To keep Dwight Howard, the Lakers will have to sell him on a vision for 2014 and beyond. As a result, if championships are his goal, the Rockets are the safer bet for a whole host of reasons. Read More. Written by Jonathan Tjarks on May 23, 2013
The event gives front offices the opportunity to evaluate D-League players with the possibility of offering Summer League or training camp invites. Read More.
Tyus Jones, the No. 2 overall recruit for 2014 and an excellent point guard, was selected by Paul Biancardi, Adam Finkelstein and John Stovall. Read More.
The NBA D-League will hold its fourth annual Elite Mini Camp on Monday and Tuesday in Chicago.
The event gives front offices the opportunity to evaluate D-League players with the possibility of offering Summer League or training camp invites.
This year’s event is highlighted by 10 players with NBA experience, including seven who were NBA Draft selections: Keith Benson (Erie BayHawks), Justin Harper (Idaho Stampede), Darington Hobson (Santa Cruz Warriors), Lester Hudson (Austin Toros), Josh Selby (Maine Red Claws), Jermaine Taylor (Maine Red Claws), and Kyle Weaver (Canton Charge). Other NBA veterans attending the camp include Mickell Gladness (Santa Cruz Warriors), Cory Higgins (Erie BayHawks), and Edwin Ubiles.
Three members of the 2013 NBA D-League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Chris Daniels, Chris Johnson and Toure Murry, round out the 35-player field.
Andrew Goudelock made $475,000 last season as a second round pick with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Goudelock was cut by the Lakers before the season opener this season and went on to play in the D-League, ultimately winning MVP honors.
The Lakers signed Goudelock for the final two games of the regular season and playoffs following Kobe Bryant's season-ending injury.
“I’m broke,” Goudelock said. “I’m cool. Nobody would know that I’m broke. I just come here with a smile on my face.”
Goudelock averaged 21.4 points in the D-League and is now starting for the Lakers int he playoffs.
“This business just keeps getting crazier,” Goudelock said. “I wouldn’t think I’d be here two weeks ago. Nothing happens the way it’s supposed to happen. This is a great opportunity, going from the D-League a week and a half ago to starting in the playoffs. It shows you the nature of the business.”
Goudelock was living paycheck to paycheck after finishing up his rookie salary.
“I was so broke I had to borrow money,” he said. “I’ve had the same girlfriend since college, and I had to call her to give me money and she’s still in college, but I didn’t have any other choice. I didn’t want to call my parents. I’m too old for that. Some days I couldn’t even eat, and she sent me money. It’s definitely an experience I’m going to tell my kids about.”
Goudelock made about $1,200 every two weeks while he was in the D-League, while his per diem was $40.
Andrew Goudelock has been named the 2013 NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player, as voted by the NBA D-League’s 16 head coaches, for his efforts as a member of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Goudelock (6-3, 200, College of Charleston) played in 37 games, all starts, for the Vipers this season, averaging 21.4 points to go with 5.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 36.7 minutes, while leading the team in scoring 16 times. Selected to play in the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game, Goudelock was traded in January to Rio Grande Valley from the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he played in 14 games.
In all, Goudelock appeared in 52 regular season NBA D-League games, averaging 21.1 points, good for third best in the NBA D-League, to go with 5.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 37.1 minutes.
Texas Legends center Dwayne Jones will sign with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday for the remainder of the season, agent Joel Bell told RealGM.
Jones was on a flight Wednesday afternoon to sign his contract and is eligible to play in the playoffs.
A 29-year-old, 6-foot-11 center, Jones will give the Warriors additional size on the front line heading into a likely playoff matchup against the Denver Nuggets’ strong, athletic frontcourt. Andrew Bogut has dealt with injuries throughout the season, forcing Mark Jackson to give rookie Festus Ezeli 41 starts at center.
Jones had a five-year NBA career starting in 2005 with the Boston Celtics, and he ultimately was on three other teams – including playing parts of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Finals season in 2007. He has career averages of 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Springfield Armor forward Willie Reed will sign with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday for the rest of the season, agent Joel Bell told RealGM on Sunday afternoon.
Reed averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for Springfield this season, posting 12 double-doubles in 48 games. At 6-foot-10, Reed will bolster what’s already a big, physical Grizzlies frontcourt.
Future terms of Reed’s contract with the Grizzlies are still being worked out, Bell said. Reed is expected to be available by Wednesday night’s home game against the Utah Jazz and will be eligible for the playoffs.
Reed, 22, played two seasons at St. Louis before going undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft.
The Phoenix Suns have assigned guard Diante Garrett to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.
Garrett will spend his second stint in Bakersfield after he was originally assigned to the Jam on Jan. 10, where he averaged 15.1 points, 7.4 assists and 1.7 steals while appearing in seven games for the Jam (five starts). During his seven-game assignment, the Jam compiled a 6-1 (.857) record, including a season-best six-game win streak.
The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled Darius Morris and Robert Sacre from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League.
Morris and Sacre were both assigned to the D-Fenders on Wednesday and started in that day's game against the Canton Charge, helping the team overcome a 25-point second half deficit in a 114-109 victory in El Segundo. Sacre posted 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks in 31 minutes, while Morris tallied nine points, nine assists, six rebounds and a steal in 34 minutes.
Rio Grande Valley’s Andrew Goudelock and Fort Wayne’s Tony Mitchell have been named NBA Development League Co-Performers of the Week for games played March 18 – March 24.