Scott Adamson, Author at Adamsonmedia.com

Pelicans, Squadron look to help each other

**T.J. Saint enters his second season as head coach of the Squadron in 2023-24. (photo courtesy of Birmingham Squadron)**

The job of an NBA G League team is to develop players and do so within the system utilized by the parent club. And if the understudies win a lot of games along the way, that makes things even better.

As the 2023-24 season approaches, the Birmingham Squadron – the New Orleans Pelicans’ affiliate – has the tools in place to check all of those boxes.

**Scott Adamson writes stuff. Follow him on Threads @sladamson1960 and Adamsonmedia on Facebook.**

“I think one of the things that’s the most important for us is you have to be at a point in your evolution where you can really use the G League team,” Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said earlier this week. “What we’ve had going on in the past, unfortunately, some of it was injury-induced. And then some of it was just a young team developing the guys that you would ordinarily like to say will be staples with the Squadron, but have been playing meaningful minutes with us.

“And I think we’ve reached the point now where we have a level of depth of quality young players that we can feel really comfortable assigning, guys like (guard) Dyson Daniels and (guard) Kira Lewis. I think we’re in a place now where we’ll be able to assign young players of that ilk to be really positive players.”

T.J. Saint is entering his second season as head coach of the Squadron, and spent Saturday morning overseeing local player tryouts at the Lakeshore Foundation.

“We’re extremely balanced as a team,” Saint said. “Technically, right now, we have two roster spots to fill. One of those will for sure be filled through the (G League) draft (on October 28). And to be quite honest, the second could come very well come from the local player tryout here. We’ve got 60-plus players signed up and I really, really appreciate guys who are going after their dream or goal, and honestly, who believe in themselves. It’s just really cool to see.”

This season G League teams will be allotted three two-way players. Guard Dereon Seabron was the Squadron’s lone active two-way player in 2022-23 since power forward E.J. Liddell was sidelined by a torn ACL and missed all of last year. Seabron averaged 18.4 points per game for Birmingham during the regular season and 14.3 points during the in-season tournament (Showcase Cup) portion of the schedule.

“What’s really neat for us is we’re finally at a point in our development where the players that we have on two-way contracts we anticipate we’re going to be able to send to Birmingham,” Griffin said. “(Center) Liam Robbins, who was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Vanderbilt, is a player that we anticipate will be with us at that point. He’s certainly going to be part of training camp … he’s looked tremendous here in our gym.

“(Center) Trey Jemison, who finished last season with UAB and Coach (Andy) Kennedy, will be coming back with us, and both of those guys will add some size to the Squadron team. Since Zach Hankins (now with Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier league) left us, that’s something we’ve sorely needed.”

Griffin adds that the relationship between the Pelicans – who finished 42-40 a year ago and lost their play-in game to Oklahoma City – and Squadron should be more reciprocal during the G League team’s third season in the Magic City.

“There’s Dereon Seabron, who was a tremendous member of the Squadron last year and is with us as a two-way player,” Griffin explained. “We don’t need him to be able to play minutes immediately with us, and so he’ll be able to continue his progression there, which excites us. Liam’s got the potential to be a meaningful NBA center on both sides of the floor. So, getting to leave a player of that caliber there is good for us and will be significant for the development of the Squadron. Whereas before we couldn’t use it like that, we’re at a critical juncture where we’ll benefit from it more.”

Saint says the roles of the two-way players in Birmingham will be well-defined this time out.

“The two-ways that we’ll have in Birmingham on any assignments will all be at different positions,” he said. “So, they’ll all get a lot of time, and that’s the whole point of this. We want to win, and for the players here to be a conduit of winning down here so they can be a conduit of winning with the Pelicans.

“But it’s really about developing the young guys so they can eventually play big games and make contributions for New Orleans down the line – this year or the year after.”

The 2023-24 Birmingham coaching staff includes newcomers Joe Barrer, Jonathan Mitchell and Jalen Cannady, and Adam Barnes takes over the role of general manager of basketball operations.

“Joe was the former head coach of the Lakeland (now Osceola) Magic, and he beat us three times last year,” Saint said. “It’s a huge addition to get a former head coach who sees the game in a unique way and is a super high character person.

“Jodie Meeks is back in his second year and has 10-plus years as an NBA player, and we just added Jonathan Mitchell, who was on the (2007) Florida national championship team. The thing that’s really neat about those three assistants is Jonathan won a title in college as a player, Jodie won an NBA championship as a player with the Toronto Raptors, and Joe won a G league title with the Lakeland Magic as an assistant.”

The Squadron is shifting to the Eastern Conference for 2023-24 and will face six new opponents for the first time in franchise history – the Cleveland Charge, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Motor City Cruise, Long Island Nets, Westchester Knicks and Windy City Bulls.

Birmingham opens the season at home against the Austin Spurs on November 10 as part of the G League’s Showcase Cup. The Squadron finished 11-21 in the 2022-23 regular season and 6-12 in Cup play.

