MIAMI (AP) -The Miami Heat will send first-round draft pick Daequan Cook to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League on Wednesday, after the guard played only two minutes in the previous five games.
Heat coach Pat Riley told Cook Tuesday about the move, which is expected to last for five games. Backup center Joel Anthony will be joining Cook on the trip to the NBDL, as will one of the Heat assistant coaches.
“It’s really about Daequan and Joel getting there and saying, ‘Yes, sir. Whatever it takes. What do you want me to do? How are we going to do it? I’m going to play hard and play as hard as I can. I’m trying to get myself ready,”’ Riley said. “So we’ll see what happens in five games and then we’ll make a determination from there.”
Cook, who spent time before Miami’s game Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings at his locker with a newly printed copy of Iowa’s roster in his hands, said he wasn’t upset about the decision.
“I’m good with it,” Cook said. “It’s just a learning process right now. I’m going down there with a positive attitude and hoping to get a lot better. It’s a great opportunity for me and Coach wants me to be prepared and ready for that opportunity when it comes.”
Cook, who averaged 7.2 points in 38 appearances with the Heat so far this year, knows a few other Energy players, including North Carolina alum Jackie Manuel and former Michigan center Courtney Sims, whom Cook faced last year in the Big 10.
“This is not all to the game of basketball,” said Cook, from Ohio State. “Coach wants me to see other sides of the game. So this will help, and next year, this situation won’t come up again because I’ll be a lot more prepared.”
Anthony has only appeared in four games this season with the Heat, logging just 31 minutes.
“Coaches have been working with him all year,” Riley said. “He’s not getting any time with us right now. Let’s just see, and he should want to see, where he stands.”
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