More Player Moves

More player moves/cuts throughout the NBA that could have a real impact on the D-League. Let's go through them:

• Mario West and Stephane Lasme cut from the Celtics: Lasme played two years ago for the D-Fenders, and I thought he was good. He's long and lean, and he can really block a shot. He has been overseas playing in some very high Euro league teams, so if Maine can bring him in, he will really help him. I don't know West very well because he was called up by the time we played the Red Claws, but Jon Jennings raves about what a hard worker and true pro he was. I am sure Jon and Austin will be really happy to have those guys join their roster.
• Orlando Magic waive Stanley Robinson: Robinson's rights would go to the New Mexico and new head coach Darvin Ham. I watched him play a bit in Orlando, and I thought he was very athletic and looked to be a bit raw in other parts of the game. He is undersized if they have him play the four, but he is such a stud athlete, I think he would survive just fine playing there.
• Portland waives Steven Hill and Raymond Sykes: This would not have much impact here for Idaho, as both Hill (Tulsa) and Sykes (Sioux Falls) have their rights owned by their former teams. I suspect that that both Tulsa and Sioux Falls would take these guys back as returning players, but you never know.
• New Orleans Hornets waive D.J. Strawberry: Again, D.J. has his rights owned by his old team, the Reno Bighorns. I have always really like D.J. and the way he competes, and I think this will be a nice piece for Eric Musselman if D.J. decides to return to the D-League. At this point, however, I am not sure if that is a done deal. He has been in this league a few year and may, like Oliver Lafayette, decide to take some money overseas.
• Dallas Mavericks bring in Sean Williams for a workout: I don't know much about Sean Williams except for what you read, and that is not particularly good. It sounds like he is a very talented guy who has some off court issues that he just can't get past. I will say this -- if he can't get it together for Donnie Nelson, he can't get it together for anyone. It will be hard for anyone in our league to match up with his size and athleticism in our league if his head is right.
• Minnesota waives John Thomas and Jason Hart: Too older veteran journeyman cut from the T-Wolves roster and, if they signed with the league, they would go to Sioux Falls. The Hoops Market is reporting Thomas is headed to Strasbourg in France, and I can't see Hart coming to the D-League. I suspect he will wait it out and get picked up somewhere as a third point guard for a NBA team.
• Golden State waives Aaron Miles: A veteran point guard of many years overseas, his rights would go to Reno if he signed with the D-League. I suspect he will go overseas because that is where he has spent his career, but maybe he decides he wants to give it a good go with a NBA level head coach in Eric Musselman.
• Atlanta Hawks waive Evan Brock, Ricardo Marsh, and Richard Delk: I will be honest, I don't know anything about these guys except that they would go to the Flash.
• Oklahoma City Thunder waive Elijah Millsap and Jerome Dyson: Dyson and Millsap would both go to the Thunder. Millsap is a really pretty good player who I watched quite a bit with the Pistons this summer. Dyson scored about 17 for UConn last year and looks like a pretty good player for 66ers if they sign in the D-League.
• Miami Heat waive Kenny Hasbrouck and Shavlik Randolph: Hasbrouck will have his rights go back to RGV where we was before being called up to the Heat. Randolph will likely sign somewhere in the NBA, because he has proven to be a good practice/role player in his handful of years in the league. If he goes D-League, he goes to Sioux Falls, and I am sure the pride of West Valley High in Yakima, Washington -- Tony Fritz -- would be very happy with that.
• Denver Nuggets waive Eric Boateng: Idaho would have his rights, but The Hoops Market is reporting that he will go to Greece and play for Aris Thessaloniki (an awesome city).