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| Call-Up #1: Blake Ahearn to the San Antonio Spurs |
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| by: Jim Hlavac, Richard Walker - D-League Scout |
| November 15, 2008 |
According to DraftExpress D-League scout Jim Hlavac, the San Antonio Spurs are calling up guard Blake Ahearn from the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, making Ahearn the first Gatorade Call-Up of the 2008- 2009 season.
Ahearn was in training camp with the Wizards as the D-League season doesn't begin for another two weeks. Last year, there was one call-up before the season started when the New Jersey Nets called up guard Eddie Gill from the Colorado 14ers.
Coming out Missouri State last season, Ahearn started the year with Dakota and then finished up with the NBA's Miami Heat, playing in ten games and averaging 6.5, 1.5 and 1.5. While with Dakota, Ahearn averaged 19.0, 2.0 and 3.5 while shooting .439 from behind the arc.
Prior to joining the Wizards, Ahearn was with the Minnesota Timberwolves for training camp after playing for them during the Las Vegas Summer League. Ahearn is likely being called up to replace Spurs guard Desmon Farmer. |
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| D-League Pre-Draft Power Rankings / Allocation List |
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| by: Jonathan Givony - President |
| November 7, 2008 |
After the D-League released the list of allocated, returning and tryout players, we take a look through the rosters and rank the teams 1-16 based off what they have going into the draft, analyzing the top players in the league in the process.
The draft will be broadcasted today, Friday the 7th, at 7 PM on NBATV.
#1 Dakota Wizards
Blake Ahearn
Maurice Baker
David Bell
Will Frisby
Dontell Jefferson
Quemont Greer
Renaldo Major
Along with Austin, Dakota looks to be one of the two strongest teams in the D-League, and with a strong draft (with a likely focus on the interior) should be considered the tentative favorites for the league title. Their returning players are mostly all proven to be quality D-League producers, and they should have a good deal of chemistry right off the bat, which is more than most teams in the league will ever be able to say this season.
The backcourt looks especially strong, with combo guards Blake Ahearn, Mo Baker and Dontell Jefferson all capable of putting up big-time scoring numbers, as well as do other things.
Ahearn is one of the top shooters in the league, but is not just your typical suburban backyard shooter. He is a fairly good athlete, and is capable of putting the ball on the floor and getting to the free throw line (where he simply never misses), as he showed last season en-route to earning a call-up from the Miami Heat. The drawback here is that despite standing just 6-2 with an underwhelming frame, he’s not much of a point guard, and thus is fairly limited defensively as well. It will be interesting to see how he develops this season, as he seems to be getting better all the time.
Maurice “Mo” Baker played all of 06-07 with Dakota and a large chunk of 07-08 as well before being bought out by Paris-Levallios in the French League. He’s a big-time scorer plain and simple, despite being fairly limited athletically and nothing more than an average perimeter shooter at best. Baker just has a terrific feel for putting the ball in the basket, not always terribly efficiently albeit, but still being capable of creating offense out of nothing, which is more than most players in this league can say. He’s a tough, experienced player with strong intangibles who brings a lot to the table in a league like this, and will even make teammates better on occasion, and surely help win games.
Similar to Baker, he played all of 06-07 with Dakota and part of 07-08 before being bought out by a European team (Barons Riga in Latvia). Jefferson is a very versatile 6-4 point guard, showing nice athleticism, the ability to lock-down multiple positions defensively, good court vision and an improving feel for putting the ball in the basket. He is the definition of a late-bloomer and improved by leaps and bounds in two seasons in the D-League. He passed up numerous overseas offers to give the NBA another shot, and it will be interesting to see how much he improves this season.
The Wizards have talent in the frontcourt as well, starting with lock-down defender Renaldo Major (sat out for all of last season after undergoing heart surgery), Quemont Greer (an excellent scorer who never met a shot he didn’t like), and offensive-minded but foul prone Will Frisby.
#2 Austin Toros
Serge Angounou
Eric Dawson
Carldell Johnson
Marcus Williams
Charles Gaines
Malik Hairston
Tack Minor
Austin looks to be the most top-heavy team in the D-League going into the draft already. They have two San Antonio Spurs second round picks in Malik Hairston and Marcus Williams, as well as a very athletic big man with an incredible amount of high-level European experience in Charles Gaines.
Malik Hairston could very well be the first player called up by an NBA team, as soon as one injury or another happens and the need for a versatile swingman arises. He has an NBA body already to go along with nice physical tools, an advanced skill-set, and excellent intangibles to boot. It was surprising to say the least to see San Antonio decide to keep Desmon Farmer over him, but if Hairston can show improved ball-handling skills and the ability to defend both wing positions effectively, his stay in Austin should not be very long.
Many will scratch their head while reading this list and wonder what exactly Charles Gaines is thinking passing up 50k per month offers or more in Europe to play in the D-League, but the Austin Toros surely won’t mind. We’re talking about one of the most athletic players in the league right off the bat, someone capable of making a significant impact inside the paint on both ends of the floor, as well as a strong rebounder in traffic and a terrific threat running the floor in transition. These are all very rare qualities to find in a big man in the D-League, particularly one as experienced as Gaines is. Gaines has always been deemed to lack the size, consistent jump-shot, steady free throw stroke and the on-court discipline needed to earn an NBA contract, but it’s possible that an up close and personal look from every NBA team, combined with some big-time production (a maybe a mid-season injury to a rotation player) could change their minds over the long D-League season.
Cardell “Squeaky” Johnson is a very steady point guard to have at the D-League level, while former LSU combo guard Tack Minor has all kinds of talent (especially as a scorer) but has fallen off the map in recent years due to off-court issues.
#3 Idaho Stampede
Brent Petway
Jamaal Tatum
Jason Ellis
Ryan Appleby
Coby Karl
Reggie Leary
Tim Barnes
Last year’s champions should be very competitive once again, even if they lack some of the experience and depth of their counterparts in Austin and Bismarck. Regardless, Idaho has one of the best coaching staffs in the league, starting with head coach Bryan Gates, now complimented by the huge amount of NBA and D-League experience that Randy Livingston brings to the table, which means that they can’t be ruled out.
Idaho should be led by the play of versatile Coby Karl, recently cut by the LA Lakers. Karl can play three positions in the D-League and should shoulder a significant amount of the playmaking duties. He is a very aggressive and extremely intelligent player with a terrific stroke from beyond the arc and excellent court vision, and is aided tremendously by his terrific 7-foot wingspan. Not terribly athletic, particularly in the lateral quickness department, he will have to find the right fit in order to make it back to the NBA, and will also draw significant interest from high-level European teams.
There are a couple of other interesting players who should make a solid impact here, including the freakishly athletic Brent Petway, the tough-nosed and extremely intelligent Jamaal Tatum (forced to sit out all of last season with an ankle injury), and the athletic and versatile undersized power forward Reggie Leary, a rookie out of local Boise State.
#4 Bakersfield Jam
Mateen Cleaves
Trey Johnson
Nick Lewis
Derek Wright
Jeff Trepagnier
Justin Bellegarde
Demario Butler
Bakersfield has two veteran players at its disposal in Mateen Cleaves and Jeff Trepagnier, and some quality options alongside them, which should make them more competitive than they’ve been recently. With a solid draft, they should be well along their way this season.
A former top-15 pick (Detroit Pistons, 2000) and NCAA champion, Cleaves knows the D-League well, having spent parts of four of the last five seasons here, always putting up huge scoring and assists numbers. He is a ball-dominant floor general who lacks great athleticism or a consistent perimeter shooting stroke, but brings great intangibles to the table, which could be appealing to an NBA team looking for a steady and reliable third point guard mid-way through the season.
