Minor Moves: Leslie, Walker, Williams
We'll track the day's notable international and D-League-related transactions here:
- The Clippers have re-assigned Travis Leslie to their D-League affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam, tweets Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside. It's Leslie's second assignment of the season.
- The D-League's Idaho Stampede will re-sign Antoine Walker today, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. The Stampede released Walker last week to allow him to tend to a personal matter, intending to bring him back.
- Former NBA big man Justin Williams will join the D-League's Los Angeles D-Fenders, according to Sam Amick of SI.com (via Twitter). Williams played 49 career NBA games from 2006 to 2008, 48 for the Kings and a single game for the Rockets, averaging 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game.
2011/12 D-League Assignments And Recalls
The relationship NBA teams have to the D-League continues to evolve. It's a far cry from the intricate system of farm teams that baseball has, and the 16-team league has a ways to go before it grows large enough for every NBA team to have an affiliate. Still, in the D-League's 11th year, NBA teams have come to make liberal use of their ability to send players down for seasoning. While the D-League also provides a haven for players seeking NBA contracts, this post focuses on those who already have NBA deals. Here is a team-by-team list of all the in-season D-League assignments and recalls this year.
Bucks
December 28: Send down Darington Hobson
January 4: Call up Darington Hobson
January 18: Send down Darington Hobson
February 1: Call up Darington Hobson
Cavs
January 4: Send down Christian Eyenga
January 23: Call up Christian Eyenga
January 26: Send down Luke Harangody
February 1: Call up Luke Harangody
March 6: Send down Luke Harangody
March 6: Send down Christian Eyenga
March 15: Call up Christian Eyenga
April 14: Call up Luke Harangody
April 15: Send down Luke Harangody
April 18: Call up Luke Harangody
Odds & Ends: Draft, McCollum, Chandler, Magic
As we approach the season's final few weeks, some teams will jockey for playoff spots while clubs on the other end of the spectrum jockey for draft position. Henry Abbott of ESPN.com's TrueHoop writes today about the issue of tanking that inevitably arises at this point in the season, and what can be done to avoid it. The piece is highly recommended, and includes a fascinating tidbit on four general mangers on non-playoff teams who reportedly only put in part-time hours.
Here are a few more links from around the Association for Tuesday afternoon:
- Lehigh guard C.J. McCollum has declared his intent to enter the draft, according to a release from the University's website. McCollum won't hire an agent, so he could still withdraw by April 10th and retain his NCAA eligibility. In his first mock draft, ESPN.com's Chad Ford had McCollum going early in the second round.
- Stephen Litel of HoopsWorld talked to Wilson Chandler and the Nuggets about Chandler's return from China and the team's chances of qualifying for the postseason.
- With a focus on Ryan Anderson and other upcoming free agents, Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida discusses how a player's height affects the sort of contract he signs.
- Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside updates his list of D-League players who could receive auditions from NBA teams over the remainder of the season.
- Magic GM Otis Smith sat down for a question-and-answer session with Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
Minor Moves: McCants, Walker, Caracter
We'll track today's notable international and D-League-related transactions here:
- After playing just one game for Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico, Rashad McCants was waived, according to Sportando. McCants is hoping his play in Puerto Rico will help propel an NBA comeback, but he's now been waived twice this week.
- The D-League's Idaho Stampede have waived another comeback-hopeful, Antoine Walker, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. The team needed to add a player to the roster using Walker's spot while he tends to personal matters, says Spears. The Stampede could add Walker back to the roster this weekend (Twitter link).
- Derrick Caracter has been waived by the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers, adds Spears. Caracter, who played 41 games for the Lakers last year, was waived this year before his contract became guaranteed for the season.
Warriors Sign Mickell Gladness
The Warriors have officially signed Mickell Gladness to a 10-day contract, according to a team release. The Warriors reportedly had been set to sign J.J. Hickson, but the forward was unexpectedly claimed by Portland before he could clear waivers.
Gladness, 25, signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Heat this season, appearing in eight games for Miami. Over the last three seasons, he has played mostly in the D-League, averaging 4.6 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 81 career D-League contests.
