Spurs assign Davis Bertans, Derrick White to G-League
By Rob Wolkenbrod
The San Antonio Spurs sent Davis Bertans and Derrick White to the G-League.
Through seven games, the San Antonio Spurs’ rotation has taken shape. Some players found extra time after Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker’s injuries, while others sat on the bench and barely played.
On Tuesday, the Spurs cleared two spots on their bench. The team’s official website announced that Derrick White and Davis Bertans were assigned to the organization’s G-League team, the Austin Spurs.
White only saw time in three of the seven games, playing a combined 17 minutes. He had 0.3 points and 1.7 rebounds. The Spurs selected him at No. 29 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Bertans was mostly a regular for San Antonio in 2016-17, but mostly failed to crack the rotation to start the season. He already received a DNP-Coach’s Decision in three games, while averaging 7.8 minutes and 2.3 points in the four matchups he’s played in.
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Via ESPN (h/t News4SanAntonio.com), head coach Gregg Popovich said White would be polishing the bench this season. He noted the lack of room at the end of the rotation, which could have led to this assignment. Austin should give him the Colorado product plenty of opportunities for playing time, getting seasoned and ready for whenever the big club needs him.
This won’t be Bertans’ first rodeo in Austin. He played four games for them in 2016-17, a number that wouldn’t be surprising to see increase. Offseason signing Rudy Gay took over the stretch four role, leaving the Latvian forward expandable for a G-League assignment.
While Bertans should receive regular playing time in Austin, his demotion comes at an interesting time. The Spurs haven’t had Joffrey Lauvergne for the past week due to an ankle injury. This move may mean he’s ready for Thursday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, however.
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Now, it’s time to see how Bertans and White perform in the G-League, and when the Spurs decide to call them up.