How are the D-League’s Draft Rights Players progressing?
NBA teams are always looking to develop future talent without having to shell out heavy contracts in the meantime. In the last 20 years, the international draft and stash options have become synonymous with the second round of the NBA Draft. This practice allows an NBA team to hold onto player rights for a budding talent while they develop overseas at no cost to the club.
With the D-League becoming invaluable for NBA clubs, a new practice has been employed. The domestic draft and stash entails NBA clubs promising players they will be drafted if they agree to playing for the team’s D-League affiliate on a D-League salary.
There were six draft rights players in the D-League last season and there are eight so far in the 2015-16 season, with six of them being selected in the 2015 NBA Draft.
DeAndre Daniels — Raptors 905
Rights: Toronto Raptors
Drafted: 2014 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 7th pick
At 23-years-old, the Toronto Raptors still have little idea what type of player DeAndre Daniels is. Daniels was selected early in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft but the Raptors didn’t have a roster spot for him in 2014-15, so he signed in the Australian NBL to make some money and get valuable professional experience. While he joined the 905 for this season, he’s been sidelined with plantar fasciitis and is yet to log a single minute for the franchise.
The results in Australia were mixed, too. The explosive forward averaged 14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds, but he could have been much more efficient as he finished with a True Shooting Percentage of only 48.4 (the NBA league average is approximately 54.0). While Daniels should have feasted on less talented opposition, he was largely mediocre and now has the unfortunate injury issues.
Hopefully Daniels gets to make a return with the 905 before the season is over. That way, the Raptors can somewhat assess what they have in their back pocket with this largely unknown commodity.
2016-17 outlook: The Raptors have 12 players already under contract for the 2016-17 season, but with a number of largely unplayable youth already occupying roster spots it’s hard to imagine Daniels on the opening night squad next year in Toronto. A return to the 905 would be wise, as he should now know the plays, lingo and schemes, and at that point he could show the Raptors brass what he brings to the table.
Satnam Singh — Texas Legends
Rights: Dallas Mavericks
Drafted: 2015 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 22nd pick
Singh was a late round pick for the Mavericks and they selected him with the intention of stashing him with the Texas Legends. Unfortunately, he hasn’t seen much court time since he’s one of the most raw players in the entire league. He stands at a massive 7-2 while weighing just under 300 pounds, but at 20-years-old he just hasn’t had the seasoning he needs to be a factor this season.
He’s only appeared in 13 games thus far and his shining moment came when the Legends played the Raptors 905 and Sim Bhullar. He played a season-high 23 minutes in that game, posting career highs of six points and six rebounds along with five personal fouls. In the words on Fran Fraschilla, he’s two years away from likely never being an NBA player.
2016-17 outlook: There is no chance Singh is on the Mavericks roster next season. However, if he does return to the Texas Legends, I hope to see increased minutes and opportunity for the young prospect.
Sir’Dominic Pointer — Canton Charge
Rights: Cleveland Cavaliers
Drafted: 2015 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 23rd pick
This is one of the players I was most excited to see this year. Pointer is in the mold of a young Gerald Wallace in that he gets after it on defense by blocking shots all over the place but is in dire need of fine-tuning his offense. That lack of offense is precisely the reason he is playing in Canton instead of Cleveland this season. While the team tells U&M that Pointer is a tireless worker at practice and has been relentlessly working to improve his jump shot, the effects have not matriculated to the court just yet.
Pointer is averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in just over 20 minutes of play, which translates to per-36 numbers of 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds. That’s the good part. His shooting has been less than stellar at 45 percent overall, 18 percent from 3-point land and 61 percent from the charity stripe. The issue here is that Pointer is a 6-6 small forward, and while that can work in the NBA, the essential piece is shooting ability.
His defense has not faltered, however. He remains one of the true 5×5 threats in the D-League with averages of 1.2 blocks and one steal per game in limited action. The Cavaliers are clearly bringing Pointer along slowly and they have to be banking on improved shooting down the road.
2016-17 outlook: The Cavaliers only have 10 returning contracts for the 2016-17 season, so it is feasible that Pointer could snag a roster spot if he proves himself in summer league and training camp this offseason. The Cavs are vying for an NBA Championship, though, and every roster spot is valuable, but Pointer at least has a shot. Hopefully it’s one he can hit this time.
Tomislav Zubcic — Oklahoma City Blue
Rights: Oklahoma City Thunder
Drafted: 2012 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 26th pick (traded by Toronto to OKC for Luke Ridnour)
Zubcic is the oldest player in this year’s draft and stash crop at 26. He joined the Oklahoma City Blue mid-season and has only managed to see around 20 minutes per game so far. He’s averaging 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in his limited time and has shown flashes of why he was originally drafted as a prospect in 2012. He stands 6-10 and prefers to play on the perimeter, but he has an array of finishing moves around the basket and he can do most of them with either hand.
He’s shooting a tick under 40 percent from 3-point range on 3.6 attempts per night, and he should be playing much more for the 12-23 Blue. Zubcic pairs well with starting center Dakari Johnson and helps space the floor for a team that struggles mightily from distance at last in the league from 3-point range (32.4 percent). His foot speed is decent for his size but he can get pushed around down low since he only weighs 230 pounds soaking wet.
2016-17 outlook: The Thunder have 12 players under contract for the 2016-17 season as of now. Even with three open roster spots, it’s highly unlikely that Zubcic will be signed with one of them. In all likelihood, I think he will head back overseas to make more money and ride his professional career out across the pond. I like his skillset but there isn’t much growth to look forward to at his age.
