The NBA D-League Call-Up List: Week 2
Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
The Call-Up List is the power rankings of D-League prospects. Below is a list of 10 players who have either impressed the most over the first two weeks of the 2014-2015 season or have proved in the past that they could make a difference at the next level if given the chance. At some point this NBA season, a number of these players will receive a call-up. For the others, if they play their cards right they could get a knock on their door, too.
1) Seth Curry — Erie BayHawks
Season statistics: 25.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 steals per game on 54.4% FG and 57.1% 3PT
Curry has scored 23 or more points in each of the Bayhawks’ four games this season and has shot over 60 percent from the field and over 50 percent from three in all but one. Since the first Call-Up List, Curry combined for 53 points on 9-for-12 shooting from three-point range in two games. He’s filling up the scoring column and doing so very efficiently.
Curry’s assist numbers have taken a hit now that he’s back to playing shooting guard, but that’s to be expected. He proved last year that he can be a facilitator if need be, and perhaps the Orlando Magic just want him to focus on scoring.
2) Earl Clark — Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Season statistics: 28.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, 1.0 steals per game on 45.2% FG and 31.4% 3PT
Just when it appeared as though Clark had turned a corner, knocking down six threes en route to a season-high 35 points on November 18th, he returned back home to Rio Grande Valley and missed all but one of his nine three-point attempts against the Oklahoma City Blue. He still finished with 29 points on 10-for-21 shooting from the field, but Clark will need to become a more consistent shooter from the perimeter if he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his friend James Johnson by getting an early call-up.
Other than that, though, Clark continues to fill up the stat sheet for the Vipers and lead the way in the scoring column. He’s a big reason why they’re off to a 4-1 start.
Note: It looks like Clark will sign a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
3) Manny Harris — Los Angeles D-Fenders
Season statistics: 29.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists per game on 50.8 % FG and 44.4% 3PT
Harris is the most versatile scorer in the D-League. He can attack the basket, finish at the rim at a high rate, knock down midrange shots and heat up from three. When it’s all rolling for him, he’s unstoppable.
This week, Harris averaged 30.0 points per game on 56.3 percent shooting. He also knocked down seven of his 14 three-point attempts in those three games. He’s now the second leading scorer in the D-League and is showing no signs of slowing down. There’s a good reason why he’s known as The Michigan Mamba around the D-League.
4) Kevin Murphy — Idaho Stampede
Season statistics: 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game on 39.1% FG and 5.9% 3PT
It was only a matter of time until Murphy made his way into the top five. He started the season in a rut, scoring 26 points on just 7-for-24 shooting over his first two games, but in the Stampede’s two-game series against the L.A. D-Fenders over the weekend he looked more like the player who dominated the D-League last season. Murphy had 58 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists on 21-for-40 shooting from the field in those games, and the Stampede got their first two wins of the season.
Murphy is one of the best pure scorers in the D-League. Without Pierre Jackson and Dee Bost on the roster, he’ll have to be on top form if the Stampede hope to compete for a spot in the playoffs.
5) Peyton Siva — Erie BayHawks
Season statistics: 13.8 points, 11.0 assists, 6.3 rebounds per game on 47.6% FG and 18.8% 3PT
If there was any doubt that Siva is the best all-around point guard in the D-League, he recorded his first triple-double of the season on Friday. In 39 minutes, he had 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
If Siva is able to prove that he can be a more reliable scorer — especially from the perimeter — it might not be long until he finds himself back in the NBA. He’s distributing the ball better than anyone else in the D-League right now and continues to reek havoc on the defensive end.
6) Damien Wilkins — Iowa Energy
Season statistics: 28.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals per game on 56.1% FG and 25.0% 3PT
Wilkins is off to an incredible start this season and his efforts were recognised when he was named the D-League Performer of the Week. He’s a walking triple-double who is taking care of the ball and shooting the lights out. The only downside is that he’s converted on just two of his eight three-point attempts thus far.
Wilkins is unlike anyone else on this list. He’s appeared in nearly 600 NBA games over his career, starting in 149 along the way. Teams know what they’d be getting out of him at the next level — a quality veteran who is playing with the upmost of confidence — which helps his odds when it comes to getting a call-up.
7) Willie Reed — Grand Rapids Drive
Season statistics: 24.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks per game on 84.6% FG
Reed has only played one game since leaving Israeli powerhouse Hapoel Eilat, but he’s been one of the best bigs in the D-League over the last two years. He’s a double-double machine, and for the Drive, who desperately need help on both ends of the court, his arrival gives them a much needed boost.
It’s no surprise that the Drive ended their four-game losing streak and won their first game of the season in Reed’s debut.
8) James Michael McAdoo — Santa Cruz Warriors
Season statistics: 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 1.8 steals per game on 55.6% FG
Following a quiet game against the Texas Legends over the weekend, McAdoo bounced back and posted his second 20-point, 10-rebound game of the season in a loss to the Austin Spurs.
Even though McAdoo struggled against the Bakersfield Jam on Tuesday, he continues to make an impact on the defensive end of the floor. After failing to block a shot in the Warriors’ season-opener, McAdoo now has 15 blocks in his last four games. Developing into a consistent offensive threat is the next step for the UNC product.
9) Brady Heslip — Reno Bighorns
Season statistics: 33.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 2.7 steals on 53.2% FG and 58.1% 3PT
Heslip came back down to earth in his sole game this week, which meant 23 points in 25 minutes on 9-for-15 shooting from the field. He was still incredible. Just not as incredible.
It’s clear that Heslip can score and catch fire from the three-point line, but he only has one assist and six rebounds through three games. Troy Daniels had the luxury of being under the watchful eyes of the Houston Rockets last season, whereas Heslip is totally up for grabs. He has more to prove if he hopes on being this year’s Cinderella story.
10) Jarell Eddie — Austin Spurs
Season statistics: 22.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals on 55.8% FG and 63.3% 3PT
Only two players have made more three-pointers than Eddie so far this season: Brady Heslip and Akeem Richmond. The difference between the three is minimal, though, and Eddie is converting them at a much higher rate. Eddie has a very smooth shooting stroke and a lightning quick release. He has made three or more three-pointers in each game this season and has knocked down six on two separate occasions.
Eddie will have to improve his finishing around the rim — he’s only 8-for-18 in the painted area — and prove that he can be an outside threat on a nightly basis. After a hot start in his senior year with the Virginia Tech Hokies, Eddie fell off in a big way to end the season. He can’t afford for that to happen now.