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Plenty of familiar names play in NBA D-League

Here's a look at some of the opposing teams in the NBA D-League that will visit Sears Centre Arena this season. Keep in mind, rosters change frequently in the D-League, with players being called up and sent down from the NBA, along with the usual trades and attrition.

Long Island Nets (Nov. 11, Feb. 11): Like the Bulls, the Nets are a D-League expansion team. Their roster includes two players with a combined 183 games of NBA experience in SG Gary Forbes and SF Lazar Hayward, a former teammate of Jimmy Butler at Marquette. The Nets' coach is 26-year-old Ronald Nored, a guard on Butler University's two NCAA runner-up teams.

Oklahoma City Blue (Nov. 25): This team has Chicago connections young and old. Former Bulls guard and Chicago native Jannero Pargo is still playing at age 37, while rookie Myke Henry played at DePaul, Illinois and Orr High School. Another Blue player is Xavier Henry (no relation) the No. 12 pick of the 2010 NBA draft.

Eric Bayhawks (Jan. 28, Mar. 28): Cliff Alexander, the highly rated, former Curie High School star, is on the opening-day roster for this Orlando Magic affiliate. Alexander spent one year at Kansas, wasn't drafted and appeared in eight games for Portland last season. The Bayhawks also have a pair of Big Ten products, Michigan State's Branden Dawson and Purdue's Lewis Jackson.

Sioux Falls Skyforce (Mar. 4): The Skyforce won the D-League championship last season after winning a league-record 40 games during the regular season. Success has its down side in the D-League, though. MVP Jarnell Stokes is now playing for the Denver Nuggets, Defensive Player of the Year DeAndre Liggins is with the Orlando Magic, and Coach of the Year Dan Craig is back on the Miami Heat bench.

Grand Rapids Drive (Feb. 7, Mar. 3): The Pistons affiliate broke camp with former Bulls guard Shannon Brown and ex-NBA shooting guard Jordan Crawford. Those two players logged a combined 665 games in the NBA. Pistons first-round pick Henry Ellenson is expected to start the season in Grand Rapids.

Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Jan. 27): Some familiar college names line the roster of the Pacers' affiliate, including Kentucky's Alex Poythress, Indiana's Christian Watford, Iowa's Adam Woodbury, and former Providence forward Ben Bentil.

Austin Toros (Mar. 17): Former Illinois guard Demetri McCamey is starting his second season with the Spurs' affiliate. He averaged 9.1 points last year.

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