Nate

Darling

Darling hasn’t logged NBA minutes since he played in seven games for the Charlotte Hornets in 2021-22. He appeared in two games for the Ontario Clippers in 2023-24 and could return there ahead of the upcoming season.

Neither Moon nor Fitts nor Darling were going to figure into the Clippers’ rotation, so none of these moves was a surprise. All three could be headed to the team’s G League affiliate in Ontario, California. The Clippers now have 16 players under contract and one open two-way contract slot (rookie Moussa Diabate occupies the other).

Darling isn’t a player worth rostering in any fantasy league, as the two-way contract recipient isn’t in the rotation. But he did make history Saturday night, becoming the first native of Nova Scotia to ever appear in an NBA game.

Neither Riller nor Darling have been rotation players for the Hornets this season, so this news has no impact when it comes to fantasy basketball.

Darling, who began his college career at UAB, averaged 21.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.3 3-pointers per game last season at Delaware. Per the NBA’s new rules on two-way contract, a player can be active for up to 50 games this season. Darling will likely spend the majority of his time with the Hornets’ G-League affiliate in Greensboro.

Darling will not be hiring an agent, however, so he’ll be allowed to return to Delaware for his senior season if he doesn’t receive much interest from NBA clubs. He’s coming off a year in which he produced averages of 21.0 points, 3.9 boards, 2.8 assists and 3.3 triples per contest on 44.6% shooting from the field and 85.4% from the stripe.