NBA D-League Update
March 14, 2014 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
IN A RELATED MOVE...
One door opens and another closes.
That's generally how it works when you live on the fringes of the NBA. Today, the Philadelphia 76ers signed Darius Johnson-Odom from the Springfield Armor. In a related move, the team waived Lorenzo Brown, who's spent much of the season on assignment with Delaware 87ers after being waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves in October, despite being the 52nd overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft.
Brown will likely sign on with Delaware and begin the climb back. He also could elect to play overseas. Johnson-Odom gets a 10-day audition and a nice chunk of change. He could earn a rest-of-season deal, and be in the 76ers program this summer.
This is largely what's at stake for many top prospects in the NBA D-League as of March 13. An audition, a little extra cheddar, and the chance to get in on the ground floor for the 2014-15 season. You won't find too many playoff teams looking for rotation players at this stage of the season, but teams are always in the market for a guy who could turn into something down the road.
Johnson-Odom is an interesting case from an NBA perspective. He has some fans. Lest we forget, the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Johnson-Odom on Draft Night in 2012, after he was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 55th overall pick, and paid a decent penny to do so. He appeared in only four games with the Lakers during the 2012-13 season and didn't score a point.
Johnson-Odom has scored a ton of points in the NBA D-League this season, averaging 22.0 points, 6.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 27 games for the Armor. Though he doesn't fit comfortably into either guard slot, Johnson-Odom is tough, can score and will take on challenges at the defensive end. To this point, it's been a numbers game for him, but the most important number now is 10, as in days.
Brown should be heard from again. You could argue he made a mistake declaring for the NBA Draft after his junior season at N.C. State, but another season in college may have not impacted his draft status much. He's a big point guard with solid athleticism and court vision, but struggles as a perimeter shooter.
NEWS & NOTES
Milwaukee Bucks Sign Maine's Chris Wright
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free-agent forward Chris Wright (6-8, 225) to a 10-day contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Wright is the 33rd GATORADE Call-Up of the 2013-14 season from the NBA D-League. Wright joins the Bucks from the Maine Red Claws, where he's appeared in 38 games this season and posted averages of 19.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest. He's notched 13 double-doubles on the year, including six in his last eight appearances. Wright also played for the Red Claws during the 2012-13 season, when he averaged 18.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, and has been named to the NBA D-League All-Star Game in both of his seasons in Maine. After going undrafted out of Dayton in 2011, Wright was selected by the Red Claws with the third overall pick in the 2011 NBA D-League Draft. He appeared in four games for the Red Claws, averaging 17.0 points and 10.8 rebounds, before signing with the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 24, 2011. Wright appeared in 24 games during his lone NBA season and posted 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest.
AROUND THE D-LEAGUE
The Sacramento Kings have recalled forward Royce White from the Kings NBA D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns, according to Kings General Manager Pete D'Alessandro. White, signed by the Kings to a 10-day contract on March 6, immediately reported to the Bighorns and averaged 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.50 steals and 24.8 minutes in starting four games. Twice White scored in double-figures.
NBA G League Stories from March 14, 2014
- Stampede Pull Away from Bighorns in the Fourth - Reno Bighorns
- Nunnally Drops 35 as Legends Roll Past Red Claws - Texas Legends
- Energy Fall to Warriors in Santa Cruz - Iowa Wolves
- Stampede Pull Away from Bighorns in the Fourth - Idaho Stampede
- Charge Defeated by Red Hot D-Fenders - Cleveland Charge
- Sevens Come up Short in Battle with Mad Ants 122-111 - Delaware Blue Coats
- BayHawks Fall to Armor, 107-104 - Erie BayHawks
- Foote Paces Armor Past BayHawks, 107-104 - Springfield Armor
- D-Fenders Claim Wire-To-Wire Victory in First Half of Back-To-Back - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Skyforce Acquires Chris Allen - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Royce White Recalled from the Reno Bighorns - Reno Bighorns
- Onuaku Out Two to Three Weeks - Cleveland Charge
- Charge Acquire Anthony Harris - Cleveland Charge
- Skyforce Acquires Craig Smith - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Mavericks Reassign Shane Larkin to NBA D-League's Texas Legends - G League
- Mavericks Reassign Shane Larkin to NBA D-League's Texas Legends - Texas Legends
- Heat Signs Justin Hamilton from Sioux Falls Skyforce - G League
- NBA D-League Update - G League
- Heat Signs Justin Hamilton, Releases Liggins - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Sixers Ink Darius Johnson-Odom to 10-Day Contract - Springfield Armor
- Sixers Sign Guard Darius Johnson-Odom to 10-Day Contract - G League
- Bucks Sign Free Agent Chris Wright - G League
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.