Trepagnier is a former second round pick (Cleveland Cavaliers, 2001) and a big-time athlete who is getting close to hitting 30 years old. The trajectory of his career has been pointing downwards for the past few seasons after initially showing quite a bit of promise, and it’s likely that he is coming to try and get himself back on track in a feature scoring role here in Bakersfield. His shot-selection and all-around streakiness have always been considered his downfalls, but he’s an excellent athlete who can make a real impact on both ends of the floor when he’s truly dialed in.
7-footer Nick Lewis gives the team a high skill-level and productive rebounder, and Trey Johnson will try to regain the form that made him the #1 scorer in college basketball just two years ago.
#5 Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Will Conroy
Daryl Dorsey
Ramon Dyer
Cheyne Gadson
Cory Underwood
Mark Walters
Sidney Hooper
The most notable names here are Will Conroy and Cheyne Gadson, two players that give Albuquerque a very experienced backcourt from which to build around.
Conroy is going into his fourth D-League campaign after racking up over 100 D-League games of experience. He has very little to show for it in terms of NBA money earned, but will again try to turn double-digit assists averages, decent scoring, a high turnover rate and average perimeter shooting ability into a 10-day contract. At this level, you can’t argue with the leadership he brings to the table.
Gadson is also coming off a very poor performance in Italy last season and also has a wealth of D-League experience to fall-back on. He is a talented scoring combo guard with solid athleticism but is unlikely to draw much NBA interest due to his lack of playmaking, perimeter shooting and decision making skills.
It will be interesting to see how the very ball-dominant Conroy, Gadson and Majic Dorsey are all able to coincide alongside each other. It does not look like a match made in heaven on paper.
#6 Sioux Falls Skyforce
Chris Alexander
Milone Clark
Carl Elliott
Michael Joiner
Bobby Jones
Frank Williams
Chris Childress
Sioux Falls has two former NBA players (Bobby Jones and Frank Williams), a legit big man to do the dirty work (Chris Alexander), and a prospect with nice upside in Carl Elliott, which separates them a bit from the pack. Not enough to compete with the big-boys for a championship, they are regardless capable of beating almost any team on any given night, especially with a good draft.
Frank Williams seems to have lost almost all the athleticism that made him a first round pick back in 2002 (New York Knicks, #25), and has become almost exclusively a perimeter shooter. He is not a very efficient player for that reason, and is fairly turnover for a point guard, but for as hard as it is for D-League teams to acquire point guards, he’s not that bad of an option all things considered—since he can defend, is experienced and brings good size and strength to the table.
#7 Tulsa 66ers
Russell Carter
Keith Closs
Chris Ellis
Jeremy Kelly
Terrell Everett
Ryan Humphrey
Keith Clark
Tulsa is one of the more athletic teams you’ll find, and they’ll be able to build to a pretty solid core after adding the #1 overall pick in the draft. They will probably be looking to improve their frontcourt, which is a bit weak compared to their backcourt.
Terrell Everett may be a familiar name to college basketball fans, and he will likely become a familiar name to D-League fans this season as well. A big point guard with nice athleticism, good court vision and excellent overall talent, Everett is back in the States after spending the last two seasons primarily in France, where he was mostly up and down but always showed excellent sparks of potential. Everett is still an average perimeter shooter and decision maker, two of the things he’ll need to work on the most to draw NBA interest this upcoming season. Showing leadership skills and maturity both on and off the floor will be imperative.
Tulsa also returns an excellent shooter and solid athlete in Russell Carter, who stumbled in his first season of professional play. He joins the versatile and defensive minded Jeremy Kelly, a veteran D-League player at this point, and Chris Ellis, a strong and aggressive athlete and undersized power forward who makes up for his poor skill-set somewhat with the energy he brings to the floor. Ryan Humphrey is a former first round draft pick (#19 in 2002, Utah Jazz) out of Notre Dame who is trying to return to the basketball courts after sitting out an extensive amount of time with injuries. If he has retained the athleticism that made him such a coveted prospect a few years back, he could be of huge service to Tulsa.
#8 Anaheim Arsenal
Mario Boggan
Mike Efevberha
Noel Felix
Cedric Bozeman
TJ Cummings
Ayinde Ubaka
Jason Harris
Cedric Bozeman is likely the most interesting player here, thanks to his excellent size at the point guard position, combined with his strong defensive skills and ability to threaten for a triple-double on any given night with his versatile skill-set. Question marks about his consistency and all-around mental toughness have been holding his career back since graduating from UCLA, especially coming off a dreadful season in Poland.
Noel Felix is likely the only other NBA prospect on the roster, and even he would be considered a serious long-shot based off the lack of improvement he’s shown over the past few seasons. He has an NBA body and athleticism, and is capable of making somewhat of an impact defensively and on the glass in a competition like the D-League, but he lacks the type of size or even marginal offensive skill-set to draw more than cursory interest from most NBA scouts.
Mike Efevberha will put up big scoring numbers on a huge amount of possessions, Mario Boggan will hope to have a bounce-back season after playing for five different teams in Europe (and leaving pretty much everyone on bad terms) over the past year, and Ayinde Ubaka has the talent to improve his resume and be a solid player in the D-League.
#9 Iowa Energy
Dwayne Mitchell
Aristide Sawadogo
Courtney Sims
Curtis Stinson
Chris Lawson
Chris Moore
Jamaal Moore
Iowa returns two important players in Dwayne Mitchell and Courtney Sims to their roster, but will need to have a good draft to have a chance at staying competitive.
Mitchell is one of the best athletes in the D-League, a chiseled 6-3 shooting guard with excellent defensive potential, albeit questionable range on his shot and improvable ball-handling skills. He was having a good season last year before being bought out of his contract by German team Bamberg.
Courtney Sims was one of the most productive per-minute performers in the D-League last season, doing an outstanding job of scoring and rebounding by taking advantage of his solid athleticism and above average skill-level. If he can improve defensively and continue to make strides with his all-around game, he could be a solid candidate for a 10-day to get a more in-depth look.
#10 Los Angeles D-Fenders
Darren Cooper
Brandon Heath
Joe Crawford
Patrick Sanders
Johnny Dukes
Ryan Forehan-Kelly
Rashid Byrd
The LA D-Fenders have always been one of the best teams in the league since their inception, but they return precious little to their roster this season, besides their second round pick Joe Crawford, who they cut in training camp.
Crawford has league-leading potential as a scorer, as he’s blessed with an outstanding stroke from beyond the arc, a potent mid-range game, as well as the ability to put the ball on the floor and make his way to the basket. He wasn’t always a consistent performer at Kentucky, as his focus and intensity level seemed to waver at times, but he managed to show enough at Portsmouth and the pre-draft camp to earn a selection in the late second round. He needs to improve his shot-selection and decision making skills and prove that he can defend his position at the next level, but you’re looking for call-up candidates at the shooting guard position, this might not be a bad place to start.
Combo guard Brandon Heath might be forced to man the point for this team, which will be an interesting experiment to say the least. Heath is a terrific scorer and streak-shooter who you never quite know what to expect from on any given night. He plays little defense and is not much of a playmaker, two things he’ll have to work long and hard on.
