Coming off a 19-point loss in their series finale against the much-improved Kyoto Hannaryz and tied for the worst record in the nine-team Western Conference, the Ryukyu Golden Kings became the first bj-league team to make a major signing since the season tipped off.
On Sunday, Ryukyu (1-3) announced the signing of veteran forward David Palmer, the league's 2006-07 MVP.
Palmer, a former NBA Development League player, suited up for the Osaka Evessa in 2005-06 and 2006-07, helping the team back-to-back titles in the league's first two seasons. He averaged 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in the first season and 17.4 points and 6.9 rebounds in his MVP season.
The 201-cm forward returned to Japan last season and was a key figure on the Evessa's championship runnerup season. He averaged 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds. Now he will reunite with Ryukyu standout and fellow MVP winner Jeff Newton, who left the Evessa after the team's third title season.