McALLEN - As the Vipers prepare for games tonight and Friday in Albuquerque, N.M., they'll have to snap a three-game losing streak without the man who quarterbacked them through the first six weeks of the NBA Development League season.

Smush Parker, the Vipers' first-round selection in the 2008 D-League draft, has signed to play for a team in China, RGV coach Clay Moser said Thursday afternoon from the D-League Showcase in Orem, Utah.

"It's been a possibility from the very beginning," Moser said. "He's had a standing job in Italy. But (the Chinese team) kept dragging up the offer until he couldn't ignore it.

"He was great. (Wednesday night) He said ‘I just wanted to come by and shake your hand for giving me the opportunity but I couldn't ignore this offer any longer.'"

Parker is believed to have signed with Guangdong of the Chinese Basketball Association, a little over two weeks after Vipers power forward Kendall Dartez left the team to play in China.

It's likely Parker, who two years ago started for the Los Angeles Lakers and has played in 286 NBA regular season and postseason games, was hoping to use the Showcase as a vehicle to receive another shot in the NBA. But in two games in Orem, both 20-plus point losses for the Vipers, Parker shot 9-of-23 from the field (39 percent) and averaged 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 6.5 turnovers per game.

"He did not play well here at all," Moser said. "His NBA outlook was not looking good for this year so he decided to take the job in China.

"It's disappointing, but again it's part of the Development League. You want them all to go to the NBA. But the reality is they can't all go to the NBA. That's a part of it."

Moser said Jared Jordan will take Parker's place in the starting lineup. Jordan actually started two games last month when Parker was benched for missing Christmas week practices.

In 18 games with the Vipers, Parker averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists, but turnovers (5.1 per game) were a problem. In any case, the Vipers (7-11) will have to do without Parker's production the rest of the season, beginning tonight against the Thunderbirds (5-10), whom they've defeated in two of three meetings.

"They can respond in one of two ways: They can either pout and sulk and make it worse, or they can suck it up and make it better," Moser said. "We'll see what happens."

IN THE BONUS: The Vipers' three-game losing streak is their longest of the season. ... After suffering 24- and 21-point losses in two Showcase games, Moser said changes, aside from Parker's departure, will be forthcoming although nothing is imminent. "We were horrible. It's as simple as that. We played with no energy and we did not play together. Team chemistry has become an issue. We have to make changes," Moser said. ...  The Thunderbirds have won three straight and are 2-3 at home. The Vipers are 1-5 on the road.

Todd Mavreles covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.