offensive attack.

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