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*** D-LEAGUE MAIN PAGE ***
(NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE)
 | First Roster Cuts | |
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| |  | Anaheim Arsenal: Released Jason Harris (6'4''-G-83, college: Sacramento St.), Chester Mason (6'4''-G-81, college: Miami, OH), Theo Little (6'10''-C-84, college: Arkansas St.) and Roy Bright (6'6''-F-86, college: Delaware St.)
Los Angeles D-Fenders: Released Seth Robinson (6'6''-F, agency: Court Side), Brandon Worthy (6'2''-G-84) and John White
Colorado 14ers: Released Eric Parker (6'10''-C) and Tony Champion (6'10''-C-80, college: Sacramento St.)
Bakersfield Jam: Released Justin Bellegarde (6'9''-F-81, college: Washington St.), Joey Britto (6'6''-G-83, college: Mass.-Dartmouth), Jejuan Plair (6'1''-G-85) and Mike Hart
Utah Flash: Released Casey Love (6'8''-F/C-80, college: Robert Morris)
Dakota Wizards: Released Tony Murphy (6'4''-G-86, college: Norfolk St.), Darius Mattear (6'6''-F-81, college: UTEP), Tim Drisdom (6'3''-G-84, college: Utah) and Tim Blackwell (6'4''-G-84) |
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| Rio Grande Valley Takes Down Austin in Pre-Season Opener | |
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| | | The D-League pre-season slate tipped off last night as the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Austin Toros hooked up in Austin.
The Toros kept it close throughout the first half, which featured eight ties and lead changes, but went into halftime trailing 41-36.
Rio Grande Valley built an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Austin cut the deficit to six on an Andrew Francis shot with 2:53 remaining. The Toros were unable to close the gap any further despite five points from Carldell 'Squeaky' Johnson in the final three minutes.
Rio Grande Valley Vipers (77) vs. Austin Toros (70)
VIPERS: Stanley Asumnu (6'5''-G/F-82, college: Tennessee) (13pt+5rb), Kendall Dartez (10p+10rb), Alton Ford (9pt+7rb+5to)
TOROS: Kris Collins (6'2''-G-83, college: N.Mexico) (12pt), Ian Mahinmi (9pt+9rb), Marcus Williams (12pt) |
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| Pair of Former D-Leaguers Waived by NBA Clubs | |
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| | | Veteran forward Andre Brown (6'9''-F/C-81, agency: Priority Sports, college: De Paul) and second year sharp shooter Demetris Nichols (6'8''-F-84, college: Syracuse) have been released by the Charlotte Bobcats and Chicago Bulls respectively. Brown, who appeared in eight games with Sioux Falls during the 2006-07 season, had played sparingly in four games this year with Charlotte after signing with them in the offseason. The former DePaul big man has spent parts of the last three NBA seasons with Seattle, Memphis and Charlotte, appearing in 75 career games and averaging 2.6 points and 2.4 rebounds. Nichols, the 53rd selection of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers appeared in two games prior to being released by Chicago on Monday. The former Syracuse Orange star was assigned to the Iowa Energy during his rookie campaign last year. In his brief career, he has spent time with New York (pre-season), Cleveland and Chicago. |
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| Spurs Sign former D-League Rookie of the Year Blake Ahearn | |
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| | | The San Antonio Spurs, looking for added point guard depth, signed former NBA Development League Rookie of the Year and Miami Heat guard Blake Ahearn (6'2''-G-84, agency: SportsTalent, college: Missouri St.). Desmon Farmer (6'5''-G-81, college: USC) was waived to clear a roster space. Ahearn is the first player called up from the D-League in the 2008-09 season. He was in Minnesotas 2008 training camp where he averaged 7.8 points and 1.2 assists in five games. After being waived by the Timberwolves he joined the Dakota Wizards. Ahearn was in camp with the Wizards prior to signing with the Spurs. During the 2007-08 season the 6-2, 190-pound, Ahearn appeared in 41 games for the Wizards. He averaged 19.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game. He shot .486 (239-492) from the field, .439 (108-246) from three-point land and .960 (192-200) from the line. Ahearn was signed by the Miami Heat on 3/21/08. He spent the remainder of the 2007-08 season with Miami. In 12 games with the Heat he averaged 5.8 points, 1.6 assists and 1.6 rebounds.
