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NBA D-League Update

Published on March 16, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


DEADLINE BOON FOR NBA D-LEAGUE

The NBA trade deadline came and went yesterday, with 16 teams executing nine trades featuring 22 players. When the smoke cleared, many of the teams involved were left with available roster spots, or a need to fill a role immediately.

Not surprisingly, NBA decision makers looked to the NBA Development League, and the immediate result is three GATORADE Call-Ups today -- Austin's Eric Dawson returning to the San Antonio Spurs, Erie's Donald Sloan signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Springfield's Jerry Smith signing with the New Jersey Nets.

Sloan returns to the NBA following GATORADE Call-Ups to the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Hornets earlier this year. In eight NBA games this season, he's averaged 2.3 points, 1.6 assists and 7.6 minutes. In eight games with the BayHawks this season, Sloan averaged 22.8 points, 7.4 assists and 38.5 minutes.

Sloan, who wasn't drafted in 2010 despite a very productive four-year career at Texas A&M, has continued to garner interest from NBA teams based on his ability to score, yet still be unselfish. Though he played more of a combo guard role in college, Sloan continues to improve as a lead guard, and is not far off from establishing permanent residence in the NBA. The Cavaliers guaranteed his contract for the remainder of this season.

Dawson returns to the Spurs, and his native San Antonio, following a 10-day stint with the team in February, when he averaged 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 17.0 minutes in two games. In 24 games with Austin this season, Dawson averaged 16.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 2.4 assists and 29.1 minutes, while shooting 56 percent from the floor.

The well-traveled Dawson, who played at Midwestern State University, has spent parts of the last five seasons with the Toros, and has learned the ropes of being a Spur. Though not the tallest or most athletic big man on the open market, Dawson has intimate knowledge of the way San Antonio operates, giving him a leg up on the competition.

Smith, a 2012 NBA D-League All-Star, has quite simply been a revelation this season in Springfield. A role player under Rick Pitino at Louisville, Smith, who was in training camp with the Nets in December, has averaged 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 32 games for the Armor this season.

In an interview with NBA D-League News earlier this season, Springfield General Manager Milton Lee felt Smith was an NBA talent, who would eventually get a chance to prove his worth. Whether he sticks for the remainder of the season remains to be seen, but this also serves as an opportunity to impress other NBA teams, who'll be looking to bring in players over the summer with an eye toward next season.

PROSPECT REPORT

Edwin Ubiles, Dakota Wizards -- NBADLeague.com's Kevin Scheitrum has been singing his praises all season, and for good reason. On certain nights this year, Ubiles has looked like the NBA D-League's most unstoppable player. Like on Feb. 28, when he scored 41 in 40 minutes (on 18-of-26 shooting) against East-leading Iowa. Or when he poured in 32 against Sioux Falls or 36 against Rio Grande. A late cut by the Golden State Warriors during training camp, Ubiles, who sat out what was to be his rookie season in professional basketball last season with a stress fracture in his leg, has been a consistent force for Dakota and a legitimate league MVP candidate. Ubiles doesn't pop as an athlete like Gerald Green, or as a rangy defender like Manny Harris, but his total game is impressive, and he routinely outworks his opponents. A scouting report once said of Ubiles, "You never want to bet against a kid who plays as hard as he does." Seeing him play, you understand why.

NEWS & NOTES

Suspended Iowa at Erie Game to Resume March 27

The March 8 game between the Iowa Energy and the Erie BayHawks, which was suspended due to unplayable court conditions, will be resumed on March 27 at 8 p.m. The game will begin in Erie from the point of interruption, which was at 3:29 in the first quarter with the BayHawks leading 14-13. To resume the game, each team may dress its current roster as of March 27 with one exception -- NBA players who may be assigned in advance of the rescheduled game will not be eligible to play since those players were not on either team's roster for the original game.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Erie BayHawks have acquired center Dominic Calegari and forward Billy White from the free agent player pool. Calegari (6-10, 240) played collegiately at UC-Davis from 2005-2010, averaging 16.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. Following his college career, he played professionally in Poland, Ukraine and Venezuela before entering the 2011 NBA D-League Draft, where he was a second round selection of the Iowa Energy. He was acquired by the Maine Red Claws on December 1 and averaged 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds. White (6-8, 235) is a former college teammate of current BayHawk Kyle Spain at San Diego State University. He helped lead the Aztecs to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2011 NCAA Tournament before they lost to eventual tournament champion, Connecticut. Following his collegiate career, White was invited to training camp with the Miami Heat and then spent time with both Idaho and Iowa in the NBA D-League ... The Bakersfield Jam has acquired Trey Johnson . Most recently, Johnson (guard, 6-5, 215) played for the New Orleans Hornets, appearing in 11 games this season, posting averages of 1.9 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists. As a member of the Bakersfield Jam during the 2010-11 campaign, Johnson was the NBA D-League's leading scorer, averaging 25.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 39 games.

PRESS ROW Assignments Call-Ups Box Scores Transactions

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

Erie coach JAY LARRANAGA, on having to waive Keith McLeod due to injury: "I think the world of Keith. I think he's a great player. Great person. Great teammate. I wish he was healthy right now because I think he'd really be helping us during this important part of the season." Erie Times-News, March 16, 2012

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NBA G League Stories from March 16, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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