Uzoh joins the Armor for a second time by way of a trade with Rio Grande Valley.
Ben Uzoh, right, shown here playing for the Denver Nuggets in an NBA preseason game, was acquired by the Armor in a trade with Rio Grande Valley.
SPRINGFIELD – In a deal that had been expected to be finalized Friday after the NBA Development League draft, the Springfield Armor acquired guard Ben Uzoh from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers Monday for first-round pick Tim Ohlbrecht.
Uzoh, who averaged 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 20 games for the Vipers last season, played in 18 NBA games in 2011-12 with Cleveland and Toronto. He was in Denver’s preseason camp this year.
“It’s something we felt good about going into the draft, something that we were working on, and it got finalized today and we’re very happy that it’s official and he’s with us,” Armor coach Bob MacKinnon said.
Uzoh’s first NBA team was New Jersey, where he signed on as an undrafted free agent and saw action in 42 games in 2010-11. That year, he was assigned to the Armor for four games, averaging 16 points, 8 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
The Brooklyn Nets, Springfield’s NBA affiliate, and general manager for minor league operations Milton Lee knew of Uzoh from then, while MacKinnon has an even deeper knowledge of Uzoh beyond his time in the D-League last season.
“His college coaches – head coach Doug Wojcik and associate head coach at Tulsa David Cason – I worked with them at both North Carolina and Notre Dame,” MacKinnon said. “I had known about Ben through college and obviously playing last year in the D-League, and coincidentally, the game that he had his triple-double in when Toronto played the Nets, I was at because our season was over and I was with the Nets at that point.”
Ohlbrecht, a 6-foot-11 forward/center from Germany, was the 14th selection in Friday’s D-League draft. A good shot blocker and decent defender, Ohlbrecht’s offense is a work in progress.
The Armor will have big men Chas McFarlane (7-0), Jamar Brown (6-10), Chaz Crawford (6-10) and Shawn Taggart (6-10) in camp.
“When we had a chance to get (Uzoh), I was elated and Milt was elated,” MacKinnon said. “To get him with the 14th pick, I don’t figure there’s a better guard in the draft and it’s just great work by Milt.”
The 6-3 Uzoh is one of several players who were in NBA preseason camps who will be in Springfield’s preseason camp, including Willie Reed, Carleton Scott and James Mays.
“This is as athletic a team as I’ve had in the D-League. My first year in Colorado, we averaged 119 points a game, and I think this team is more athletic,” MacKinnon said.