Albuquerque, N.M., March 11, 2008 – The Albuquerque Thunderbirds acquired guard Will Conroy in a trade with the Iowa Energy. The trade sees forward Josh Gross go to Iowa.

“Conroy will be one of the top three point-guards in our league,” Thunderbirds Head Coach Jeff Ruland said. “He will be a direct extension of me on the court and make our team better.”

Conroy spent the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons with the D-League’s Tulsa 66ers. Last season, Conroy averaged 10.6 assists and 15.0 points in 42 games with Tulsa. Conroy also earned three GATORADE Call-Ups during the 2006-07 season; twice by the Los Angeles Clippers and once by the Memphis Grizzlies. Conroy participated in the NBA Summer league with the Clippers in 2007.

Conroy’s rights were picked up by the Iowa Energy in the 2007– 2008 NBA Development League Expansion Draft.

Gross, who led Albuquerque in scoring this season, averaging 16.5 points in 33 games, heads to Iowa to round out their back court. Iowa will be the fourth team Gross has spent time with in the D-League, including stints with the Florida Flame during the 2005–06 season and the Los Angeles D-Fenders in 2006–07. Gross was selected by Albuquerque in the seventh round of the 2007–08 draft with the 87th overall pick.

Conroy is expected to be in uniform Tuesday night, wearing jersey number 10, when Albuquerque takes on the Austin Toros; 7:00pm at Tingley Coliseum.

Thunderbirds 2007–08 single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com, any Ticketmaster location or at the Thunderbirds front office at 111 Lomas Blvd. NE, Suite 240, Albuquerque, NM 87102. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK.

The Thunderbirds stay focused on the community by participating in community events such as the Read to Achieve Program as well as D-League Cares. In the past two seasons the Thunderbirds have worked over 3,000 hours in the community, staying dedicated to Albuquerque and New Mexico.

The NBA Development League is the NBA's official minor league, and the first-ever basketball league with direct affiliations to NBA teams. Now in its seventh season the D-League’s goals are to provide affordable, NBA-caliber entertainment to fans of its 14 teams, as well as continue to develop players, coaches, referees and front-office personnel for the NBA. As the single source for in-season player "call-ups" to the NBA, fans of the D-League enjoy the highest caliber of basketball played outside the NBA. In fact, former D-League players represented 10 percent of NBA players on 2007-08 opening day rosters, numbering 44 in total. In addition, the D-League has produced 25 percent of current NBA referees and 16 current NBA coaches, including head coach Sam Vincent with the Charlotte Bobcats. The D-League is an innovative and rapidly growing sports property that also serves as an experimental testing ground for new initiatives like the live web-streaming of all games available free to fans at d-league.com. The League also provides continuing education and professional development resources for its players, and is committed to serving its local communities through D-LEAGUE CARES and grassroots efforts.

Individually, the Thunderbirds have had two player call-ups, two front office call-ups, two training staff call-ups and three call-ups from the Storm Chasers Dance and Cheer squad.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the D-League offers NBA-quality basketball and fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com