The Austin Toros sign Cheyne Gadson

[biba]

D-League's Austin Toros, L.A. D-Fenders and Idaho Stampede Make Roster Moves
12/06/07 - NBA Development League (D-League)
http://www.oursportscentral.com/serv...es/?id=3567527

NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2007 - The Austin Toros, Idaho Stampede and Los Angeles D-Fenders each announced roster moves today. Cheyne Gadson is returning to Austin, Los Angeles is reacquiring Brian Morrison, and Mike Taylor is going to Idaho.

Gadson a 6-3 guard, played in the D-League last season with Austin and Tulsa, where he averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 48 games and was named All D-League Honorable Mention. The guard from Oklahoma State also earned a spot on the D-League Ambassadors team that traveled to China in the summer of 2007 to compete in the Stankovic Cup.

Morrison, a 6-2 guard, was selected by the D-Fenders from their local player tryout and participated in L.A.'s training camp prior to suffering an injury. Morrison played at the University of North Carolina before transferring to UCLA where he played the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. During his senior season as a Bruin, Morrison averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 22.0 minutes in 29 games.

Taylor, a 6-2 guard from Iowa State, averaged 16.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 32.9 minutes in 31 games during the 2006-07 season and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades.

To make room for Gadson, Austin waived Tim Bush, while Morrison fills the vacant spot on the D-Fenders roster due to Jelani McCoy's GATORADE Call-Up. Idaho waived Jamaal Tatum due to injury.

• Discuss this story on the NBA Development League message board...

[timvp]

Interesting move. I'm guessing this means the Toros weren't too happy about any of the dozen point guards they drafted. And looking at the box scores, I can't really blame them.

Gadsen is pretty decent. If Washington is called back up, he should be able to run the show well enough. However, I'm not sure he'd come to the Toros to play a few minutes behind Washington. I imagine the Toros will use a double point guard look for part of the game.

[Darkwaters]

I wonder what this means for "Squeaky" Johnson? Perhaps even he is not in the good graces of the Toros coaching staff?

Or maybe this means that the Spurs are higher on Washington than we might have previously thought. Forseeing Washington's recall, the Toros might be pre-emptively signing another capable replacement in light of a majority burnout by the other 5 PGs they drafted.

Or maybe the Toros simply got THAT burned last year by a lack of PG play. Despite their obvious strength at that position, the prospect of signing another capable lead guard will serve as a hedge against a Washington callup or injury.

I'm curious if any of these situations played a role...and if so, to what extent?

[wildbill2u]

Judging from his spectacular point production in his first Toro game, I could see Washington being used as a shooting guard in the D League. Might hurt his development as a PG though.

[ChumpDumper]

I wonder what this means for "Squeaky" Johnson? Perhaps even he is not in the good graces of the Toros coaching staff?

Well, they didn't waive him -- Cheyne is just that much better at this point, and he can spell either Washington or Langford.

Or maybe this means that the Spurs are higher on Washington than we might have previously thought. Forseeing Washington's recall, the Toros might be pre-emptively signing another capable replacement in light of a majority burnout by the other 5 PGs they drafted.

Or maybe the Toros simply got THAT burned last year by a lack of PG play. Despite their obvious strength at that position, the prospect of signing another capable lead guard will serve as a hedge against a Washington callup or injury.

Point guards are hard to come by in this league, so you're better off having too many, especially when one can play off the ball just as well.

Gadsen is pretty decent. If Washington is called back up, he should be able to run the show well enough. However, I'm not sure he'd come to the Toros to play a few minutes behind Washington. I imagine the Toros will use a double point guard look for part of the game.

Seeing as Pittsnogle is not setting the world on fire and Dawson has yet to play, the Toros will continue to go small and Gadson can easily take all of Squeaky and Paulino's minutes, plus a few from Langford.