Rookies Armon Johnson and Luke Babbitt talk D-League

For Trail Blazers rookies Armon Johnson and Luke Babbitt, playing time -- anywhere -- is crucial to their development. Practicing with the team and watching games from the end of the bench isn't always the best use of their time.

So they've both spent time with the Blazers' NBA Development League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, in Boise.

D-League rosters are a mix of young, undrafted players, NBA veterans looking for another chance and players such as Johnson and Babbitt, who are looking for minutes or working on specific skills as dictated by their NBA coaches.

Babbitt played in four games for the Stampede in December, and Johnson, who was sent to Boise in late January, returned to the Blazers from Boise last week.

"The D-League wasn't a bad experience to me," Johnson said last week, as he rejoined the Blazers at their practice facility in Tualatin. "I really had fun. I got the chance to play in games and show what I can do."