Los Angeles Times

D-League holds tryouts for NBA hopefuls

The developmental league, whose grads include the Lakers' Shannon Brown will view players in Hawthorne through Sunday.
By Mario Aguirre
June 19, 2009

With the economic recession taking a toll on the pockets of NBA team owners, the free-agent market may look promising this summer for current D-League players.

The D-League, formally known as the NBA Developmental League, will host its third annual pre-draft camp tryouts Saturday through Sunday at the Hangar Athletic Xchange in Hawthorne.

The D-League gained traction this postseason when eight alumni who had graduated to the NBA played in this month's NBA Finals. In total, 84 former D-Leaguers finished the regular season on NBA rosters.

Among them was Lakers guard Shannon Brown, acquired in a midseason trade with the Charlotte Bobcats. Brown, a former first-round pick, shuffled through three D-League teams before signing with the Bobcats.

Brown played sparingly upon his arrival with the Lakers before gobbling up minutes from reserve guard Jordan Farmar.

Orlando Magic point guard Rafer Alston, a starter in the postseason, excelled with the Houston Rockets after a stint with the Mobile (Ala.) Revelers during the 2002-03 season. The Revelers won the D-League championship that year.

Von Wafer, a former second-round pick of the Lakers, was an integral part of the Rockets' success in the playoffs after a season-ending injury to All-Star swingman Tracy McGrady.

About 200 prospects are expected to go through the tryouts in front of scouts and general managers representing all 17 D-League teams.

Prospects selected then sign player contracts to be eligible for the D-League draft in November.

mario.aguirre@latimes.com

Picture
Jeff Gross / Getty Images
Lakers guard Shannon Brown drives past Orlando's Courtney Lee in Game 1 of the NBA Finals

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