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NBA D-League Update

February 25, 2014 - NBA G League (G League) News Release


BOST FOOT FORWARD

Dee Bost is a former high school quarterback who once collected MVP honors in the North Carolina Class 3A State Championship Game.

Today he's the NBA D-League's top quarterback, averaging a league-best 8.8 assists through 35 games with the Idaho Stampede. That's no small feat, considering he shared a backcourt for much of this season with Pierre Jackson, the most dynamic scorer the NBA D-League has seen in recent years, and someone who had the ball in his hands ... a lot. (Jackson left Idaho last week to sign a contract overseas).

In his first full week sans Jackson, Bost did okay, if your definition of okay is averaging a triple-double. In two games, the 6-2 guard from Mississippi State, who went undrafted in 2012 out of Mississippi State, averaged 20.5 points, 14.5 assists and 11.5 rebounds, as the Stampede posted wins over the Maine Red Claws and Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Bost, who played his first professional season for KK Buducnost in Montenegro (Adriatic League), was in training camp with the Portland Trail Blazers in October, and subsequently picked up by the Trail Blazers' NBA D-League affiliate Idaho. He was recently selected to play in the 2014 NBA D-League All-Star Game in New Orleans, tallying four points and seven assists in 20 minutes.

As far as his NBA chances go, Bost continues to be somewhat of a mixed bag in the eyes of most scouts. He has NBA-caliber speed and quickness, along with very good vision. The strength of his game is his ability to get in the lane and find people. The flipside is Bost is very turnover prone -- he's averaging 3.5 turnovers this season -- and when you pair that with streaky outside shooting, his attractiveness as a backup point guard at the NBA level diminishes.

Still, guards who average better than 8.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds in a very competitive NBA D-League, and have impressive physical tools, are going to be on the radar for NBA teams. If Bost can reign it in a bit, and continue to improve as a perimeter shooter, he has a chance to play in the NBA someday.

Prospect Report

Ike Diogu, Bakersfield Jam -- Diogu has not appeared in an NBA game since Jan. 8, 2012, when he logged nine minutes, scored two points and grabbed one rebound for the San Antonio Spurs in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Diogu only appeared in two games during the 2011-12 season. In 2010-11, he got in 38 games with the L.A. Clippers. The season prior, he didn't play in the NBA at all. Certainly not the way Diogu envisioned his career would go after the Golden State Warriors made him the ninth overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. Diogu, who turned 30 in September, had a solid showing with the New York Knicks in training camp, but was not given a contract and has plied his trade in the NBA D-League, averaging 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in 25 games with the Bakersfield Jam. Generously listed at 6-8, though probably a lot closer to 6-6, Diogu is the classic undersized power forward who can do some things in the post, but doesn't have ideal size to deal with the length and athleticism you find on a nightly basis in the NBA. He's not someone who will stretch the floor, and has always had some defensive shortcomings. That said, he has NBA experience and has proven he can score in the paint.

NEWS & NOTES

Magic Signs Dedmon, Thomas from NBA Development League

The Orlando Magic has signed center Dewayne Dedmon and forward Adonis Thomas to 10-day contracts, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Dedmon and Thomas are the 23rd and 24th GATORADE call-ups of the 2013-14 NBA Development League season. Dedmon (7-0, 255, 8/12/89) has played in 15 combined games this season with Golden State and Philadelphia, averaging 2.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. He also appeared in 15 games with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, averaging 15.2 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.5 steals in 33.7 minutes per game. Thomas (6-7, 235, 3/25/93) has played in 26 games (21 starts) with the Springfield Armor of the NBA D-League, averaging 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 35.1 minutes, while shooting .469 (38-for-81) from three-point range. Not drafted by an NBA team in 2013, Dedmon played in 51 games (49 starts) during his two-year career at USC, averaging 7.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.67 blocks. Also undrafted in 2013, Thomas played in 55 games (44 starts) during two years at the University of Memphis, averaging 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.5 minutes per game.

Heat Signs Liggins from NBA Development League

The Miami Heat announced today that it has signed guard DeAndre Liggins to a 10-day contract from its NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Liggins has appeared in 35 games (34 starts) with the Skyforce this season averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.54 steals and 40.3 minutes while shooting 39.8 percent from the field. The 2014 NBA D-League All-Star has appeared in 54 career NBA D-League games (53 starts) and averaged 13.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.26 steals and 38.2 minutes while shooting 41.4 percent from the field. The University of Kentucky product has also appeared in 56 career NBA games (one start) and averaged 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 7.2 minutes of action while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. He appeared in eight postseason NBA games with Oklahoma City last season totaling eight points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in 68 minutes. Liggins was originally drafted in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

Former Illinois standout guard Brandon Paul has entered the NBA D-League player pool, according to reports. Paul played in Russia this season for BC Nizhny Novgorod where he averaged 5.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 22 games. Paul opted to play in Russia after a solid Summer League stint for the Minnesota Timberwolves ... The Fort Wayne Mad Ants presented by the Lutheran Health Network have partnered with DeKalb Health to present DeKalb County Night at the Mad Ants game on Saturday, March 1. Several groups and organizations from DeKalb County will be highlighted at the game and DeKalb County residents can contact the Mad Ants office at (260) 469-4667 to receive a special discount on tickets.

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