Vander Blue of the Los Angeles D-Fenders has been named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 29.

Blue (6-4, Marquette) led Los Angeles to a 2-0 week, averaging 32.5 points (second in the league) on 45.0 percent shooting to go with 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals. On Jan. 26, with the D-Fenders trailing 119-112 with 2:25 to play, Blue connected on back-to-back three-pointers and added two free throws to secure a 125-120 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He finished the game with 37 points and seven rebounds. On Jan. 29, Blue tallied 28 points, nine rebounds and three steals in a 132-104 win over the Austin Spurs.

Blue, who has scored at least 30 points seven times this season, is averaging 25.5 points (third in the league), 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals. This is the second Performer of the Week award for Blue this season.

Other top performers considered included Canton’s Chris Evans and Eric Moreland, Delaware’s Shawn Long, Erie’s Kalin Lucas, Iowa’s Jarell Martin, Maine’s Jalen Jones and Ryan Kelly, Northern Arizona’s Elijah Millsap, Oklahoma City’s Daniel Hamilton, Rio Grande Valley’s Darius Morris, Santa Cruz’s Phil Pressey and Scott Wood and Texas’ C.J. Williams.

The New Orleans Pelicans have assigned rookie forward Cheick Diallo to the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA Development League, pursuant to the flexible assignment system.

This will be Diallo’s fourth D-League assignment.

In his most recent assignment, Diallo appeared in two games with the Long Island Nets, averaging 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 17.4 minutes per contest.

Diallo, 6-9, 220, has averaged 12.0 points on .532 shooting from the floor, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, and 22.2 minutes in 11 games with Long Island and Austin.

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard/forward Lamar Patterson to a 10-day contract.

Patterson was with the Sacramento Kings in training camp this season and most recently played in 28 games for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, where he averaged 24.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals in 35.8 minutes.

He ranked fourth in the D-League in scoring, 12th in assists and tied for 12th in steals.

The Denver Nuggets will sign Johnny O'Bryant to a 10-day contract.

O'Bryant has been playing for the Northern Arizona Suns of the D-League.

Denver will waive Mo Williams to create a roster spot for O'Bryant.

The Memphis Grizzlies will own and operate an expansion NBA Development League franchise locally starting next season.

There is no name yet for the affiliate that will play a 24-game home schedule in the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi. The Grizzlies were previously affiliated with the Iowa Energy. That franchise is joining forces with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“This allows us to best develop our future Grizzlies players,” Chris Wallace told the team’s site.

“It’s a complete game-changer,” John Hollinger, Grizzlies executive vice president of basketball operations, told Grizzlies.com. “Our affiliation with Iowa has been very effective for several years, both in terms of player development and basketball ops to both cities. To operate our own D-League team in your backyard — the direct access to the development process of our player talent — makes the process so much more efficient.”

Abdel Nader of the Maine Red Claws was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 16, through Sunday, Jan. 22.

Nader (6-8, Iowa State) led Maine to a 2-0 week, averaging 26.0 points (eighth in the league) on 48.6 percent shooting to go with 6.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal. He connected of 7-of-14 attempts from three-point range and was named to NBADLeague.com’s 2017 All-Showcase First Team. On Jan. 19, he scored 29 points and connected on 6-of-10 three-point attempts in a 122-117 win over the Canton Charge. On Jan. 21, he recorded 23 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 112-107 victory over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Nader is averaging 22.4 points on 48.6 percent shooting and 6.0 rebounds on the season. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt and was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 58th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft presented by State Farm.
Other top performers considered included Austin’s Cory Jefferson, Canton’s Quinn Cook, Delaware’s Devondrick Walker, Erie’s Gabe York, Grand Rapids’ Jordan Crawford, Iowa’s JaKarr Sampson, Los Angeles’ Josh Magette, Maine’s Jalen Jones, Northern Arizona’s Johnny O’Bryant, Oklahoma City’s Dakari Johnson, Raptors 905’s Edy Tavares, Santa Cruz’s Dennis Clifford, Sioux Falls’ Patrick Miller, Texas’ CJ Williams, Westchester’s Courtney Fells and Windy City’s Will Bynum.

Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and the NBA Development League announced a letter of intent from Taylor to purchase majority ownership in the NBA D-League’s Iowa Energy.

Subject to finalization and NBA D-League approval of the transaction, Minnesota would become the 18th NBA team to own and operate an NBA D-League affiliate.

“It’s an exciting time in the NBA D-League as we welcome Glen Taylor and the Minnesota Timberwolves to our ownership ranks,” said NBA D-League President Malcolm Turner. “The Timberwolves are the latest in an ever-growing list of NBA teams that recognize the value an NBA D-League team brings to a franchise – a trend I’m confident will continue as the league grows to 30 teams.”

“We’re thrilled to bring the Iowa Energy into the Timberwolves family,” said Taylor. “It’s great knowing that we can develop our young players so close to home and enjoy all the other benefits that come with owning a D-League team. We look forward to growing our relationship with the greater Des Moines area, the state of Iowa and basketball fans across the Upper Midwest.”

The Energy’s current hybrid partnership with the Memphis Grizzlies will come to an end at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

The Orlando Magic have signed guard-forward Anthony Brown to a 10-day contract.

Brown becomes the 12th Call-Up from the NBA Development League this season. 

Brown (6’7”, 211, 10/10/92) has played and started in 16 games this season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, averaging 21.6 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 3.4 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 39.2 minpg., while shooting .472 (42-89) from three-point range. He also appeared in nine games this season with New Orleans, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 2.9 rpg. in 15.8 minpg. Brown was signed by the Pelicans on Nov. 21, then waived on Dec. 9.

Originally selected in the second round (34th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Brown has appeared in 38 career NBA games with the Lakers and New Orleans, averaging 3.9 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 19.5 minpg. He has also played in 23 career D-League games with Los Angeles and Erie, averaging 19.4 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 2.9 apg. in 37.5 minpg., while shooting .419 (57-136) from three-point range.

DeJuan Blair has been acquired by the Texas Legends of the D-League.

Blair previously played this season in China, averaging 24.1 points and 13.6 rebounds.

Blair played for the Mavericks, the D-League affiliate of the Legends, during the 13-14 season.

Dallas recently signed Pierre Jackson from the D-League.

The Miami Heat have signed Okaro White to a 10-day contract.

White has appeared in 23 games (all starts) for Miami's NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this season averaging 18.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.09 steals and 33.0 minutes while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 86 percent from the foul line. He has helped the Skyforce to a division best 16-5 record while ranking second on the team in points (424), rebounds (201), field goals made (144), three-point field goals made (38) and free throws made (98).

White, who was originally signed by the Heat on July 15, 2016, previously appeared in six preseason games with Miami earlier this season and averaged 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.5 minutes. Additionally, he appeared in five games with Miami’s Summer League team in Las Vegas this past summer and averaged 8.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.00 steals.