FanPost

The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Sam Hinkie, among other things, was known to try to take advantage of every possible aspect in team building, BC, for his part is also known to be someone who likes to take advantage of stashing players and scouting Europeans. We've already talked a bit about euro stash players in other articles in this one I wanted to focus a little bit on the g league, while also talking about the high number of domestic players coming out who didn't play in the NCAA this year because of various reasons. A combination of the Ball family, other professional leagues, high schools allowing their players to play "post graduate" basketball and the FBI investigation have led to an abnormally high number of players coming out in a year when the sixers have a bunch of second rounders to use and take advantage of the g league in addition to the overseas markets.

Let's go over a few terms and things before we get to the Players.

G League 2 Way Contracts

This is one of the more well known options, because every team used their 2 way contracts last year, although most people didn't use them on drafted players, they could with an increase in salary. Players signed to a 2 way contract have their rights held exclusively by their NBA teams, unlike standard G League contracts which are signed with the G League itself. Standard G League contracts allow a player to be "called up" by any NBA team and signed to a contract, even if the player isn't affiliated with the organization at the time of the signing. These players can now make close to NBA minimum contracts if they play the max days.


G League NBA Draft Rights Players

This is a term that I was a little less clear on and basically I'm not 100% sure about it, but I believe the premise here is, if you can convince a player to sign a g league contract when you draft them, you retain their rights. What this means is, if you draft a player, don't sign him to an NBA contract but do sign him to a G League contract, you retain his rights, another cannot sign him out of the g league, they can trade for his rights.

While those are 2 pretty nice options, an NBA contract CAN still be something players or agents really want to try to force, although a team like the Sixers simply doesn't have the roster spots and so they might refuse to even give any guaranteed money to a player. So what can you do to entice players to sign G league deals?

Well, first of all, G League salaries are going up. This is a pretty nice bump as noted in the article, and since they won't be long term deals, a player can feel comfortable betting on themselves, get good development in and then try out for other teams in the future. Second, guarantee an invite to training camp to all members who sign G League deals out of the draft. Camp players get $50k which is 143% of the G League salary and brings the total to a substantial 85,000 for ~6 months of work. Third, put a competitive team on the floor. Players can earn tens of thousands of extra dollars for playing in the playoffs and winning awards and it can be part of a winning culture and atmosphere which will perculate up to the big club. Fourth, provide top of the line facilities. The Sixers are on the way there, they've created a brand new practice/training facility in Wilmington. Finally, part of the G League contract stipulates that a player's housing is paid for as part of the contract, I'm not sure what the rules are about that, but if I were the Sixers, I would find the absolute BEST housing situation possible for these players allowable under the rules and set them up there, if you can live in the Hotel Du Pont Luxury rooms for 6 months a year for free, I could see that being a huge perk.

Anyway, all of that was a pre-cursor to what the post is all about, players who are potentially going to be under valued in the draft (a draft where we have 4 second rounders) where we can draft them and sign them on some of these G League deals to essentially replicate foreign stashes. This is important for a bunch of reasons, particularly the roster spaces and being pioneers in how we use the G League. Here I have listed the players I could find who had hired an agent and either had left school early and didn't play some or all of the last NCAA season OR skipped the NCAA entirely via some other route. I'm focusing on those players because I feel like these decisions are generally frowned upon by the established NBA thought and evaluation process and thus would potentially lower a player's stock artificially. Draft ranges are from NBADraft.net and are included here to spur discussion I don't necessarily know what the reality is.

Anfernee Simons

Draft Range: 12-28

Depending on how his workouts go, could be someone in line for us at 10, if he falls all the way to 26, I think you kind of have to take him, very young and talented, decided to skip going to college altogether and play a 5th high school year.

Mixtape

Mitchell Robinson

Draft Range: 14-45

Once again, a major reach at 10, but plenty of value at 26 and if he's there at 37 or 39 and you can convince him to take a 2 year 2 way contract, a major win.

Mixtape

Austin Wiley

Draft Range: 28-50

Reminds me a bit of DeAndre Jordan/Robert Williams. Quite skilled on offense and defense, would never be mistaken for a stretch player, but is a pretty interesting backup, D + rebound prospect who plays well at both ends. McDonald's game participant in High School and had a strong if somewhat unspectacular freshman season. Mixed up in that mess at Auburn, was declared ineligible.

Highlights

De'Anthony Melton

Draft Range: 32-55

Possibly my favorite guy in the group. A standout athlete, ball handler/passer and top of the line point of attack defender. Him signing a 2 way contract would be pretty amazing. I think he could be a good/plus defender in the NBA right now against 1s and 2s. Give him 2 years of G League work on his shot and you could have a real find. Became ineligible this season and left the team part way through, which was met with sadness by the USC team, apparently a leader/good character guy despite the NCAA issues.

DraftExpress Highlights

Mustapha Heron

Draft Range: 40-Undrafted

A really good 2 way player combo guard, reeks of versatility on both offense and defense. Sign him to a Draft Rights G League deal at 56 and let him develop for a couple of years. Does everything PRETTY WELL and could be a gem. Mixed up in that mess in Auburn, was declared ineligible.

Highlights

Matur Maker

Draft Range: 50-und

Haven't watched him at all, like Simons is a post year player for a Canadian High School. Younger, stronger, thicker brother of Thon Maker. Plenty of potential as a stretch 4. Sign him to a draft rights G League deal at 56-60. I'll let this SI Article talk about him.

Highlights

Eric Davis Jr

Draft Range: Undrafted

Pretty well sought after coming out of high school but basically just potential right now, even as a junior. Shot is not very good right now. Caught up in the scandal at Texas, declared ineligible. Possible straight G League signing.


Liangelo Ball

Draft Range: Undrafted

No Thanks.


David Skara

Draft Range: Undrafted

Just a really weird story, redshirt European player played at Valpo, then transferred, then was declared ineligible. Now 23 with 2 years of elibility left...possible G League guy for his defense and size.

I'm sure I missed a couple of guys, what do you guys think about any of these guys?

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