7 G-League players that could help Portland make a playoff push

Emmanuel Mudiay, Iowa Wolves

Since getting drafted in the lottery in 2015, Emmanuel Mudiay never found his NBA footing and bounced from the Nuggets to the Knicks to the Jazz and eventually to the Kings, all the while taking a few detours abroad in the interim.

Now, with his eye on getting back to the NBA, Mudiay is starting for the Iowa Wolves and making an impact at the lead guard position. He’s second on the team in assists, fourth in steals, and he’s hitting 47 percent of his shots from the field.

This increase in efficiency coincides with Mudiay entering his prime, as he appears to have gotten full control over his game. He plays with a solid pace, never looking like he’s going too fast or too slow, and that’s led to some important moments for him and the Wolves.

With Simons still on the mend from his ankle injury, the Blazers have a dearth of capable ball-handlers outside of Damian Lillard. Mudiay could step in right now and make a solid impact, stabilizing the bench offense for Portland, which could win them an extra game or two and get them back into the playoff picture.