Jalen Jones and Georges-Hunt are also prospects in the top 10 from the Red Claws. I know it's nothing to be ecstatic about, but good to see we have some decent talent on that team (outside of the Jackson/Mickey call-ups/downs.
It's really too bad that the NBADL doesn't work more like Minor League baseball...said for the billionth time here.
It'll be a step closer to that next year, but we'll have to wait for the next CBA at least to get it where it truly needs to be.
But will it ever be like MLB? In baseball even the top prospects have to usually go through years of minor league baseball learning their craft. You can probably go to just about any level of minor league baseball, watch a game and probably see one to three future MLB players and even some future superstars.
You will probably never see a future superstar in the NBADL. If you're lucky, you might catch a game where you might see a guy that might become a decent role player. The best talent do not learn their craft at the NBADL level, they learn it by playing minutes in the NBA. The talent level of the best of the best D-League players and players in the NBA is still gigantic.
While I like what the new CBA did to allow parent NBA clubs the ability to have more young players on their rosters and integrate the NBADL with the NBA, I really don't see the D-League ever becoming a breeding ground for starter level NBA players. I just don't ever see it working like the MLB model.
Pretty much agree that top talent seems able to go right up to the NBA, straight from high school in some cases.
But do teams still draft project players? 2-way deals seems to enable and encourage this, but shorter contracts don't. Current cap rules favor rosters with rookie scale players who can play, which discourages drafting projects.
Perk was a high school project role player who won a title as a starter, but that doesn't seem to happen much. We had multiple mid firsts at the time as well, were going nowhere fast, and big stiffs were in demand. Teams try not to suck so long that they have time to carry developmental players. The d league should be a place for pro teams to bring along the Perks, but overseas pays and is winning out.
I'd consider Rozier, who was a d league regular as a rookie, as the newest template for developing guys using the minor affiliate. But an NBA player shouldn't be in the D league long.
What's the future for roster construction and development? The Spurs seem to grab NBA role players out of nowhere. Have they been using the Austin Toro's much?