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Joe Crawford Invited to Sacramento Kings Training Camp

Sep 8, 2010 – 5:45 PM
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Scott Schroeder

Scott Schroeder %BloggerTitle%

Jordan CrawfordThe Sacramento Kings have invited 6-foot-5 shooting guard Joe Crawford to training camp, according to sources close to the situation.

After completing four years at the University of Kentucky in 2008, Crawford has played primarily in the NBA D-League with the Los Angeles D-Fenders, where he earned a call-up to the New York Knicks during the end of his rookie season in 2008-09.

After averaging 19.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 75 games during his two seasons with the D-Fenders, Crawford left the D-League in March to play for the Jiangsu Dragons in China, where he averaged over 20 points and five rebounds per game.

This performance no doubt is the reason that the Orlando Magic signed Crawford, the older brother of recent Atlanta Hawks draft pick Jordan Crawford, to play for the team in the Orlando Pro Summer League in July. With the Magic, Crawford played four games and averaged 17.8 points while shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. Crawford's best game in Orlando came against Terrence Williams and the New Jersey Nets when he scored 29 points on 10 of 13 shooting from the field while holding the former first-round pick to 22 points and 8-of-26 shooting.

Crawford has previously been invited to training camp with the Los Angeles Lakers, along with the Knicks following his call-up, but was caught up in a numbers game in both situations before being released and heading to the D-League. While he's no doubt hopeful that the third time will be the charm, the numbers don't currently seem to be in his favor.

According to reports, the Kings currently have 16 players going to training camp -- including a few players he could be in direct competition with, as Luther Head, Donald Sloan and J.R. Giddens are all invited on non-guaranteed deals as well.
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