UCF Knights Are Getting Their NBA Chance (UPDATED)

Friday Afternoon update:

Thursday was pretty slow on the UCF/NBA news front, save for Aubrey Dawkins joining the Pelicans.

Friday afternoon, not slow.

Most notably, Tacko Fall agreed to a one-year contract with the Boston Celtics. The deal is an Exhibit 10 contract, much like the pact Dawkins inked with New Orleans on Thursday.

Who knows where or how a 7-foot-7 player who has never ventured far outside the paint on either end of the floor will fit in today’s NBA. But just consider for a moment that Fall didn’t even start playing organized basketball until seven years ago, when he was 16. That alone makes today a major victory.

Tacko was at-times dominant as a Knight. Chief examples include his 20-20 performance versus SMU last season and how he showed out in the 2019 NBA Tournament. And he now owns the single-season NCAA record for field-goal percentage (74.0). That may never be broken.

Let’s see what he can do with one of the most recognizable brands in American team sports.

Shortly prior to news of Tacko’s signing, B.J. Taylor has found out where his basketball career will continue: In the same city where he developed his love for basketball and became a star on both the varsity and collegiate levels.

The Orlando Magic have invited B.J. Taylor to be a part of their NBA Summer League. The news was annouced at 2 p.m. Friday.

Taylor worked out for the Magic on June 15 and said then that playing for his favorite team would be “awesome.”

He said: “I’m sure the community would love that. They’d love to see my in the Blue and White.”

And so they will. And Taylor will join forces once again with forward Chad Brown, as first reported by Chris Boyle of the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Knights fans will remember Brown’s high-motor style of play and highlight dunks. But also, head coach Johnny Dawkins said this week that Brown is “the best teammate you could ever have”.

Taylor and Brown will suit up for the Magic once their Summer League schedule begins July 5 in Las Vegas. Dawkins and the Pelicans will begin play that night as well. Fall and the Celtics will get underway on July 6.

All NBA Summer League games will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or NBA TV.

————————————————————————————————————————————————

FIRST EDITION:

Unfortunately, no UCF players were drafted during Thursday night’s NBA Draft in Brooklyn.

But their NBA journey is far from over, and it took less than an hour afterward for a UCF alum to sign on with a team as Aubrey Dawkins latched on with the New Orleans Pelicans.

It’s a one-year contract for the league minimum, but the Exhibit 10 stipulation allows the the Pelicans to convert the deal to a two-way contract prior to the start of the season and place Dawkins with their G League affiliate.

But might Aubrey and Zion Williamson be back on the same floor again? Perhaps.

Shortly after news of Dawkins’ signing broke, forward Chad Brown let us know that he’s a wanted man right now, too.

As of early morning Friday, we haven’t heard anything about what’s next for Tacko Fall, who was one of 18 uninvited draftees who decided to attend Thursday’s festivities.

But if something develops, rest assured that we’ll update this post with everything you need to know.