D-League Moves: Barton, Smith
The Portland Trail Blazers have assigned rookie small forward Will Barton and second-year point guard Nolan Smith to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League, the team announced (link via Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com). They will both be sent down in time to appear at the D-League Showcase in Reno, Nevada.
Barton has appeared in 28 games for the Blazers this season, averaging 2.9 PPG and 1.4 RPG. Smith has played in 18 games and averaged 2.5 PPG and 1.8 APG. We'll keep track of today's NBDL assignments and recalls below:
- IndyStar.com reports that the Pacers have recalled Miles Plumlee from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
- Director of 76ers PR Michael Preston tweets that Philadelphia has recalled Arnett Moultrie.
D-League Moves: Leuer, Plumlee, Johnson
We'll track all of Thursday's D-League assignments and recalls right here:
- Jon Leuer has been assigned to the Canton Charge by the Cavaliers, the team announced today in a press release. Leuer has appeared in limited minutes for the Cavs, but has averaged a double-double (20.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG) in the D-League this season in six games with Canton.
- The Pacers have again assigned Miles Plumlee and Orlando Johnson to the D-League, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (via Twitter). It's the fourth assignment of the year for Plumlee and the third for Johnson. The two rookies have barely managed to see the floor in Indiana, but have been productive in the handful of D-League games they've played for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Plumlee has posted 14.7 PPG and 11.2 RPG in six contests, while Johnson has averaged 23.0 PPG and 6.7 RPG in three games.
D-League Moves: Pacers, Warriors, Cavaliers
Here are Friday's D-League assignments and recalls:
- Miles Plumlee is headed to the D-League, while fellow rookie Orlando Johnson has been recalled to the Pacers, the team announced. It's the third assignment to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for Plumlee this year, who's averaged 14.4 points and 10.4 rebounds in five D-League contests so far. Johnson led the Mad Ants to victory tonight with a game-high 24 points.
- The Warriors have recalled Kent Bazemore and Jeremy Tyler to the D-League after being assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors yesterday, the team announced today in a press release. The duo combined for 49 points in Santa Cruz's 113-101 win last night.
- The Cavaliers have assigned Samardo Samuels to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Samuels will join the Canton Charge in time for tonight's game against the Tulsa 66ers. Samuels, 23, has seen his playing time in Cleveland reduced this season, as he's averaging career-lows in MPG (10.9), PPG (3.2), and PER (6.4), among other categories.
D-League Moves: Selby, Wroten, Plumlee, Joseph
We'll keep track of all the day's D-League comings and goings with this post. Catch up on all the season's D-League movement with our roundup here.
- The Grizzlies have assigned Josh Selby to the Reno Big Horns and recalled Tony Wroten from the team, Memphis announced in a press release. Selby has seen only 15 minutes of action in five games with the Grizzlies, while Wroten, a rookie, has logged even more scant playing time — eight total minutes in three games.
- Miles Plumlee is back in the NBA after the Pacers recalled him from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced via Twitter. The 6'10" Plumlee, the 26th pick in the draft this year, has appeared in just four games for a total of 16 minutes, and has been passed over in the team's big man mix in favor of Jeff Pendergraph, among others.
- The Spurs have assigned Cory Joseph to the Austin Toros for the third time this season, the team announced. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News noted via Twitter a few minutes prior to the announcement that the team planned to send the second-year guard down so he can get some playing time. He's logged 65 total minutes over nine games for the Thunder this season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.4 assists per game.
- The Thunder have brought back Jeremy Lamb and Daniel Orton from their D-League assignments, the team announced via Twitter (hat tip to John Rohde of The Oklahoman). They were sent down on Friday, and both appeared in back-to-back games for the Tulsa 66ers this weekend. Lamb notched 24 and 26 points, respectively, in the two outings while Orton averaged 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in the pair of D-League contests. Oklahoma City has made liberal use of relaxed D-League assignment rules this season, as this represents the third time both Lamb and Orton have been sent down and recalled this year.
