The league deadline for teams to pare down their rosters to the regular season maximum of 15 players has passed, and a flurry of activity transpired over the weekend with upwards of 140 players being waived by their teams. While most of these departing players weren’t expected to make it into the NBA this year, there were still a number of talented athletes who were let go who arguably belong in the league this season.
This brings me to the topic/question of the day: Which player not making his team’s regular season roster came as the biggest surprise?
Who do you feel absolutely should have made the cut and started the regular season with a spot in the limelight? It could be a young player who you believe has more upside or talent than one the team retained, or a cagey veteran whose locker room intangibles you feel outweigh the player kept in his place. But don’t just stop at providing a name … tell us all why you feel this way. Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Henry Sims. The guy can play, as evidenced by his work down the stretch in 2014 with the Sixers, so I was surprised when the Suns let him go, and doubly surprised when they left an open spot on their 15-man roster. Phoenix picked an open spot over Henry Sims? Doesn’t add up.
Perry Jones III. Attractive contract – he would’ve been an RFA if he had a breakout season. Young age, athletic, can defend multiple positions, can shoot the three. The only thing I can guess is that there must be some personal or character issues that the league knows about and fans don’t.
I can see why he didn’t make the Celtics – they are deep. What I can’t understand is how he doesn’t have a roster spot somewhere – Metta World Peace has a roster spot over him, four teams have empty roster spots rather than keeping him as a developmental player, etc.
If you saw a Lakers preseason game, you saw that Metta is unplayable. He runs like he’s underwater. And I’m not picking on him – he’s just the first example I thought of the fact that there are rebuilding teams that are giving away roster spots to guys with zero upside.
If you need his leadership, hire him as an assistant coach that practices with the team, like Jason Collins and Luke Walton did occasionally for the W’s last year. Don’t waste a roster spot on him.
Mitch Kupchak’s job should probably be less secure than it is. But winning a title grants long-term immunity, even if a guy’s process is worse than his results.
Jabari brown needed more seasoning as much as I like him. World peace is a mentor and to keep Kobe happy. Mitch has done all he could but it’s that selfish non caring money taking owner in Jim buss. Buss was the one who wanted dantoni over Phil. He’s the one who assembles the meeting with players more on the “marketing ability” of LA rather than focus on talk of winning.
PJ3 is the biggest surprise for me. I think he still has potential in this league to do big things.
Perr Jones. He’s been shown he can play in limited spurts, but has been buried behind guys and hasn’t been given an opportunity. I can’t imagine there aren’t a few teams that don’t need an athletic big who can shoot and rebound