red claws to Pick 3^rd in 2010
NBA Development League Draft

PORTLAND, ME (September 21, 2010) – The Maine Red Claws received the 3^rd pick in the 2010 NBA Development League Draft through a lottery conducted at the annual coaches meetings this evening. The draft will be held on November 1.

The Reno Bighorns will have the first overall pick in a serpentine selection process, followed by the New Mexico Thunderbirds.

The draft is “serpentine” or “snaked” which means the order will be reversed in each of the eight rounds. For example, after picking first, Reno’s next selections will be the 32nd and 33rd overall. The Idaho Stampede will select last in the first round, but first in the second round, giving them the 16th and 17th picks overall.

Each of the NBA D-League’s 16 teams will be given one pick in each round. No trades will be permitted during the draft, and only players signed to an NBA Development League Standard Player Contract are eligible to be selected.

“This is the first step towards building the 2010-11 Red Claws,” said Red Claws President and General Manager Jon Jennings. “We are looking forward to the draft in November and beginning our second NBA D-League season.”

In addition to the 3^rd overall pick, Maine will also select 30^th, 35^th, 62^nd, 67^th, 94^th, 99^th,  and 126^th overall in the 128-player draft.

CELTICS LEGEND TOMMY HEINSOHN AT EXPO SATURDAY: Boston Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn will join the Red Claws on Saturday, September 25, during the team’s annual “Select-A-Seat Day” at the Portland Expo. The event is sponsored by Gobeil’s Furniture Galleries of Gray, and there is no charge for the event. Heinsohn will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures. The NBA great, who holds eight championship rings as a player and one as a coach with the Celtics, will appear as part of the Red Claws’ annual “Pick-A-Seat Day,” an opportunity for Red Claws’ fans to check out the Portland Expo, including the parquet floor, as well as for new and prospective season ticket holders to check out the view from their seats. The event will be held from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with Tommy Heinsohn making an appearance from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Red Claws season and group tickets for the 2010-11 season are now on sale and may be purchased online at www.maineredclaws.com, by phone at 207-210-6655 or in person at the Red Claws offices located at 413 Congress Street in Portland.