Here’s another one.

Solomon Alabi played 22 games for the Erie BayHawks last season when they were affiliated with the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 7-footer averaged just 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for Erie as a rookie last season. Someone that tall should dominate the D-League. So if anyone needs development, it’s him.

Now he’s back in the D-League as the Raptors sent him down to the Bakersfield Jam today. Erie is now an hybrid partner with the New York Knicks.

At least the weather will be better for him in Bakersfield. It’s 25 degrees in Erie, 57 in Bakersfield.

When Alabi played with fire and emotion as you will see below when he dunks on Miami Heat young big man Dexter Pittman, who was with Sioux Falls at the time, he was effective, but he has a laid back personality.

Plus he couldn’t stay out of foul trouble. He averaged 3.27 fouls a game.

“Tried to help in his development as much as we could, but I also see the Raptors’ perspective of it and maybe it not be worth it for him to be down here and only playing 15 minutes a game.” – Erie coach Jay Larranaga on Solomon Alabi, who the Toronto Raptors recalled Monday.

Toronto Raptors rookie center Solomon Alabi never seemed to find his groove with the Erie BayHawks this season.

Third time was not a charm for Solomon Alabi.

In his third and final stint with the the Erie BayHawks, the 7-foot-1 center of the Toronto Raptors only played an average of 15.1 minutes in 11 games. NBA teams can send down their first and second-year players to NBA affiliates up to three times in a single season.

Now Alabi shot 11-of-16 from the field in his final run with Erie, but averaged just 5.5 points those 11 games.

So Erie coach Jay Larranaga wasn’t surprised the Raptors called Alabi, 23, back up Monday. In 22 games, Alabi averaged 7.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.82 blocks.

“Difficult situation for everybody,” Larranaga said after Tuesday’s practice. “First of all, Solomon is a great kid. He’s a hard worker. A very good basketball player, but he’s young. The reason he was down here was to get playing experience. Our situation was difficult because we added more veteran guys. We added Erik Daniels. With how well Kyle (Goldcamp) and Ivan (Johnson) and Tas(min Mitchell) had been playing, it was a lot of good players for not enough minutes.

“So I totally understand the Raptors’ point of view. Did my best to get Solomon as much playing time as I felt I could while still being fair to the other players and still put in the best position for the playoffs. Felt very fortunate to have much as much as we did this year. Tried to help in his development as much as we could, but I also see the Raptors’ perspective of it and maybe it not be worth it for him to be down here and only playing 15 minutes a game.”

Alabi struggling to find playing time in D-League for the Erie BayHawks.

The Toronto Raptors sent Solomon Alabi down for a third time to play because he wasn’t doing that with them, but he isn’t seeing much action in Erie, either.

Since returning to the BayHawks, the 7-foot, 1-inch rookie center out of Florida State has played fewer than 14 minutes in five of Erie’s last nine games. The BayHawks are 4-5 in those games and that includes the win they got today against Iowa, 138-118, in Tullio Arena.

Alabi had a point, two rebounds, two personal and attempted just one shot from the field in 5 minutes, three seconds of play today.

Erie is 11-9 with Alabi, 19-9 without him. He’s averaging seven points and five rebounds.

Alabi has started 15 games for Erie, but has been coming off the bench recently. Having 6-8 Erik Daniels gives the BayHawks more flexibility up front because he can score from all over and pass so Alabi is kind of the odd man out in terms of starting.

As for when he does get in the game, it’s tough for Alabi to blend in. Erie doesn’t really guards who get into the thick the defense and dish to big men.

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Thursday, 7 p.m., at Tullio Arena
ON THE AIR: WFNN-AM/1330; www.nba.com/dleague
PLAYERS TO WATCH
▀   Erie — PF Ivan Johnson (A 2011 D-League All-Star, Johnson is second in the D-League in scoring at 21.2 ppg. Picked up an D-League high 19th technical foul in Erie’s 101-92 win Tuesday against Springfield.) … C Solomon Alabi (The Toronto Raptors rookie is making his third stop to Erie. In 11 with Erie, Alabi has averaged 8.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.) … PG Blake Ahearn (Expects to return tonight after missing three games with a hip injury.)

