Devontae Cacok: Nets

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images


On Wednesday afternoon, The Athletic/Stadium’s NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Los Angeles Lakers would waive guard Zach Norvell Jr, whom they had on a two-way contract. That spot will be immediately filled in by forward Devontae Cacok, who has spent the last month playing with the South Bay Lakers, their G League affiliate.

Although he entered the 2019-20 season facing high expectations after impressive showings in Vegas Summer League and the preseason, Norvell struggled during his first month in the G League. In 12 games with South Bay, he averaged 13.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 35% from the field and 34% from 3 on 7.9 attempts per game. Those numbers allowed him to maintain a 51% True Shooting Percentage.

At the same time that the former Gonzaga guard had a rough start to the season, the opposite was the case for Los Angeles’ newest front-court player. With South Bay, Cacok has averaged 16.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steal on 67% from the field in only 23 minutes per game. That impressive production has allowed him to maintain a 70% True Shooting Percentage.

So far this year, his production on offense has come from rolling to the paint, transition, on-ball driving, and putbacks. Among those traits, he does most of his work as a roll man. That makes a lot of sense as the 6’7, 240 pound forward is an excellent target due to his bigger frame, quick feet and ability to leap for go up for alley-oop slams. An example of that is evident below as our subject sets a screen for Gary Payton Jr, rolls to the paint and then can both catch and finish with a layup while in mid-air.

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You could see this coming for the young guy. High motor. Good luck.

 

I have not seen kid take an actual shot all his point are dunks lay ups putbacks .......am I missing something because 70% is impressive

 

Thought a lot of his motor in pre-season.

Hopefully we won't need him given our front court depth. But that energy is contagious, even if he's just practicing with the real squad, that could be good for both sides.

 

It would be huge to let him rub elbows with some all-time great talents to let him absorb as much as possible as he becomes a professional.

 

after seeing Miami SILVA being 6'8 and playing C

 

I don't know man. I watch his footage some of the highlight clips and at his size 6'7" - 6'8"? just am left .....



Just a shooter at the rim and energetic. And a really good rebounder apparently. OK. With Norville I could see his decent build for the game, nice stroke from deep and putting fools on skates and breaking ankles moves already. It was easier for me to see. So aside from his motor does he have freak arms too or something beside that to make him special at that size?

 

The rim is my playground

— Dwight (Probably)

 

kinda reminds me of sf ish ver of Montrez

 

I wonder if his play will successfully transfer to the NBA at that height

 

I see a version of A.C. Green.

 

If he worth giving any run to?

 

any updates on Talen Tucker? We could use his length, highlights look good just dont know his true impact on the gm, majority of those big game highlights of tucker always seem to show the team down big

 

G League player of the year is joining the big boys