Spurs claim Devontae Cacok off waivers, thwarting Nets plan to sign him to Long Island

The Long Island Nets acquired the G League rights to Devontae Cacok in a five-team trade Friday, but the 6’8” big man won’t be playing at Nassau Coliseum.

On Monday afternoon, the San Antonio Spurs claimed Cacok off waivers and signed him to a two-way contract, thus thwarting the Nets plans. Cacok will instead be playing mostly for the Austin Toros.

Long Island acquired Cacok’s rights from the South Bay Lakers Friday in return for those of B.J. Johnson and Long Island’s first round pick in the G League’s Draft on October 23. The Lakeland Magic will now control Long Island’s pick, the 20th selection, in the Draft.

Not long after the trade, Brooklyn waived Cacok, who had been on an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, from their roster. There was always a risk that another team could claim him and the Spurs did.

Cacok had been in competition for the Nets second two-way contract, but lost out to David Duke Jr. But the Nets were hoping to keep him in the Brooklyn organization. The Nets needed to acquire the former Laker’s G League rights in order to play him with Long Island. That’s because NBA teams are limited in converting Exhibit 10 contracts to G League deals.

In the past several days, the Nets have signed and waived four players who were on Exhibit 10s — Bryce Brown, Josh Gray, Jordan Bowden and Brandon Rachal. All are now bound for Long Island. That’s the most NBA teams can assign to their G League affiliates under league rules. So Brooklyn had to find a way to get Cacok to Long Island.