Before a new G League campaign, though, local fans will get to see Pelicans stars of the future and present (such as Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram) when New Orleans plays the Houston Rockets at Legacy Arena on October 12 in an NBA exhibition game.

Last year’s preseason clash between the Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks was a sellout, and tickets for next month’s matchup are already on sale.

“We’ve got some local guys with ties there who really look forward to coming back,” Griffin said. “Obviously, Herb Jones and Kira (former Alabama Crimson Tide standouts) will be a big part of what we’re doing, and I would expect you’d see both of them in this game fairly liberally.”

Tickets can be purchased through the Squadron website birmingham.gleague.nba.com or by calling 205-719-0850.

Transformation Night

Jimmy had looked forward to this day for as long as he could remember.

Year after year he had heard stories of others who reached the transformation age, standing under a bright, full October moon and finally morphing into their wilder selves.

So many myths surrounded lycanthropy, with humans thinking either it was a form of madness or – if they believed it to be real – the result of a horrible curse.

But for those in The Culture, it was simply nature taking its course, no different than experiencing a voice change or seeing hair sprout in tender places.

Most took on a wolf-like appearance and hunted under cover of darkness, joined by their parents and friends. And just as wolves rarely attack people, neither did members of the The Culture – although deer were fair game and raccoons occasionally found themselves on the wrong side of sharp teeth.

There was also an unfortunate incident several years earlier involving the Star Trek cosplayer dressed as a Tribble, but that was rarely talked about except during Star Trek conventions and the Strange But True Animal Attacks podcast.

Following the first kill, the newly transformed would usually wake up in tattered, bloody clothes, with only a spotty memory of what happened the night before. Over time, though, they’d learn to retrace their every move and gain complete control of the beast within. As adults, they would become valued and trusted leaders of the pack.

On this particular night, only Jimmy’s parents – Leonard and Mavis – were around to oversee his ceremony.

They had kept their nocturnal activities out of their son’s sight. It was standard practice; a rule of thumb was to “never show what they will become until it’s time to become the thing never shown.”

“I don’t see anybody else,” Jimmy said as he walked with them toward the clearing where the ritual would take place. “From what I hear at school, the newly transformed in The Culture make it a big party. And everybody wears robes.”

Leonard and Mavis had no robes. They were dressed in their usual garb – blue track suits, reflective running shoes and fluorescent yellow headbands.

“No, honey,” Mavis replied. “It’s just us. It’ll make more sense to you later. Just stand in the circle we drew there and we’ll go ahead and get started.”

Leonard stepped forward, produced a piece of paper from his left pocket, and began to read the sacred words:

By the light of the moon, and the power of the night

It’s the eye of the Tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight

A Survivor lyric might seem out of place

Buy you’ll forget all about it once fur’s on your face

Enjoy the journey, it’s about to begin

Oh, Didelphimorphia, take over this skin!

With that, Jimmy felt a strange sensation, as though his head was becoming elongated and his ears were growing larger. Although his eyes began to blur, he noticed gray fur popping up on his arms and felt his teeth rearranging in his mouth.

And then, he passed out.

Hours later, the morning sun pierced the window in Jimmy’s room, and the young man groaned as he rolled out of bed. His clothes were mostly intact, although he appeared to have dog food splattered on his shirt and he smelled of week-old garbage.

He remembered little of the night before, although he did seem to have a slight recollection of hissing at a cat.

He rose to his feet and prepared to head downstairs when he heard a perfunctory knock signaling the entrance of his parents.

“Mom, dad … what happened last night?” he wanted to know.

“Sit down, son,” Leonard said. “It’s time we told you everything.”

Jimmy plopped down on the edge of the bed while his dad took a knee.

“Jimmy,” Leonard said. “I know how much transforming means to you. And I know you thought this was all part of becoming part of The Culture … those who claim to be well-bred. But that’s just not who we are. And that’s never who we’re going to be.”

“Son, we’re Possum Folk.”

Jimmy had heard of some kids turning into dogs – even coyotes – but manifesting as a marsupial was rarely even whispered about.

“I thought on transformation night we all go on this great hunt,” Jimmy said. “Is that not what happened?”

Mavis walked over and sat on the bed next to her child.

“Well, I guess it depends on how you define ‘hunt,’” she said. “Your father and I knocked over a garbage can and found some Chinese food. You ended up wandering over to the Jemison’s porch and eating some of their dog Ringo’s food. We ate, and then we came home. Really, things went pretty well, all things considered.”

Jimmy had imagined running wild in the forest, wind slicing through his fur and eyes glowing as he moved in for a kill – apex predator-style.

Instead, when the full moon rose and he transformed, he’d most likely hit a top speed of four miles per hour, and only then because he got spooked by a motion-activated sprinkler.

Jimmy shook his head and sighed.

“This is such a huge letdown,” he said.

“It shouldn’t be,” Leonard stressed. “The important thing is that you wake up every day being the best Jimmy you can be and – when it’s transformation night – just be the best werepossum you can be and never be ashamed of who you are.

