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The NBA 2K League Expansion Draft took place Friday afternoon for 2020 franchises Hornets Venom GT and Gen.G. It also marked the opening of the trade window for all 23 teams. At the end of the day, five picks were made in the draft and six transactions were approved by the league office.

For the draft, Hornets Venom GT and Gen.G received three picks each. Both franchises had to select at least two players from the eligible player pool. A third pick was available if either team wanted to select a third player. Gen.G passed on selecting a third player and will retain its second-round pick in the 2020 NBA 2K League Draft.

The trade window opening for all teams meant that the NBA 2K League experienced its first “roster-mania”. Teams were allowed to trade any assets in contracted players and draft picks.

Expansion Draft results

Hornets Venom GT opened the draft after winning the lottery to have the first overall pick. Charlotte selected Xavier “Type” Vescovi as its first player in franchise history. Vescovi was a lock to be taken in the expansion draft with many mock drafts having him go first. The center averaged a double-double in 2019 for Warriors Gaming Squad with 12.3 points and 11.1 rebounds. He was also known for his defense with 2.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game and landed on the 2019 NBA 2K League All-Defensive Team.

Gen.G selected Christopher “TURNUPDEFENSE” Anderson with its first pick of the draft. Anderson lived up to his name last season by averaging 2.3 steals per game as a guard. Offensively, he scored 9.5 points per game while shooting 61.4% from the field. Anderson played an important role on a T-Wolves Gaming team that lifted the championship trophy in 2019.

With the third pick, Gen.G drafted Rashann “ZDS” Petty with intentions on trading him back to 76ers GC, his previous team. A trade was later approved by the league office that sent Petty back to Philly along with Gen.G’s 2020 third-round pick for 76ers GC’s first and second-round picks.

Charlotte took William “Strainer” Morales with the fourth pick of the expansion draft. Morales generated plenty of offense in 2019 for Cavs Legion GC. The guard averaged 15.9 points and 4.1 assists per game.

Hornets Venom GT rounded out its expansion draft by picking Moustapha “Mo” Saab with the fifth overall pick. Later in the day, Charlotte flipped Saab back to Mavs Gaming, his 2019 team, in exchange for its first-round pick in the 2020 draft. By selecting a third player, Hornets Venom GT relinquished its spot in the second round of next season’s draft.

Gen.G had the final selection and chose to pass on any eligible players. This decision ended the expansion draft.

Friday NBA 2K League trades

After Friday’s draft, four trades were approved by the league. In those four trades, five players and eight draft picks were involved.

Pistons GT traded Robert “May” May to Magic Gaming for the Magic’s first-round selection in the 2020 draft. May, protected by Pistons GT, averaged a double-double in 2019 with 11.5 points and 11.2 rebounds.

The same type of trade was later completed between NetsGC and Pacers Gaming. Brooklyn sent Nathaniel “NateKahl” Kahl to Indiana for its first-round pick. Kahl shot 68.3% from the field to average 11.9 points per game.

Hawks Talon GC and Kings Guard Gaming completed the only player swap of the day. Atlanta’s Connor “Dat Boy Shotz” Rodrigues was traded to Sacramento for Michael “BP” Diaz. The teams also swapped second-round draft picks while Kings Guard received Hawks Talon GC’s first-rounder. Sacramento sent its fourth-round pick to complete the trade.

Pacers Gaming shipped Ramo “Ramo” Radoncic and its second-round pick to Pistons GT to finish the night of trades. In return, Indiana received Detroit’s first and second-round picks in the 2020 draft.

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