"I wanted to keep my options open," he said. "I'll be in the same league, but it'll also give me more time to look for something overseas. Basically, I wanted to lock up something so I could keep playing basketball and not just sit around waiting."

English was released by the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics last month.

The 6-foot-5 guard from Newfoundland, Canada, played in the NBDL last season for the Charleston Lowgators. He averaged 8.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game as a reserve, and led the team with 50 3-pointers.

The franchise moved to Fort Myers, Fla., this season under new ownership.

"Last year wasn't the greatest experience," English said. "But it's a whole new deal this year. There's going to be new players and a new coach."

The head coach is Dennis Johnson, a former NBA all-star guard with Seattle, Phoenix and Boston.

English's agent, Michael Harrison of Immortal Sports in Los Angeles, said he will continue to seek more lucrative options.

"Europe was definitely an option and still is," Harrison said. "The NBDL might not seem like the best deal, but what we like about going to the NBDL is that it's the best way to become available for the NBA."

The NBDL is affiliated with the NBA, and several players are promoted to NBA teams during the season.

"It's important for Carl to have a good year," Harrison said. "He didn't get much of a chance last year, and we feel like all he needs is that chance to show what he can do."

NBDL players make less than $40,000 per season, but Harrison said English is still receiving payments from the Indiana Pacers. English signed a two-year contract with the Pacers in 2003, but was released just before the start of the season.

English played at UH from 1999 to 2003, and is No. 7 on the career scoring list with 1,259 points.

Four of English's former teammates at Hawai'i are playing professional basketball in Europe: Mindaugas Burneika (Russia), Troy Ostler (Belgium), Predrag Savovic (Spain) and Haim Shimonovich (Israel).