Vipers Acquire Ex-Spur And NBA D-League Champion
April 1, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
MCALLEN, TEXAS - The NBA Development League Western Conference Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced today that they have acquired forward Rich Melzer (6-8, 225, Wisconsin-River Falls) and re- acquired guard Craig Winder (6-2, 190, Texas).
To make room on the roster, the Vipers waived guard Travis Holmes (6-3, 180, Virginia Military Institute) and forward Louis Graham (6-6, 200, Georgia Southern University).
Melzer played in four games for the San Antonio Spurs during the 2006 pre-season, averaging 2.8 points and 7.8 minutes in four games. Melzer's best game was against the Chicago Bulls, when he scored seven points and blocked three shots in 11 minutes.
Named NCAA Division III Player of the Year as a senior after the 2003-04 season, The 30-year old is a two-time All-American who graduated from Wisconsin-River Falls as the school's second all-time leading scorer (2,363 points), third all-time leading rebounder (821 rebounds) and all-time leading shot blocker (186 blocks). Melzer took part in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Bulls NBA Pre-Draft Camp, the 2004 Pepsi Pro-Summer League in Orlando, Florida, and the Reebok Vegas Summer League for the Washington Wizards before getting drafted by the Sioux Falls Skyforce, then of the Continental Basketball Association, in the first round (fourth overall). After taking part in the Wizards' NBA pre-season camp, Melzer joined the Skyforce and helped lead them the 2005 CBA Championship. Melzer spent the summer of 2005 playing in the Reebok Vegas Summer League for the Orlando Magic and the Minnesota Summer League in Minneapolis for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Melzer opened the 2005-06 season with the New Zealand Breakers before joining the Albuquerque Thunderbirds to help lead them to the NBA Development League Championship. After another stint with the Magic in the 2006 Pepsi Pro Summer League, Melzer played for the Spurs in the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City, Utah before earning an NBA Training Camp invitation. After getting cut by the Spurs, Melzer played in France and Israel during the 2006-07 season before rejoining the Spurs for the 2007 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Melzer joined the Artland Dragons Quakenrueck in Germany, helping them to the German Budesliga Cup in 2008.
Melzer opened this season with the Skytrans Cairns Taipans (Australia- NBL, starting five), averaging 10.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 28 games.
"He's experienced, smart and versatile. He's won championships in the NBA D-League before and is comfortable joining a team at this stage of the year," Vipers head coach Chris Finch said.
Winder was waived due to injury on March 24 while recovering from surgery to repair a torn left meniscus. He last played on March 6 at Bakersfield. A third-year Viper, Winder is averaging 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 22.5 minutes in 27 games while hitting 51.1% of his shots, 35.3% from behind the arc and 76.5% from the free throw line. Over his last nine games, Winder averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals in 33.1 minutes per game. Winder hit 54.9% (79-for-144) of his shot attempts, including 39.3% (11-for-28) from behind the arc. He also made 53-of-63 (84.1%) free throw attempts.
Graham recorded three points and four rebounds while Holmes recorded two points and two rebounds in four games.
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