Vipers Acquire Mustafa Shakur Story: November 2, 2010 MCALLEN, TEXAS - The NBA Development League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced Tuesday that they have acquired point guard Mustafa Shakur (6-4, 195, Arizona) from the Tulsa 66ers for guard/forward Robert Vaden (6-5, 215, UAB), who the Vipers drafted seventh overall in the first round of the NBA Development League Draft on Monday. A 2010 Western Conference All-Star and All-NBA Development League Second Team selection, Shakur averaged 19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.2 steals in 47 games (all starts) for the 66ers last season. He shot 48.9% from the field and 38.2% from behind the arc. Shakur earned a GATORADE Call-Up to the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 16, signing a 10-day contract. Shakur was re-acquired by the 66ers at the end of the contract, but earned a second GATORADE Call-Up the Thunder on March 31 and was immediately assigned to the 66ers. Shakur played for the 66ers in the first round of playoffs, after which he was recalled. Shakur was the re-assigned for the game one of the semifinals before getting recalled for good. In four playoff games, Shakur averaged 16 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. The 26-year old has had three stints with NBA teams during the pre-season, playing for the Sacramento Kings in 2007, the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2009 and the New Orleans Hornets this year. Shakur played for the Thunder during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Orlando, averaging 10.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in five games (two starts). “Mustafa Shakur has been a long time Houston Rockets personnel target as a true point guard with the ability to run a team, defend and score. His acquisition by the Vipers provides the team with one of the top point guards in the NBA Development League and makes him a key part of our team for this upcoming season. The move is very similar to last season's pick up of Will Conroy, where we added a high level talent, which will benefit both the Vipers in their title defense and the Rockets by providing the opportunity to fully evaluate a valued prospect at the point guard position. We think Shakur will flourish under the tutelage of [Vipers head coach] Chris Finch and his staff. We hope to play a key role in Shakur’s development into a full-time NBA player,” Vipers General Manager Gersson Rosas, who is also the Rockets Vice President of Player Personnel, said. (Posted for my own Vipers Interest) Lock if Already Posted
Mustafa Shakur makes Ish Smith expendable. It doesn't look like the Rockets will send Ish to the Vipers, even with Lowry healthy.
This could mean that Ish is not going down to that club all year...... Or a trade is in the works for one of our PGs. DD
ya another D-league we can call up for cheap........ Every guy the Rockets get, is a target.....over used statement.
Or simply the guys we get are targeted by us. Not so surprising. Imagine the following: "Although we didn't want xyz on our roster, we traded for him. THEY MADE US DO IT." Well I don't remember, but did Morey say Hilton Armstrong was a target? Guess not.
I had been wondering what happened to Mustafa Shakur. I remember all the hype surrounding him when he started at Arizona. He was going to be the next great PG there. Instead, he had a very underwhelming college career.
I can't see this affecting Ish's status. If the Rockets want to send Smith to the Vipers to work on his game, that probably takes priority over whoever the Vipers have on the roster.
yeah, he showed flashed here and there but just never took it to the next level on a consistent basis for whatever reason.
December 15th is right around the corner, makes Kyle eligible to be traded. And Brooks could be traded today. This guy is interesting though he is a big guard...6'4"....but can he play? DD
Mustafa Shakur is being brought in to attract the Muslim money. Nazr Mohammed will be the next target unless they can convince Rasheed Abdul Wallace to come out of retirement.
