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NBA D-League Update

Published on March 2, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


LESLIE HEADED TO BAKERSFIELD

Travis Leslie has the physical tools to succeed in the NBA. Whether he gets the chance to use them in the service station that is the NBA this season remains to be seen.

That's because the L.A. Clippers, once an ideal team for a young player to land with from a playing-time standpoint, have quickly become one of the better squads in the Western Conference, thanks to the brilliant play of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, the emergence of DeAndre Jordan, and a stable of veterans filling out the roster.

Leslie, the 47th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, has appeared in eight games this season, averaging 1.5 points in 4.9 minutes. Today he was assigned to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, the Clippers' affiliate. The assignment marks the 42nd time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate, and is the first for Leslie.

"It's just all about being prepared when your time comes," Leslie told The Macon Telegraph. "I'm sure it'll come soon so I'm just working for that moment."

Unlike many young players, the physical part of the equation is not an issue for Leslie, who was arguably the top athlete in college basketball last season. An explosive leaper with a powerfully-built frame, Leslie looks like a veteran. His game is still a bit raw, namely his perimeter shooting and ball-handling.

Last season, Leslie bristled at being compared to the Memphis Grizzlies' Tony Allen, but it's actually a fair comparison at similar stages of their careers. Allen, the 25th overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft, has carved out a solid career as an athlete/defender, earning NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors last season, and being an integral part of the Grizzlies resurgence.

Many felt Leslie would sneak into the back portion of the first round after foregoing his senior at Georgia. His teammate at Georgia, Trey Thompkins, was also selected by the Clippers in the second round (37th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft after his junior season. Without the benefit of summer league and training camp, both began the season behind the curve, but continue to wait for a chance.

"We don't play that much, so we've got so much time to work on our game," Leslie said. "It gives us plenty of time to work on every aspect of our game. At Georgia, since we were the guys at Georgia, we couldn't work on our game like that."

PROSPECT REPORT

Julian Wright, Austin Toros -- This was not the way it was supposed to go for Wright, who played his first NBA D-League game yesterday with the Austin Toros, scoring 16 points on 8-for-13 shooting in 22 minutes of action. A former lottery pick, selected by the New Orleans Hornets with the 13th overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, Wright never lived up to his billing as a jack-of-all-trades, defensive-minded swingman, who always found ways to impact a game. Wright never averaged more than 4.4 points during his four NBA seasons. He failed to develop a consistent perimeter game, which, over time, can limit a player's upside. Not big enough to bang with fours, and not a good enough shooter to claim heavy minutes at the three, Wright got lost in the shuffle, falling out of the NBA after the 2010-11 season spent with the Toronto Raptors. Wright still has youth on his side (he turns 25 on May 20), and is hoping another NBA team is willing to take another look.

NEWS & NOTES

Dallas Mavericks Assign Lamar Odom to NBA D-League Affiliate Texas Legends

The Dallas Mavericks today assigned forward Lamar Odom to the Texas Legends, the Mavericks' NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment marks the 41st time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season and is the first assignment for Odom in his 13-year career. Odom (6-10, 230, Rhode Island) has appeared in 32 games, four starts, for the Mavericks this season, averaging 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21.4 minutes. He has missed the team's last three games due to personal reasons. The 2011 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Odom was traded to the Mavericks from the Lakers prior to the start of the 2011-12 NBA season. He has appeared in 861 NBA games, averaging 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds for his career. A two-time NBA Champion with the Lakers (2009, 2010), Odom played with the USA National Team in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. More

Springfield's Jerry Smith Named NBA D-League Player of the Month

Springfield Armor guard Jerry Smith was named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in February. Smith, who was named NBA D-League Performer of the Week on Feb. 6, is a first-time Player of the Month honoree. Smith (6-2, 190, Louisville) led Springfield to a perfect 8-0 record in February, averaging 22.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 35.4 minutes. He scored in double figures in all eight games, recording back-to-back double-doubles on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 and finishing with more than 20 points in five contests. A 2012 NBA D-League All-Star, Smith was Springfield's leading scorer five times in February. More

Oklahoma City Thunder Assigns Lazar Hayward to NBA D-League Affiliate Tulsa 66ers

The Oklahoma City Thunder today assigned second-year forward Lazar Hayward to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder's NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment marks the 40th time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season and is the first assignment for Hayward this season. Hayward (6-6, 225, Marquette) has appeared in 12 games with the Thunder this season, averaging 1.5 points and 0.9 rebounds in 5.9 minutes. He has missed the last six games recovering from an orbital floor fracture. Originally selected in the first round (30th overall) in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, Hayward appeared in 39 games for the Minnesota Timberwovles during the 2010-11 season before being traded to Oklahoma City in December 2011.

New York Knicks Re-assign Jerome Jordan to NBA D-League Affiliate Erie BayHawks

The New York Knicks today re-assigned center Jerome Jordan to the Erie BayHawks, the Knicks? NBA D-League affiliate. The assignment mark the 43rd time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season and is the second assignment for Jordan this season. Jordan (7-0, 240, Tulsa) is averaging 1.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 4.7 minutes in 13 games for the Knicks this season. During his first assignment to the BayHawks in January, he appeared in two games, averaging 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in 32.5 minutes. Originally selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (44th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Jordan is expected to join the BayHawks this afternoon and be available when the team hosts the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Saturday night.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Austin Toros have reacquired Eric Dawson, who returns following a GATORADE Call-Up to the San Antonio Spurs. Dawson averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in two games for the Spurs. Dawson has played in 18 games for the Toros this season averaging 15.9 points and 10.1 rebounds in 29.0 minutes ... The Idaho Stampede have reacquired Willie Jenkins (6-6, 222, Tennessee Tech) and acquired Brady Jordan (6-6, 220, Utah Valley University). Jenkins re-joins the Stampede after suffering a jaw injury on Dec. 23 at Reno. Jenkins is averaging 9.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 11 games (nine starts) with Idaho. Brady Jordan joins the Stampede after playing two-plus seasons in the NBA D-League, including two seasons with the Utah Flash from 2009-11. This season, Brady played 14 games (five starts) with the Los Angeles D-Fenders and averaged 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds ... The Philadelphia 76ers have recalled second-year forward Craig Brackins from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. He was originally assigned to the team on Feb. 7, 2012. In seven games for the Red Claws, Brackins averaged 18.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.57 blocks in 34.0 minutes while shooting 50 percent from the floor, 30 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the line. Brackins tallied four double-doubles, including one in each of his final three 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

Erie BayHawks President MATT BRESEE, on Jeremy Lin: "It's funny, everyone looking for their Jeremy Lin claim to fame. My 15-year-old daughter can brag to her friends that Jeremy Lin was in our car. We can say Jeremy Lin stepped foot in the food court of the Millcreek Mall, spent the night at the Sheraton here and practiced at the Lecom Wellness Center. We've got pictures." The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 2, 2012

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