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Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today that Martynas Andriuskevicius has been assigned to the Arkansas RimRockers of the NBA Development League. Arkansas has been assigned as the Cavaliers’ D-League affiliate for the 2005-06 season.

“We think Marty has made good progress thus far with strength and conditioning, practice and adjusting to life here in the States,” said Ferry. “Now we feel like it is the right time for his development process to take the next step with some real game experience. Marty has worked hard thus far and impressed us with his commitment to learning and growing. Hopefully, this will be another positive step for him.”

Andriuskevicius, a 7-2, 240-pound center, was selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. The Magic traded him to Cleveland for a second-round draft pick and cash on June 29, 2005. He has appeared in one game for the Cavaliers this season and did not score or get a rebound.

He is the 18th NBA player to be assigned to a D-League affiliate this season, the third to the RimRockers. He will join Atlanta’s Donta Smith as NBA players currently designated to the Arkansas roster. Toronto forward Pape Sow was recalled by the Raptors earlier this week.

Andriuskevicius, 19, hails from Kaunas, Lithuania, the same hometown as current Cavaliers’ center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. He has played professionally for the last three years, the last two seasons with Zalgiris of the LKL League, Lithuania’s senior division. He also competed in Euroleague play with Zalgiris last season. Andriuskevicius was an early entry candidate for the 2004 NBA Draft, but withdrew his name from consideration.