Well, we've already got the big news out -- Blake Ahearn gets called up to the Spurs. Spurs win. Coincidence? No.

Since cuts probably won't be made for a couple days in the D-League camps, we'll look at some guys we haven't talked about in those camps, the allocations.

My boys in Bakersfield have got an early Thanksgiving present from Coach Nelson at Golden State, receiving his opening night point guard, DeMarcus Nelson, and a big 4 in Richard Hendrix.  See, I'd call it an early Christmas present, but I'm assuming they'll get one of those as well, as rumor is up to SEVEN NBA guys could see time with Coach Roth and Deane Martin down in Bakersfield. Bakersfield, from Cellar to Stellar, write it down. 

 Fella's get back to me on what your starting lineup looks right now, but this is my guess.  Mateen running the point, Jeff Trepagnier at the 2, Terrance Thomas at the 3, Richard Hendrix at the 4 and Nick Lewis at the 5?  That would have an NBA guy coming off the bench (Which isn't likely, but did happen to McRobert's in Idaho last year) and Trey Johnson as well, who was a last cut of the Suns.  I see a trade coming, Trey for a legit 5.  

That is unless David Hefferhoffer as Coach Roth so eloquently referred to him in his most recent podcast, can keep playing well.  Come on Vance, as VP of Communications, I'm putting it on you to get Coach to say the right names.  The podcast was also brought to us by San Joaquin hospital, which is helping Coach Roth get as svelte as possible (Love that word Vance, if only you could have helped Roth on the names!)  

I should also point out that the Toros got the Big Yawn, Ian Mahinmi, and Utah got JR Giddens.  I expect both of those teams to get plenty more help as well, same as last season.

It's late and I'm tired, but I wanted to get this out there, so this will be quick!  As has been discussed for quite sometime, Blake Ahearn is an NBA player. You know it, I know it, why doesn't everyone else know it?  Well, it seems at least somebody else knows it, and I assume that somebody to be RC Buford, GM of the Spurs, as he just called Blake up!

Congratulations Mr. Ahearn.  You have arrived.

Camp's haven't even started yet and this seasons already become exciting.  Over the past couple of days, three trades have been announced.

Dontell Jefferson (Dakota) for Denham Brown (Utah) -- This trade fills a need for both teams and I honestly don't know who got the better deal.  Utah needed experience and to solidy their backcourt, and Dontell, over the past two seasons, has been a solid D-League player and already has a D-League championship.  Denham Brown will is a great player with NBA experience and will be either the best sixth man in the D-League or an excellent insurance policy if Renaldo Major, who didn't play at all last season following heart surgery, isn't healthy.

Dwayne Mitchell (Iowa) for Patrick Sanders (Los Angeles) -- Wow is LA strong.  With Dwayne Mitchell, Joe Crawford, and Brandon Heath, they have three solid players that were in LA camp.  Patrick Sanders is a rookie out UC-Irvine, where he averaged 15 points a game last season.

Keith Closs (Tulsa) for Antoine Jordan (Idaho) -- I love Keith Closs.  Apparently Brandon Barnett and the 66ers do not.  Antoine Jordan was a fourth round pick  that averaged 13 points playing in the Netherlands last season.  I would rather have K-Closs who could average three blocks a game while he smokes cigarettes on the bench.

Coach Roth and Vance Palms, Bakersfield's VP of Communications, Grade their draft, which was held at Buck Owens Crystal Palace (which sounds amazing), an A or a B.  While it's tough to really know how good anybody's draft was at this stage, I would concur that there draft was a solid B, as their first five picks all seem like they have a pretty good shot at making the league, if not the Jam.  Also, I'd like to give a shout out to Vance, who calls up a  "Highly respected" blog!

President Potter also gave us his take on the Mad Ants draft over on his NBA.com blog.  Though he didn't put a letter grade on the draft, he felt like they filled their needs, and with 4 guys coming back, that's a solid start.  Potter's Mad Ants are also getting some pub around the internet after TrueHoop mentioned Coleman Collin's mishap with the deer Friday night.  

