Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 1/6/16

The NBA D-League Showcase event kicks off today and GMs and scouts from around the league will be in Santa Cruz, California, to watch 19 games over the next five days. This event is significant because it allows league personnel to eyeball potential 10-day contract candidates who can be utilized to bolster NBA rosters. According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, the headliners of this showcase are: former Nuggets point guard Erick Green; shooting guard Elliot Williams, who was with the Pelicans, Hornets and Jazz last season; point guard Lorenzo Brown; shooting guard Orlando Johnson; and power forward Perry Jones III.

Other notable players who will participate in the event and are worth keeping tabs on, according to Spears, are:  Westchester center Jordan Bachynski; Bakersfield forward Earl Clark; Rio Grande Valley guard Will Cummings; Westchester guard Jimmer Fredette; Santa Cruz guard Darington Hobson; Reno forward Vince Hunter; Idaho guard Pierre Jackson; Rio Grande Valley swingman Nick Johnson; Sioux Falls guard DeAndre Liggins; and Raptors 905 big man Greg Smith.

The 10-day contract has been the starting point for several players who’ve gone on to successful NBA careers, like Anthony Mason, Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell, Kurt Rambis, Howard Eisley and a number of others. More recently, C.J. Watson saw his first NBA action on a pair of 10-day contracts with the Warriors in 2008, and he’s since developed into a solid backup point guard. Watson signed a three-year, $15MM deal with the Magic this past offseason, which is quite a jump from what he earned while signed to those 10-day pacts.

Now that the preamble is out of the way it’s time for today’s topic: Which of the 10-day contract candidates mentioned above is the likeliest to make an impact in the NBA this season?

I would say that Erick Green has the highest potential to make his mark this season given the number of teams in need of point guard depth around the league. But for teams seeking to take on a project who may bear fruit in the future, I’d highly recommend taking a flier on Bachynski, who has the potential to develop into a useful stretch-four in the NBA. He has a ways to go in terms of his development, but he is a skilled and mobile big man who could have a future as a rotation player in the league if given the right opportunity.

But what say you? Which of the above mentioned players would you like to see your favorite team sign? Who do you think will make the most significant impact in the league in 2015/16? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

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