USA TODAY Sports

Thon Maker is coming off a year where he played in the CBA for the Fujian Sturgeons.

The former first-round pick averaged 16.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.7 steals per contest while shooting 44.3% from the field and 28.1% from the three-point range in 38 games.    

During the 2021-22 season, Maker spent time with the Long Island Nets (G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets).     

On Thursday, the (Long Island) Nets announced that they have traded his returning player rights to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers). 

Via The Long Island Nets: "Just Announced: The Long Island Nets have acquired the returning player rights to forward Troy Baxter Jr. from the Indiana Mad Ants in exchange for the returning player rights to center Thon Maker."

Maker was initially the tenth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

He spent the first two and a half seasons of his career with the franchise and helped them make the NBA playoffs each year.

Following the Bucks, Maker also spent time with the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers over his five seasons in the NBA. 

His career averages are 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 43.5% from the field and 32.7% from the three-point range in 263 regular season games (he has also appeared in 16 NBA playoff games). 

Since Maker is still so young, he could be a name to watch for a return to the NBA soon. 

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