Nine former Michigan basketball players land on NBA rosters to begin 2022-23 season
Nine former Michigan Wolverines basketball players will begin the 2022-23 season on NBA rosters. Several others will play in the G League.
There was quite a bit of movement surrounding former Michigan players ahead of the season. Veteran guard Trey Burke was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Houston Rockets earlier in the offseason, before being moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Amidst a rebuild, the Thunder waived Burke, who will now look for a new home.
Forward DJ Wilson joined the Toronto Raptors late last season, appearing in four games, but was waived a few days before final roster cuts. He, too, is searching for a new organization.
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Former Michigan guard Chaundee Brown was waived by the Atlanta Hawks, picked up by the San Antonio Spurs and then released. He’ll likely play with their G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, per reports.
Zavier Simpson, another former Michigan guard, will also likely be featured in the G League this season. He made his NBA debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder at the end of last year and signed with the Orlando Magic this offseason. He did not make their roster, though.
Michigan has a few rookies looking to make their mark. Guard Caleb Houstan (Orlando Magic) and forward Moussa Diabate (Los Angeles Clippers) were second-round picks, and guard Eli Brooks was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Indiana Pacers.
After participating in the NBA Summer League and going through training camp, Brooks was waived by the club. He will play for the team’s G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Opening night in the NBA is Tuesday, Oct. 18. Former Michigan guard Jordan Poole will be in action, with his Golden State Warriors set to take on the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.
Here’s a look at the former Michigan basketball players who made final cuts ahead of the 2022-23 campaign:
Moussa Diabate (played at Michigan from 2021-22), F, Los Angeles Clippers
The rookie and No. 43 overall draft pick made some big plays in the preseason, including a posterizing dunk. He’ll be on a two-way contract to start the season, according to a report. He’s in line to potentially fill some minutes as a backup center, though head coach Tyronn Lue has indicated that playing small-ball could also be an option when Ivica Zubac is off the floor.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks guard played in 42 games during the 2021-22 campaign before suffering a season-ending foot injury. He’s been a participant in training camp and the preseason, ready for his 10th NBA season. He’s expected to be a key contributor once again this season.
Caleb Houstan, (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic
Houstan is looking to carve out a role as the youngest player on the second-youngest team in the league. The former Michigan wing made the Magic roster ahead of the campaign.
Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers
The former Michigan guard was traded from the Indiana Pacers to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the end of last season. He played 19 games with 10 starts for his new team, which made the NBA’s play-in tournament.
He’s competing for the starting small forward spot on a talented roster that includes guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, who was acquired from the Utah Jazz, and frontcourt players Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
LeVert, 28, has one season left on his contract that will pay him nearly $18.8 million this year.
Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Detroit Pistons
The former Michigan forward missed most of his rookie campaign with a foot injury he suffered late in his senior season with the Wolverines. But when he was on the floor, he made an impact, appearing in 19 games with five starts. Livers was one of the Pistons’ top players in the Summer League and will play the role of a backup wing this year.
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“I wanted to build off those last 19, 20 games,” Livers told The Athletic recently. “Coaches and everyone seemed to love the way that I was playing. It was working effectively. I wanted to build off of that, so I worked on a lot of on-ball stuff, coming off handoffs, drags and bringing the ball up.
“They’re situations I may or may not be in, but I wanted to prepare myself for whatever Coach [Dwane] Casey might throw at me. I wanted to be prepared for everything, whether ballhandling, pull-up jump shots, post-ups, fadeaway … little things like that.”
Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Golden State Warriors
The fourth-year Golden State Warriors guard and 2021-22 NBA champion signed a multi-year contract extension reportedly worth a guaranteed $123 million over the course of the deal. It can stretch its way to $140 based on incentives, though some, like winning MVP ($1 million), will be difficult to obtain.
Poole started 51 of his 76 games and averaged 30 minutes per contest during the regular season a year ago. He averaged 18.5 points, 4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game, while shooting career-highs from the field (44.8 percent), long range (36.4 percent) and the free throw line (92.48), which led the league. In the postseason, the Michigan man registered 17 points, 3.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds per contest, and shot 51.2 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from three-point range.
Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Miami Heat
He lost his starting spot to Max Strus late last season, and it’s unclear how big of a role he will play this season. The former Michigan sharpshooter took some time away from the game during the offseason but also worked hard, focusing on becoming a better defender and adding to his tools on offense.
“Just based off of how last year went — lots to learn from, lots to grow from,” Robinson said this preseason. So just to be very discerning over what it is I want to take with me, what I want to take from the experience and how I can actually be resourceful and use it to better myself, better the team, better myself as a player.”
During last year’s regular season, Robinson averaged 10.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per night, and shot 37.2 percent from three-point range, his lowest clip since his rookie campaign in 2018-19 and down 3.5 points from his 40.8 mark in 2020-21.
Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic
The 2021-22 All-Rookie first-team member is primed for another outstanding year with the Orlando Magic. The former Michigan wing averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per outing a year ago and will start for his team again this year.
Moritz Wagner (2015-18), F/C, Orlando Magic
Wagner appeared in 63 games last season, averaging 9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per clash. He is expected to play a reserve role this year.
He suffered a sprained ankle in the Magic’s Oct. 14 preseason game and may miss some time at the start of the regular season.
