From Deseret News archives:
News Flash! Jazz send Fesenko, Almond down
It's the second D-League assignment for 2007 second-round draft choice Fesenko, a 7-foot-1 Ukrainian center who made his NBA debut last Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
And it will be the first trip to Orem for 2007 first-rounder Almond, a shooting guard from Rice University who has played 12 scoreless minutes over three games this season.
The moves come in time for the two to join the Flash for home games tonight and Saturday against the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers' D-League affiliate whose roster includes ex-Jazz big man Robert Whaley, point Brian Chase (who started last season with the Jazz but didn't appear in a game for them) and cancer-surviving guard Coby Karl (the ex-Boise State star and current Laker property whose father is Denver Nuggets coach George Karl).
Between now and Dec. 22, in fact, the Flash play six straight home games. The Jazz, meanwhile, play eight of their next 10 on the road — including four back-to-back sets.
"We felt that with our schedule, and everyone being healthy, that playing (NBA games) is going to be difficult (for Almond and Fesenko)," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said Thursday. "(The Flash's) schedule was favorable, so we looked at it as an opportunity."
Fesenko was recalled for the Lakers game because power forward Carlos Boozer and center Mehmet Okur were injured, but both starters have since returned.
Fesenko and Almond become the 13th and 14th players currently assigned by NBA teams to the D-League.
Also in Orem are Boston Celtics Gabe Pruitt and Brandon Wallace, making the Flash just the second team in D-League history — along with the former Florida Flame in 2005-06 — with four NBA-assigned players on its roster at the same time.
The moves leave the Jazz with just 12 players, meaning they must go one short in the unlikely event someone gets injured in pre-game warmups tonight.
NBA teams can to assign first- and second-year players to the D-League up to three times per season, meaning that if Fesenko is recalled again the Jazz will have just one additional opportunity to send him back down.
During his first Flash stint, Fesenko averaged 13.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in four starts.
DUNCAN DOUBTFUL: The Spurs' pre-game notes Thursday listed All-Star Tim Duncan as doubtful, but it remains to be seen if he can play against the Jazz tonight. Duncan is out with a sore knee and sprained right ankle.
CURFEW COMING? The Jazz's recent road woes have Jazz coach Jerry Sloan thinking about reinstituting the curfew he established last season.
