5 replies to this topic

[lethalweapon3]

Team TBA...

http://www.ridiculou...ks-nba-d-league

Quote

The latest players to sign with the NBA's official minor league are on opposite sides when it comes to living up to the 'development' portion of the league's name as rookie Keith Benson and NBA veteran Marcus Banks both signed contracts on Tuesday, according to a league source.

Banks was a semi-productive NBA player not all that long ago, but hasn't played since being included as a throw-in as part of the trade that netted Jerryd Bayless for the Toronto Raptors. The UNLV product shouldn't look too past his prime like many of the NBA veterans that have signed in the D-League, however, as he was an NBA lottery pick just eight seasons ago.

Benson, a second round draft pick of the Atlanta Hawks, was a two-time Summit League Player of the Year while playing for the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in Michigan. Former D-Leaguer Ivan Johnson took the spot that was presumed to be Benson's in training camp, but the 6-foot-11 center will likely be one of the best big men in the D-League as soon as he joins a roster.

Both players will find out which team they're joining on Thursday once they clear waivers, but it's unlikely that they fall past the first four teams in the current waiver priority system -- the Tulsa 66ers, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Los Angeles D-Fenders and Springfield Armor.

~lw3

[warcore]

do we still have his rights?

[lethalweapon3]

warcore, on 25 January 2012 - 03:29 PM, said:

do we still have his rights?

Someone else can correct me on that, but I believe we lost those rights once he was waived. I believe we'd have kept his rights if he was simply assigned by the Hawks to Reno, but doing so would've impacted the salary numbers.

~lw3

[AHF]

lethalweapon3, on 25 January 2012 - 05:21 PM, said:

Someone else can correct me on that, but I believe we lost those rights once he was waived. I believe we'd have kept his rights if he was simply assigned by the Hawks to Reno, but doing so would've impacted the salary numbers.

~lw3

I think you are correct, sir.

[Dolfan23]

Still bugs me that we didn't keep him and decided to keep Sloan instead.  If he ends up becoming a solid bench player or better in the NBA someday I will be happy for him but it's definitely going to bother me as he seemed like he'd be able to help us out.  I guess if they saw anything of him in camp though they would have kept him... although we are the same team that cut Udonis Haslem so you never know.

[coachx]

Dolfan23, on 25 January 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

Still bugs me that we didn't keep him and decided to keep Sloan instead.  If he ends up becoming a solid bench player or better in the NBA someday I will be happy for him but it's definitely going to bother me as he seemed like he'd be able to help us out.  I guess if they saw anything of him in camp though they would have kept him... although we are the same team that cut Udonis Haslem so you never know.

The injury to Hinrich, and play of Ivan, sealed Benson's fate with the Hawks. In hind site we should have let Sloan go for sure. However, If Teague would have had a sprained ankle we would have been in deep shish with Pargo as our only PG.