Earl Clark sent to D-League

impulsenine · Post #1 » by **impulsenine** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:46 pm

Via RGM:

The Suns have sent rookie forward Earl Clark to their D-League affiliate in Iowa.

Clark has played the least of any active 2009 first-round pick except B.J. Mullens.

"He just needs some minutes," said Suns general manager Steve Kerr. "The best way to develop is to play. He's done a great job in practice, but we haven't had a lot of practice time."

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... z0iGTJISQf

Post #2 » by **Qwigglez** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:53 pm

I'm assuming because LB is back. I don't understand why it's not Taylor Griffin being sent though.

Post #3 » by **lilfishi22** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:20 pm

I don't think we expect anything more than a practice player from T.Griff, so there's no need.

realsunsfan · Post #4 » by **realsunsfan** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:32 pm

I think you can only send a player so many times for so long before you have to release him ??

MaryvalesFinest · Post #5 » by **MaryvalesFinest** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:45 pm

I'm guessing he puts up a stat line of 20-7-4...Could be more though.

hunterxaz · Post #6 » by **hunterxaz** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:03 pm

That'd be stellar. I'm sooooo glad he's down there for our stretch run to the playoffs. Personally I can't fathom him scoring more than 10 points. Altogether.

ls2ws6 · Post #7 » by **ls2ws6** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:12 pm

hunterxaz wrote:That'd be stellar. I'm sooooo glad he's down there for our stretch run to the playoffs. Personally I can't fathom him scoring more than 10 points. Altogether.

I was waiting to see what you had to say about this hunter. lol

I'm glad hes down there too, I just hope he comes back and scores more than 10

toucansma · Post #8 » by **toucansma** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:24 pm

Nothing wrong with sending him. Get him some reps and more confidence. It takes awhile. Again remember Dragic and Lopez, they are just finally showing signs this season (or back to even Barbosa).

hunterxaz · Post #9 » by **hunterxaz** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:34 pm

I think we're all hoping for the best when he comes back. Nobody wants him to perform poorly. Let's hope he balls down there and gets some confidence and training. Earl Clark ftw.

Post #10 » by **Miklo** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:42 pm

Qwigglez wrote:I'm assuming because LB is back. I don't understand why it's not Taylor Griffin being sent though.

Yeah we don't care about TGriff's development, he's not a future NBA player just a practice player.

eastsidecrossover · Post #11 » by **eastsidecrossover** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:35 pm

I would like to see him go down more so he can get PT. I dont expect monster numbers from him, but similar to what he put up to college, but more pts.

I dont think we will see his true development with hill still on this team and also, depending on what happens with amare, there is still no mins for him as of now or maybe next year.

Nando88 · Post #12 » by **Nando88** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:21 pm

i bet hunter creamed his pants after hearing this

hunterxaz · Post #13 » by **hunterxaz** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:10 pm

It was a great reaffirmation to everything I've been saying all along -- the guy isn't NBA ready, and we don't have the time to develop him while we're making a playoff run. I wish EC all the best in the D-League!

Post #14 » by **Qwigglez** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:36 am

Our SF/PF/C position is pretty much on lockdown right now with the group of guys we have. I'm not complaining at all that he is being sent down there. I'll be patient and wait another year before we see what Clark can do.

MrVince · Post #15 » by **MrVince** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 5:32 am

Clark better come back next season as a stud just like Dragic and Lopez did, hopefully better

Flying Colors · Post #16 » by **Flying Colors** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:05 pm

when is clark's first game? and is there anyway to see it?

Post #17 » by **Miklo** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:25 pm

BizzyPHX wrote:when is clark's first game? and is there anyway to see it?

I checked and his first game is tomorrow at 7PM ET.

I found this

http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/dleague_webcasts.html

Where I guess you can watch DLeague games online for free! Didn't know that...I might check it out. Meaningless sure, but hey I wanted to watch EC in his rookie season and that sure didn't happen in PHX!

EDIT: the team is the Iowa Energy, btw

hunterxaz · Post #18 » by **hunterxaz** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:12 pm

* Rookie Earl Clark will make his Iowa Energy debut on Wednesday night against Dakota. There was a time the Suns thought about having Clark look for a Des Moines apartment.

"We had thought about sending him down for the whole year but we wanted to keep him up for the practice situations and things like that," Gentry said. "With those three games (this week with Iowa), and being able to play extended minutes, maybe it'll help him."

Told you guys... Even Gentry knows it's a waste to play EC. Here's hoping that EC will finish the season in Iowa. Get some experience/PT bud!!

Orange_Blooded · Post #19 » by **Orange_Blooded** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:02 am

I think this is a great move!

If we want Earl to contribute down the stretch it will give him confidence when he domintaes down there.

If we want him ready for next year this will give him some much needed playing time and allow us to evaluate him against higher quality talent than he played in college for the most part.