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Set to join a trio of top recent draft picks, rookie forward Perry Jones III was assigned to the Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA Developmental League affiliate in Tulsa on Monday according to a report by The Daily Thunder.
The 6'11" Jones averaged just 7.6 minutes per game over a 10-game stint to open his career, and has not been able to crack head coach Scott Brooks' crowded frontcourt rotation on a nightly basis. Aside from three games where he was given more than 10 minutes of court time, Jones has been listed as a healthy scratch already on eight occasions this season.
Along with former first round picks Daniel Orton and Jeremy Lamb on the 66ers' roster, Jones will have a prime opportunity to keep his game fresh with big minutes soon to follow him in Tulsa. Jones is still likely to be added back to Oklahoma City's active roster later in the year if he can play at a high level in the NBA D-League, but this is clearly not the way the rookie forward wanted to kick off his pro career.