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NBA D-League Preview: NAZ Suns will lean on returning players

By Chris Reichert

Apr 1, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Elijah Millsap (13) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 98-84. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Elijah Millsap (13) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 98-84. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Over the next couple of weeks, The Step Back will examine each of the 22 NBA D-League teams and bring bringing you an in-depth look at their roster as well as any potential storylines to watch for. Teams can retain up to 12 players, while only 10 will be active for games. This is your first look at the prospects to watch out for all season.

Roster Breakdown

Affiliates: Gracin Bakumanya and Shaquille Harrison
Returners: Bo Barnes, Derek Cooke Jr., Elijah Millsap, Xavier Silas and Askia Booker
Draftees: Michael Bryson, Greg Mays, Mikh McKinney
Tryouts: Josh Gray, Langston Morris-Walker, Asaad Woods and Daniel Alexander
Potential NBA Assignees: Derrick Jones, Tyler Ulis and Dragan Bender

Returners help fill the gaps

Returning player rights are vital in this league. Teams hold player rights for two years following the last season they played with that team. As with most things, experience often breeds success and this is often true with players who return to the D-League. The Northern Arizona Suns have a fearsome foursome of returners who new head coach Ty Ellis will lean on heavily to start the year.

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Elijah Millsap is back as the grizzled veteran of the club. Millsap took the league by storm two years ago and earned a call up from the Utah Jazz where he played for about a season and a half, before they let him go. Since then he’s played in both the Philippines and Israel and now makes a return to his old stomping grounds to prove himself once again. At 29-years-old he’s in the prime of his career so he’s got to strike while the iron is hot. Millsap can shoot, attack the rim and play above average defense to boot, so look for him to take the reigns as the team’s leader early on.

Derek Cooke Jr. spent training camp with the Phoenix Suns after playing his rookie season with the Bakersfield Jam — now the NAZ Suns — last season. Cooke is a bouncy, 6-foot-9 power forward who played well when given the opportunity last year. Now, he will be a mainstay in their lineup and I’m excited to see if he’s developed any of his offensive game. Right now his value is firmly stamped as a rim running, shot blocking forward. To have any real shot at the next level he has to add a 14-18 foot jump shot, and increase his awareness on both ends of the court.

Xavier Silas is the team’s sniper. He was one of the league’s top 3-point shooters last year and will have many open looks this season with Askia Booker and Millsap on the wings with him. Silas only played 27 games last year and hit 71 3-pointers at a 39 percent clip. If you extrapolate that over the course of a 50-game season he would have knocked down 132 3s, which would have tied him for second in the league. Silas can score and that’s always been his calling card. If he can show the ability to make plays for others and defend well, he will have a great season in Prescott Valley.

The breakout of the Buffalo

This is Askia Booker’s year to really shine on the pro stage. Last year as a rookie he played behind Xavier Munford learning the ropes, and now he’s set to be the starting point guard for the Suns. Booker is a 6-foot-1 firecracker who simply makes things happen when he’s on the court. Last season in under 21 minutes per game he averaged 12.8 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field. His assist percentage was an impressive 28.7 and he got to the charity stripe over 3.5 times a game as well.

Clearly, he’s aggressive. Now the key will be to slow the game down, make quality decisions and run this team full of veterans with an iron hand. At 23-years-old he will be one of the younger players, so asserting himself as a leader could be difficult but it’s a necessity for his progression as a lead guard. At the University of Colorado he was their main scoring option and last year off the bench he was tasked with scoring. The transition from combo guard to true point guard will test his meddle, but he’s up for the challenge.

Young international bigs to develop

Gracin Bakumanya is a 19-year-old, 6-foot-11 center and is a raw prospect for the NAZ Suns to develop. He went undrafted after surprisingly leaving his name in the NBA draft pool, but the Phoenix Suns snatched him up as a project for their D-League affiliate. He’s from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is as raw as they come.

Right now, Bakumanya plays simply off talent. His feel for the game and instincts need harnessing as he often takes poor, contested shots and misses opportunities on both ends of the court. He’s very young, but has a 7-foot-3 wingspan, so the tools are certainly there. Building on those tools will be vital for his early career success, and small victories will undoubtedly be the goal for this rookie.

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NAZ already utilized the D-League available player pool claiming another young international prospect in Wally Niang. He’s just 20-years-old and stands 6-foot-9 as a power forward. Niang played in Spain’s ACB the last two seasons, but couldn’t get on the court consistently for either club he suited up for. He’s another raw ball of clay for the Suns to mold. It will be interesting to see how, and if, these two projects can work out.

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