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Former UNLV basketball player Romel Beck was acquired Monday by the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League.
Beck is expected to play his first game for Dakota on Thursday in Erie.
After averaging 10.4 points in five games for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ squad in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, he hooked on with Croatian team KK Zadar in the Adriatic League.
However, during a preseason tour of France, a dispute with Zadar coach Aleksandar Petrovic led to Beck’s release. He played for Los Tecos of Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara of the Mexican Basketball Federation for two months.
During the 2007-08 season in the Italian Serie A, the 6-foot-8, 195-pound forward averaged 12.3 in 19 games for Cimberio Varese and 17.5 rebounds in 15 games for Pierrel Capo d’Orlando.
“Beck is a great scorer,” said Wizards general manager Tom Wagganer. “He is a promising player with great offensive skills, who runs the court well and can easily hit a 3-pointer. We are looking forward to seeing what he can do within our lineup.”
Beck averaged 13.2 points as a senior at UNLV and 14.2 as a junior. He has twice represented the Mexican national team.
Why play in the pathetically low paid D-League when he can make substantially more overseas?
he has a better chance to make the nba if he plays in the D-league i guess...
That's the deal young, as you point out. He's a step away from the league. Plus, his squad in Mexico bowed out of the playoffs, which is why Villepigue was at the Mack on Sat night. Looks like Dustin will report to a team in the Czech Republic very soon, so Beck going to Dakota at least keeps him playing ball.
Lenny, it is a tough choice for a player to make. Essentially the D-League is the only way you're going to make an NBA roster, as it now acts as the NBAs triple-a. All of the teams are affiliated with NBA parents, and a few NBA teams even own their own D-League teams (i.e. LA). It's all about living the NBA dream because trust me, if you saw the salaries the D-League players make you'd laugh...the greeters at WalMart make more. Mateen Cleaves is borderline NBA talent, he gave up his six-figure contract in Europe to play for peanuts in Bakersfield.
I don't see anything wrong with a guy giving up more money for the chance to live out their NBA dream.
Also, there are some foreign leagues that play during the NBDL's offseason, and many players play in both. They don't pay as much as the big-time European leagues, but it's at least a little extra money.