Utah Jazz G-League update: Stars bid adieu to Stone, acquire Washpun’s rights

The Utah Jazz may have stagnated in Dallas, but their G-League affiliate squad has made moves on and off the court this week.

Given the fact that the Utah Jazz just logged their second-worst loss in franchise history, a 50-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks, now seems like an ideal time to step aside and check in on the progress of a team that’s actually making some headway on the hardwood. Namely, Utah’s G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.

While their parent club’s continuity plan struggles to gain traction in the wild Western Conference, the Stars are coming off their third win in five tries. Also — they’re making substantial roster moves.

Let’s hit the hot stove first.

On Wednesday, the Stars traded their returning player rights to big man Diamond Stone to the Iowa Wolves in exchange for returning player rights to point-man Wes Washpun and a third-round pick in next year’s G-League Draft.

Stone, who was a second-round pick of the New Orleans Pelicans in 2016 and did time with the LA Clippers as a rookie, played well as part of the Jazz summer league squad in July. He posted averages of 11.2 points, 5.5 boards and one block per contest over six games.

The former Big Ten Newcomer of the Year at Maryland spent parts of the last two seasons with the Stars and put up 17 and seven per night, but hasn’t been a part of the team this season.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Washpun has been balling with Aguacateros of Michoacan in the Mexican LNBP. Between 2016 and 2018, he appeared in 77 games with Iowa and averaged 6.6 points, 2.8 assists and one steal per contest.

Washpun also did time in Germany and was the MVC Tournament MVP as a senior at Northern Iowa.

Time will tell, but I wouldn’t anticipate him joining up with the Stars any time soon.

Speaking of, the Jazz G-League crew improved to 3-2 with a 113-104 win over the South Bay Lakers at Bruin Arena on Thursday. It was the first time the Stars had beaten the Lakers since making the move from Boise to Salt Lake.

It wasn’t easy, though. Just when it looked like the Stars were pulling away, extending a halftime lead to 15 during the third quarter, South Bay put together a 16-0 run to take a one-point lead. Moments later, Salt Lake scored seven unanswered points to put themselves back in the driver’s seat.

The Stars went on to win the fourth quarter and the game.

Jazz two-way signee Naz Mitrou-Long messed around and almost got a triple-double, scoring 20 points, and adding 10 dimes and nine boards. Also: Willie Reed continued to look like the G-League’s best player, hitting a perfect 10-for-10 from the floor for 20 points of his own.

The Stars will be back in action on Sunday for a return engagement with the Lakers in El Segundo, CA.