#11 Erie BayHawks
Jackie Manuel
Geary Claxton
Mike Cook
Ivan Harris
Maureece Rice
Jarvis Gunter
Brian Robinson
This is a very young team with some serious question marks, either injury or character related. Mike Cook and Geary Claxton are two terrific college players who saw their seasons come to an end last year due to serious knee problems. Their health will play a major part in Erie’s success, along with whatever Maureece Rice brings to the table.
The most interesting story here is probably Geary Claxton, one of the top players in the Big Ten over the past few seasons. Claxton tore his ACL last January, which ended his incredibly productive college career with Penn State and erased any possibility of garnering NBA draft interest. A tough, smart and very versatile player who spent time at many different positions in college, Claxton is an interesting prospect to keep an eye on.
Maureece Rice will probably put up big scoring numbers at this level, but it will be interesting to see if he do the other things needed to win games as well, something he wasn’t really known for at George Washington. He has a great deal of talent and can really stroke the ball, but the question marks about his intangibles and background linger.
Mike Cook was denied another year of eligibility by the NCAA after tearing his ACL in Pitt’s 11th game last season, so he ended up here on the D-League. He is bound to be a solid player in the D-League if his knee is up for the task, as he is a tough guy who can shoot, score, pass and defend and comes from a terrific college program.
Jackie Manuel and Ivan Harris are two more players from big schools, Manuel from North Carolina and Harris from Ohio State. Manuel is a great defender who struggles shooting the ball from the perimeter, and Harris is a great shooter who struggles defending his position.
#12 Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Stanley Asumnu
Trent Strickland
Quin Humphrey
Craig Winder
Kendall Dartez
Alton Ford
Damone Morris
Things should be just slightly easier for Rio Grande Valley in their second D-League season, but they still lack the ‘star’ power to compete with the better teams in the league. They will likely be led by the play of Trent Strickland and Kendall Dartez.
Strickland is a superb athlete who can really defend on the perimeter, and is versatile enough to score with his back to the basket or taking players off the dribble. His shooting stroke has improved but still needs plenty of work. He’s not likely to get any NBA looks, but in the D-League he can be a productive piece.
Dartez missed all of last season with an injury after signing with Euroleague team Roanne, and it should be interesting to track his progress thanks to his physical tools. He is a superb athlete with an excellent body, but lacks a significant amount of polish offensively and doesn’t have much experience to fall back on.
Alton Ford played in the NBA back in 2002-2003 with Phoenix, but has been out of basketball for the last 3-4 years.
#13 Colorado 14ers
Damien Lolar
Eric Osmundson
Josh Davis
Jamar Brown
Joe Dabbert
Lamar Butler
Keith Salscheider
Colorado looks like one of the weaker squads around, and should be lead by the play of perimeter oriented power forward Josh Davis, a veteran player with a little bit of NBA experience underneath his belt. Davis is an undersized four who plays primarily facing the basket, where he can really stroke the ball and is a nice option to run pick and pop plays for. Primarily a hustle-guy, he is ill suited for the type of feature role that the Colorado coaching staff probably expects from him, and should be considered a prime candidate to be bought out by an overseas team if he does not earn a call-up early in the season.
#14 Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Ron Howard
Anthony Kyle
Walker Russell
Eric Smith
Chris Hunter
Anthony Kent
Dewitt Scott
There is not a whole lot to talk about here, besides possibly Fort Wayne’s returning point guard, Walker Russell Jr. He was bought out of his contract last season by ACB squad Estudiantes after an excellent showing in the D-League showcase, but was unable to make much of an impact there. He’s a real floor general with a high basketball IQ and an excellent knack for running the pick and roll, but his lack of size and perimeter shooting skills don’t leave much room for optimism regarding a hypothetical NBA future.
Chris Hunter is a serviceable D-League big man, and Ron Howard is a somewhat productive option on the wing.
#15 Reno Bighorns
Damone Brown
Tony Gibson
Alfred Neale
Andre Patterson
Kyle Shiloh
Jesse Smith - returning player
Jamaal Thomas
Reno got virtually nothing out of the expansion draft, and in turn has one of the weakest rosters in the D-League Damone Brown is surrounded by a group of anonymous players, which means they need to have a great draft and then hope for help from their NBA affiliates.
Shouldering much of the offensive load will be 6-9 combo forward Damone Brown, a player who has spent five of the last six seasons in the D-League, and received a couple of 10-days for his effort. Brown is a very talented player who can put the ball on the floor or make a mid-range jumper. He does a lot of different things on both ends of the floor thanks to his length and athleticism, but his decision making, shot-selection and overall approach leaves a lot to be desired at times. On this team he should be a scoring machine, but whether he can do what it takes to help a team win remains to be seen.
#16 Utah Flash
Brian Jackson
Andre Ingram
Chris Moore
Steve Newman
Ryan Diggs
Mike Hall
Kris Clark
Utah returns virtually nothing from last year’s talented, cohesive squad, which will put a lot of pressure on their front office to have a great draft and hopefully pick up some NBA send-downs. It’s a bit surprising not to see Kevin Kruger or Brian Hamilton on the roster, but it’s possible they get acquired later.
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| 2007-2008 DraftExpress D-League Awards |
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| by: Jonathan Givony - President, Jim Hlavac, Mike Schmidt - D-League, NCAA Scout, Richard Walker - D-League Scout |
| May 3, 2008 |
The four DraftExpress writers who followed the D-League this season voted on year end awards in many different categories. The following article contains the results as well as some commentary on how the awards were won.
2008 DraftExpress D-League MVP:
Randy Livingston, Idaho Stampede
In a unanimous selection among our panelists, Livingston brings home the MVP award. His value to the Idaho Stampede through their championship run went far beyond the numbers, but the point guard made his presence felt in the statistical categories as well. Leading the league at 10.5 assists per game, he was the only player in the league to hit double-digits in the category this season. The minor league veteran also averaged 16.5 points per game while providing both timely scoring and assists for his team during crunch time. On the offensive end, Livingston was probably the most vocal player in the D-League and constantly directed his teammates on making the proper reads and cuts in the offense. In the D-League Finals, it became very obvious how much control the veteran had in the Stampede offense. A mic’ed up Bryan Gates called the plays for the sideline and more often than not, the play call was ‘15’, a side screen and role that gave Livingston the chance to distribute the ball to his numerous teammates.
Defensive Player of the Year
Stephane Lasme, Los Angeles D-Fenders
The Los Angeles D-Fenders played better interior defense than any other team in the D-League for most of the season, and a huge reason for this was the play of rookie power forward Stephane Lasme. In a league devoid of dominant big men, Lasme anchored the D-Fenders front line with a combination of man to man defense mixed with elite shot-blocking ability. The rookie was originally drafted by the Golden State Warriors, but cut after only appearing in one game. He was rewarded late in the season when the Miami Heat called him up, and played very well in his NBA playing time. Though undersized for an NBA power-forward, Lasme has long arms and a very quick vertical leap as well as above average quickness laterally. The D-Fenders clearly could have used him in the playoffs, where they fell short against the eventual champions from Boise.
The other player receiving a vote from our panel was one of the more under-recognized players in the D-League this season. Justin Cage was shockingly cut by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants at the very beginning of the season, but quickly found a home with the Colorado 14ers. He quickly became part of one of the deepest rotations in the league, thanks to a great set of tools and high intensity level on the defensive end. Cage stands at a legit 6’6” with very long arms and a strong build. In addition, his lateral quickness helps him guard quicker players, and he’s not afraid of bodying up to physically defend bigger players. Cage will have to improve his three point shooting to make the NBA, but his efficient style offensively combined with tough defense will give him some looks this summer.
