"The plush surroundings of all those Ritz Carltons and Four Seasons have disappeared. These days, Hasheem Thabeet rests his head in a two-star motel in chilly Bismarck, N.D. Gone, too, are the charter flights and all the legroom they afforded.

Eight months ago Thabeet was celebrating his selection as the second overall pick of the NBA draft. He now holds a new distinction: the highest pick ever to be sent to the NBA's Development League. That's not to say Thabeet has lost all his star power: In honor of his arrival, the Dakota Wizards discounted general-admission tickets for Wednesday's game to $2.

For Thabeet, the D-League is home, at least for a little bit, and he's determined to make the best of it."