Colorado 14ers Pick 10 Players in NBA D-League Expansion Draft
September 19, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
Colorado 14ers News Release
Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League made the first step toward stocking its roster with its first players. Head Coach Joe Wolf made 10 selections in the 2006 D-League Expansion Draft this afternoon via conference call. The 14ers selected the rights to Elton Brown, Lenny Stokes, Rick Rickert, Kaniel Dickens, Austin Nichols, D'or Fischer, Tyrone Sally, Kevin Lyde, E.J. Roland, and Jonathan Moore, in respective order.
Brown became the 14ers first ever draft pick when he was chosen number one overall in the Expansion Draft. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound power forward from the University of Virginia played the final five games of the 2005-06 D-League season with the Florida Flame, averaging 31.8 minutes, 13.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He collected 10 or more rebounds in three of the five games and converted 25 of 47 field goal attempts (.532). Brown was a member of the Orlando Magic Summer League Team in 2006.
"I'm excited about this draft, particularly the first pick," said Coach Wolf. "Elton Brown is a quality person and a quality player, and is aimed at a professional career in the NBA."
Stokes averaged 11.3 ppg last season for the Florida Flame, including a career-high 36 point outburst at Roanoke. The 6-5 swingman has also averaged over five assists per game in three D-League seasons.
Former McDonald's High School All-American Rickert was a second round draft choice of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2003. Playing for the Fayetteville Patriots last season, the 6-11 F/C posted 9.2 ppg and 6.9 rpg.
Dickens is a Denver native whose basketball career has included stints with the Utah Jazz and New Jersey Nets in the NBA, as well as stops in the Continental Basketball Association, Russia, and China. Dickens will be reunited with Coach Joe Wolf with the 14ers, who calls the 6-8 forward "a great person and a great player".
Nichols started 32 of 47 games for the Florida Flame last season, averaging 11.3 ppg. Nichols was also among the D-League leaders in free throw percentage, at .866.
Fischer enters his second season in the D-League after playing with the Roanoke Dazzle in 2005-2006. At 6-10, Fischer and Sally were both key members of the frontcourt for the West Virginia team that reached the Elite 8 in the 2005 NCAA tournament. Sally averaged 10.6 mpg with Roanoke last season.
Center Kevin Lyde started nine of 12 games for the Fayetteville Patriots last season, averaging 25.1 mpg. Lyde enters his second season in the D-League after playing his college ball for Coach John Chaney at Temple.
Rowland and Moore were teammates last season with Florida in the D-League. Rowland is a 6-2 guard who averaged 17.1 mpg, and Moore a 6-8 forward who appeared in 37 games for the Flame.
The list of available players was comprised from a list of 44 players that played in the D-League last season but are not currently on a roster. After acquiring the player draft rights for the 2006-2007 season, each team will submit a preference order list of its selected players to the D-League Office. Four players from that list can be signed to a league contract.
"The Expansion Draft is an effort to give new teams an equal footing in regard to rights to returning players," D-League Senior Director of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel Chris Alpert said. "The league will sign up to four players from season-ending rosters of returning teams, so this levels the playing field somewhat heading into the regular Draft."
Along with returning D-League teams, the Dakota Wizards, Idaho Stampede and Sioux Falls Skyforce, which competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) last season, were allowed to submit a returning player list from their 2005-06 season-ending rosters. Four players from each list can be signed to a league contract.
The regular 2006 NBA D-League Draft is scheduled for November 2, with training camp beginning on November 12. The 2006-07 regular season gets underway with five games on November 24.
Colorado is one of seven new markets and 12 teams for 2006-07. The 14ers will join the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, Anaheim Arsenal, Bakersfield Jam, Idaho Stampede and Los Angeles D-Fenders to make up the Western Division. The Arkansas RimRockers, Austin Toros, Dakota Wizards, Fort Worth Flyers, Sioux Falls Sky Force and Tulsa 66ers will comprise the Eastern Division.
The 14ers' 50-game regular season schedule features 30 contests within the Western Division and 39 weekend games (Fri-Sun). In addition, the first ever D-League All-Star Game is set for Saturday, Feb. 17, to be played during Jam Session at the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas.
Season seats are available now for the 2006-07 season by calling 303-465-HOOP. Season seats range from $10-$37 per game. For more information on season tickets and a full list of season ticket holder benefits, visit www.BroomfieldEventCenter.com.
Complete 2006 NBA Development League Expansion Draft Selections
Rd. Colorado 14ers Bakersfield Jam Anaheim Arsenal Los Angeles D-Fenders
1 Elton Brown Andre Barrett Jawad Williams Duane Erwin
2 Lenny Stokes Melvin Sanders George Leach Hiram Fuller
3 Rick Rickert Robb Dryden Ryan Randle Brian Chase
4 Kaniel Dickens Rod Riley Bryant Matthews Kevin Johnson
5 Austin Nichols Theron Smith Sun Yoon-Bang Josh Gross
6 D'or Fischer Sherrod Ford TJ Sorrentine Jack Emmanuel
7 Tyrone Salley Anthony Grundy Seth Doliboa Erik Daniels
8 Kevin Lyde Will Bynum Jason Clark Isiah Victor
9 EJ Rowland Mateen Cleaves Justin Johnson Reed Rawlings
10 Jonathan Moore Darnell Miller Kevin Owens Tremaine Fowlkes
NBA G League Stories from September 19, 2006
- Bakersfield Jam announces 2006 expansion draft results - Bakersfield Jam
- D-Fenders Announce Expansion Draft Selections - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Anaheim Arsenal Announce 2006 Expansion Draft Selections - Anaheim Arsenal
- Colorado 14ers Pick 10 Players in NBA D-League Expansion Draft - Colorado 14ers
- D-League announces expansion draft results - G League
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