Co-Rookies of the Year
Blake Ahearn, Dakota Wizards and Mike Taylor, Idaho Stampede
Our two rookies of the year both have very unique stories, but both deserve the award for their play this season. Guard Blake Ahearn was drafted in the mid-rounds of the D-League draft by the Dakota Wizards and spent much of the first half of the season coming off the bench. We will get to more of his story later on in the article, but his shooting stroke earned him a call-up to the Miami Heat late in the season.
Mike Taylor joined the D-League after off the court troubles at Iowa State. An absolute freak physically, the rookie can easily be described as the quickest player with the ball in the league. His ability to get to the rim at will lead to many easy scoring chances, and he showed the ability to set up his teammates in transition as well. Though his shooting was streaky during the season, his three point jumper showed up in a big way during game three of the D-League finals. Taylor finished the game with 27 points, and knocked down seven of his ten long range jumpers. Another interesting wrinkle exists to Taylor’s story that makes him a truly unique D-League story. Since he was kicked off the Iowa State basketball team after the NBA draft in 2007, he is still eligible to be drafted (and he wasn’t eligible for an NBA call-up). We will have a more in-depth story about the situation in the coming weeks leading up to the draft.
Sleeper of the Year
Blake Ahearn, Dakota Wizards
An obvious choice for sleeper of the year, Ahearn had a great debut in his first D-League season. But rewind back to November, and it was an entirely different story for the guard on the night of the D-League draft. Though he gained notoriety as the NCAA’s all-time leading free throw shooter in college, there were many criticisms that led to Ahearn dropping to the last pick of the fourth round on draft night. Many thought he was too undersized to play shooting guard and without the proper skill-set and athletic ability to play point. He quickly proved the doubters wrong, first playing more of a shooting specialist role off the bench, and eventually taking over as the full time point guard with the departure of Maurice Baker and Dontell Jefferson to Europe. Ahearn led the D-League in scoring for the month of February, and had four games with 35 or more points this season including a season high 45 points on just 17 attempts from the field. The rookie was rewarded with a call-up to the Miami Heat. Though he still must continue to develop his point skills, Ahearn has the type of game that could last for a long time in the right NBA situation.
Coach of the Year
Bryan Gates, Idaho Stampede
In unanimous fashion, Coach Gates was voted the top coach in the D-League this season by our panel. In addition to coaching his team to a championship, we must also look at the great job he did acquiring players and assembling his roster this season, a feat even more impressive when you considered his first round pick Jamaal Tatum never played a minute due to injury. Gates clearly has an eye for talent, as noticed with some of his acquisitions over the past couple seasons including Mike Taylor and Lance Allred. Despite losing a lot of talent due to call-ups, he managed to keep his rotation deep. Both in terms of player personnel and strategizing, Gates stood out for the entire season, setting a league record for wins and grabbing the championship trophy to cap it off.
Sixth Men of the Year
Blake Ahearn, Mike Taylor
Tying for another award, both Taylor and Ahearn provided a huge impact off the bench for most of the season. Ahearn’s shooting stroke and versatility aided the Dakota Wizards in winning their division, and Taylor’s explosive scoring off the bench was vital for the Idaho Stampede all season.
Assignee of the Year
Ian Mahinmi, Austin Toros
When talking to NBA scouts about big men in the D-League with NBA futures, the first name mentioned by everyone was San Antonio Spurs rookie Ian Mahinmi, who spent nearly the entire season up the road in Austin. Physically, the rookie from France has every tool you look for in an NBA center prospect, including a well built frame, long wing-span, and explosive vertical leap. Combine this with Mahinmi’s surprisingly versatile offensive repertoire, and you have the tools for a future contributor in the NBA. The big man had a reputation for quick foul trouble over in France, and the D-League experience was quite beneficial for him in this regard. He was allowed to play through his foul trouble and still develop, and it became less of an issue as the season progress. Mahinmi still has another year of D-League eligibility, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him spend more time with the Toros next season.
All League Teams
All First Team
Randy Livingston, Idaho Stampede
Ian Mahinmi, Austin Tors
Kasib Powell, Sioux Falls Skyforce
Lance Allred, Idaho Stampede
Rod Benson, Dakota Wizards
Elton Brown, Colorado 14ers
Andre Barrett, Austin Toros
All Second Team
Blake Ahearn , Dakota Wizards
Morris Almond, Utah Flash
Sean Banks, Los Angeles D-Fenders
Carlos Powell, Dakota Wizards
Keith Langford, Austin Toros
All Third Team
Desmon Farmer, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Eddie Gill, Colorado 14ers
Cory Violette, Idaho Stampede
Nick Fazekas, Tulsa 66ers
Kaniel Dickens, Colorado 14ers
Honorable Mention
Earl Calloway, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Billy Thomas, Colorado 14ers
Marcus Campbell, Anaheim Arsenal
Mike Hall, Tulsa 66ers
Coby Karl, Los Angeles D-Fenders
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jonathan@draftexpress.com jim.hlavac@draftexpress.com mike.schmidt@draftexpress.com richard.walker@draftexpress.com |
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| D-League Finals Preview |
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| by: Jim Hlavac, Mike Schmidt - D-League, NCAA Scout |
| April 21, 2008 |
[lont]1. Idaho Stampede (37-14) @ 2. Austin Toros (31-20)[/lont]
Line
According to the computer, Austin enters the opening game as 6 point favorites.
Previous Meetings:
Austin won the season series 2-0
Dec 15 @Austin 127, Idaho 117
Mar 5 Austin 105, @Idaho 102
Team Stats
IDA points for 103.0
IDA points against 99.5
AUS points for 109.1
AUS points against 106.8
Records
IDA Home Record 23-4 .852
IDA Road Record 14-10 .583
AUS Home Record 20-5 .800
AUS Road Record 10-14 .417
Idaho Stampede
Starting Lineup
PG Randy Livingston (16.5 pts, 4.2 reb, 10.5 ast)
SG Roberto Bergersen (13.1, 2.9, 2.8)
SF Brent Petway (7.3, 3.9, 1.3)
PF Cory Violette (13.4, 7.1, 1.8)
C Jason Ellis (5.4, 5.1, 0.6)
Head Coach: Bryan Gates
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Randy Livingston 16.5
Rebounds: Lance Allred* 10.0, Mouhamed Sene* 9.0, Cory Violette 7.1)
Assists: Randy Livingston 10.5
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: Randy Livingston 18.7
Rebounds: Jason Ellis 9.1
Assists: Randy Livingston 8.1
Key Losses
C Lance Allred (Cleveland Cavaliers)
C Mouhamed Sene (Injury)
Assigned Players
PF Josh McRoberts (Portland Trailblazers)
Players with NBA Experience
Randy Livingston, Luke Jackson
Austin Toros
Starting Lineup
PG Andre Barrett (18.4pts, 3.2reb, 8.3ast)
SG Kenton Paulino (5.6, 1.1, 1.0)
SF Darvin Ham (10.1, 5.5, 1.8)
PF Justin Bowen (13.1, 6.4, 1.2)
C Ian Mahinmi (16.8, 8.0, 1.3)
Head Coach: Quinn Snyder
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Keith Langford* 24.6, Marcus Williams* 19.2, Andre Barrett 18.4
Rebounds: Ian Mahinmi 8.0
Assists: Andre Barrett 8.3
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: Ian Mahinmi 19.4
Rebounds: Ian Mahinmi 9.4
Assists: Andre Barrett 10.1
Key Losses
SF Marcus Williams (Clippers)
SG DerMarr Johnson (Spurs)
SG Keith Langford (Italy)
Assigned Players
Ian Mahinmi (Spurs)
Players with NBA Experience
Andre Barrett, Darvin Ham, Ian Mahinmi
Outlook:
The three game series kicks off tonight in Austin, before the final two games move to Boise as the 2008 D-League Champion is decided. Austin took both the match-ups between to the two teams in the regular season and gave Idaho one of their four home losses on the season. Idaho has held the best record in the league since early in the season, and these two teams provide some intriguing match-ups that should provide an exciting series.
