BayHawks Land 2nd Overall Pick in D-League Draft

Luck was on the side of John Treloar and the he Erie BayHawks today. Despite being a playoff team last year, the BayHawks will have the second overall selection in next month's 2009 NBA D-League Draft. The lottery determining the draft order took place earlier today in Dallas, Texas, at the D-League’s annual coaches meetings.

The first pick went to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds secured the first selection, and the Los Angeles D-Fenders, Bakersfield Jam and Utah Flash round out the top five.

The NBA D-League Draft utilizes a “serpentine” format, meaning the draft order will alternate in each of the 10 rounds, which means that Erie's second round pick will be the 31st overall selection.

The order of the first round will be as follows:

1. Albuquerque Thunderbirds
2. Erie BayHawks
3. Los Angeles D-Fenders
4. Bakersfield Jam
5. Utah Flash
6. Austin Toros
7. Reno Bighorns
8. Maine Red Claws
9. Iowa Energy
10. Fort Wayne Mad Ants
11. Dakota Wizards
12. Rio Grande Valley Vipers
13. Sioux Falls Skyforce
14. Springfield Armor
15. Idaho Stampede
16. Tulsa 66ers

Erie had the seventh overall selection in the 2008 NBA D-League Draft. They used that pick on Erik Daniels, who became a 1st-team All-D-League selection. With Daniels opting to play overseas this season, the pressure is on Erie's front office to make the most of that high draft choice. Erie will hope to land another player of Daniels' caliber, someone who can catapault them back to the playoffs for a second straight season.