NBA D-League: Dangerous Players to Watch Out For

The NBA Development League, or D-League, is like the minor leagues in baseball. Pro players that cannot find a team in the NBA can go here, perform, and be called up on special 10-day contracts to play for their team. After the second 10-day contract, the NBA team must decide whether to sign the player to a full contract or let the player go back down to the D-League. Eric Bledsoe, Danny Green, Chris Andersen, and Lou Williams are players that have all played in the D-League. Here are a few players that are deadly and might ring a bell.

Chris Babb- Maine Red Claws

Babb, pictured here as a player for the Boston Celtics in the preseason, is now with the C's affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. Babb is a nice player with a sweet touch. His versatility has been on display with the Red Claws, as he is averaging 7.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5 assists, a block and steal per game. Babb is also boasting a 10-to-1 assist to turnover ratio. As long as Babb continues to get minutes, he will continue to produce for the Claws.

Dee Bost- Idaho Stampede

Bost, pictured above playing in a preseason game for the Portland Trail Blazers, is playing 42 minutes per game for the Blazers affiliate, the Idaho Stampede. In these 42 minutes, Bost is producing, with 17.5 points, 5 boards, 7.5 assists, and 2 steals per game. These stats are comparable to an NBA player named John Wall. Although comparing the two leagues is unfair, Bost is still a wild horse leading the Stampede.

Aquille Carr- Delaware 87ers

Carr, the so-called "Crime Stopper" from Baltimore, is now playing a D-League team that borders his home state, the Deleware 87ers. Carr was a YouTube sensation after the 5'6" guard showed off his moves. The 20-year-old is scoring 15 points per game on 50 percent shooting from deep so far this year. Carr is using the D-League as an NBA tryout because he hasn't attended college and therefore will be eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft.

Abdul Gaddy- Maine Red Claws

Gaddy was one of the most underrated players in college basketball last year. The former Washington Huskies guard, pictured above with the Charlotte Summer League team, is very versatile. Gaddy doesn't get many minutes with the Red Claws, but can make use of them, averaging 5 points and 6.5 assist per game. When Gaddy hits his groove, he can be very deadly.

Pierre Jackson- Idaho Stampede

Pierre Jackson, drafted by the Pelicans but was never signed, is making a huge impact for the Stampede alongside Bost. The Stampede seem intent on giving minutes, because Pierre is averaging 42 minutes per game. But Jackson is dropping bombs, scoring 30.5 points per game along with 4.5 assists. The former Baylor Bear should be called up to an NBA team sometime soon, because he heats up like a microwave. Jackson makes an impact for whoever he plays for.

Kalin Lucas- Iowa Energy

Remember him? Lucas made an impact for Michigan State from 2007 to 2010, and he was signed this summer by the Chicago Bulls, but he was cut but then acquired by the Energy, the Bulls affiliate. Lucas could possibly get a call from the Bulls soon, because Derrick Rose is out for the season and Lucas is playing well. Lucas's 17.5 points and 7.5 assists are very strong, even in the D-League.

Trey McKinney-Jones- Fort Wayne Mad Ants

McKinney-Jones was signed by his hometown Milwaukee Bucks, then cut and signed by their affiliate, the Mad Ants. The former Miami Hurricane is doing what he does best for the Mad Ants: scoring. Although his three point shot is not in tact yet, he is still averaging 13.5 points per game to go along with 2 steals per game. When he finds his three-point shot, he will become even more deadly.

Romero Osby- Maine Red Claws

Osby was the Orlando Magic's last pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, and his performance should convince the Magic to resign Osby. He is averaging 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, strong for a 6'7" player. Osby has a nice shooting touch and like to bruise inside to get and-ones and hard-fought buckets. Osby is a nice compliment for Chris Babb and Abdul Gaddy in Maine.

Malcolm Thomas- Los Angeles D-Fenders

Malcolm Thomas may be the best player in the D-League. With two years of NBA experience with the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, Thomas has improved his game from only an inside threat to a complete post. He is averaging a mind-boggling 36 points, 18 rebounds,3 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks per game. The San Diego State product should get a call from some NBA team soon while he remains hot.

Top 5 College Basketball Plays So Far This Season

5. Putney's Putback

Raphiael Putney is no household name for college basketball fans, but this dunk in the Minutemen opener vs. LSU put his name in the college basketball world. The only question now is: What is with Captain America in the lower left corner?

4. Staten Island Attacks

West Virginia basketball has been on the decline, but Juwan Staten elevated over Virginia Tech's Joey Van Zegeren for this monster slam. The dunk actually didn't count due to a hand check foul, but the dunk was still insane.

3. Not In My House

Justin Jackson might want to consider a career in volleyball if this basketball thing doesn't work out.

2. We've Been Waiting For You, Aaron

We knew it was only a matter of time before Aaron Gordon showed up on the SportsCenter Top 10, and here he is doing his best Markel Brown impression.

1. Putney's Poster

Yes, Putney managed to make the list again with another incredible slam. I might start calling this The Putney Reel.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Markel Brown pulls off a 360 alley-oop slam vs. Tennessee Tech.

DISHONORABLE MENTION

The worst play of the year so far goes to James Michael McAdoo and the home fan who heckles McAdoo by singing Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball", forcing McAdoo to miss the free throw.