TrueHoop has been doing a lot of good stuff on the D-League lately, starting Friday with an interview with Chris Alpert, and then an interview with former D-League stud Mike Taylor, now with the Clippers.  Props to Kevin Arnovitz, whose been filling in for Henry Abbott recently.  

So, we're about 18 days, 22 hours, 34 minutes, and 47 seconds until the D-League season starts (Thanks, D-League.com!)  Anyway, let's look at each teams roster post-draft to better evaluate how each team drafted. I should really wait to do this tomorrow in case some trades went down that we didn't catch, but I'll update this to reflect that if they happen.  Also, quick note, every center able to be drafted, was drafted. Dear Mr. Alpert, I think we need to sign more 5's for next year!

This might be something you print out and read when you have about two hours to kill... Went a little longer than planned, but all good stuff, I guarantee it.  If you don't think so, E-Mail me (Check my profile) and I will promptly get you a refund.

Tulsa, with the number one overall pick, picked Chris Richard.  Like many teams, it looks like they aren't too concerned with having a center, preferring to go with two big forwards in Richard and Ryan Humphrey, a first round pick of the Jazz in 2002.  From there, it looks like returning guard Russell Carter will play at the point, Jeremy Kelly at the 2, and Terrell Everett at the 3. I expect Chris Ellis (returning)  and Mikheil Berishvili to also be guaranteed spots, with the rest up in the air.  With whoever comes back in the trade of Keith Closs, that player could leave just one spot open for the rest of the players, depending on what the 66ers are getting in return.

Colorado, where is Elton Brown?  Where is Eddie Gill?  I assume at least Eddie will join them soon.  If not, it looks like they'll be led by the tandem of James Mays (Great pick considering he was one of the last cuts of neighboring Denver!) and Josh Davis at the 3 and 4, with random fillers in between.  If both Elton and Eddie come back, WATCH OUT!  The 14ers drafted two of the better point guards in the draft in Marlon Parmer and John Gilchrist, along with rookie Trey Gilder, a skinny 6'9 post, these are my picks to most likely make the team.  It looks like Joe Dabbert, who I'm fairly sure his middle name is Barry, as it rings so well, will play the center for them. I'm not sure why he was allocated to them, as he didn't go to school in Colorado, nor has he ever played for them, but being allocated a decent 5 is always good!  I'm also fairly certain Eric Osmundson makes the team, as he's my favorite player ever out of UPenn and has played with them the past two seasons. Jamar Brown, a local guy out of Colorado State also will more than likely make it, being a big in this league not so full of bigs.

Idaho looks strong, as they have been since entering the D-League.  Coach Gates always seems to put together a good team, and this year shouldn't be any different.  They brought Randy Livingston off the court and onto the coaching staff, though his replacement is the very capable, and more than likely redshirt-rookie, Jamaal Tatum, their first round pick last year.  They also return Air Georgia Brent Petway and were allocated former BSU Broncos Coby Karl and Reggie Larry.  With first round pick and former Bobcat Jermareo Davidson,  this team has a chance of repeating.  Add in Ernest Scott, who played 40 games with the Stampede last season, big-man Anthony Coleman, and rookie guard Lanny Smith, and this is one of the top teams in the D-League.

Sioux Falls is VERY VERY VERY strong.  Wow.  Veteran leadership? Check. Point guard Frank Williams played parts of 3 seasons in the NBA and averaged 16 points with the Skyforce two seasons ago.  NBA talent? Check! Bobby Jones has played for approximately 47 teams over the last two seasons. Size? You betcha! 7-1 Frankenstein-like Chris Alexander was the last cut of the Thunder in October and averaged 12 and 12 last season for the Skyforce.  Good wings?  Two of them! First round pick Gary Forbes and returning Carl Elliott are both all around players that will fill in and do everything that the aforementioned players don't.  Add in draft picks Michael Adams (who isn't good, but is big!), Keith Brumbaugh (averaged 35 points, 8 boards, 6 assists last season in college), Ty Morrison, a 6'8 rookie combo forward,  and either rookie Gary Ervin (Arkansas) or the vet Brock Gillespie, and this will be a team to reckon with.

