Following last week’s NBA G-League Expansion Draft, we warned you that the players selected by the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario wouldn’t necessarily end up on the team’s eventual roster. Several players had already signed contracts overseas, including Bryce Cotton and Will Cummings, who Chris Reichert of 2ways10days.com called “wasted picks” due to the likelihood that Cotton and Cummings will never return to the NBA G-League. The AC Clippers own the G-League “returning rights” of all drafted players for each of the next two seasons.

However, Reichert reported last Thursday that the Clippers quickly traded the rights to both players—Cotton and a second-round pick for LaDontae Henton, and Cummings for a first-round pick.

The picks involved in these trades are for the NBA G-League rookie draft, which will take place later in the G-League off-season.

Henton, a 6’6” forward, averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists last season for the Santa Cruz Warriors while shooting 38% from beyond the arc. He’s likely to be with ACCO next season, as are expansion draft picks Andre Dawkins, Corey Hawkins, and J.J. O’Brien. Jamil Wilson also figures to be a featured part of ACCO, as the Clippers both signed him to a two-way contract and selected him in the expansion draft, ensuring that he’d play in Ontario even if he is released from his contract with the NBA franchise. Reichert also praised Julian Jacobs, who should play for ACCO next season as a backup guard.

That gives the Clippers six players, plus two first-round picks in the coming 2017 rookie draft. Aaron Craft, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Youssou Ndoye are all playing overseas in 2017-18, but Reichert doesn’t label them as “wasted picks” due to their potential returns to the G-League for the 2018-19 season, when the Clippers would still own their returning rights.

I also believe that Marshall Plumlee is likely to join ACCO as the Clippers’ second two-way contract player.

Staff

According to an announcement from Clippers PR, the Agua Caliente Clippers’ staff has been finalized for the coming season.

Former NBA player Dee Brown will serve as ACCO’s General Manager, in addition to his existing role as the L.A. Clippers’ Director of Player Programs. Casey Hill, who was previously the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors, will be ACCO’s head coach, assisted by former LAC video scout Natalie Nakase, and former Salt Lake City Stars assistant coach Travis Walton. Nakase also played basketball at UCLA and has coached the Clippers’ Summer League team in the past.

D-League veteran coach/executive Scott Schroeder will be ACCO’s new Director of Basketball Operations. They also announced the additions of Colby Claridy as head athletic trainer, Elbert Denina as associate athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach, David Kenah as video coordinator, Eric Hodgin as athletic trainer and assistant strength and conditioning intern, and Gus Garza as the equipment manager and player development coach.