G League Call-up Candidates List Features Several Former Trail Blazers

Beginning today, NBA teams with open roster spots are able to sign players to 10-day contracts. That means several players grinding and shining in the NBA G League may soon get the call-up to join an NBA roster.

In anticipation of this date, Spotrac’s Keith Smith compiled a list of likely G League call-up candidates this season. The Portland Trail Blazers already have a full roster with 15 standard roster spots and three two-way contract spots filled, so it’s unlikely they’ll be in the business of calling up any of these names.

Still, Smith’s list included several players who used to play for the Blazers. From that angle, it was interesting to hear about these familiar names and their chances of returning to the NBA.

In the section titled, “G League Veterans to Watch,” Smith highlighted former Blazers centers Moses Brown and Ibou Badji, and former Portland forward Nassir Little. Brown appeared in 22 games for Portland last season and in nine games for the franchise during his rookie season in 2019-20. Badji appeared in 22 games for Portland last season while on a two-way contract.

Among these three, Little had the longest tenure with the Blazers. Portland drafted Little with the No. 25 pick in 2019, and he appeared in 192 games with the franchise between 2019 and 2023. Smith regarded Little’s return to the NBA as a foregone conclusion, writing the 24-year-old forward’s talent and attitude make him one of the G League’s best players.

NASSIR LITTLE – SIOUX FALLS SKYFORCE, SG/SF, 6’6’’, 24 YEARS OLD

Little is an NBA player. There should be no question about that. He’s already had productive NBA years and he’s still only 24 years old. What’s really encouraging is that instead of sulking about not being in the NBA, Little has gone to one of the G League’s furthest-flung outposts and just put in work. He’s been one of the best all-around players in the G League this year. He’ll be back on an NBA roster soon, and probably as more than just a 10 Day callup.

In another section, Smith looked at NBA veterans who aren’t in the G League but still could get called up to return to an NBA roster. Former Blazers guard Dennis Smith Jr. and forward Robert Covington were featured in this section. Smith Jr. appeared in 37 games for Portland during the 2021-22 season, while Covington played in 118 games for the Blazers from 2020 to 2022. Smith said some teams in need of extra defense and shooting have been monitoring Covington.

ROBERT COVINGTON – FREE AGENT, PF, 6’7’’, 34 YEARS OLD

Covington played in a couple of games for Team USA in AmeriCup Qualifiers in November. He looked good enough that a handful of NBA teams put him on their lists to keep an eye on. If Covington is willing to go the 10 Day route, don’t be surprised if a team with a need for some frontcourt defense and shooting gives him a look.

Smith’s list also included Greensboro Swarm forward Reggie Perry. Blazers trivia heads know that Perry appeared in nine games for Portland during the Great Tank of 2022. The 24-year-old Perry is catching attention for his aggression on defense and the boards, as well as his 3-point stroke.