Bakersfield, do I think even you guys have a strong team? Yes, I sure do! Wait, even when your top 3 players are returning from a season where you finished 11-39?!? Scary, but yes, and not just because Gates Roth and Deane Martin are running the show.  Mateen "I'm Not Cryin" Cleaves at the point, Jeff Trepagnier at the 2, Derrick Byars at the 3, Richard Hendrix at the 4, and Nick Lewis at the 5, and this team is scary.  Factor in Justin Reed returning in about a month and Trey Lewis coming off the bench, and this team will be 7-deep solid!  Terrance Thomas, who played with Fort Worth a couple seasons ago, and David Berghoefer, a soft big man who averaged 11 and 11 over in Germany last year should also make the rotation.

Fort Wayne, I really hope you do well. Bringing back Ron Howard, fresh off a preseason campaign with the Bucks, along with Walker Russell, a strong backcourt is imminent.  The front court, however, is suspect.  If first round pick Coleman Collins is as careless on the court as he is when driving, you're in trouble (Just kidding Mad Ants! Hopefully we're still friends!).  If I learned I was going to be a Mad Ant, I'd be excited too.  I like Torree Morris too, mostly because he's 6-10 in a division that includes Courtney Sims, Chris Alexander, and hopefully, for Erie's sake, a big man from the Cavs.  Anthony Kyle is fun to watch and should make the team as the backup point guard he's destined to be.  Shawn Hawkins should also be a good player for the Ants. Eric Smith, who I believe was referred to exclusively as "Spider" on all of your radio broadcasts last season (New radio guy for the Mad Ants this year for anyone that wasn't a fan of them last year!), should also be consistent off the bench.

Erie, I'm sorry, but I'm just not a fan of your drafts.  First, you inexplicably drafted Idaho assistant coach  Randy Livingston in the expansion draft, among about 7 other guys that had no plans to play in the D-League this season and Jeff Hagen.  Then, in this draft, you take the enigmatic Erik Daniels a combo forward, when it was fairly clear that a big man was in your NEEDS column after the only guy you picked up in the expansion draft, Jackie Manuel, plays the same position.  In the second round, you took Taj McCullough, a Winthrop grad and combo forward.  You also bring in Manuel.  By my count, that's three guys who are best suited to play the 3, and are also your three top players.  You never did draft anyone taller than 6'8.  Hopefully Cleveland really likes your pick up of Vernon Hamilton, who was in Cavs camp this preseason, and sends JJ Hickson or Darnell Jackson down to help.  Jawad Williams is also a possibility, but I'd assume they'd rather cut him then assign him to the D-League, as he's nothing special to develop. They did draft two of the greater names in the draft though in Cliff Clinkscales and Xavier Whipple, so hats off to you, Erie Bayhawks.

Anaheim, I like your team.  Good first three picks in NBA vet Tierre Brown, Flight White, and rookie Roy Bright (Another Delaware State guy, just former D-League stud Jeremy Richardson).  Good returnees in Mario Boggan and Mike Efevberha.  Good allocated guys in Cedric Bozeman, Noel Felix, and T.J. Cummings, son of Terry (Be careful googling him.. NSFW!).  Also, good job drafting four bigs! I hope that was due in part to the genius of new assistant Paul Mokeski, as pictured here in his younger days (Courtesy of The Sports Hernia Blog):

Utah had a decent draft.  Bringing in Dontell Jefferson, bring back Brian Jackson, and drafting a couple legit rookies in Gavin Grant and Bennet Davis will help.  If Kevin Kruger decides to come back to the D-League, this team is solid.  If not, hopefully Utah and Boston help out, as your bench looks weak.  Marcus Malone, how did you drop to the tenth round?  Please prove me wrong in camp, as I thought you looked good down in Vegas.

