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D-Leaguer's Most Likely To Get Called Up This Season
by Ridiculous Scott on Dec 29, 2008 3:59 AM EST in D-League

I was going to add to this title and do a "/Players Most Likely To Head Overseas Next Week Following The D-League Showcase And Not Getting The Gatorade Call-Up They Hoped For/Deserved", but decided that this was already a little too long. Here is the official Ridiculous Scott's Ridiculous Upside's Ridiculous Call-Up Rankings list, by position:

Bigs

1. Courtney Sims, Iowa: He's a monster. Averaging 23.5 points, 13 boards, and 3.5 blocks per game. Why is he still in the D-League? Did his opening night triple-double, with 22 points, 17 boards, and 11 blocks not get him noticed?

2. James Mays, Colorado: Mays is a very solid player. Couple that with him being a rookie with a good pedigree, good D-League numbers, and being very close to Denver, the squad he nearly made this preseason, and I think a call-up could be in his future. Currently, Mays is averaging 20 points, 9 boards, two steals, and a block per game.

3. Richard Hendrix, Dakota: Hendrix, a 2nd round pick with Golden State this year, is a monster. In his first game as a Wizard, he scored 23 points, had 12 boards, and 3 blocked shots. Look at that NBA teams, fly him in and he'll be productive instantly!

4. Erik Daniels, Erie: Even though I've never liked his game, veteran Erik Daniels is getting it done this year. He has NBA and top level overseas experience, which will never hurt when working for the call-up. Playing out of position, as a 6-8 center, he's averaging 20 points and 9 rebounds.

5. Jermareo Davidson, Idaho: I would have Jermareo higher, but he's currently been losing minutes in Coach Gates' rotation, averaging a pedestrian 12 points and 8 boards in 27 minutes over his past 3 games. Though he's got NBA experience, if a D-League coach doesn't want to give a guy minutes, he's probably got issues that make him untouchable for an NBA team.

Honorable mention: Lance Allred, Idaho

Swing Men

1. Marcus Williams, Austin: He may be the best NBA-prospect named Marcus Williams, and certainly the best not currently in the NBA! He was called-up twice last season, and I assume it will be similar again this season. Currently, he's averaging 22 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, showing off his well-rounded game.

2. Renaldo Major, Dakota: Major has rebounded well from open-heart surgery last season for the Wizards. He's currently averaging 17.6 points, 6 boards, and 4 assists to go along with 2.4 steals. Additionally, he's occassionally playing every position from the one to the four in Coach Ticknor's offense, showing his versatility.

3. Coby Karl, Idaho: Karl is perhaps the ugliest man in the D-League (proof.), though he is putting up numbers with a stacked Stampede team. He's averaging 16 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, shooting 46% from the field.

4. Bobby Jones, Sioux Falls: Bobby's been with 1,237 NBA teams thus far, and will more than likely add at least one more to his resume this season. He's averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, while guarding the best non-big on the floor.

5. Cedric Bozeman, Anaheim: Bozeman's got NBA experience, good mid-range game, and can slash to the bucket. Thus far this season, he's averaging 17 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Honorable Mention: Joe Crawford, Los Angeles.

Guards

1. Blake Ahearn, Dakota: Blake's got the NBA experience, the shooting prowess, the attitude, and everything else that people should be looking for in a call-up. Since re-joining Dakota, following a stint with the Spurs/Toros, Ahearn is averaging 24.5 points and 7.5 assists, shooting 50% from 3-point territory.

2. Eddie Gill, Colorado: Gill, though he's not putting up call-up numbers, is definitely the top point guard in the D-League.

3. Will Conroy, Albuquerque: Definitely a flight risk, as he left last year to go to Italy, but he's a D-League success story, going from just 12 points and 6 assists in 2005 to the season he's having this season. Thus far this season, he's averaging 24.6 points, 7.4 assists, and nearly three steals per game.

