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South Bay Lakers Josh Magette signs a two-way contract with Atlanta Hawks

By Shereen Rayan

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Rob Pelinka and draft pick Lonzo Ball talk to the media during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at the team training faculity in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 23: Magic Johnson, president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Rob Pelinka and draft pick Lonzo Ball talk to the media during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at the team training faculity in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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After playing three years straight for the South Bay Lakers in the D-League, point guard Josh Magette signs a contract with the Atlanta Hawks.

There were several players on the South Bay Lakers last season who turned heads. Vander Blue won D-League MVP for the entire season, Justin Harper got called up to the NBA, David Nwaba just signed a $1.8 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Josh Magette had another fantastic season.

Vander Blue is playing on the Lakers NBA Summer League team, and this feat has been a long time coming. Lakers head coach Luke Walton and assistant coach Jesse Mermuys both spent time attending their D-League affiliate games last season which is a great change from Byron Scott who never showed up.  Along with Walton, GM Nick Mazzella and President Joey Buss also showed up to several games. The Lakers front office is very serious about developing players, and they are proving it by bringing up Nwaba and putting Blue on the Summer League team.

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But the big news out of the South Bay Laker’s happenings is that point guard Josh Magette, who played on the D-Fenders for three years, just got signed to a two-way contract for the Atlanta Hawks and their affiliate the Erie BayHawks. Magette, who played for Alabama – Huntsville in college, started in all 50 games he played in averaging 15.8 points, 9.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He also averaged 19 points, 2.7 rebounds and 10.7 assists in the playoffs. Magette was supposed to play in the Orlando Summer League for the Indiana Pacers as well, but whelp? That’s not happening now.

Magette should be tripling his salary at least and be able to play in the G-League as well as the Hawks. He will only be allowed to play at most 45 days on the Hawks NBA team, but that is 45 days more than he played on the Lakers, so it is a win/win. South Bay Lakers head coach Coby Karl told the Lake Show Life that he wanted to get opportunities for his stars in the NBA, it was one of his top goals, so I’m sure he is proud and happy.

I caught up with the D-League All-Star Magette in Compton, California where he was playing for the Reapers in the Drew League. I couldn’t wait to congratulate him and was excited to be able to catch him possibly play one last time in Los Angeles.

The Drew league players usually resort to iso basketball, so it was interesting to see Magette try to adapt to this very aggressive and show-boating type of ball. On one play, Magette would throw a no-look pass, then cut to the basket completely open and hands up waiting for the ball. A classic give-and-go play, he gave and went, but never got it back and was wide open! That left all of us in the front row shaking our collective heads.

But as play continued, Magette’s teammates would depend on him to bring up the ball more and more until on every play, Magette was the man once more. Often compared to Steve Nash, Magette is a pass-first point guard who can shoot three’s, jumpers and rebound. You name it, Josh will try to get it done for his team.

The Atlanta Hawks fired their GM and hired Travis Schlenk from the Golden State Warriors. Enter Magette, and Atlanta fans who have never heard of Josh will eventually understand why he was signed, his heart, he leaves it all on the court each game.

Here are highlights from a game Magette played just this last April where he scored 30 points and dished 14 assists against the Rio Grande Vipers. That same month, he hit five three-pointers against the same team. The Vipers eventually beat the D-Fenders in the Playoffs then lost in the D-League Finals.

Must Read: More on NBA Summer League from the Lake Show Life..

NBA Summer League should be a ton of fun, and we will be there in Las Vegas to catch the two games against the Clippers and the Celtics, will you? It’s going to be a blast! And we wish Josh Magette a fantastic year next season and hope all his hopes and dreams are fulfilled. Thanks for the memories Josh!

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