The interesting matchups start right at the point guard slot, where Andre Barrett will play against veteran Randy Livingston. Both players have years of NBA experience under their belts, but their styles of play are very contrasting. Livingston plays as your true floor general and distributes as well as any point guard in the D-League. He constantly directs the Stampede players through their half-court sets, but can also score when needed to. Though past his prime physically, Livingston plays like a head coach on the floor and has been the Stampede’s MVP over the past two seasons.
Barrett plays better in a transition system, though he can make plays in the half-court on pick and rolls and by breaking down the defense before kicking the ball to the open man. Much more of a scorer than Livingston, he can pull up off the dribble anywhere on the court and has no problem getting to the rim in transition or the half-court. As a floor general, Barrett doesn’t run a team as effectively as his Stampede counterpart, but he can be quite effective as both a scorer and distributor. Though Barrett didn’t play for Austin in either of their wins over Idaho this season, he will be a key player in determining the outcome of the series.
At the wings, it would appear Idaho has a clear advantage entering the series. Luke Jackson can score a number of ways against D-League competition and has a deadly shooting stroke from the perimeter. Roberto Bergersen can also light it up from long range at times, but has struggled from the field in his last 4 games, going just 17 of 55 over that stretch. Austin lost two wings in DerMarr Johnson and Marcus Williams to the NBA towards the end of the season. Guard Kenton Paulino has great range on his jumper but can’t really create his own shot at this level. Josh Gross has played well offensively since he was acquired, but can be described as a liability on the defensive end of the floor.
Up front, center Ian Mahinmi has been the best center in the league this season, and it will be tough for Idaho to neutralize his impact without Lance Allred on the roster. Mahinmi didn’t appear in either of the Toros games against the Stampede in the regular season, so it may take Idaho some time to adjust to defending him in the post. Idaho brings NBA big man Josh McRoberts to counter Mahinmi, but the rookie struggles to defend the low post, and isn’t the type of player who can put the Spurs’ rookie in foul trouble either. To compliment McRoberts in the front court, Cory Violette provides hustle and rebounding along with solid offensive ability. Darvin Ham provides year of NBA experience next to Mahinmi, and played a big role in the Toros second round victory over Sioux Falls.
Off the bench, Justin Bowen will be relied upon for scoring and rebounding for Austin, while guard Mike Taylor is the key factor for the Stampede. Taylor has explosive scoring ability and can probably be described as the quickest player in the D-League, but he has a tendency to jump the passing lanes too often on defense which can lead to some easy cuts to the basket.
It should be a very exciting series to watch, even though both teams will miss some players who have moved on to the NBA. It speaks to the ability of the coaches of these teams that they still managed to compete despite large roster turnover. The new format of the D-League playoffs appears to be a success as well, and we look forward to an exciting game tonight.
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| D-League Playoffs: Second Round Preview |
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| by: Jim Hlavac, Mike Schmidt - D-League, NCAA Scout |
| April 18, 2008 |
4. Los Angeles D-Fenders (33-18) @ 1. Idaho Stampede
(36-14)
Previous Meetings:
Idaho won the season series 5-3
Nov 27 - Idaho 118, @Los Angeles 111
Jan 24 - @Idaho 97, Los Angeles 90
Jan 26 - @Idaho 100, Los Angeles 99
Feb 8 - @Idaho 104, Los Angeles 90
Feb 9 - Los Angeles 118, Idaho 95
Feb 28 - Idaho 93, @Los Angeles 90
Mar 2 - @Los Angeles 115, Idaho 98
Apr 2 - @Los Angeles 105, Idaho 100
Team Stats
IDA points for 103.0
IDA points against 99.5
LAD points for 104.7
LAD points against 100.5
Records
IDA Home Record 22-4 .846
LAD Road Record 12-12 .500
Los Angeles D-Fenders
The D-Fenders won an opening round game against a tough Colorado 14ers squad for two main reasons. Center Jelani McCoy had a huge impact for the D-Fenders, and forced the Colorado guards into settling for jumpers rather than attacking the paint. Guard Errick Craven also stepped up in a big way for Los Angeles, finishing the game with 22 points and 8 assists while initiating the triangle for much of the game. Brandon Wallace had an impact on both ends of the floor, and Wendell White played very aggressively off the bench. Against Idaho, they will have their work cut out for them facing veteran point guard Randy Livingston. The Stampede have a number of players who can light it up from behind the three point line, and closing out on the shooters will be key for this reason. If Los Angeles can put together another strong team effort and Jelani McCoy can repeat his performance, it will give them a chance at moving on to the D-League finals.
Starting Lineup
PG Erick Craven (7.9pts, 3.1reb, 2.6 ast)
SG Coby Karl (17.3, 5.6, 4.4)
SF Sean Banks (21.9, 5.4, 3.1)
PF Brandon Wallace (8.0, 6.5, 3.0)
C Jelani McCoy (11.0, 7.9, 3.3)
Head Coach: Dan Panaggio
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Sean Banks 21.9
Rebounds: Jelani McCoy 7.9
Assists: Brian Chase* 3.6, Jelani McCoy 3.3
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points Sean Banks 20.9
Rebounds Jelani McCoy 9.3
Assists Jelani McCoy 4.8
Key Losses
SF Devin Green (Italy) 16.4pts, 6.4reb, 4.2ast PG Brian Chase (Turkey) 16.5pts, 3.8reb, 3.6ast PF Stephane Lasme (Miami Heat) 10.6pts, 7.5reb, 1.3ast
Assigned Players
Coby Karl (Lakers)
Players with NBA Experience
Jelani McCoy, Robert Whaley
Idaho Stampede
The Stampede enter their opening playoff game as the hottest team in the league, winners of their last 5 games including a tough home contest against the Iowa Energy to end the season. Coach Bryan Gates is coming off his second consecutive coach of the year award, and Randy Livingston brings more veteran savvy to the floor than any other player in the league. The home court should also prove to be a huge advantage for this team, who only lost four games at home over the course of the season. Inside, the loss of Lance Allred will certainly take an element out of their usual offensive scheme, but they have NBA assigned big man Josh McRoberts as well as Cory Violette up front. On the wings, Luke Jackson can score as well as anybody in the D-League, and Roberto Bergersen is always a threat from long range. Rookie guard Mike Taylor can light it up off the bench as well if he’s playing in control. The Stampede should have the advantage in the back-court and are the easy pick to win the D-League finals considering they won’t have to play on the road again this season.
