SB Nation: D-League's Top Call-Up Candidates

by Kris Willis on Feb 6, 2012 9:31 AM EST

One option the Atlanta Hawks have for adding some depth to their frontcourt would be utilizing the D-League. Atlanta has already gotten lucky this season with a former D-League standout in Ivan Johnson. SB Nation's Scott Schroeder outlines the top D-League candidates by position for a call-up and a 10-day NBA contract.

Schroeder lists three names at the center position that perhaps Hawks general manager Rick Sund should take a look at if he hasn't already.

Greg Smith, Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Scout's Take: "Smith had some nice moments for the Houston Rockets in training camp and his age definitely makes him a prospect. He's got good size and athleticism, but needs to develop more on the offensive end so he can go to work further from the basket."

Mikki Moore, Idaho Stampede

Scout's Take: "Mikki's the best true center in the D-League, but he doesn't have a lot of 'ridiculous upside' left. He can still rebound the ball, though, and stays active on the defensive end so it'd make sense for a playoff team to give him a look."

Jeff Foote, Springfield Armor

Scout's Take: "Foote's the best center prospect in the league when considering his size, ability to run the court and soft hands for a guy his height. He's definitely not a finished product, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him on an NBA bench later this year."

Schroeder also points out that former second round pick Keith Benson was also mentioned in the survey. Benson has appeared in four games for the Sioux Falls SkyForce and is averaging 13 points, six rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game. He also has yet to record a single assist during his stint in the D-League.

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Does anyone know where Magnum Rolle is playing now?

@Kris_Willis
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by Kris Willis on Feb 6, 2012 9:33 AM EST reply actions

Well, not exactly

Used to be able to use USBasket for that:
http://www.usbasket.com/Ex-College-Basketball-Tracker.asp

But this year latest stats seem to require a subscription

I scanned a few pages of tweets and couldn’t find anything hinting at current basketball activity.
http://www.tweeting-athletes.com/index.cfm?CatID=0&AthleteID=8533&p=1

Reading the tweets makes me wonder if he’s injured or just moved on from basketball, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to step into a 10 day contract right now.

by Evildallas on Feb 6, 2012 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

I never got the infatuation with him

he had a good frame, and is a good athlete, but he was way too old for the “project” label that got attached.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 6, 2012 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

He did well in the d-league last year

But I think we have been hurting for length so long that as fans we desperately want any big they bring in to work out. I think our hopefulness looks like infatuation by highlighting the upside and any positive signs while glossing over setbacks. If they can’t play they can’t play.

He was clearly outplayed by Ivan Johnson in the two preseason games. I was actually concerned on the final cut that Ivan might not make it because of players we’d drafted or signed earlier getting the benefit of the doubt but thankfully he did.

by Evildallas on Feb 6, 2012 3:15 PM EST up reply actions

keith benson

we should have hung on to that guy. he just needed to put on a little weight.

by Turb0 on Feb 6, 2012 10:15 AM EST reply actions

He's not really showing much in the D League that says we miss him

not bad, but not what we lack either.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 6, 2012 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

I'd wish the Hawks would take a chance on a guy like Rod Benson.

I’ve been following the guy for years. A true D-League journeyman. Awesome, athletic PF-C but only downside he has is he’s in Korea. It’s crazy how he hasn’t made it on a roster yet, but I believe he will. The guy is hilarious too. Support the Boom Tho Movement.

Unrealistic hopes and wishes aside, I think it’s time for the Keith Benson experiment in Atlanta. I think he knows the system that we run down here. But most of all, I don’t want to see Mikki Moore in a Hawks uniform.

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Feb 6, 2012 10:24 AM EST reply actions

GMs feared he'd blog about the franchises dirty secrets.

* Jeff Teague * Joe Johnson* Josh Smith * Troy Murphy * Al Horford *
* Kirk Hinrich * Tracy McGrady * Marvin Williams * Ivan/Vlad * Zaza Pachulia *
----
* {#40 Pick Perimeter F Jon Leuer is better than Marvin Williams and Hinrich cost us the pick}

by PointGuardSlim on Feb 6, 2012 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

Or not so much secrets but air out dirty laundry ie our fear would be he'd call Hawks cheap and blog about broken scoreboards

by PointGuardSlim on Feb 6, 2012 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

I don't trust Sund with young center prospects. He'll go the easy route with Mikki.

Just saw Ostertag out there in the D league as well.

by HD Bud on Feb 6, 2012 12:04 PM EST reply actions

I read Ostertag had shut it down though

The heart was willing but the body wasn’t

by Evildallas on Feb 6, 2012 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

true. knees.

by PointGuardSlim on Feb 6, 2012 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

I liked Greg Smith pre-draft as a 2nd rounder

Thought he had the body to possibly be developed into a Kendrick Perkins type of nasty big on D and that Jason Collins might slide into coaching imparting the finer points of positional defense and using ones bulk as a asset.

by Evildallas on Feb 6, 2012 12:21 PM EST reply actions

A couple days ago I mentioned Brian Butch

Had I researched it properly I’d found out that he’s out with a knee injury. Got the brace off a week ago and hopes to work his way back soon. Needless to say he’s not available to help our length issues. Too bad he’s a good stretch big as well. Brian if you read this good luck on the rehab.

by Evildallas on Feb 6, 2012 12:29 PM EST reply actions

Not right now, but maybe in a month he's healthy enough to get on a 10-day deal

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 6, 2012 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

There's always Orlando Magic's Daniel Orton. He's a UFA this summer.

He’s definitely a project though, and definitely injury prone. But I think he has whatever Greg Oden’s knee has…. The kid cannot stay healthy to save his life. Orton partially tore the knee’s anterior cruciate ligament as a junior IN HIGH SCHOOL, and then he tore meniscus cartilage in the knee and subsequently underwent surgery to repair both the meniscus and the ACL as a senior IN HIGH SCHOOL. Not to mention tearing whatever he has left in his knee this past year while in the D-League.

He has promise and at best can turn into a solid defender and rebounder in the same way Kendrick Perkins has. The contract has to be satisfactory but I think he will definitely get some looks this offseason.

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Feb 6, 2012 1:32 PM EST reply actions