Joe Crawford Signs With Knicks

--LOS ANGELES’ JOE CRAWFORD SIGNS WITH NEW YORK KNICKS--

NEW YORK, March 27, 2009 – The New York Knicks today signed Los Angeles D-Fenders guard Joe Crawford, making him the 18th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season. Crawford joins fellow former NBA D-Leaguer Courtney Sims on the Knicks roster.

Crawford, 6-5, has played in 43 games for the D-Fenders this season, averaging 20.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steal. He has scored in double figures in 42 games, scoring 30 or more points on four occasions and netting a D-Fenders season-high 44 points in a 110-100 loss to the Utah Flash on Jan. 9.

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (58th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, Crawford played with the Lakers during the 2008 preseason before being waived on Oct. 22, 2008, and joining the Lakers’ NBA D-League affiliate D-Fenders.

A four-year contributor at Kentucky, Crawford averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists during his 127-game NCAA career. Crawford is expected to join the Knicks today and be available when the team hosts the New Orleans Hornets at Madison Square Garden tonight.

LAKERS WAIVE COBY KARL

I am not that surprised by this news as I was under the impression from some Laker insiders that Karl would not make the roster in favor of Joe Crawford. However, it appears as if having flexibility on the roster was of greater importance than keeping either one of these players aboard.



EL SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles Lakers have waived free agent guard Coby Karl, it was announced today.

Karl, who was signed by the Lakers as an undrafted rookie free agent on July 30, 2007, appeared in 17 games last season, averaging 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in 4.2 minutes.

Karl also played in 17 games with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League last season where he averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 37.6 minutes while posting a .411 3-point field goal percentage. In the D-Fenders’ two playoff games, Karl averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 37.0 minutes.

Karl, a 6-5 guard from Boise State, averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a senior and was named First Team All-WAC. Karl’s 1,698 career points ranks third on Boise State’s all-time scoring list while leaving Boise State as the all-time leader in games played (127) and three-pointers made (266).

Lakers Set Final Roster At 15

In the final days leading up to this final roster move by the Lakers, there was talk that second-round pick Joe Crawford might make the team instead of Coby Karl. However, it appears Crawford did not show Phil Jackson and the coaching staff enough of his skills and potential to merit keeping him on the team.

EL SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles Lakers have requested waivers on guard Joe Crawford and forward CJ Giles, it was announced today.

Selected by the Lakers with the 58th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Crawford, a 22 year-old native of Detroit, Michigan, played four seasons at the University of Kentucky, averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 127 games (76 starts). In six preseason games with the Lakers, Crawford averaged 2.8 points in 7.3 minutes.

Giles, a 6-11 forward who finished his collegiate career at Oregon State after playing two seasons at Kansas, averaged 6.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in ten games last season for the Beavers. Giles played in four preseason games with the Lakers where he averaged 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.2 minutes.

The Lakers preseason roster now stands at 15.

Lakers Sign Second Round Draft Pick Joe Crawford

EL SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Joe Crawford, it was announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Selected by the Lakers with the 58th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Crawford, a 22 year-old native of Detroit, Michigan, played four seasons at the University of Kentucky, averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 127 games (76 starts).

As a senior, Crawford ranked fourth in the SEC in scoring with a team-high 17.9 points per game, scoring 20-plus points 13 times while topping 30 points on three occasions.

Earning Second Team All-SEC honors from league coaches as a senior, Crawford finished his collegiate career as Kentucky's 19th all-time leading scorer with 1,438 points while ranking seventh all-time in three-point field goals made (186).

Additionally, the 6'5" Crawford started all six games for the Lakers Summer League entry in Las Vegas this past July, averaging 11.3 points including .455 (5-of-11) shooting from behind the arc, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 32.7 minutes.

LAKERS ANNOUNCE 2008 SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE AND ROSTER

EL SEGUNDO - The Lakers second round pick Joe Crawford will join returning Lakers player Coby Karl on the Lakers entry in this year's NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada it was announced today.

Crawford, a 22 year-old native of Detroit, Michigan, played four seasons at the University of Kentucky, averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 127 games (76 starts).

Karl, a 6-5 guard out of Boise State, appeared in 17 games last season for the Lakers, averaging 1.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in 4.2 minutes. Karl also played in 17 games for the Los Angeles D-Fenders where he averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 37.6 minutes while posting a .411 3-point field goal percentage. In the D-Fenders' two playoff games, Karl averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 37.0 minutes.

The Lakers will play their first Summer League game vs. the Detroit Pistons on Friday, July 11th at 5pm at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, NV.

Other notable players on the roster: Cedric Bozeman, Davon Jefferson, Lorenzo Mata-Real