Reno, big ups.  Like what you did in the expansion draft.  Damone Brown, Tony Gipson, Andre Patterson, Jesse Smith, and Jamaal Smith are all solid players that can contribute.  In the regular draft, not so much. Antonio Meeking, who, as Matt pointed out, apparently added an inch and dropped 30 pounds, though I highly doubt this.  Russell Robinson will be able to run your offense, but don't expect points out of him, as I would assume another Kansas alum, Dakota Wizards GM Tom Wagganer, could beat him at a game of PIG.  Sung-Yoon BANG! should be solid, but unspectacular, as seasoning in Korea couldn't have helped him much since averaging 12 points with the Roanoke DAZZLE a few years ago. 

Dakota Wizards, you're good, but guard heavy.  With Mo Baker and Blake Ahearn, they've got to have one of the best backcourts in the league, if not the best.  Renaldo Major will be returning from heart surgery and if he can return to his Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All D-League, he'll more than likely earn another call-up.  The trade for Denham Brown will be excellent insurance if Renaldo isn't completely ready, and if he is ready, Brown will be one of the top guys coming off the bench in the league.  That's four guys with NBA experience.  Add Will Frisby, who was a beast last year when he got the minutes, and if he can stay out of foul trouble, he'll get the minutes, and Quemont Greer, who was with the Wizards two years ago when he averaged 17 points and 6 boards during the championship season, and the returnees are good. Then we get to Marcus Hubbard, the last cut of the Hawks this season (Peachtree Hoops wasn't big on him), will more than likely be one of the top athletes in the league and hopefully improves his basketball IQ.  The Wizards are lacking on a center, but between Aaron Spears or Brad Stricker and possible NBA assignee Hamed Haddadi, they'll have the size to compete.  Don't rule out a return of Too Much Rod Benson, either, who is averaging just 10 minutes and 2 points per game overseas while I assume he is getting paid a bit more than his production warrants.

RGV, not so sure about you guys.  First, I really wish you would have dropped the E in Grande, or decided to pronounce it GronDay.  Your best returner is Trent Strickland, and though he averaged 13 points last season, they weren't memorable.  Allocated guys Kendall Dartez, who has averaged 6 points and 4 boards in 40 D-League games, and Alton Ford, a guy with forgettable NBA experiences who is a lot like Antonio Meeking, are nothing special.  Your draftees are better, and include Smush Parker, who fell to the twelfth pick, and Delonte Holland, who I think should be a good D-League player.  I'm also looking forward to seeing what Alpha Bangura (Two guys were drafted with bang in their last name) can do in the D-League, as he's been stateside in the minors for awhile.

LA, you surprised me with your first round pick of Jasper Johnson.  I can't give a review of him, because I know NOTHING about him, though hear he was a good pick.  Keith Butler is really big, which goes a long way in this draft, and therefore a solid 2nd round pick.  The rest of your draft, not too much stands out.  Your returning player, Darren Cooper, not exciting.  Your allocated guys, however, are quite good.  Joe Crawford, Lakers last cut, stud.  Brandon Heath, another Lakers cut, should be good.  Patrick Sanders, the rookie, should play well.  Your local tryout guys are all D-League caliber, which is amazing, as I would have thought they would be in the player pool, rather than needing to go the way of the local tryout, especially since two have been drafted before -- Rashid Byrd, AKA Rashid Hartwick, AKA Seven and Sum Change and Ryan Forehan-Kelly.

Albuquerque, led by Coach Coffino, got the steal of the draft when David Noel dropped to the 12 spot.  They're also in contention for best backcourt in the draft, returning Will Conroy and Cheyne Gadson, as they both have NBA talent.  Cory Underwood, a former street baller, also returns after joining the Sixers preseason roster for a bit.  They drafted quite solid as well, bringing in David Monds, Waki Williams (Never seen him play, but with a name like Waki...), another long 4, and Kris Clack, who played with Austin a couple seasons ago.  They also brought in Eddie Robinson, who made 10 million dollars for NOT playing with the Bulls, as they bought out his contract, presumably because he was more focused on his acting career, being the lead in Juwanna Mann.