Pacers Assign Miles Plumlee To D-League
The Pacers have assigned Miles Plumlee to their D-League affiliate for the second time this season, the team announced today in a press release. Plumlee will join the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for their games on Friday and Saturday.
Plumlee, the Pacers' first-round pick in June's draft, appeared in two games for the Mad Ants earlier in the season, averaging 14.0 PPG and 9.5 RPG. He has played in just four games for the Pacers this season, however, including none since being recalled from the D-League back on November 26th.
Pacers Recall Plumlee, Johnson From D-League
The Pacers have officially recalled rookies Miles Plumlee and Orlando Johnson from their D-League assignments, the team announced today in a press release. Indiana had assigned Plumlee and Johnson to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants last Wednesday, noting at the time that the duo would be back with the Pacers for this week's road trip.
Both players were productive in their two D-League games over the weekend, with Johnson pouring in 30 points yesterday against the Maine Red Claws. Johnson averaged 22.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG in the two contests, while Plumlee had marks of 14.0 PPG and 9.5 RPG.
Pacers Assign Plumlee, Johnson To D-League
The Pacers have assigned rookies Miles Plumlee and Orlando Johnson to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. The two players aren't expected to remain with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for long, however. According to the team, Plumlee and Johnson will play two games in the D-League before rejoining the Pacers next week.
The Pacers are scheduled to play two games at home this week before embarking on a three-game road trip that begins with a contest against the Lakers in L.A. next Tuesday. Plumlee and Johnson, who have seen limited minutes in Indiana, will play in games for Fort Wayne on Friday and Sunday before rejoining the NBA squad. For the Pacers, who share the Mad Ants as an affiliate with the Bobcats, Pistons, and Bucks, it's the first time the've ever assigned a player to the D-League.
"We could not be happier to have Miles and Orlando join our team for these first two games," said Mad Ants head coach Duane Ticknor. "We think we can provide both players a great opportunity to improve their games, and I am excited for this watershed moment in our partnership with the Pacers."
Eastern Notes: Bobcats, Drummond, Hinrich
- Rick Bonnell of CharlotteObserver.com talks about the improvements that the Bobcats are looking to make on offense following a season which saw them last in the league in field goal percentage, three point shooting percentage, and points per game.
- Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld examines the opportunity for Pistons rookie Andre Drummond to earn a significant role in Lawrence Frank's rotation.
- Kirk Hinrich appears to be fitting in well with new Bulls teammates and coach Tom Thibodeau, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago.
- Mike Wells of IndyStar.com looks at Miles Plumlee's struggles to become comfortable on the court, a problem that Pacers coach Frank Vogel believes can only be cured with time and experience.
- Based on John Henson's four block performance against the Pistons on Saturday, Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel writes that the Bucks may have found a player who can significantly improve their rim protection, which had been one of the team's glaring weaknesses last season.
Pacers Sign Miles Plumlee
The Pacers have signed 2012 first-round pick Miles Plumlee to a rookie scale contract, the team announced today (Twitter link). Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the 26th overall pick is eligible for a first-year salary of up to $1,073,280.
Plumlee, a 7'0" center from Duke, was projected by many pundits to be a second-round pick, so the Pacers' decision to select him late in the first round was a little surprising. In his final season with the Blue Devils, Plumlee averaged 6.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game.
Draft Updates: Saturday
Earlier updates:
- Syracuse center Fab Melo tells HoopsWorld's Stephen Litel that he is emulating Tim Duncan in his style of play.
- Morley Quatroche of WEEI.com looks at Miles Plumlee as a potential draft target for the Celtics.
- Paul Coro of AZCentral.com says that the Suns are looking to improve their offense in the draft.
- Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel looks at a handful of guards who have worked out for the Bucks recently.
- Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld.com talks to Iona's Scott Machado, who is attempting to raise his profile ahead of the draft.