“Do that, and your mom and I will always be proud of you. We only ask one thing.”

Jimmy looked at them, fighting back tears.

“What’s that?” he asked.

Mavis smiled. “Stay out of the road,” she said. “It can be really dangerous … especially after dark.”

Gambling on Gabriel

Minor league football, circa 1973, was neither glamorous nor lucrative.

But the addition of NFL star Roman Gabriel to its ranks would’ve certainly been flashy – especially framed by the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. And the promise of a $100,000 payday was the key to luring the 32-year-old Gabriel to the desert and making him the face of its lower division team.

The Las Vegas Casinos, members of the Southwestern Football League, tried to put themselves (and the SFL) on the map in April, 1973, by bringing in Gabriel. And based on news reports at the time, it appeared that such a move was actually possible.

Gabriel was going through a messy divorce from the Rams, asking to be traded after new L.A. coach Chuck Knox signed John Hadl away from the San Diego Chargers and tapped him as the franchise’s presumptive starting QB.

Gabriel was coming off an injury-plagued 1972 campaign that saw him suffer from a collapsed lung and tendinitis in his throwing elbow. Although he played in all 14 regular season games, he managed just 12 touchdowns against 15 interceptions.

But while Gabriel was uncertain about his NFL future, his agent – Ed Masry – said his client had an opportunity to get an early start on the 1973 football season. The Casinos would begin their campaign in June and were supposedly ready to write Gabriel a check for six figures, plus a percentage of gate receipts. According to Masry, an agreement in principle to play with Las Vegas had been made on April 12.

The Southwestern League was formed in February, 1972, and its primary gimmicks were field goals from 35 to 50 yards counting four points and those from 51 or more worth five. The SFL featured the Casinos, Phoenix Blazers, Southern California Razorbacks, New Mexico Thunderbirds, Denver Oilers, Dallas Rockets, San Antonio Toros, Oklahoma City Wranglers and Kansas City Steers.

The plan was for Gabriel to play eight games for Las Vegas during the summer and then he could resume his career with an NFL team during its exhibition slate.

But … there was a pretty big problem.

Since Gabriel was still on the payroll of the Rams, he had to follow NFL rules.

“No player under contract to a club in the NFL shall be permitted to participate in any football game for or against any team, group or organization outside the league except in games officially approved and sanctioned by the NFL,” reads an excerpt from the NFL constitution.

League officials also warned him that jumping to the SFL could possibly result in a permanent ban from the NFL.

At a news conference at Masry’s office, Gabriel didn’t address the minor league rumors, but claimed his contract with L.A. was null and void since the franchise was under new ownership.

“I don’t get along with the present Rams management,” he told Associated Press for an April 14 story. “I have reason to distrust them, so it makes it difficult to play for them. I’m a little upset and offended about it being said that I am afraid to compete against John Hadl. In the past 11 years I have competed against a minimum of 14 quarterbacks in order to maintain my position as a starter.

“Under no circumstances would I ever leave a team because of competition. I thrive on it; I don’t fear it.”

Of course – spoiler alert – Gabriel didn’t play for the Casinos, and who knows if he ever had any real intention to do so. It was just a public way of letting the Rams know his time in southern California was over and they needed to make a deal.

It was a bummer for me, because the Rams were my favorite team in the NFL (prior to its merger with the American Football League), and Gabriel was a major reason why.

On April 18, Masry and Casinos legal counsel Eddie LeBaron (a former NFL quarterback himself and four-time Pro Bowler) released a joint statement saying Gabriel would not suit up for Las Vegas.

“Mr. Gabriel has commenced initial steps toward legal resolution of his purported contract with the Los Angeles Rams. It does not appear possible to revolve the legal questions in time for the Las Vegas Casinos to arrange a summer schedule that would permit Mr. Gabriel to play for a National Football League club in the fall. Therefore, negotiation for his services have been terminated by mutual agreement,” the statement read.

The story had a happy ending – at least for Gabriel.

In June he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for Harold Jackson, Tony Baker, a 1974 first-round selection and first and third-round picks in 1975.

He went on to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors in 1973, throwing for league highs of 3,219 yards and 23 touchdowns (although the Eagles finished 5-8-1 and third in the NFC East).

He spent the last five years of his 16-year NFL career in Philly, and why he isn’t in the Pro Football Hall of Fame remains a mystery to me.

As for the Casinos, they suffered the same fate as most minor league/semi-pro teams, spending the rest of their brief existence in obscurity.

They did manage to make the 1973 SFL playoffs without Gabriel, although they were blown out by the Toros in the semifinals, 45-3. Vegas was without starting quarterback Mark Bordeaux – who missed the game because he was attending a wedding.

The Casinos’ last bit of notoriety came in 1974 when, playing in the Pacific Professional Football League, they defeated the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, 100-0, on June 29. The game saw the winners tally 15 touchdowns and was shortened to 50 minutes because it was such a mismatch. The team folded in August, turning the lights out on the three-year old team repping the City of Lights.