Lakers assign Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black to D-Fenders

The Los Angeles Lakers have sent little used front-court reserves Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black back down to the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the team announced. Kelly has played just 11.6 minutes per game in 11 appearances for the Lakers during the 2015-16 season, while Black has averaged 11 minutes in 9 showings.

It's been a whole different story for the two forwards with the Lakers' D-League affiliate. Kelly and Black have dominated with the D-Fenders. with Kelly averaging 27.4 points, 3.6 assists, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.6 steals in 35.2 minutes per game; while Black is scoring 18.6 points to go with 13.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks on 56% shooting in 33.9 minutes per game.

The team announced that the two will play with the D-Fenders in the D-League showcase in Santa Cruz this weekend, which will allow them to get plenty of minutes in front of scouts and executives from around the NBA. The assignment of the two heavy minutes front-court players will also mean less minutes for the D-Fenders' promising but raw center, Robert Upshaw, in the showcase setting.