Top 5 Backcourts in the Country

5. Notre Dame
Key Guards: Eric Atkins (below), Demetrius Jackson, Pat Connaughton

Notre Dame has an experienced  backcourt. Grant, Atkins, and Connaughton are upperclassmen, but Jackson is a freshman. Atkins is a knockdown three point shooter, shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc in 3 years. Grant never got a lot of playing time, but he is a high-volume scorer who can fill up the basket quickly. Jackson was an McDonald's All-American who should make a big impact off the bench. Connaughton is a solid player who can do it all on the floor for the Fighting Irish.

4. Michigan State
Key Guards: Keith Appling and Gary Harris (below), Travis Trice, Denzel Valentine

All of MSU's key guards have at least one year of experience under their belt. Appling is the floor general, and he finally looks like a real point guard. After averaging only 3 assists per game in three previous years, the senior is now averaging 6.2 assists per game. His best game possibly ever came against Kentucky last week, when Appling scored 25 points, snatched 8 boards, dished out 8 assists, and had 4 steals. Harris is a future NBA lottery pick with scoring and athletic potential. His shooting percentages are on the downfall, but that should be fixed soon. Trice and Valentine are defensive pests that come of the bench and hassle opponents.

3. Louisville
Key Guards: Russ Smith, Chris Jones, and Kevin Ware (below), Terry Rozier

This lineup is filled with deadly shooters. Russ Smith's shot selection is always questionable, but he can knock down shots with ease. Smith is lightning fast and can slash and finish with the best in the nation. Chris Jones, who wears number three like the last U of L point guard Peyton Siva, plays a lot like Siva. Jones is not quite a deadly shooter, but the 5'10" point guard can get to the basket easily. Kevin Ware is most known for breaking his leg in last year's Elite Eight game against Duke, but he is a unknowingly a defensive stud and a knockdown shooter. He shot 40% from the arc in his first real year as a Cardinal and averaged 1.1 steals per game. When Rozier sees the floor, he becomes effective, but he has trouble finding the floor.

2. Memphis
Key Guards: Joe Jackson, Geron Johnson, Michael Dixon, and Chris Crawford (below), Damien Wilson

All of the guards except for Wilson are seniors. The seniors all start, forming an incredible four-guard lineup with big man Shaq Goodwin in the middle. Jackson has been improving and improving every year he has been at Memphis, and looks comfortable running the point. Geron Johnson is a balanced player who wants the ball at all times, and can shoot very well. Dixon is a transfer from Missouri who plays great defense and can score from anywhere on the floor. Crawford hits 3 after 3 when he gets good looks from the arc. Crawford can play all of the wing positions excellently. Wilson comes off the bench and can score mostly off of penetration, but also from beyond the arc.

1. Oklahoma State
Key Guards: Marcus Smart and Markel Brown (below), Stevie Clark, Phil Forte, Brian Williams

This backcourt is a mix of athleticism and shooting. Marcus Smart is the best point guard in America, and he proved that last night against Memphis when he went off for 39 points, 26 of them in the first half. Smart showed an improved three point shot, his main weakness last year, most notably an early four-point play. Smart also showed off his hops with a fast-break slam and a nice alley-oop from Markel Brown. Speaking of Brown, he made huge strides between his sophomore and junior years. Brown displayed a vastly improved shot while continuing to be the best dunker in the nation. Stevie Clark is a scoring 5'11" guard that earns high praise from the OK State coaches and Smart. Clark is averaging 9.8 points per game on 54% shooting so far this year. Phil Forte cannot dunk, but his incredible range makes up for that. Forte, Smart's former high school teammate, scored almost all of his points from beyond the arc last year. But Brian Williams is the most athletic guard of all of the Cowpokes. Williams doesn't do much beside dunk, but dunk he does. Oklahoma State is the most exciting team in the nation and their backcourt has poised them to make a deep run in March.

Transfers Already Making Impacts For Their New Teams

Antonio Barton- Tennessee PG

Barton, the former Memphis guard, is knocking down shots for the Volunteers. Through three games, he is 7 of 12 from the arc, averaging 12 points per game. Barton is the only true point guard for the Volunteers, so he will be needed later in the year. The Volunteers are 2-1 so far, and Barton will become a household name for the Volunteers.

DeAndre Kane- Iowa State PG

Kane is surprisingly efficient for the Cyclones, shooting 50 percent or over from the field in all three games, leading the 'Clones to a 3-0 record and a surprising victory over Michigan. Kane has a lot of help from Naz Long and Melvin Ejim, but Kane is already a leader for Iowa State in his first year with the program.

Joesph Young- Oregon G

The former Houston guard Young is legit. He is fourth in the nation in scoring with 30 points per game, and he is shooting 60 percent from the field. He got off to a great start with 24 points against a strong Georgetown team, and he is helping another transfer, Mike Moser from UNLV, hold down the fort while waiting for Dominic Artis to return. Young has the chance to compete for the Pac-12 POY and the scoring title.

Joshua Smith- Georgetown C

Josh Smith is a big boy. Smith left UCLA for a depleted Georgetown team that he is making a huge impact for. He dropped 25 on a top 20 Oregon team. The only question surrounding him is if he can score on a consistent basis for the Hoyas.