Hustle acquire Steward from Maine, trade Woodard II to Delaware
Jan 6, 2025- Hoping to jump start a team that has failed to win yet in the regular season portion of the NBA G League schedule, the Memphis Hustle today made a couple of roster moves. One involved the departure of a former Mississippi State Bulldog, who now will face the Hustle in an upcoming contest.
In exchange for Robert Woodard II, who went to the Delaware Blue Coats, the Hustle received a 2025 second round draft choice (via College Park) from the Texas Legends in a three-team trade.
Woodard II (6-6, 235) appeared in 16 games (three starts) this season for the Hustle, averaging 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 22.0 minutes.
The 25-year-old has appeared in 97 games (51 starts) across four seasons with the Oklahoma City Blue, Austin Spurs and Memphis Hustle. The Starkville native appeared in 25 games off the bench in two NBA seasons with the Sacramento Kings since being drafted 40th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. He played college basketball at Mississippi State.
The Hustle also today announced the team acquired guard DJ Steward from the Maine Celtics for the returning player rights to guard Jason Preston and a 2025 second round pick.
Steward (6-2, 162) has appeared in 16 games (15 starts) this season with the Windy City Bulls averaging 19.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 34.8 minutes while shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. The 23-year-old has appeared in 152 games (51 starts) across four seasons with the Stockton Kings, Maine Celtics and Windy City Bulls and averaged 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 27.8 minutes.
Preston (6-3, 181) appeared in 81 games (76 starts) across three seasons with the San Diego Clippers, Memphis Hustle and Salt Lake City Stars and averaged 15.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 33.1 minutes. The 25-year-old has appeared off the bench in 21 games across two NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz and averaged 2.5 points and 2.0 assists in 9.3 minutes.
Coming off a western road swing to begin the regular season 0-3, the Hustle next play at Delaware on Sunday afternoon, where it’s likely they will face Woodard at that time.
