Here is the latest on Nevada Alumni in the NBA
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It’s been a good couple of days for Nevada alumni as two former Wolf Pack players are enjoying some contract news. Jalen Harris has signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, according to the NBA’s transactions log. Meanwhile, Caleb Martin’s contract with the Charlotte Hornets became fully guaranteed during the weekend.
Harris was selected by the Raptors as the 59th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft to continue adding to the Toronto depth in the backcourt. The 6’5” guard is filling in the two-way spot left open by restricted free agent Oshae Brissett when he re-signed with Toronto on a multi-year, standard NBA deal. This is the same team that signed San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn to a rookie scale contract after being selected 29th overall.
ICYMI: Nevada alum Jalen Harris was selected with the 59th pick in the NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. Harris is the 16th Wolf Pack player to be picked in the NBA draft.
Full story: https://t.co/tUwEaX27aM pic.twitter.com/u8kNb44dj8
— Nevada Sports Net (@NevadaSportsNet) November 20, 2020
Harris began his college career at Louisiana Tech before joining the Wolf Pack. He averaged 21.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game as a junior through the 2019-20 season.
Martin, the 2017-18 MW Player of the Year, joined the Hornets as an undrafted free agent in 2019. His now guaranteed contract for the 2020-21 season is $1,517,981.
His twin brother Cody Martin, the 2017-18 MW Defensive Player of the Year, will be getting the same salary, which was already guaranteed. He was selected by the Hornets as the 36th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. They began their college careers at N.C. State before transferring to Nevada.
The Martin twins are both forwards, which will make it a difficult competition for playing time this upcoming season since it is the same position as Gordon Hayward, who is heading into his 11th NBA season and will likely be starting at small forward. The Celtics star left Boston and signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Hornets this offseason.
“You look at them, they look identical and most people in general lump them together… The more I’ve gotten to know them, their games and personalities are different."@sam_perley on the contrasts between @cody_martin15 and @Calebmartin14 📝https://t.co/5211Zh6QHO
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) October 8, 2020
More Nevada alumni updates: Los Angeles Lakers’ center JaVale McGee, who played with the Wolf Pack from 2006-08, was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in order for the Lakers to bring in center Marc Gasol.
“We set out w/ one goal in mind and accomplished it!” McGee wrote on an instagram post last week. “I’m excited for this new journey w/ the Cavs and can’t wait to bring the pedigree and caliber of play to the city of Cleveland that the fans will be proud of! Pierre 3Xs signing out!”
McGee enjoyed some good news recently as he was nominated for a Grammy for helping produce Justin Bieber’s album “Changes.”
