The Detroit Pistons assigned rookie center Cheikh Samb to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Monday.  Samb?s assignment is the 18th of the 2007-08 season, and Samb is the 16th NBA player assigned to a D-League affiliate.  Samb is scheduled to play his first game with the Mad Ants on Thursday, Dec. 13 against the Dakota Wizards.

Samb, 7-1, 245-pounds, has appeared in two games for Detroit this season and averaged 1.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 10.5 minutes per game.  In six preseason games for the Pistons, Samb averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 17.8 minutes.  

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 51st pick in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft, Samb was acquired by the Pistons on draft day from the Lakers in exchange for Maurice Evans.  Samb spent the 2006-07 season playing overseas with WTC Cornella in the Spanish LEB2 League.