Maine News Updates

PORTLAND — The Maine Red Claws have begun to put a face on the first-year NBA Developmental League franchise.

The Red Claws selected Paul Harris, a 6-foot-5 guard from Syracuse University, with the first pick in team history Thursday night during the D-League draft.  Jon Jennings, the general manager and president of the Red Claws, made the announcement at about 7:30 p.m.

Harris, considered one of the most athletic players in the draft, averaged 12 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists for Syracuse last year.

He was in the Utah Jazz training camp this year, but hampered by an injury. He has often been compared to the Boston Celtics' Tony Allen.

The Red Claws took Darnell Lazare, a 6-foot-8 power forward from LSU, with their second pick. Lazare played in the Ukraine last year, averaging 13.9 points and 5.8 rebounds for tahe Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk.

Then they took Frank Young, a 6-6 forward from West Virginia, in the third round.

Earlier in the day, the Red Claws introduced Billy Thomas, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Kansas who has spent time in the NBA. Thomas said he was frankly stunned by the reception – about 300 fans were at the team's draft party, waiting to see who the Red Claws would pick.

"I know from this that they are looking forward to the start of the season,'' said Thomas, who received a long ovation when he was introduced.