Iowa should be solid.  They return Dwayne Mitchell, who left to go overseas mid-season last year and was with the Lakers this preseason, and Courtney Sims, one of the top big men in the league.  Aristide "The Ostrich Riding Dawg" Sawadago was also apparently a big returner for them, as one team (I'll leave them anonymous) tried to draft him.  Curtis Stinson, a journeyman D-Leaguer who has played 50 games for five teams over the past two years, also returns.  In the first round, they drafted Cartier Martin, who sounds more like an alcoholic beverage than a D-League player, and followed that up with Larry AKA "Elias" or "Old Man" Ayuso, and then Othyus Jeffers, who will turn heads in the D-League.  They also drafted Oregon State rookie Marcel Jones, who is also apparently pretty good, as another team tried drafting him later.

Austin, I'm glad you got the last pick, otherwise, you'd be a lot scarier than you already are.  Returning Marcus Williams (Legitimate NBA player, not computer-steling-already-NBA-player-with-Golde-State-Marcus-Williams), and bringing in Charles Gaines and Malik Hairston, this teams 2,3,4 spots are probably the best in the D-League.  Add Squeaky Johnson and first round pick and this team is solid everywhere but the 5 spot, which is probably why they grabbed 6'10 Mohammed Abukar in the 2nd round.  They also got "Better Than" Ezra Williams and Michael Sturns, who were both good pickups in the 3rd and 5th rounds.  Add in the possible allocation of Ian Mahinmi, and wow.

I'll let Matt rebuttal, as I'm sure we differ, but I'm ranking the great 8 heading into camp:

1. Dakota -- Six returners, 4 guys with NBA experience, going to be great.

2. Austin -- If they get Mahinmi again, pencil them in for the championship.

3. Albuquerque -- Great backcourt, great front court, great team.

4. Idaho -- Won't fall off much from championship season.

6. Anaheim -- LOTS of NBA talent here.

7. Bakersfield -- Legit starting 5.

8. LA/Reno --  LA built from nothing getting lucky with allocations, Reno built from nothing using the expansion draft.

Well, the draft is over and went pretty much as planned.  I was most surprised that Marcus Malone lasted until the last round and that players like Derrick Dial and Mike Peeples, guys that the team didn't retain, got drafted by their former teams anyway.  Good stuff.

Couple quick hits and rumors (My thoughts on the draft coming tomorrow):

Denham Brown has been traded to the Wizards for Dontell Jefferson.

Keith Closs will be changing teams, though I'm not sure to which.

Richard Hendrix will spend the majority of his time in the D-League this season with Bakersfield.

Hammed Haddadi, the 7-2 Iranian center for Memphis, will more than likely join Dakota for the beginning of the season.

"Moments after" the Mad Ants called Coleman Collins to let him know he was their first round pick, he hit a deer.  With his car. He must have been really excited to become a Mad Ant!

It looks like this could be a pretty exciting draft with quite a few former NBA guys and guys that were in camp this season.  Here are some of the top players:

Chris Richard -- Surprising cut by TWolves

Smush Parker -- NBA vet

Jermareo Davidson -- Surprising cut by Bobcats

James Mays -- Athletic Rookie forward out of Clemson

David Noel -- NBA vet

Tierre Brown -- NBA vet

Derrick Byars -- Out of Vandy, OKC camp this preseason

Larry Ayuso -- Puerto Rican national team

James "Flight" White

Gary Forbes -- Versatile swingman out of UMASS 

Denham Brown -- UConn, played with Sonics two seasons ago

Marcus Hubbard -- Rookie forward cut by Hawks in preseason

Coleman Collins -- Big man that was in Suns camp

Erik Daniels -- Played 22 games with Kings few seasons ago

Taj MacCullough -- Rookie out of Winthrop; recent Wizards cut

Delonte Holland -- Impressive in VSL with Knicks

Eddie Robinson -- Probably still getting paid by the Bulls

Roy Bright -- Rookie swingman out of Delaware State that can score

Othyus Jeffers -- Rookie out of Robert Morris; NAIA player of the year

Russell Robinson -- Solid ball handler with excellent defense; can't shoot

Keith Brumbaugh -- 6'9 SF out of Hillsborough CC where he averaged 35 points, 8 boards, 6 assists

