Vipers Acquire Former Warriors Big Man

MCALLEN, TEXAS – The defending NBA DevelopmentLeague champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced Thursday that they have acquiredpower forward Jeff Adrien (6-7, 245,UConn) from the Erie Bayhawks for guard GarrettTemple (6-6, 190, LSU).

Adrien is averaging 11.2 points, 8.0 reboundsand 1.0 blocks in five games (one start) in the NBA Development League thisseason. Adrien started the season with the Golden State Warriors, for whom heaveraged 2.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 10.8 minutes in 15 games off the bench.His best games came at Memphis when he scored a career-high 12 points witheight rebounds and two assists in a career-high 31 minutes (11/26/10) and atthe Los Angeles Lakers when he scored nine points with a career-high 10rebounds (six offensive) with one assist and one block in 26 minutes(11/21/10).

“He fits an obvious need for rebounding and strengthin the middle of our lineup. We’re gutted to have to give up Garrett Temple,but we needed to make a significant improvement in our front line and we feelthat, with this move, we have a chance of doing that. We wish Garrett the bestof luck. He’s been a big part of what we’ve done here. We appreciate hisprofessionalism, his work ethic and his attitude. We know he’s going to an organizationboth in Erie and Cleveland who really value him and look forward to workingwith him and helping him reach the NBA,” Vipers head coach Chris Finch said.

Adrien ranks 12th on UConn’s all-timescoring list with 1,603 points and 3rd in rebounds with 1,126. He wasthe only player in UConn history to record at least 1,600 points and 1,100rebounds. He finished with 47 double-doubles in 101 games. He is one of onlyfour UConn players to ever earn All-Big East honors three times, joining Emeka Okafor, Chris Smith and CornyThompson.

Adrien was undrafted after finishing hiscollegiate career in 2009, but played in the Orlando Pro Summer League for ateam run jointly by the New Jersey Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers. He thenjoined the Memphis Grizzlies in the Las Vegas Summer League before signing withLeite Río Breogán in Lugo, Spain. He played for the Orlando Magic during the2010 Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging 8.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in fourgames (three starts). He also played for the Grizzlies during the Las VegasSummer League, averaging 6.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in four games off thebench.

Temple is averaging 12.4 points, 3.4 reboundsand 3.2 assists in nine games (three starts). He scored a career-high 27 pointsagainst the Texas Legends on Monday.