Tyler Harvey — Erie BayHawks
Rights: Orlando Magic
Drafted: 2015 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 21st pick
Harvey came to Erie as a decorated NCAA scoring machine, but he’s had the typical ups and downs of a rookie season. Through 34 games, Harvey is averaging 12.3 points and 2.4 rebounds on 37 percent from the field and 36 percent (6.3 attempts) from outside. The BayHawks are the only team in the entire league not averaging more than 100 points a night, so there are naturally less possessions and opportunities for Harvey to show off his scoring prowess.
The issue here isn’t his shooting. Harvey’s form looks great, his confidence hasn’t waivered a bit and his teammates still look to find him in open spots. The problem is he doesn’t provide much else while he’s on the court. His defense is still mediocre (though the effort is there), he doesn’t make plays for others and he’s had trouble getting himself open off the dribble. If he’s not going to add any value past his outside shooting, then his accuracy needs to be elite and it isn’t there yet. He’s still only 22, but he still has plenty of work to do if he wants to be on an NBA roster anytime soon.
2016-17 outlook: The Magic has 12 players on salary for next season, but don’t expect Harvey to fill one of the open spots. He would benefit from another season in the D-League or even heading overseas to Spain, Germany or Turkey to refine his offensive repertoire and come back better prepared for another NBA tryout.
Cady Lalanne — Austin Spurs
Rights: San Antonio Spurs
Drafted: 2015 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 25th pick
Oh, what’s this? The Spurs may have found yet another second round steal? Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, but Lalanne is an intriguing prospect moving forward. He stands 6-10 and has the ability to stretch the floor and knock down the outside shot with consistency. He won’t be replacing Duncan on the block anytime soon — actually, he rarely even makes it to the post, which is one of his pitfalls because he settles for the outside shot far too often. But in games when he aggressively attacks the rim and uses his shooting ability as a ploy to blow by slower defenders, Lalanne is deadly.
Durability is also a positive — he’s played in all 35 games for the Austin Spurs this season. To this point, he’s averaging 11.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26 minutes a night. Those numbers don’t propel most players to highly touted status, but Lalanne’s game is picture perfect for today’s NBA and San Antonio knows it.
2016-17 outlook: The Spurs have 12 players on contract for next year and while I don’t expect to see Lalanne make the opening night roster, I think there’s a chance. The Spurs have always been keen on keeping young guys towards the end of the bench to learn by osmosis from their gaggle of future Hall of Famers.
Dakari Johnson — Oklahoma City Blue
Rights: Oklahoma City Thunder
Drafted: 2015 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 18th pick
Johnson is easily one of the more improved players this season. The Oklahoma City Blue have struggled to win games, but their long-term plan of using the D-League as a draft and stash model has been pretty successful to date. Last season, they had Josh Huestis and Semaj Christon with the Blue, and Huestis is on the Thunder’s roster this year while Christon is killing it overseas.
Dakari is a legit 7-0, and at only 20-years-old there’s no reason to rush him along. He’s averaging 12.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on 52 percent shooting through 36 games this year. The numbers are great but even more impressive is the rapid improvement he’s made since last year with Kentucky. His footwork is night and day in comparison as he now catches the ball in the post with a purpose and his moves are crisp when he makes a decision. Does it always work out? No, but the motor is running and it’s easy to see he gets it.
A lot of guys leave the NCAA ranks too early and even though many thought Johnson fell in this category, the move has turned out to be exactly what he needed. Players do not get this type of development in most college settings where the focus is winning now and not investing in the future of a player. That’s not a knock on John Calipari in any way, but the on-court product speaks for itself.
2016-17 outlook: Johnson won’t be on the Thunder’s 15-man roster to start the year next season and another year with the Blue might be what he needs. He’s still only 20, so he could join the Thunder at age 22 and be in the league for the next 10 seasons.
Andrew Harrison — Iowa Energy
Rights: Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted: 2015 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 14th pick (traded by Phoenix for Jon Leuer)
Harrison looks to be the cream of this crop thus far. In 33 games, he’s putting up gaudy rookie numbers with 19.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 44 percent from the field. At 6-6, Harrison has the unique ability to play the point or the off guard spot and he does well guarding either position as well. He’s improved with each passing month, and while the Energy have not put together a great season (17-19), they do have a winning record with Harrison in the lineup at 17-15.
At 21, Andrew is already good enough to be a backup point guard in the NBA. He has been exemplary this season in terms of his effort on both ends, he really gets after it on defense and his jump shot is coming along nicely. He’s shooting 37 percent on the year from 3-point range (4.6 attempts), but in February he’s turned it on with 51 percent shooting (5.1 attempts) through nine games.
His creativity shines through on the court, too, as he’s able to prod and probe opposing defenses with surgical precision. That fact bears out in his free throw attempts — he gets to the line almost seven times a night, but more often that not he’s driving to dish, and that’s the next step in his progression.
2016-17 outlook: This one is going to be bold but I think Harrison will be on the Grizzlies opening night roster to start next season. They only have 10 returning contracts (three non-guaranteed and one player option in Lance Stephenson) and if they do not bring back Mario Chalmers there will be a glaring void at backup point guard. He’s not as good as Chalmers but he’s ready, and if he keeps improving at the rate he has so far, I have no doubt he will contribute next year if given the opportunity.