2013 NBA Development League Draft Set For Nov. 1

2013 NBA Development League Draft to be Conducted Using Cisco WebEx Meeting Center for the Third Consecutive Year

NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2013 – The 2013 NBA Development League Draft will take place on Friday, Nov. 1, via Cisco WebEx Meeting Center from the league’s New York headquarters, it was announced today. Through its relationship with Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings), this marks the third consecutive year that the NBA D-League will be conducting its draft entirely through Cisco WebEx collaboration software.

The Iowa Energy will select first of the league’s 17 teams in the eight-round draft while the Rio Grande Valley Vipers will select second, a pick the team secured by way of a trade with the Reno Bighorns.  The Springfield Armor, Idaho Stampede and Texas Legends round out the top five selecting teams.

The first eight picks in the 2013 NBA D-League Draft were awarded to teams who did not qualify for the 2013 NBA D-League playoffs, in reverse order of their regular season records.  The Delaware 87ers, making their NBA D-League debut for the 2013-14 season, will select ninth.  The subsequent eight picks in the Draft will go to those teams who did qualify for the 2013 NBA D-League playoffs, also in reverse order of regular season record.  This format will stand for all eight rounds, except in instances where teams previously acquired or traded picks.

“More than 200 top young prospects will look to use the NBA D-League Draft as a springboard to their NBA dreams,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League.  “With a number of players coming directly from NBA training camps, we’ve been impressed with the level of talent in this draft pool and look forward to welcoming these athletes to the NBA D-League.”

Seven players chosen in the 2012 NBA D-League Draft had NBA experience at the time of their selection, while an additional ten such members of the last three draft classes had also logged minutes in the NBA.  More than 25 total prospects picked in the four NBA D-League Drafts went on to earn GATORADE Call-Ups, including Andrew Goudelock, Shelvin Mack, Chris Johnson, Travis Leslie, and Tim Ohlbrecht, all 2012 first-round picks.

No trades will be permitted during the draft and only players signed to an NBA Development League Standard Player Contract are eligible to be selected.  The first six rounds of the Draft are mandatory, while teams may opt not to select players in the seventh and eighth rounds.  All selected players are required to report to their NBA D-League training camp, which begin no earlier than Nov. 7.

Fans can follow the eight-round NBA D-League Draft on nba.com/dleague which will feature live, in-depth, pick-by-pick coverage.

The order for the first round of the 2013 NBA D-League Draft is as follows:

1. Iowa Energy

2. Rio Grande Valley Vipers (from Reno Bighorns)

3. Springfield Armor

4. Idaho Stampede

5. Texas Legends

6. Iowa Energy (from Los Angeles D-Fenders)

7. Sioux Falls Skyforce

8. Erie BayHawks

9. Delaware 87ers

10. Maine Red Claws

11. Tulsa 66ers

12. Austin Toros

13. Canton Charge (from Fort Wayne Mad Ants)

14. Canton Charge

15. Santa Cruz Warriors

16. Rio Grande Valley Vipers

17. Bakersfield Jam

The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 14 teams with direct affiliations to NBA franchises, the league offers professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Thirty percent of players in the NBA at the end of the 2012-13 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on nbadleague.com

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