Scott Schroeder of RidiculousUpside.com first reported that the Warriors would sign Gladness.
Southwest Notes: Arenas, Camby, Smith, Mills
Here's the latest out of the Southwest, the only division in the NBA that would send four teams to the playoffs if the season ended today:
- Gilbert Arenas, recently signed by the Grizzlies, spoke to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal about a number of topics in a lengthy interview. Arenas says that in addition to the Grizzlies and Lakers, the Hawks and Nets also had interest in him.
- Another new addition, Marcus Camby, brings "a different vibe" to the Rockets, coach Kevin McHale told Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.
- The Rockets assigned Greg Smith to their D-League affiliate yesterday, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston.
- Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News noticed the Spurs listed a "Mills" as one of their inactive players on the official scoresheet for last night's game, and wonders if the team has finalized its rumored deal with Patrick Mills.
Minor Moves: Graham, Harrison, Henry
We'll track the latest notable international and D-League-related signings right here:
- Joey Graham, a former 16th overall pick, has joined the D-League's Erie BayHawks, tweets Duane Rankin of the Erie Times-News. Graham is a six-year NBA veteran, having played for the Raptors, Nuggets, and, last season, the Cavaliers.
- Former Pacers first-round pick David Harrison has been claimed by the D-League's Reno Big Horns, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. The ex-University of Colorado big man played four seasons in Indiana after being drafted in 2004. The 29-year-old last appeared in an NBA game in April 2008.
- After playing just one game for the D-League's Iowa Energy, Xavier Henry has been recalled by the Hornets, the team announced today.
Minor Moves: Songaila, Wright, Graham, Williams
We'll keep tabs on the day's notable international or D-League-related transactions here:
- Darius Songaila, an eight-year NBA veteran who played 10 games for the 76ers last season, has signed with Spanish team CB Valladolid, tweets Sportando.
- Former NBA players Antoine Wright and Stephen Graham have joined D-League teams, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Wright will play for Reno while Graham is heading to Fort Wayne.
- The Mavericks have re-assigned Sean Williams to their D-League affiliate, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas. Williams had been recalled from the Texas Legends earlier this month.
Odds & Ends: Grizzlies, Nuggets, Wall, Warriors
A day after losing to the Lakers, the Celtics return to the Staples Center to face the Clippers and try earn one win in Los Angeles. That contest figures to be the highlight of an evening schedule that also includes the Bobcats and Hornets squaring off in a battle of Conference cellar-dwellers. While we wait for the first of tonight's seven games to tip off, let's round up a few odds and ends:
- The Grizzlies have been active in trade talks, but haven't been discussing their primary players, reports Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.
- Zach Lowe of SI.com hears that the Nuggets are being "very quiet" as the trade deadline nears (Twitter link).
- The Wizards' only untouchable player, John Wall talked to Michael Lee of the Washington Post about the team, trade options, and his performance.
- The Monta Ellis vs. Stephen Curry could finally come to an end for the Warriors this week, writes Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News. Meanwhile, Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com looks at some centers the Warriors are reportedly pursuing this week.
- Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside examines some D-League players who could benefit from deadline deals and earn NBA contracts in the coming weeks.
- The Clippers have recalled Travis Leslie from the Bakersfield Jam, as Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles writes. Leslie had been assigned to the team's D-League affiliate on March 2nd.
Minor Moves: Lee, Joseph, Wright
We'll keep tabs on today's international and D-League-related transactions of note here:
- Malcolm Lee has been recalled from Sioux Falls by the Timberwolves, tweets Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. Lee, who has yet to make his NBA debut, was assigned to Minnesota's D-League affiliate for the second time last Wednesday.
- The Spurs have recalled Cory Joseph from their D-League affiliate in Austin, tweets Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. Joseph, who was assigned to the Toros less than a week ago, returns to San Antonio following T.J. Ford's neck injury.
- Former NBA veteran Antoine Wright has joined the D-League in hopes of returning to the NBA, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Wright, a 15th overall pick in 2005, played for the Nets, Mavericks, Raptors, and Kings, last appearing in the NBA in November 2010. The 28-year-old averaged 5.4 PPG in 297 career games.