Despite playing five minutes during garbage time of the New Orleans Pelicans’ 14-point victory over the Knicks on Monday night, rookie big man Cheick Diallo is on his way back to the NBA Development League. The assignment will be his third of the season, but the first with the Long Island Nets.
His first two trips to the D-League were with the San Antonio Spurs’ affiliate in Austin, Texas, and much like those two assignments, it’s hard to imagine this one lasting long. Most likely is that the team found a willing partner on the East Coast, where Diallo could get some playing time, and will snatch him right back when the Eastern Conference road trip is finished.