PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Trail Blazers have sent rookie forward Josh McRoberts back to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.

The D-League assignment marks the second of the season for McRoberts, who averaged 7.8 points, 6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 26.5 minutes in eight games with the Stampede.

The 21-year-old McRoberts averaged 2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 4.4 minutes in five games with the Trail Blazers this season.

He was the 37th overall pick for Portland in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard says that sending McRoberts back to Idaho will give him the best chance to develop as the season winds down.