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NBA D-League Update

Published on December 10, 2013 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


SHOT OUT OF A CANAAN

It was only a matter of time before Rio Grande Valley's Isaiah Canaan -- on assignment from the Houston Rockets -- got it going offensively for the Vipers, winners of seven straight games to open the 2013-14 NBA D-League season.

It still could be a while before the 6-1 Canaan, whom the Rockets snatched with the 34th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, makes his presence felt with the big boy club. And for both parties, that's just fine. In fact, it's how it was scripted from the beginning.

With Jeremy Lin, Patrick Beverley and Aaron Brooks entrenched in Houston's backcourt rotation, playing alongside a supreme playmaker in James Harden, the demand for Canaan's scoring prowess and perimeter shooting ability is low, but that doesn't mean Canaan won't eventually make an impact.

The Rockets are banking on it, having signed Canaan to a three-year contract, which means Houston will hold Canaan's Bird Rights at the conclusion of his contract, and thus will make it much easier to keep him, or get value in return.

Through seven games with the Vipers, Canaan is averaging 21.7 points,9.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds, while shooting 49 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range. This past week, he averaged 25.5 points, 9.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds on his way to being named the NBA D-League's Co-Performer of the Week.

Canaan is not the only Rockets assignee flourishing in Rio Grande Valley. Though he wasn't drafted in 2013 out of Tennessee State, Robert Covington also received a three-year contract from the Rockets, with an eye on the athletic small forward honing his considerable talent in the NBA D-League with the Vipers.

Covington has also appeared in all seven Vipers games, averaging 18.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks. Though not as much of a household name as Canaan, whom many teams considered in the late first round, Covington was very impressive on the Pre-Draft circuit, after missing a chunk of his senior season with a knee injury.

Said a longtime scout of Covington prior to the Draft in June, "Covington is a rangy, athletic small forward who competes and is able to fill the box score with many athletic plays on both ends of the court that help his team win. The fact that he has been hiding in plain sight in the Ohio Valley Conference shouldn't matter. This guy can play. If his knee checks out, I would expect that some team would be smart enough to draft him in the second round and bring him to veteran camp. He sure looks like a roster player to me."

The Rockets agreed, and decided on a three-year deal, which is extremely rare for an undrafted free agent. Based on the early returns, it was another shrewd move from an organization that is clearly thinking ahead with respect to the Draft and the NBA D-League.

Prospect Report

DeAndre Liggins, Sioux Falls Skyforce -- It would be easy to say that Liggins, despite being an NBA-caliber defender and then some, simply doesn't have enough of an offensive game to stick in the NBA at this point in time, and that time in the NBA D-League this year working on his jumper is what's needed. But, that wouldn't be completely honest or accurate. The reality is, Liggins, who spent last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, hurt his chances at securing an NBA contract this fall when he was arrested in late August for a domestic issue. So, while he clearly needs work on some areas of his game, he also needs to rehab his reputation with NBA teams as well. If he's able to do that, the scouting report remains interesting to NBA teams. Liggins is the right mix of size (6-6), athlete and defender for today's NBA, which is dominated by supremely talented wing players. Teams will often keep a player of Liggins' ilk ahead of an extra big body. Through six games, Liggins is averaging 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

NEWS & NOTES

Vipers' Canaan and Stampede's Jackson Named Co-Performers of the Week

Isaiah Canaan, a Houston Rockets rookie playing on assignment for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and Pierre Jackson of the Idaho Stampede, were today named NBA Development League Co-Performers of the Week for games played Dec. 2-8. A 6-0, 188-pound guard out of Murray State, Canaan averaged 25.5 points, 9.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds to lead the Vipers to a 4-0 week. On assignment in Rio Grande Valley since Nov. 6, Canaan and the Vipers are 7-0 this season and have won 17 straight regular-season games dating back to March 16. For the season, Canaan is averaging 21.7 points, good for second best on the Vipers and 10th in the NBA D-League, to go with an NBA D-League-high 9.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds. Jackson, a 5-11, 176-pound guard from Baylor, averaged 31.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds, guiding Idaho to a 2-0 week. Jackson scored an NBA D-League-high 43 points, sinking six three-pointers, as the Stampede defeated the Springfield Armor 117-107 on the road. The next night, he helped Idaho secure a 101-90 win over the Maine Red Claws, scoring 19 points, dishing out nine assists and grabbing four steals. For the season, Jackson is averaging an NBA D-League-best 28.6 points to go with 5.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds.

Alumni Report: Terrence Jones Thriving in Houston

Once the Houston Rockets landed Dwight Howard this summer, the search for a versatile power forward to start alongside him immediately became a pressing issue. But, despite constant trade speculation about the Rockets seeking outside help, they may have found the solution right on their own roster in Terrence Jones, who just last season was playing more often with their NBA D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, than he was with Houston.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Santa Cruz Warriors have acquired the Maine Red Claws' own original first round draft pick in the 2014 NBA D-League Draft in a three-team trade that sends center Mickell Gladness to the Reno Bighorns and Santa Cruz's second round draft pick to Maine. Maine receives the second round draft pick from Santa Cruz that it initially traded to the Warriors on Nov. 4, surrounding the 2013 NBA D-League Draft. In addition, the Red Claws receive center Zeke Marshall from Reno. The deal is complete pending physicals ... The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward Andre Roberson from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League, it was announced by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. In three games (all starts) with the 66ers, Roberson averaged 17.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 35.0 minutes per game ... The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled guard/forward Carrick Felix and center Henry Sims from the Canton Charge. Felix appeared in two games for the Charge this past weekend, averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game. Sims also appeared in two Canton games over the weekend with averages of 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game ... The San Antonio Spurs have recalled center Aron Baynes and guard Nando De Colo from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League. Both players made their second appearance for the Toros this season on Sunday afternoon when they led Austin to a 116-87 home victory over the Reno Bighorns. De Colo led all scorers with 32 points while adding eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. In two games with the Toros this season, De Colo is averaging 30.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 4.5 steals. Baynes posted a double-double on Sunday with 21 points and 11 rebounds. In two games with Austin this season, Baynes is averaging 22.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 blocks.

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NBA G League Stories from December 10, 2013


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