Starting Lineup
PG Randy Livingston (16.5 pts, 4.2 reb, 10.5 ast)
SG Roberto Bergersen (13.1, 2.9, 2.8)
SF Brent Petway (7.3, 3.9, 1.3)
PF Cory Violette (13.4, 7.1, 1.8)
C Jason Ellis (5.4, 5.1, 0.6)
Head Coach: Bryan Gates
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Randy Livingston 16.5
Rebounds: Lance Allred* 10.0, Mouhamed Sene* 9.0, Cory Violette 7.1)
Assists: Randy Livingston 10.5
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: Randy Livingston 18.7
Rebounds: Jason Ellis 9.1
Assists: Randy Livingston 8.1
Key Losses
C Lance Allred (Cleveland Cavaliers)
C Mouhamed Sene (Injury)
Assigned Players
PF Josh McRoberts (Portland Trailblazers)
Players with NBA Experience
Randy Livingston, Luke Jackson
6. Sioux Falls Skyforce (29-22) @ 2. Austin Toros
(30-20)
Previous Meetings:
Austin won the season series 2-0
Nov 30 - @Austin 114, Sioux Falls 109
Jan 16 - Austin 101, Sioux Falls 92 (at Boise)
Team Stats
AUS points for 109.1
AUS points against 106.8
SXF points for 105.0
SXF points against 104.1
Records
AUS Home Record 19-5 .792
SXF Road Record 10-15 .400
Austin Toros
The Toros start the playoffs after completing a trade to add veteran forward Darvin Ham towards the end of the season. They had a trade lined up to add another guard as well, but it fell through during the last week of the season. Two key players will determine the success of the Toros in the playoffs. Point guard Andre Barrett can light it up at times and shares the ball quite well in transition. With Barrett in control of the game’s tempo, it will be much harder for Sioux Falls to adjust. Big man Ian Mahinmi must come to play against Chris Alexander as well. Alexander played extremely well in the opening round playoff game against Dakota, and is the type of player who could put Mahinmi in foul trouble early in the game. On the other hand, Mahinmi might be an even more dangerous threat to take Alexander out of the game because of foul trouble. Though not as deep as they once were, the Toros feature a nice supporting cast including big man Jamar Smith who was just acquired within the last week. Along with Smith, they also bring Yemi Nicholson and Squeaky Johnson off the bench.
Starting Lineup
PG Andre Barrett (18.4pts, 3.2reb, 8.3ast)
SG Kenton Paulino (5.6, 1.1, 1.0)
SF Darvin Ham (10.1, 5.5, 1.8)
PF Justin Bowen (13.1, 6.4, 1.2)
C Ian Mahinmi (16.8, 8.0, 1.3)
Head Coach: Quinn Snyder
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Keith Langford* 24.6, Marcus Williams* 19.2, Andre Barrett 18.4
Rebounds: Ian Mahinmi 8.0
Assists: Andre Barrett 8.3
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: Ian Mahinmi 19.4
Rebounds: Ian Mahinmi 9.4
Assists: Andre Barrett 10.1
Key Losses
SF Marcus Williams (Clippers)
SG DerMarr Johnson (Spurs)
SG Keith Langford (Italy)
Assigned Players
Ian Mahinmi (Spurs)
Players with NBA Experience
Andre Barrett, Darvin Ham, Ian Mahinmi
Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Skyforce won a road game in Dakota to open the playoffs thanks to the strong play of David Bailey and Chris Alexander. Bailey set the tone with 20 first half points and Alexander kept many of the Dakota big men in foul trouble throughout the game. Going in the second round, it will be important for Bailey to continue his high level of production. He’s the one player on the Sioux Falls roster who can light it up every night, and an off game from him would surely spell the end of the season for the Skyforce. Alexander will be faced with a tough matchup in rookie big man Ian Mahinmi. To beat Austin, one of the other scoring options for the Skyforce must step up as well. Carl Elliott and Elton Nesbitt are both threats to go off any given game, and forward Michael Joiner’s ability to space the floor should also come in handy. Off the bench Glen McGowan’s role will be quite important as well. Sioux Falls is hoping for a sloppy game where Bailey can lead them to the finals. The guards on Austin will be harder to stop than the ones they faced in Dakota, and Mahinmi can score the ball as effectively as any big man in the D-League.
Starting Lineup
PG David Bailey (15.4pts, 3.5reb, 5.6 ast)
SG Elton Nesbitt (15.4, 3.2, 3.6)
SF Carl Elliott (14.2, 4.5, 2.8)
PF Michael Joiner (10.3, 4.4, 1.0)
C Chris Alexander (11.6, 11.2, 0.9)
Head Coach: Nate Tibbetts
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Kasib Powell* 22.2, Elton Nesbitt 15.4, David Bailey 15.4
Rebounds: Chris Alexander 11.2
Assists: David Bailey 5.6
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: David Bailey 23.0
Rebounds: Chris Alexander 12.6
Assists: David Bailey 5.8
Key Losses
SF Kasib Powell (Miami Heat) 22.2pts, 6.0reb, 3.0ast, Bobby Jones (San Antonio Spurs)
Assigned Players
none
Players with NBA Experience
none
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| Previewing the D-League Playoffs |
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| by: Jim Hlavac, Mike Schmidt - D-League, NCAA Scout |
| April 13, 2008 |
5. Colorado 14ers (28-21) @ 4. Los Angeles D-Fenders
(32-17)
Previous Meetings:
Los Angeles won the season series 2-0
March 14 - Los Angeles 99, @Colorado 96
March 26 - @Los Angeles 101, Colorado 90
Team Stats
LAD points for 104.4
LAD points against 99.9
COL points for 109.2
COL points against 103.9
Records
LAD Home Record 18-6 .750
COL Road Record 10-13 .435
Los Angeles D-Fenders
The D-Fenders are riding a four game losing streak heading in to the playoffs and have clearly been hurt by defections to Europe. The key loss for the D-Fenders comes in the form of Stephane Lasme (Miami Heat), who combined with McCoy, gave the team a tandem of defenders at the rim who would have made them the favorites to win the title. To get back on track, they will need strong guard play from Coby Karl, who has scored the ball effectively since his third and final return to the D-Fenders. Karl needs to cut down on turnovers in his role as the initiator of the triangle offense. Up front, Jelani McCoy still provides interior defense, but they need another big man to provide help-side protection at the rim. If Abdoulaye N’Diaye can stay out of foul trouble, his defense would be a great asset to the D-Fenders headed into the playoffs. Consistency will also been needed from small forward Sean Banks, who has struggled as of late despite ranking among the scoring leaders in the D-League this season. The NBA veterans on Colorado will provide a tough challenge for the D-Fenders, and they will need to be firing on all cylinders to beat the 14ers in this game.
Starting Lineup
PG Erick Craven (7.9pts, 3.1reb, 2.6 ast)
SG Coby Karl (17.3, 5.6, 4.4)
SF Sean Banks (21.9, 5.4, 3.1)
PF Brandon Wallace (8.0, 6.5, 3.0)
C Jelani McCoy (11.0, 7.9, 3.3)
Head Coach: Dan Panaggio
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Sean Banks 21.9
Rebounds: Jelani McCoy 7.9
Assists: Brian Chase* 3.6, Jelani McCoy 3.3
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points Sean Banks 20.9
Rebounds Jelani McCoy 9.3
Assists Jelani McCoy 4.8
Key Losses
SF Devin Green (Italy) 16.4pts, 6.4reb, 4.2ast
PG Brian Chase (Turkey) 16.5pts, 3.8reb, 3.6ast
PF Stephane Lasme (Miami Heat) 10.6pts, 7.5reb, 1.3ast
Assigned Players
Coby Karl (Lakers)
Players with NBA Experience
Jelani McCoy, Robert Whaley
Colorado 14ers
The 14ers seem to be peaking at the right time, winning their last six games to close the season. They are clearly helped by a stacked roster which includes many NBA veterans who now have had time to build chemistry as a team. Point guard Eddie Gill recently returned from the Seattle SuperSonics, and has NBA playoff experience under his belt. Billy Thomas can space the floor with his shooting and provides a steady presence on the defensive end. Kaniel Dickens ability to light it up from long range will also be an asset to the 14ers in the playoffs, and John Thomas has years of NBA playoff experience under his belt as well. NBA point guard Taurean Green starts next to Gill and provides a nice scoring punch in the back-court, and a number of solid role players including Justin Cage and Eric Osmundson can fill in off the bench. Lack of depth up front is the big concern for the 14ers, but they have a well balanced roster otherwise as well as a veteran minor league coach. If they can win in Los Angeles, it could provide the proper momentum they need to take home the 2008 championship.