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Still raw, 7-footer Solomon Alabi still needs work.

He’ll be back, I think.

The Toronto Raptors recalled 7-foot-1 rookie center Solomon Alabi today after his second stint with the Erie BayHawks.

I’d bet he’ll return to the team for a third and final run later this season. NBA team can send their first and second-year players up to three times a season.

In the four games he played on his second stint, Alabi averaged 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. His second run was successful at times, strange in others.

The good: Alabi had a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds against Maine on Jan. 9. Really showed moves around the basket and was aggressive.

The bad: In his three other games in his second stint with Erie against Sioux Falls, Idaho and Rio Grande Valley, Alabi totaled 18 points and 15 rebounds.

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Now with Idaho, Cedric Jackson will play against his former team Tuesday night in the NBA D-League Showcase.

Idaho Stampede (5-13) vs Erie BayHawks (13-6)
NBA D-League Showcase (South Padre Island (TX) Convention Center

Today, 8:15 p.m.
▀  On the air: WFNN-AM 1330; www.nba.com/dleague/

Players to watch
▀  Erie — PF Ivan Johnson (Leads team in scoring at 17.6 points a game. Johnson has scored 25 points in each of Erie’s last two games. … C Solomon Alabi (A rookie with the Toronto Raptors, Alabi had a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds in Erie’s 116-97 win against the Maine Red Claws on Sunday afternoon at Tullio Arena. … PG Blake Ahearn (In his four games with Erie since being reacquired by the BayHawks after being released from a team in Italy, Ahearn is averaging 8.8 points and 7.8 assists. He had 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting and 12 assists in Sunday’s win against Maine.

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The BayHawks will look to win their fourth straight game today against Maine at Tullio Arena.

Maine Red Claws (9-10) at Erie BayHawks (12-6)

Sunday, 2 p.m., Tullio Arena.
▀  On the air: WFNN-AM 1330; www.nba.com/dleague/

Players to watch
▀  Erie — PF Ivan Johnson (Leads team in scoring at 17.6 points a game. Johnson had a game-high 25 points in a 97-91 win against Sioux Falls on Friday night. … C Solomon Alabi (A rookie with the Toronto Raptors, Alabi had eight points, six rebounds, four fouls and three blocks in 14 minutes, 51 seconds. It’s the least amount of playing time he’s had in his eight games with Erie. … SG Kyle Spain (Heading into Saturday’s games, he was eighth in the D-League in 3-point shooting at 48.7 percent – 19-of-39. The seven players ahead of him had attempted a combined total of 35 three-pointers before Saturday’ s games.

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In beginning his second stint in the D-League, Miami Heat rookie center Dexter Pittman scored 15 points in the Sioux Falls Skyforce's 97-91 loss at Erie against the BayHawks on Friday night.

“YOU PLAY FOR THE HEAT?”

“YOU PLAY FOR THE HEAT?”

Yes, Ivan, Dexter Pittman is a rookie center with the Miami Heat.

While Pittman was on the bench for the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Friday night at Tullio Arena, Erie BayHawks power forward Ivan Johnson was barking at him while waiting for one of his teammates to attempt a free throw.

Pittman said stuff like that happened to him during his first run with the Skyforce this season.

“I expect it,” he said. “When you come down to this level, you’ve got a big target on your back. It’s nothing.”

Pittman is where Johnson wants to be – the NBA.  So Johnson was taking this game even more personal since he was matched up against the 6-foot, 11-inch, 300-plus pound rookie out of Texas.

“That just shows me that I can play in the league (NBA),” Johnson said. “Playing against dudes like him. I’m not saying he’s a trash player, but I can hang with some of the best of them.”

They went at each other in Erie’s 97-91 win. Johnson had a game-high 25 points and five rebounds while Pittman had 15 points and just three boards.

It was fun to watch.

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