The horizon is bright, and blinding, for the NBA D-League
We all know the appeal of the NBA Development League is, very clearly, the proximity to the NBA itself. So although Christmas is gone and New Years Eve confetti has been swept up, for D-League players January 5 is the date circled on the calendar.
The day they’ve been working towards, not to be dramatic, their entire careers. That was absolutely dramatic, but the point is, the stakes are high.
As of Thursday D-League employees are eligible to sign 10-Day contracts with NBA clubs. It’s also a day that NBA organizations wait for, with what I imagine to be decidedly less anticipation.
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Clubs can now fill holes in their ailing rosters, get stop-gaps in place for a rotation player temporarily on the shelf, or secure Plan C for a playoff run. Although not new, the utilization of the development league is still something NBA teams are working on mastering. Figuring out the best way, for them, to take advantage of the system. Every situation is unique. There are no common practices.
Speaking with a NBA scout at a game last (calendar) year, he mentioned something interesting. When this time of year comes around, organizations are still waffling on whether to sign a player for ceiling or floor.
Do you hope a D-League superstar will morph into a valuable rotation player? How much weight do you place on a specific skill, like a shutdown defender, or 3-point specialist who may not have much more dimension to their game? Are you willing to deal with growing pains, or do you want to have a mature vet who won’t hurt you, but simultaneously is not a long-term solution?
All these variables highlight how difficult it is to stick in this cutthroat league. It’s true, the road to the NBA is often winding, just ask Sean Kilpatrick, Lance Thomas, Jeremy Lin, or Jonathon Simmons. But the 10-Day contract is an all-expenses paid ticket to get on the plane headed in the right direction.
If you’re not familiar with this high pressure job interview, here’s what you need to know.
NBA franchises can pen players for 10 days, NOT games. Days. They get a week and a half to prove themselves.
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Then, they’re eligible for a second 10-Day. If that’s not offered, and their services aren’t retained for the remainder of the season, players get released and return to their D-League club.
After 20 days, NBA teams that held the audition have two options. They either release players or sign them to a prorated minimum contract that weighs the NBA tenure of each individual, effectively signing them for the rest of the season. That’s a payday, by the way, that eclipses the highest D-League salary in a major may.
Starting tomorrow, some D-Leaguers are going to be moving one step closer to their dreams.