Starting Lineup
PG Eddie Gill (7.9pts, 3.1reb, 2.6 ast)
SG Billy Thomas (16.2, 3.4, 3.8)
SF Kaniel Dickens (19.6, 5.3, 1.5)
PF John Thomas (13.2, 8.1, 1.2)
C Roderick Riley (10.5, 6.9, 0.5)
Head Coach: Joe Wolf
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Elton Brown* 20.4, Kaniel Dickens 19.6
Rebounds: Elton Brown* 11.9, Rodrick Riley 6.9
Assists: Eddie Gill 8.5
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: Eddie Gill 19.4
Rebounds: Rodrick Riley 9.7
Assists: Eddie Gill 8.6
Key Losses
PF Elton Brown (Israel)
Assigned Players
Taurean Green (Denver)
Players with NBA Experience
Kaniel Dickens, Eddie Gill, Billy Thomas, John Thomas
6. Sioux Falls Skyforce (28-22) @ 3. Dakota Wizards
(29-21)
Previous Meetings:
Sioux Falls won the season series 7-3
December 9 - Dakota 115, @Sioux Falls 105
December 16 - Sioux Falls 96, @Dakota 90
January 9 - @Dakota 99, Sioux Falls 88
February 14 - @Sioux Falls 105, Dakota 102
February 17 - Sioux Falls 112, @Dakota 100
February 19 - @Sioux Falls 97, Dakota 95
February 25 - Sioux Falls 117, @Dakota 108
February 27 - @Dakota 116, Sioux Falls 106
March 28 - @Sioux Falls 124, Dakota 115
March 29 - @Sioux Falls 105, Dakota 103
Team Stats
DAK points for 107.8
DAK points against 105.8
SXF points for 105.0
SXF points against 104.1
Records
DAK Home Record 17-7 .708
SXF Road Record 9-15 .375
Dakota Wizards
After losing a very solid group of guards over the course of the season, the Wizards struggled some at the end of the season, but won their final two games to win the division. They still have the strong front line of Carlos Powell, Rod Benson and Kevin Lyde that rivals any group they will face in the D-League playoffs. Recently added forward Andre Patterson could also help up front, particularly when it comes to rebounding. The challenge for Dakota will be their guard play. Blake Ahearn is collecting his paycheck from the Miami Heat these days, and Dontell Jefferson makes good money in Latvia. They feature scorer Tony Gipson and fellow guard David Bell in the backcourt. The Wizards struggled against the Skyforce in the season series, but must take advantage of Carlos Powell’s ability to create. This game will be an intense matchup featuring the two oldest rivals in the D-League. The home-court advantage may be enough to get it done for Dakota, but it will surely be a close game.
Starting Lineup
PG Tony Gipson (12.8pts, 2..6reb, 4.3ast)
SG David Bell (12.8, 3.4, 3.8)
SF Carlos Powell (22.3, 6.5, 4.8)
PF Rod Benson (13.4, 12.1, 1.2)
C Kevin Lyde (12.2, 7.7, 2.0)
Head Coach: Duane Ticknor
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Carlos Powell 22.3
Rebounds: Rod Benson 12.1
Assists: Dontell Jefferson* 5.0, Carlos Powell 4.8
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: Carlos Powell 24.7
Rebounds: Rod Benson 11.8
Assists: Carlos Powell 5.1, Tony Gipson 5.1
Key Losses
PG Blake Ahearn (Miami Heat) 19.0pts, 2.0reb, 3.5ast
PG Maurice Baker (France) 18.2pts, 6.6pts, 4.5ast
SG Dontell Jefferson (Latvia) 17.0pts, 4.7reb, 5.0 ast
Assigned Players
none
Players with NBA Experience
none
Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Skyforce had a rough start to the season, but quickly turned things around behind D-league MVP Kasib Powell. Unfortunately for them, Powell now suits up for the Miami Heat, and their other talented forward Bobby Jones spends his time with the Nuggets these days. Coach Nate Tibbetts has done a great job with his squad this season, and could have very easily won the coach of the year award. Without Powell, they will need Chris Alexander to have a big game in order to neutralize the Dakota front line. In the backcourt, David Bailey and Elton Nesbitt have been consistently scoring the ball throughout the season, and they should have a clear advantage against Dakota in this area. Power forward Glen McGowan has also stepped up his play since he was acquired from Tulsa, but the Skyforce have a thin bench at this point. If their guards can control the tempo of the game, Sioux Falls will have a chance to pull out a tough road win in the opening round of the playoffs.
Starting Lineup
PG David Bailey (15.4pts, 3.5reb, 5.6 ast)
SG Elton Nesbitt (15.4, 3.2, 3.6)
SF Carl Elliott (14.2, 4.5, 2.8)
PF Michael Joiner (10.3, 4.4, 1.0)
C Chris Alexander (11.6, 11.2, 0.9)
Head Coach: Nate Tibbetts
Team Leaders (Season)
Points: Kasib Powell* 22.2, Elton Nesbitt 15.4, David Bailey 15.4
Rebounds: Chris Alexander 11.2
Assists: David Bailey 5.6
* No longer with team
Team Leaders (Last 10 Games)
Points: David Bailey 23.0
Rebounds: Chris Alexander 12.6
Assists: David Bailey 5.8
Key Losses
SF Kasib Powell (Miami Heat) 22.2pts, 6.0reb, 3.0ast
Assigned Players
none
Players with NBA Experience
none
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| Kasib Powell Signed by Miami |
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| by: Mike Schmidt - D-League, NCAA Scout |
| March 22, 2008 |
D-League small forward Kasib Powell has been signed by the Miami Heat, making him third player called up to the Heat in two days. To make room for the veteran forward, they released small forward Bobby Jones. Powell will receive an immediate chance to prove himself at the NBA level with the Heat, on a roster plagued with injuries and full of former D-League players. He was ranked number one on our list of call-up candidates.
A veteran of the minor leagues, Powell ranked third among active players in the D-League in scoring at 22.3 points per game. He also gained notoriety for his role as a top lock-down defender, and also averaged 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting just under 50% from the field. At the age of 27, he has experience playing in the CBA and USBL in addition to the D-League.
Powell was always criticized in the past for his lack of three point shooting, but the forward worked himself into a groove from long range and has shot 42% from long range on the season. He has the strength and lateral quickness to become an excellent defender in the NBA. Offensively, he has a solid mid-range game, but may struggle to finish against the more athletic big men in the NBA.
The Heat now have eight players on their roster with previous D-League experience. Joel Anthony and Daequan Cook recently returned from a stint with the Iowa Energy. Shot-blocking power forward Stephane Lasme and sharp-shooter Blake Ahearn were added by Miami yesterday.
With the end of both the NBA season and the D-League season fast approaching, we have be able to observe a shift in the type of players called up to NBA teams. Early in the year, many veteran players were called up from the D-League by NBA teams looking to win now. With the playoff picture becoming clearer by the day, some NBA teams can now afford to give younger players with upside a look to see if they are worth a contract for next season.
