Seattle Sonics General Manager Rick Sund announced today that the team has assigned center Mouhamed Sene to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League. Sene, the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, has appeared in 16 games for the Sonics this season, averaging 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.9 minutes per game.

Sene is the first Sonics player to be assigned to the D-League since the current affiliation system began during the 2005-06 season. Under the system, NBA teams can assign up to two players who are rookies or in their second season to their D-League affiliate. Players can stay with the D-League team for as long as the team wishes, and be recalled back to the NBA at any time. However, a player can only be sent to the D-League a maximum of three times during the season.

The Stampede, the D-League affiliate for the Sonics and the Utah Jazz, are coached by Bryan Gates, who worked as an assistant under Sonics legend and current head coach of the Austin Toros Dennis Johnson last season. Idaho will play 10 more games during the month of January, beginning with a back-to-back set against the Bakersfield Jam tonight and Friday.