NBA D-League Update

Published on January 31, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release

KENNEDY RETURNING TO FORM FOR BAYHAWKS

D.J. Kennedy is used to flying under the radar. A teammate of DeJuan Blair at Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, Kennedy wasn't heavily recruited, but wound up at St. John's, where he fashioned a very solid four-year career that landed him on some NBA draft boards last winter.

That was before March 10, 2011, when in a Big East Tournament game against Syracuse, Kennedy tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. In a flash, whatever chances he had to hear his name called on Draft Night were gone, and even more so, the injury would no doubt hamper his ability to pursue other professional opportunities.

Erie invited him to training camp in the fall, but waived him due to injury. Still, the BayHawks retained a high level of interest in a player many saw as the glue on a much-improved St. John's team during the 2010-11 season.

"We knew that when he was healthy, he was going to be a key part to our team. We planned on that from the summer," Erie coach Jay Larranaga told the Erie Times-News. "Our main focus was making sure his knee was 100 percent because we knew when he was healthy, he was an All-Big East caliber player."

For the season, Kennedy is averaging 12.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Over his last two games, he's grabbed 29 rebounds, an impressive feat for a 6-6 guard/forward. Kennedy has always been a terrific rebounder for his size, and unafraid to battle in the trenches.

"I'm finally feeling back healthy," Kennedy said. "My legs are under me. Just feel quicker. Feel like my first step is back. I feel like the more I've been playing, I have better timing. I feel like I still have a little more to go, but it's getting better."

It remains to be seen whether Kennedy has shown enough to convince an NBA team to take a chance, but he has the right profile. He doesn't need the ball to be effective. He rebounds, defends, makes the extra pass and runs the floor. He's a terrific teammate. These are traits NBA decision-makers greatly admire when filling out rosters.

PROSPECT REPORT

Morris Almond, Maine Red Claws -- The shine of being a former first-round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft (25th overall, Utah Jazz) has left Almond. The ability to put the ball in the basket has not. In five games since returning to the NBA D-League, Almond is averaging 22.8 points on 58 percent shooting. The offensive end has never really been a problem for Almond, who led the NBA D-League in scoring in 2007-08 while on assignment from the Jazz, averaging 25.6 points. In order to play for Jerry Sloan, you had to defend your position and fit into the team concept, areas in which Almond has struggled throughout his professional career, which has included stints in Spain and Italy. Though he's clearly an NBA-caliber scorer, teams wonder what he brings to the table when he's not looking for his own offense. He appears to have made some improvements in this area, averaging 7.6 rebounds for the Red Claws. With 10-day contracts able to be signed beginning on Feb. 6, a team in need of some scoring might take a closer look at Almond.

NEWS & NOTES

San Antonio Assigns Malcolm Thomas to NBA D-League Affiliate Austin Toros

The San Antonio Spurs today have assigned rookie forward Malcolm Thomas to the Austin Toros, the Spurs' NBA D-League affiliate. The assignment marks the 31st time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season and is the second assignment for Thomas this season. He was originally assigned from the Los Angeles Lakers to the L.A. D-Fenders on Dec. 17, before being waived by the Lakers on Dec. 22. Thomas, who earned a GATORADE Call-Up to the Spurs from the D-Fenders on Jan. 11, has appeared in three games for San Antonio this season, pulling down three rebounds and scoring one point in 15 minutes. Prior to his Call-Up, Thomas played in six games with the D-Fenders, averaging 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. More

Canton's Manny Harris Named NBA D-League Performer of the Week

Manny Harris of the Canton Charge was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Jan. 23-29. Harris, a 6-5, 185-pound guard out of Michigan, averaged 25.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 34.0 minutes, while shooting 52 percent from the floor last week. He scored a season-high 32 points in a 93-104 loss against the Springfield Armor on Jan. 24, and recorded his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 124-108 road win over the Bakersfield Jam on Jan. 27. Harris and the Charge went 2-1 during the week. For the season Harris, who spent 54 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2010-11 season, is averaging 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in 10 games for the Charge. More

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

L.A. D-Fenders head coach Eric Musselman has completed a verbal contract to return to coach the Venezuela National Team this summer. With Musselman on the sidelines last summer the Venezuela National Team finished fifth in the FIBA Americas Pre Olympic Tournament held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, and advanced to the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, to be played in Caracas, Venezuela, this coming July 2-8 ... Ish Smith, who spent last season with the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, and began this season with the Golden State Warriors, has signed a contract with the NBA D-League. He'll find out where he's headed today ... The New Jersey Nets have recalled Jordan Williams . The 6-10 forward/center appeared in six games with the Armor, all starts, and averaged 10.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 32.0 minutes ... At 18-5, the Austin Toros have the best record in NBA D-League history through 23 games.

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS

Cleveland's Alonzo Gee scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting in 28 minutes in a loss to the Toronto Raptors last night. Not drafted by an NBA franchise in 2009, Gee signed with the Austin Toros, and was named the 2009-10 NBA D-League Rookie of the Year, averaging 21.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 36 games with the Toros. After spending time with the Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs at the end of the 2009-10 season, Gee was signed by the Cavaliers in December 2010, and went on to average 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 40 games.-->

GATORADE CALL-UP BOARD

Boston's Ray Allen needs 28 threes to pass Reggie Miller (2,560) for first on the all-time list ... Boston's Kevin Garnett needs 60 rebounds to pass Charles Barkley (12,546) for 16th on the all-time list ... The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant needs 52 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946) for eighth on the all-time list. Bryant needs seven steals to pass Rod Strickland (1,616) for 22nd on the all-time list.

ASSIGNMENT BOARD

NBA Players Currently on Assignment in the NBA D-League:

Player NBA Team NBA D-League Team Assignment Date G PPG RPG APG

Hassan Whiteside Sacramento Reno 11/29/10 7 5.1 3.2 0.1

DeMarre Carroll Memphis Dakota 12/14/10 6 35.7 18.3 6.8

Pape Sy Atlanta Utah 12/27/10 6 24.0 5.5 5.0

Devin Ebanks L.A. Lakers Bakersfield 12/27/10 6 26.5 12.0 8.0

Garret Siler Phoenix Iowa 1/4/10 16.0 4.0 7.0

Cole Aldrich Oklahoma City Tulsa 12/30/10 28.8 7.3 8.1

Today's Quote

Sioux Falls guard CASEY MITCHELL, who leads the Skyforce in scoring, on the benefits of playing in the NBA D-League: "I think it is a great way for the NBA guys to watch me every night and be closer to the NBA and around the game. A lot of the players in the D-League have experience in the NBA so I think I get a lot of experience from being a rookie in this league." West Virginia Illustrated, Jan. 31, 2012

NBA G League Stories from January 31, 2012

• NBA D-League Update - G League
• D-Fenders Set Record In Wire-To-Wire Win Over Canton - Los Angeles D-Fenders

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