Corey Stokes opened his season playing in the German Bundesliga for BBC Bayreuth, but now he is back in the United States. After appearing in 18 games for the German hoops club, Stokes was injured, and in Europe, injuries often mean terminated contracts. Stokes returned home in January and put his name into the Available Player Pool for the NBA's Developmental League. He was picked up from that pool this week, by the Portland, Maine-based Red Claws.
In Germany, Stokes averaged 6.1 points and 1.9 rebounds during his 18 games there.
The Red Claws are affiliated with the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats and Philadelphia 76ers. That doesn't mean that Stokes is now a part of any of those big-league programs, however. Those teams are able to assign players under contract to play for the Red Claws for a stretch of the season, but other players are under contract to the D-League itself, as will be the case with Stokes.
All D-League players can be called up to play for NBA teams, however, and Stokes could be available to any club at the major level.
The Red Claws are currently on a road trip, playing the Austin Toros this weekend. The trip will also include a swing through Tulsa to face the 66ers. Former Villanova forward, Curtis Sumpter spent 27 games with the 66ers this season, including 15 starts, averaging 5.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists. Sumpter hasn't been a part of the 66ers roster since a February 10th start against the Bakersfield Jam.