The D-League held its annual draft over the weekend, with the league's 16 teams selecting eight rounds worth of players. The draft isn't the only way D-League rosters are filled out — players from last year's rosters can be brought back, NBA clubs can assign players to their respective D-League affiliates, and players that participated in open tryouts can be invited to camp.
For players who were recently cut from NBA rosters and whose D-League rights weren't retained, however, the draft is their best chance of earning a spot on a D-League squad. A number of players that have seen regular-season action in the NBA were selected on Friday night, as were a handful of players that were a part of NBA training camp rosters this October.
Here are the former NBA players who were picked in the D-League draft, with their draft slot in parentheses:
- JaJuan Johnson, Fort Wayne Mad Ants (1)
- Andrew Goudelock, Sioux Falls Skyforce (2)
- Justin Harper, Idaho Stampede (3)
- Shelvin Mack, Maine Red Claws (4)
- Christian Eyenga, Texas Legends (8)
- Travis Leslie, Santa Cruz Warriors (13)
- Sean Singletary, Texas Legends (24)
- Dontell Jefferson, Reno Bighorns (85)
And here are the players who participated in training camp with an NBA team last month and were selected in the D-League draft. The player's overall draft position is noted in parentheses, with the NBA team that invited him to camp listed as well:
- Chris Johnson, Rio Grande Valley Vipers (7): Clippers, Magic
- D'Aundray Brown, Canton Charge (10): Cavaliers
- Demonte Harper, Reno Bighorns (21): Trail Blazers
- Willie Reed, Springfield Armor (30): Kings
- Hank Thorns, Idaho Stampede (51): Clippers
- Phil Jones, Los Angeles D-Fenders (80): Timberwolves
- Vance Cooksey, Iowa Energy (89): Bulls
For these players, being drafted by a D-League club doesn't necessarily mean they'll spend all season with that team. They are still essentially NBA free agents, and can be signed by any NBA team, assuming that club is willing to use one of its 15 roster spots.