Bobby Jones failed to stick with his fourth NBA team this season, and will likely return to the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Considering his ability on the defensive end, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the second year small forward with a fifth NBA team this season.
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| Interview with Lance Allred of the Cleveland Cavaliers |
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| by: Richard Walker - D-League Scout |
| March 13, 2008 |
 | | Lance Allred signing autographs at the 2008 ASG |
Twice in his career Lance Allred has gotten a chance to play. In college he transferred out of an uncomfortable situation at Utah and shined at Weber State averaging nearly 18 points and 12 rebounds. Then, last year, a series of events unfolded that moved him from being the 4th String center to the starter on one of the better teams in the NBA Development League, the Idaho Stampede. This year, along with teammate and fellow D-League All-Star Randy Livingston, he averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds and lead his team to the best record in the league, and just today earned himself a call-up with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. A few weeks ago at the All-Star game in New Orleans I had the opportunity to speak with Lance about his rise within the league and his chances of getting called up or heading to Europe.
Richard Walker: At the end of last season it seemed like you turned into a 20-10 machine. What lead to that?
Lance Allred: You just have to wait for your opportunity, and I was basically the fourth string center last year behind Peter John Ramos, Jeff Graves and Mouhamed Sene and then all within one week in March they all left. Mouhamed got called up, Pete broke his leg and Jeff got called to Turkey and so by default I was the lone center. One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and if I didn’t take advantage of that then shame on me.
Richard Walker: It seems like you really capitalized on it this year. Obviously you’ve become an All-Star.
Lance Allred: Yeah, it’s been a great ride. It’s been a great season. All-Star games are All-Star games, and obviously it would have been nice had we played better and won, but it’s just the fact that you get to be here and be a part of it. The [Idaho] Stampede were rewarded and Randy [Livingston], Cory [Violette] and I, along with the coaching staff, were here and it’s been a great experience for everybody. That’s the most important thing, that you have a good time while you’re here.
Richard Walker: I thought you played really well for the [Boston] Celtics this summer. What was that like for you?
Lance Allred: It went well, and I did everything they asked me to, but so did Glen Davis, and he was their second round pick so they’ve got to follow through with that. He’s been great with them this year, and it is what it is.
Richard Walker: I’ve heard that you got a lot of offers [after summer league] from European teams, is that true?
Lance Allred: Yeah, but I just felt the need to give it one more year in the D-League so I had no regrets, no what-ifs, so I could at least say to myself I did the best I possibly could.
Richard Walker: Is Europe something you would consider in the future then?
Lance Allred: Yeah, if nothing comes up here. This is pretty much my last year in the D-League – two years is plenty enough – and after that if nothing happens then I’ll have to go overseas. I was a European History major in college so I’m not intimidated by any aspect of going overseas.
Richard Walker: A lot of players I speak with are completely terrified with the language barrier and stuff like that, but it doesn’t seem like it will be an issue for you.
Do you get feedback on what they’re looking for from you in order to get called up?
Lance Allred: All I hear is that I have to be patient. At this point you just have to wait, and keep an even keel, and keep showing up to work each day, and playing hard. Most of it is just timing.
Richard Walker: Is there any rumors you’ve been hearing during this weekend?
Lance Allred: Yeah, but you’ve got to maintain that even keel because it can be emotionally draining to buy into it. Just up and down, and up and down. If you buy into it you get too high, you get too low.
Richard Walker: Definitely. Great, thanks a lot.
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| Inside the D-League: Bobby Jones Added to the Rockets |
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| by: Mike Schmidt - D-League, NCAA Scout |
| February 26, 2008 |
Jones Officially Added to Rockets
Second year small forward Bobby Jones flew to Houston today to officially join the Rockets. He becomes the 15th call-up of the current D-League season, and the fourth to join an NBA team as a direct result of trade deadline movement. The 37th pick in the 2006 NBA draft, Jones spent a handful of games on assignment in the D-League his rookie season. He was traded to Denver in the 2007 offseason, and also spent time with the Memphis Grizzlies after the Nuggets released him. After signing a D-League contract, Jones joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he only played 2 games, averaging 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds. The former Washington Husky became known primarily for his defensive ability, but must continue to work on his overall offensive game and outside shooting stroke specifically to stick in the NBA for the long term.
Nichols Re-Assigned to Iowa
Rookie forward Demetris Nichols has been assigned to a second stint with the Iowa Energy. Originally drafted by the New York Knicks, Nichols spent time with the Cleveland Cavaliers before signing with the Chicago Bulls as a free agent. He’ll fill a much needed void on the Energy at the small forward spot after the departure of Dwayne Mitchell to Europe. Nichols also joins his college teammate Darryl Watkins, who he spent 4 years with at Syracuse. During his first D-League stint, the rookie showed off a nice shooting stroke from long range, but seemed too set on trying to prove he could drive to the basket. Nichols will need to focus on improving his perimeter defense and continuing to shoot the ball in rhythm.
Sims Joins the Energy, Mitchell to Germany
The Iowa Energy have added rookie center Courtney Sims from the available player pool. A former Michigan Wolverine, Sims will join fellow rookie Darryl Watkins as well as Doug Thomas in the Energy frontcourt. Iowa had struggled with front court depth since Anthony Tolliver departed for Europe. Sims averaged 11.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game his senior season, before going undrafted in 2007. He then joined the Indiana Pacers, where he appeared in three games this season, but failed to garner a guaranteed contract.
Dwayne Mitchell has left the Energy for Bamberg in Germany, who paid $30,000 to buy him out of his D-League contract. Mitchell averaged 20 points and 6 rebounds per game this season and was selected to the D-League All-Star Game just a few weeks ago. Turnovers plagued the talented and extremely athletic guard during his time in Iowa, and he struggled to shoot the ball consistently enough to receive a call-up to the NBA.
Kasib Powell Named Player of the Week
Sioux Falls Skyforce small forward Kasib Powell has been named the D-League performer of the week after averaging 27 points per game in a pair of wins. The 26 year-old forward has established himself as one of the top two-way players in the D-League this season, locking down many opposing wings defensively, while showing a number of scoring tools on the other end of the floor. Powell has always been criticized for his poor perimeter shooting, but has improved his percentage to 39% on the season after a recent streak of hot shooting. When looking at what he brings to the floor, he should receive a look from an NBA team at some point. His mid-range scoring may not translate to the NBA, but his improved perimeter shooting will help his cause on the offensive end, as will his overall versatility on both ends of the floor.
Cleaves to Re-Join Bakersfield, Barrett Traded for Reed
Point guard Mateen Cleaves joined the Bakersfield Jam today, and Andre Barrett was traded to the Austin Toros to make room for him on the roster. The veteran guard played with the New Jersey Nets in training camp and Panionios in Greece until he was released in January. Bakersfield has his rights from last season, where he played from January until the end of the season. At the age of 30, Cleaves brings his seven years of NBA experience back to Bakersfield. To make room for him, head coach Scott Roth has shipped Andre Barrett to Austin for forward Justin Reed, who had been on the trading block for a couple weeks. Barrett will provide an immediate boost to Austin’s offense, and Reed will look to bring some toughness to a struggling Bakersfield squad. As a result of these transactions, Bakersfield has used all eight of their moves for the season, meaning they will have the same roster for the rest of the year.
NBA Player Updates
Morris Almond, Utah Jazz/Utah Flash
26.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 apg
Almond has con | | |
