44But just as the Flash were building their draft and season strategy around Kruger, who was to be one of three returning Flash players from last season, the reliable point guard was beckoned by the European leagues.

Begin re-strategizing now.

The Flash, who finished 24-26 last season, led the D-League in turnovers last season at 18.8 giveaways per game. But Jones had hoped that an experienced Kruger would help solve that problem.

"That's (turnovers) something that our coaching staff has talked a lot about in preparing for the draft," Jones said. "We thought it would be better with Kruger coming back for his second year, but then we lose him and all of a sudden we start scrambling a little bit."

Needing to address the point guard problem this season, the Flash drafted Denham Brown in the first round of the draft, and then promptly traded Brown to the Dakota Wizards for point guard Dontell Jefferson.

Jefferson averaged 21.5 points in two matchups against the Flash last season -- including a 25-point night in the Flash's inaugural home game.

After averaging 17 points, five assists and five rebounds in 33 games last season with Dakota, Jefferson could be the high-energy player that Jones and his staff hope will help bring consistency to a Flash team that lacked it at times last season.

"I hope that we can be a more consistent, high-energy team," Jones said. "I thought that last year we were a bit inconsistent with the ups and downs."

Despite losing Kruger, the Flash were able to secure two returning players from last season in Brian Jackson and Andre Ingram.

Jackson averaged 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season with the Flash, while Ingram appeared in all 50 games for the Flash last season, recording 6.1 points per game -- also finishing second in the league in 3-point shooting percentage, knocking down 44.8 percent of his shots from behind the arc.

"We're extremely athletic this year. We have a great defense and are probably, overall, more talented than last year," Jackson said. "We have a lot of potential and can be very good this season."

Also joining the Flash this season is Boston Celtics assignee J.R. Giddens, who was the 30th overall pick by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Giddens is a familiar face to those who follow the Mountain West Conference, as he averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season at New Mexico, good enough to earn him MWC Co-Player of the Year honors along with BYU's Lee Cummard.

"I was just happy to come down and get a chance to play and knock some of this rust off me," Giddens said. "You can work out and lift and condition all you want, but there is no way to get into game shape other than playing in games. Coming down here gives me a great opportunity to work on my deficiencies and get in game shape."

Along with Giddens, the Flash will enjoy the services of Giddens' Celtics teammate, Bill Walker, who was just assigned to the Flash last week.

Both Giddens and Walker recorded 16 points in Utah's preseason 91-65 victory over the Idaho Stampede in Burley, Idaho, last week.

The Flash's returning D-League experience doesn't only belong to just the players -- all of Jones' coaching staff returns for a second season with Utah.

"With our staff coming back again, we have a better comfort level and we'll be able to be better teachers," Jones said. "Everything was brand new last year. I was teaching my staff, and we were trying to get a feel for each other."

While it is still uncertain as to whether or not the Flash's other NBA affiliate, the Utah Jazz, will send second year players Kyrylo Fesenko and Morris Almond or rookie Kosta Koufos to the Flash for further development, it is apparent that the Flash have given themselves a chance to be competitive with an athletic draft.

"We're quick and athletic," Jones said. "We've addressed some issues from last season and hope to be more competitive and energetic this season."