4. Walker Russell, Fort Wayne: Walker Russell had a tryout with Phoenix last week, and if he keeps putting up numbers, another is probably on it's way. The biggest knock on him is that he's never put up numbers otherwise, so I'm worried he may be a fluke. Currently, he's averaging 16 points and 11 assists, along with 2.5 steals per game.

5. Maurice Baker, Dakota: NBA guys know what they're getting when they look at Mo. He's an NBA-ready guard, who can lead the team when he's on the floor. This year, he's once again showing an NBA-ready game, averaging 17 points, 7.5 boards, and 5.3 assists. If you're looking for an on-court leader that will do what it takes to win, call Mo.

Honorable mention: Mateen Cleaves, Bakersfield, and Curtis Stinson, Iowa: Curtis Stinson isn't a great NBA prospect, but when you're putting up numbers, you'll get looks. Stinson, a D-League vet (5 different teams), is currently putting up huge numbers on a very good Iowa team. Everyone likes winners, and if a point guard is putting up great all-around numbers on a D-League team, there will be a decent path to get into the League. Currently, Stinson is averaging 15 points, 8 boards, and 8 assists per game. Cleaves is a vet. You know what you're getting with him.

Let me know who I missed in the comments!

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Read Related
Courtney Sims (C - NOH)James Mays (F - DEN)Richard Hendrix (F - GSW)Jermareo Davidson (F - CHA)Lance Allred (C - CLE)Marcus Williams (F - CHA)Renaldo Major (F - GSW)Coby Karl (G - LAL)Bobby Jones (F - SAC)Blake Ahearn (G - SAN)Eddie Gill (G - NJN)Will Conroy (G - LAC)Walker Russell (G - NYK)Mateen Cleaves (G - DEN)
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Comments

Do we have a roster spot for him?

Just curious how much it'll take to sign this guy? Anyone have any idea? What would it take? Are 10-day contracts all pretty much standard? With his numbers, you figure there'll probably be some competition for his services no? Any ruling come down on the Cuttino medical exeption yet? If we could get it that's approx. $4 - 4.5 mil. available to use on another player - we could use it on Sims. Could we use it towards Sims and another player (I don't think so right)? If it came down to it, hopefully armed with that medical exception, there's no way we should get outbid by another team for Sims. He should be in a Knick uniform. Hopefully Walsh and D'Antoni have been paying attention and have some interest.

[Edited by - finestrg on 12-29-2008 2:55 PM]

Posted by King1:

If he was that good he would already be on a team. HAs anyone watched a d- league game it is much different than the NBA

Yes and No. People always slip through the radar not to mention these young guys improve playing against good competition. For many of these guys this is a make it or break it thing, NBA or regular 9-5 job. Sort of any of our perspectives if we had a 6 month probationary period at a company.

So, no one actually remembers him playing at Michigan?

Coming out of high school in 2003 he was the #16 ranked center, think he was #8 the year before: http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=12018&Sport=2

Seems like he was cut a few times by Indiana last year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Sims

Courtney Sims (born October 21, 1983, in Roslindale, Massachusetts[1]) is an American professional basketball player. He is a 6'11" (211 cm) 245 lb (111 kg) center and played collegiately at the University of Michigan. He played briefly for the NBA's Indiana Pacers in 2007-08. Sims, who was signed to a non-guaranteed contract in 2007-08 with Indiana after going undrafted, played in only two games for the Pacers before being waived on December 4, 2007.[2] He was signed again on December 12,[3] and waived again on December 19.[2] Going scoreless in three total games, he had one rebound, one assist and committed two personal fouls in eleven minutes of action.[4] On February 25, 2008, he was acquired by the NBA Development League's Iowa Energy.[5] He played for the New Orleans Hornets during the 2008-09 NBA pre-season.[6] As at November 8, 2008, Sims remains with the Iowa Energy.[7] He registered a rare triple-double on November 28, 2008 in a 113-101 Energy win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce with 22 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.

EMS

not everyone needs a center as desperately as we do.