NBA D-League Update
Published on March 6, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
REMEMBER ME?
Alando Tucker's timing could not have been worse.
Selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round (29th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Tucker promptly took a seat behind Shawn Marion, Grant Hill, Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell at the wing positions. He appeared in eight games as a rookie, averaging 3.7 points and 8.0 minutes.
Things didn't exactly loosen up in 2008-09, with Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and Matt Barnes joining the fold. Toss in a midseason coaching change (Terry Porter to Alvin Gentry), and it's safe to say Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer didn't get much of a chance to prove his worth.
Tucker was traded by the Suns to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 29, 2009, and was eventually waived by the Timberwolves on March 22, 2010. After stints in Puerto Rico and Russia, Tucker began this season playing in the Spanish ACB, the top league in Spain, before signing with the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.
In 10 games with the Legends, Tucker is averaging 16.9 points and 4.5 rebounds in 30.1 mpg. He's shooting 50 percent from the field, including a robust 52 percent from behind the arc. Known more as a slasher coming into the NBA, Tucker has clearly worked on his perimeter game, hoping to earn another chance to make the show.
"I really thought he would make it in the NBA when he went to Phoenix. But he just never really seemed to get the opportunity," Legends coach Del Harris told the Wisconsin State Journal. "I really believe this is a guy that is doing the right thing by coming to the Development League. And I believe he will develop and have another opportunity in the NBA. He's a very good player."
Tucker is one of many former NBA players still on the south side of 30 trying to make it back to the league. Maine's Morris Almond, also a first round pick (25th overall) of the Utah Jazz in 2007, is averaging 23.4 points in 16 games this season. Springfield's JamesOn Curry, a second-round pick (51st overall) of the Chicago Bulls in 2007, is averaging 16.4 points, 6.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 28 games this season.
PROSPECT REPORT
Jermaine Taylor, Rio Grande Valley Vipers -- Taylor has never met a shot he wouldn't take. A prolific scorer at Central Florida, Taylor, the 32nd overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, was coveted by the Houston Rockets for his ability to put the ball in the basket. In 65 games over the past two seasons split between Houston and Sacramento, Taylor averaged 5.4 points. The Rockets tried to bring him into training camp this season, but Taylor failed his physical due to a high ankle sprain that hadn't healed properly. A gifted athlete who's always in attack mode, Taylor has a clear-cut NBA skill, but will likely have to show improvement in other areas to make his way back to the NBA. In three games with the Vipers this season, Taylor is averaging 12.0 points in 22.7 minutes, as he gets his legs back under him.
NEWS & NOTES
Maine's Almond, Hayes Named NBA D-League Co-performers of the Week
Morris Almond and Kenny Hayes of the Maine Red Claws were named NBA Development League Co-Performers of the Week for games played Feb. 27?March 4, when the Red Claws went 2-0. This marks the first time either has earned the honor in their career. Almond, a 6-5, 210-pound guard from Rice, averaged 32.5 points and 9.5 rebounds while shooting 64 percent from the floor last week. He notched back-to-back 30-plus point games, finishing with 34 points in a 100-94 win over the Springfield Armor on March 2. He came back on March 4 and scored 31 points in a 118-113 victory over the Armor on March 4. Hayes, a 6-2, 175-pound guard out of Miami-Ohio, averaged 32.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists, shooting 53 percent from the floor. He scored an NBA D-League season-high 52 points on March 4, just one point shy of the all-time NBA D-League record (53), which Almond co-holds with Rio Grande Valley Viper point guard Will Conroy. For the season, Hayes is averaging 16.3 points and 4.8 assists, while Almond is averaging a team-high 23.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. More
AROUND THE D-LEAGUE
The Golden State Warriors have recalled forward/center Jeremy Tyler from the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, the team announced today. Tyler, 20, appeared in five games with the Wizards, averaging 15.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 28.8 minutes. He was originally assigned to the Wizards on Feb. 27 ... Jerome Jordan has averaged 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in four games with the Erie BayHawks, on assignment from the New York Knicks ... Donald Sloan is back with the Erie BayHawks after stints this season with the Atlanta Hawks and most recently the New Orleans Hornets. In five games with the BayHawks, Sloan, 24, averaged 24.8 points and 8.4 assists ... DeShawn Sims, the 2011 NBA D-League Rookie of the Year, has re-joined the Maine Red Claws. Sims appeared in 48 games last season, averaging 20.3 points and 7.7 rebounds. He recently played in Puerto Rico and South Korea ... The San Antonio Spurs assigned T.J. Ford to the Austin Toros yesterday. Ford practiced with the Toros in San Antonio as he continues his rehabilitation process from a torn left hamstring he suffered at Milwaukee on Jan. 10. He was recalled by the Spurs today.
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
Iowa Energy guard MOSES EHAMBE, on Jeremy Lin: "He's given us a whole lot more exposure. Knowing that he made it, going through all that he went through, I know that I can do the same." USA Today, March 6, 2012
NBA G League Stories from March 6, 2012
- Armor Take Part in Three-Team Trade - Springfield Armor
- Wizards Acquire Leo Lyons, Trade Guard Anthony Goods - Dakota Wizards
- Legends Trade for NBA Veteran Dan Gadzuric - Texas Legends
- Cleveland Cavaliers Re-Assign Eyenga and Harangody to NBA D-League Affiliate Canton Charge - G League
- Christian Eyenga and Luke Harangody Assigned to Canton Charge - Cleveland Charge
- BayHawks Drown the Red Claws, 106-81 - Erie BayHawks
- NBA D-League Update - G League
- Warriors Recall Tyler - Dakota Wizards
- 2011 Rookie of the Year DeShawn Sims Returns to Red Claws - Maine Celtics
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.
