Oklahoma City ? The Oklahoma City Thunder is sending rookie center Cole Aldrich back to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced the move Thursday. Aldrich has played in seven games this season for Oklahoma City, averaging 1.0 point and 1.9 rebounds in about 7.9 minutes per game.

In his first assignment with Tulsa, Aldrich started all five games he played and averaged 7.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game.

The New Orleans Hornets picked the 6-foot-11 former Kansas star 11th overall in the NBA draft in June before trading him to the Thunder.