Eddie Ard -- Rookie out of Lipscomb; probably first guy drafted from D-League camp

Mikheil Berishvili -- Berishvili.com

Derrick Dial -- NBA vet that played for Tulsa last season

Gavin Grant -- Rookie out NC State

Vernon Hamilton -- Point guard; last cut by Cavs this preseason

Waki Williams -- Love the name; CBA guy last season out of Memphis

Bennet Davis -- Played at Northeastern with JJ Barea; 2nd in school history in blocked shots

John Millsap -- Brother of Jazz's Paul; not retained by Flash

David Berghoefer -- Averaged 11 points, 11 boards in Germany last season

Jeremy Bell -- Leading scorer in PBL last season

Well, the final list is out, but I'm having trouble getting it on the blog.  In the meantime, here are some of the better players that came in last minute:

Smush Parker

Erik Daniels -- NBA vet, out of Kentucky

James "Flight" White

Marcus Hubbard -- Camp cut by Hawks

Coleman Collins -- Camp cut by Suns

Denham Brown -- NBA Vet, Out of UConn

Tierre Brown -- NBA Vet

David Noel -- Played for Milwaukee last season

Eddie Robinson -- REALLY Rich from a GIGANTIC Bulls contract

Alright, now we know what teams have which players coming back.  Frankly, I'm a little excited.  Here are my quick thoughts.. More likely coming once the final player list is out.

First off, looks like there could be a lot of good teams returning good players:

Albuquerque could same noise with Will Conroy, a former NBAer, along with NBA camp guys Cheyne Gadson and Cory Underwood, who apparently blogs. Though Anaheim got Cedric Bozeman, a former T-Bird, which I thought was interesting.

Anaheim brings back Mario Boggan and Mike Efevberha, who both played in a few games with the Arsenal last year, along with Noel Felix and Cedric Bozeman, both former D-League guys.  

Austin brought back Marcus Williams and added Malik Hairston and Charles Gaines.  Both Hairston and Gaines were in camp with the Spurs last month.  They also brought in Tack Minor from local tryouts. I always thought Tack would be a stud at Georgia Tech, but never really panned out.

Bakersfield did alright for themselves, bringing back Mateen Cleaves and Trey Johnson to put together a solid back court and being allocated Jeff Trepagnier, whose been playing in Europe since 2004 after a season with the Nuggets. Not sure why Trepagnier was allocated to Bakersfield as he went to school at USC (located in LA, where there's also a D-League team).  Never been a fan of Nick Lewis.

Colorado was allocated Josh Davis and Joe Dabbert, two good players, but not sure why both went to Colorado.  Dabbert played for Sioux Falls in the CBA, and Josh Davis has played a few seasons with Idaho.  Neither went to school in Colorado.

Dakota returned 7 guys from the past two seasons, four from the 2006-07 season when they won the D-League championship.  As it looks right now, there isn't a deeper backcourt in the D-League, as Ahearn and Baker have both played in the NBA, and Jefferson was one of the last cuts in the Clippers camp. Throw in David Bell and don't expect Coach Ticknor to take too many guards on draft day.

Here is the official list of each teams allocated players... Thoughts are coming as well.

Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Will Conroy - returning player
Daryl Dorsey - returning player
Ramon Dyer - returning player
Cheyne Gadson - returning player
Cory Underwood - returning player
Mark Walters - allocation player
Sidney Hooper - local tryout player

Anaheim Arsenal