Farmer was signed by the Spurs as a free agent on 9/17/08. He appeared in three games for San Antonio, averaging 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 18.0 minutes. |
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| Former D-Leaguers in NBA Action on Sunday Night | |
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| | | Miami Heat (96) at Toronto Raptors (107)
HEAT: Daequan Cook (6'5''-G-87, college: Ohio St.) (16pt+4rb+3as), Joel Anthony (2pt+4rb)
RAPTORS: Jamario Moon (6'8''-F-80, college: Meridian CC) (8pt+5rb+4as)
Orlando Magic (90) at Charlotte Bobcats (85)
MAGIC: Anthony Johnson (6'3''-G-74, college: Charleston) (0pt+2rb)
BOBCATS: Matt Carroll (6'6''-F-80, college: Notre Dame) (6pt+3rb), Shannon Brown (2pt)
Dallas Mavericks (124) at New York Knicks (114) OT
MAVS: Brandon Bass (6'8''-F-85, college: LSU) (12pt+7rb), Jose Juan Barea (7pt+4as)
Minnesota Timberwolves (84) at Denver Nuggets (90)
NUGGETS: Dahntay Jones (6'5''-F/G-80, college: Duke) (2pt+1rb+1as)
Detroit Pistons (86) at Phoenix Suns (104)
PISTONS: Will Bynum (5'11''-G-83, college: Georgia Tech) (6pt+2st), Amir Johnson (1pt+6rb)
SUNS: Louis Amundson (6'9''-F-82, college: UNLV) (5pt+3rb+3bs)
San Antonio Spurs (90) at Sacramento Kings (88)
SPURS: Anthony Tolliver (6'9''-C-85, college: Creighton) (2pt+1rb+1as)
KINGS: Mikki Moore (6'11''-C-75, college: Nebraska) (2pt+8rb) |
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| First NBA to D-League Player Assignments | |
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| | | With the 2008-09 NBA D-League season fast approaching NBA teams have started to assign first and second year players to the D-League. Some players like Ian Mahinmi (6'9''-F/C-86) (second year) of the San Antonio Spurs will be sent to Autin for additional rehab from an ankle injury, while rookies like DeMarcus Nelson (6'4''-G-85, college: Duke) who has started a few games for Golden State this year will go down to hone his point guard skills in Bakersfield.
San Antonio: Assigns second year forward/center Ian Mahinmi to the Austin Toros. Mahinmi is currently recovering from a sprained right ankle. He will use this assignment to the Toros as an opportunity to get back into basketball shape and complete his rehabilitation. Mahinmi was named to the 2008 All-NBA Development League First Team. In 46 games with the Toros, he averaged 16.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.70 blocks in 29.6 minutes while shooting .615 (276-449) from the field and .766 (219-286) from the line.
Golden State: Assigns rookies Richard Hendrix (6'8''-F-86) and DeMarcus Nelson to Bakersfield. Hendrix has not appeard in any games for Golden State this season. Nelson, an undrafted free agent out of Duke has appeared in eight games this season (five starts), averaging 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.6 minutes per contest. The 6-4 guard became the first undrafted rookie to appear in the starting lineup on Opening Night for the Warriors since the team moved to the West Coast in 1962.
Boston: Assigned rookie J.R. Giddens (6'5''-G-85, agency: Priority Sports, college: N.Mexico) to the Utah Flash. Giddens averaged 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes during preseason and has been on the inactive list for the Celtics in each of their first 10 games during the 2008-09 regular season. The former New Mexico Lobo was selected by the Celtics with the 30th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Giddens is the first 2008 1st Round NBA Draft Pick to be assigned to the D-League this season. |
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| The Majic is Back in the D' League | |
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| | | So, have you heard of the 'best point guard not in the NBA?' No? Well, let Nitro introduce you. His name is Daryl Dorsey (6'1''-G-81, agency: Edge Sports, college: S.Indiana) but you can shorten it to Majic, that's all you need to know, period. Oh, I forgot to mention he's serious to the tune of almost 12 thousand shots, nearly ten pounds of muscle gained, 4.4 forty speed in the last few months of this summer. All of which was accomplished under the tutelage of Jon Davis of Davis Training System in Orlando, Florida.
To put it plainly, the Majic one has simplified his approach (which is something we all could do) to include a heavy dose of hoops and a renewed focus on dedicating his 'life more to the lord' and his family. Super quick, passionate and with a basketball resume that screams 'I'm ready!!', it leaves one to wonder what's taking the NBA sooo long? Stan Van Gundy, are you listening?
He tore Florida a new....as a prep standout playing with NBA'ers Jarret Jack and Amar'e Stoudamire and averaging 35 and in one game dropping 72...72. Majic was the Florida JUCO player of the year in 2003 scoring billions, dropping dimes, leading the Florida JUCO ranks in scoring (28 per game) earning rank by the Sporting News as the best PG in the nation at that time. Slam Magazine also listed the Majic man as their best JUCO player of the same year. The All American is focussed and ready more than ever on taking the next step.
Since leaving the JUCO defenses in tatters he's been on quite an adventure as awaits his NBA turn. Not many folks in and out of pro sports can claim their own personal fan base but the Majic one has exactly that, a following of his own in the most unlikely of places, Mexico. He's torched the LNBP, Mexico's Premiere Division and one of the most competitive in all of the Americas, for the past few season's playing with the Maya's of Merida where he was the basketball mayor of Merida. (Check the video out here.) He averaged 34 in his first year with Merida and was showered with promises of big money to return south of the border. Dorsey was also more than just a blip on the European Hoops scene receiving offers in the 'mucho' dollars range. Majic said, 'Thanks but no gracias' to all the clubs in Mexico, Venezuela and Europe instead choosing to stay closer to the NBA circle of coaches, connections and his family. A smart choice.
Making Majic in Mexico was Doresey's speciality and it caught the eye of Phoenix's and L.A.'s D league squads where he had a chance to play and ultimately left his stamp on the D that season averaging 13 points and 5 dimes while shooting 87% from the line. Majic must have liked Latin American food because he moved further south to Venezuela's LBP after his D league stint where he averaged 28 and 7 before attracting even more D league attention This time it was the Phoenix Suns and their D league affiliate the Albuquerque Thunderbirds where he played 16 games as the point man leading the T-birds to a 10-6 record las |
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