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NBA D-League Update: Howell, Brown, Fells, Costner and More

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Richard Howell

Last week, Gino Pilato of D-League Digest broke the news that Richard Howell bought out the rest of his contract with the Idaho Stampede. As one of the top-producing big men in the league, he is leaving to play with the Talk’n Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association

After hearing this, I reached out to Rich in order to determine the reason. After a couple of days of phone tag, Rich texted me with the reason he is leaving the Stampede—and the reason he had been too busy to chat.

“Basically, I just need to provide for my two little girls,” Howell said in a text. “In France [where he played earlier in the summer], I was making good money. I came to the D-League and, to my standards, I needed more money that what I was making.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the NBA, which is the reason I came back to the states. At the end of the day, I want to provide anything that my girls want, and I can’t do that in the D-League.”

Currently, Howell is in Raleigh, spending time with one of his daughters. He will be leaving for the Philippines on Feb. 10.

Other Players Still in the League

Brandon Costner, Los Angeles D-Fenders
(Current Stats: 12 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 34 FG%)

Though he is averaging the worst point total and shooting percentage of his D- League career, Costner is heating up as of late. The 6’9” power forward has scored over 10 points in eight of 11 games in January so far.

Lorenzo Brown, Delaware 87ers
(Current Stats: 17.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.8 apg)

Brown continues to seesaw from the 87ers and the Philidelphia 76ers, even playing for both teams in one day. But, fortunately for him, it has not affect his production. Brown has scored over 20 points in three of his last six games.

Courtney Fells, Austin Toros
(Current Stats: 15.1 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.8 apg)

Courtney Fells has been a constant producer for the Toros. Fells has seen an uptick in production lately, averaging 18 points over his last eight games, and scoring over 20 points three of his last six games.

Dennis Horner, Springfield Armor
(Current Stats: 15.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.1 apg)

After a disappointing 2012-13 season where he averaged 12 points, Horner has his career back on track. Horner was last in the NBA in March 2012 with the Nets. He has scored at least 20 points and 10 rebounds over his last two games.

C.J. Leslie, Erie BayHawks
(Current Stats: 12 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 45.7 FG%)

When we last checked in with Leslie, his play was sporatic. That hasn’t changed so far. Though he has had a couple 20-point games this season, he has yet to develop a consistent touch. In his last game against the Iowa Energy on Jan. 26, he went scoreless. This D-League experience is at least doing something positive for his career: keeping him off a terrible Knicks team.

C.J. Williams, Los Angeles D-Fenders
(Current Stats: 13.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)

Williams has been relatively quiet this season, but he recently exploded onto the scene. He has scored over 15 points in four of his last five games, and, in his last game on Jan. 27, he scored 36 points of 15-20 shooting from the field, going 4-7 from behind the arc.

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T-Wolves Sign Former NC State Forward TJ Warren for Remainder of the Season

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Back during the first week of March, former All-ACC NC State Forward TJ Warren signed a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. After finding success as a scoring option off the bench, the T-Wolves signed him to another 10-day contract.

With only 11 games remaining in the regular season, Minnesota went ahead and signed him for the rest of regular season yesterday.

In the 7 games Warren has played for the T-Wolves, he has averaged 4.1 points per game in 14.0 minutes of play, shooting 47.8% from the field and 38.2% from beyond the arc.

Warren has not played in Minnesota’s past two games, but he has a chance to prove his worth once again tonight in the T-Wolves matchup vs. the Pistons. As things currently stand, Minnesota sits in 3rd place in the Western Conference.

Here’s a look at the former ACC Player of the Year’s stats over 10 seasons.

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Former NC State All-American Nyheim Hines Signs 1-Year Deal With Cleveland

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Former NC State All-American Nyheim Hines has signed a 1-year deal with the Cleveland Browns worth up to $3.5 million.

Maybe Cleveland will use Hines to his full potential. If you’re not using him as a Swiss Army Knife in the passing game, you’re wasting an opportunity.

The former All-ACC Running Back Hines missed all of last season due to a torn ACL he suffered in a boating accident.

This will be Hines’ 7th season in the NFL.

When you look at what former NC State players have done in the NFL, Hines ranks in the Top-10 in Rushing and Receiving.

His 1,015 rushing yards ranks 7th in school history and his 10 rushing touchdowns rank 9th. Hines’ 240 receptions rank 8th and his 1,778 receiving yards rank 10th.

In the return game, he’s one of the best to represent NC State in the NFL as well. His 1,015 punt return yards ranks 2nd in school history and his 817 kickoff return yards rank 6th. Hines’ 2 punts returned for TD’s ranks 3rd, and his 2 kickoffs taken to the house ranks 1st.

 

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Former NC State Quarterback Jacoby Brissett Signs 1-Year Deal with Pats

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Former NC State Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is signing a 1-year deal with the New England Patriots, rejoining the team that drafted him in the 3rd Round back in 2016.

The deal is worth $8 million.

After the Pats traded away Quarterback Mac Jones to the Jaguars yesterday, it’s abundantly clear what they are planning to do with the 3rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

After winning a Super Bowl in his lone season in New England in 2016, Brissett went on to spend 4 seasons in Indy, before spending the next 3 seasons in 3 different cities: Miami, Cleveland and Washington.

Brissett has had a great career as a backup Quarterback through 8 seasons in the NFL, playing in 79 games (starting 48), throwing for 10,574 yards and 51 touchdowns, with 23 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 85.3.

Brissett ranks 5th in NC State history in career passing yards and touchdowns, and 3rd in QB Rating by a former Wolfpack player in the NFL.

Prior to making a dime from New England in 2024, Brissett has made $50.9 million through his first 8 seasons in the league.

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Former NC State Defensive Tackle Justin Jones Signs with Arizona

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Former NC State Defensive Tackle Justin Jones (2014-17) has signed a 3-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

The deal is worth a total of $30.1 million, with $19.75 million guaranteed.

Jones spent the past two seasons in Chicago, where he started in every game, recording 101 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

In 2018, Jones was taken in the 3rd round by the Chargers. After playing in 15 games as a reserve as a rookie, Jones started for the Bolts for the next 3 years before signing with the Bears.

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