Valley Suns select 2 in team’s inaugural draft, former Sun Landry Shamet to WC Knicks

The Valley Suns took two players off the board in its inaugural NBA G League draft.

Washington product Nate Roberts fell to the team at No. 19 overall and Olin Carter III out of San Diego was drafted No. 50 in the second and final round.

Former Phoenix Suns guard Landry Shamet (2021-23) was selected No. 2 by the Westchester Knicks, after spending last season with the Washington Wizards.

Allonzo Trier, a former Arizona Wildcats shooting guard from 2015-18, returned to basketball as the No. 53 pick by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He had appeared in 88 games for the New York Knicks from 2018-20 and played for the Iowa Wolves (2020-21) after being waived.

Top 3 picks Matt Ryan, Landry Shamet, and Sean East II headline the 2024 NBA G League Draft.

Check out the full list of selections! pic.twitter.com/kxPRefU6gA

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) October 26, 2024

Nate Roberts – C / 6-foot-11 / 235 pounds

Roberts went undrafted in 2022 before playing for the Milwaukee Bucks affiliate, Wisconsin Herd for one season. The forward then spent last G League season with the Detroit Pistons affiliate, Motor City Cruise. The 24-year-old averaged 4.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and shot 50.0% in 18 games between the two clubs.

Roberts was a Husky for three seasons after redshirting his freshman year, averaging 4.4 points, 5.5 rebounds on 52.1% shooting across 77 games. The Washington D.C. native started all 58 possible games his final two years and posted two of his six career double-doubles to close the 2021-22 regular season.

Welcome to the Valley, @nateroberts__! 🏜️#TheRiseStartsHere | @nbagleague pic.twitter.com/f1jEWIaY1E

— Valley Suns (@GLeagueSuns) October 26, 2024

Olin Carter III – G / 6-foot-3 / 190 pounds

Carter was an undrafted commodity out of San Diego (2015-19) and got his G League career started in 2021 with the Dallas Mavericks affiliate, Texas Legends. After two seasons in Frisco, Carter competed for the Cleveland Cavaliers affiliate, Cleveland Charge, and altogether the guard averaged 7.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 32 games.

Carter closed out his time as a Torero with a selection to the All-WCC Second Team, while averaging 14.8 points and 37.5% from three-point country across 31 starts. He made 304 career three-pointers, which remains second in San Diego program history.

Welcome to the Valley, @_oc3_! 🏜️#TheRiseStartsHere | @nbagleague pic.twitter.com/HE0uvnaXER

— Valley Suns (@GLeagueSuns) October 26, 2024

2024-25 Valley Suns roster outlook post draft

John Little, a former assistant G League coach the last five years, will lead a Valley Suns squad featuring three two-way players of Jalen Bridges, Collin Gillespie and TyTy Washington Jr.

The team already added a majority of its depth, with 14 players added in June’s expansion draft. The respective players, including several with NBA experience like 2015 NBA Draft seventh overall pick Emmanuel Mudiay, are under Valley Suns control but are not guaranteed to play.

Valley Suns season is almost here

The Valley Suns, first announced as the Phoenix Suns’ new G League franchise in late May, will kick off the 2024-25 season on Nov. 8 at the Santa Cruz Warriors.

The team’s first home game at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena is set for Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. against the Stockton Kings.

The first version of the Valley Suns hardwood court was revealed on Oct. 14, and this season’s home and away jersey looks were made public three days later in the ramp-up to the first season in Tempe.

View the full schedule here.

Follow @pwmoses11