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NBA D-League Update

January 28, 2014 - NBA G League (G League) News Release


LEDO'S TEXAS TWO-STEP

Ricky Ledo and Romero Osby were separated by eight spots on NBA Draft Night in 2013.

Ledo, the 43rd overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks, was traded twice that evening, eventually winding up with the Dallas Mavericks. Osby was selected 51st overall by the Orlando Magic.

Their respective career arcs have since changed drastically.

Ledo, who enrolled at Providence as a high profile recruit, but was unable to become eligible to play, was given a four-year contract by the Mavericks. Osby, a fifth-year senior from Oklahoma, was given a non-guaranteed contract and an invite to training camp.

Despite a strong showing in NBA Summer League, training camp and preseason games, Osby was waived by the Magic and has landed in the NBA D-League with the Maine Red Claws, hoping to beat down the NBA door. Ledo has spent the bulk of his season with the Texas Legends, the Mavericks' NBA D-League affiliate, with the comfort of a long-term deal.

To his credit, Ledo has taken the right approach, according to Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle.

"A lot of it depends on the attitude, and the tact a player takes to it," Carlisle told the Sports on Earth blog. "And he's approached it really well. There have been ups and downs, but he's learned from them. And when he came back to us after a month, there was a big difference. There was a difference in his work habits, there was a difference in the way he carried himself. And everybody was very impressed. That's why we bring him back, here and there, whenever we can, because we want to reward him."

In 17 games with the Legends this season, Ledo is averaging 13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He's appeared in three games with the Mavericks, averaging 3.0 minutes.

"You get good reps [in the NBA D-League]," Ledo said. "Up here, you get opportunities, but your opportunities could be limited. [My game gets] further along in the D-League."

Blessed with a rare combination of size, ball-handling and scoring ability, Ledo has drawn comparisons to Penny Hardaway and Shaun Livingston, the latter prior to several serious injuries that have limited his effectiveness at the NBA level.

Though Carlisle is ultimately focused on the players in the Mavericks' locker room each night as the team fights for the playoffs, he also is quick to note the benefits of the NBA D-League.

"The ability to send guys to the D-League to get actual playing experience is huge," Carlisle said. "We're fortunate that our team is only 25 minutes up the road, so a guy can go play, and get back if we want him to get back. We've had Ricky down in the D-League for significant stretches, and he's done a great job of embracing that opportunity to play, so that he can get his game better."

Prospect Report

Darius Johnson-Odom, Springfield Armor -- Johnson-Odom doesn't have great size, or length, or upside, or any of the buzz words attached to many of the players NBA teams search for around the world. He's essentially a 6-3 shooting guard, with very solid scoring instincts and an innate toughness you can't teach. As Derek Bodner of Draft Express put it prior to the 2012 NBA Draft: "If Johnson-Odom were 6-5 there would be no questions about his ability to contribute at the next level. His ability to make shots from the perimeter and create off the dribble are coveted skills, especially considering his winning pedigree and the intensity he brings on the defensive end." Johnson-Odom was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 55th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he spent a good chunk of the 2012-13 season before being waived. Johnson's size and lack of point guard skills have likely hurt his chances of securing a roster spot this season, but he's been his usual productive self for the Armor, averaging 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 10 games.

NEWS & NOTES

NBA D-League All-Star Game Returns to NBA All-Star Festivities

The NBA Development League All-Star Game returns to NBA All-Star 2014 for the eighth consecutive year on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 3 p.m. ET. The Prospects and Futures teams, made up of 20 top NBA D-League players, will take to the court at Sprint Arena inside NBA All-Star Jam Session at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in a game slated to air live on NBA TV. Canton Charge head coach Steve Hetzel and his staff along with Rio Grande Valley Vipers head coach Nevada Smith and his staff will coach the teams in New Orleans. Smith, in his first season with the Vipers, earned the trip to New Orleans based on posting a league-best 19-6 (.760) record in the three-division NBA D-League in games played through Jan. 26. Hetzel, in his first year helming the Charge, and his staff will make the trip to the NBA D-League All-Star Game by virtue of a 16-9 record and owning the tie-breaker with Nate Bjorkgren and the staff of the Iowa Energy, which had the same record through games of Jan. 26, for the league's second-best winning percentage. Hetzel will coach the Futures teams while Smith will guide the Prospects squad. The 2014 NBA D-League Dream Factory presented by Boost Mobile will again be integrated into the day's events with the Boost Mobile Three-Point Contest tipping off the action at 2:30 p.m. ET and the Boost Mobile Slam Dunk Competition taking place during the game's halftime break.

Vipers' Canaan, D-Fenders' Williams Named Co-Performers of the Week

Isaiah Canaan, a Houston Rockets rookie playing on assignment for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and Terrence Williams of the Los Angeles D-Fenders, were named NBA Development League Co-Performers of the Week for games played Jan. 20-26. A 6-0, 188-pound guard out of Murray State, Canaan averaged 25.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds to lead the Vipers to a 3-1 week. On his second assignment with Rio Grande Valley, Caanan scored at least 19 points in all four games and, on Jan. 25, he recorded a season-high 34 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists in a 123-116 victory over the Austin Toros. For the season, Canaan is averaging 22.7 points, good for second best on the Vipers and seventh in the NBA D-League, to go with an NBA D-League-high 8.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds. Williams, a 6-6, 220-pound swingman from Louisville, averaged 27.3 points, 6.7 assists and 6.3 rebounds, guiding Los Angeles to a 2-1 week. On Jan. 24, he tallied a season-high 39 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists in a 118-111 win over the Reno Bighorns. For the season, Williams is averaging 18.1 points, 6.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds. The D-Fenders are 7-3 since Williams made his debut on Jan. 4.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Los Angeles D-Fenders have acquired former Los Angeles Lakers forward Shawne Williams, by way of a successful waiver claim. Williams (6-9, 230) was selected in the first round (17th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. Most recently, he spent 32 games (11 starts) with the Lakers this season, posting averages of 5.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20.2 minutes. The Memphis native has appeared in 247 career NBA games (34 starts) with the Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets and Lakers. Williams has also played for Guangzhou Liu Sui, of the Chinese National Basketball League ... The Philadelphia 76ers have recalled guard Lorenzo Brown from the Delaware 87ers. Brown (6-5, 195) has appeared in eight games for the 87ers this season, averaging 18.0 points, 7.4 assists and 5.5 rebounds. He has appeared in 18 games for the Sixers.

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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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