FanPost

Free Agents, G-League - Offseason Musings

A few off-season thoughts/hopes I’d like to share.

Free Agency

With the prospect of Hammond leaving, and the potential to hire a great cap expert or European scout, I was thinking of inexpensive players in Europe that could fill needs on the roster:

Nicolo Melli – Forward

http://fansided.com/2016/11/18/nba-eastern-conference-tier-two-tussle/

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Nicolo-Melli-1299/

11.5 PPG, 53.5 2FG, 43.4% 3FG, 7.4 REB, 2.3 AS

Fill in backup forward in case Beasley walks for more money, and to backup Jabari. -

Moustapha Fall – Center

7’2″ Frenchman Moustapha Fall, 24, went undrafted in 2014, but he’s used to being late to the party. The Paris-born hulk first picked up a basketball at 17—soccer was the only game he cared for until he was 14. Fall comes with a massive 7’6″ wingspan, a polished post game, savvy footwork and elbows that create space. He flashes a baby hook around the rim, using it to shoot a Pro A-best 73 percent from two-point range. He signed with French club Elan Chalon for the 2016-17 season but has a manageable $150,000 NBA out clause, should the Lakers or rival teams wish to bring him over.

B/R: What’s the end goal with joining the Los Angeles Lakers? Is there a minicamp invite? Moustapha Fall: No. I’m with the Lakers for summer league. I don’t want to think about the future too much, but I believe the Lakers have been following me, so I just want to give my best in Las Vegas and see what happens. 11 months ago – via Bleacher Report --

Edwin Jackson – Shooting Guard

Top scorer in Spain, 6’3 with 6’6 wingspan.

21.4 PPG, 57.1% 2FG, 37.3% 3FG, 3.5 REB, 3.4 AS, 1 STL

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Edwin-Jackson-1359/

"I’ve always wanted to go to the NBA, no matter what happens," Jackson said. "If I only get interest from Euroleague, that’s fine. But if an NBA team comes calling, I would definitely not overlook that." The 27-year-old guard is currently leading Spain’s ACB league in scoring with 22.7 ppg. To put that into context, keep in mind no player has averaged 20-plus points in that competition since Rudy Fernandez did it back in 2007-08. He moved to the Portland Trail Blazers the following season. That Jackson is having such a strong year with Madrid-based Estudiantes comes off as a bit of a surprise considering his struggles in 2015-16 with Unicaja, where he averaged 6.6 ppg on 37.8 percent shooting in the ACB. edwin-jackson-vert His comeback season is a testament to a strong work ethic he learned being around pro basketball from an early age.
His father, Louisiana-born Skeeter Jackson, played the game professionally in France and even made the French National Team after obtaining citizenship in the 80’s. "I know what it takes to do this," Jackson said. "No matter if you play good, if you play bad, you’re always going to have that next opportunity. You’ve got to be able to produce. When I play bad, or when I changed teams, I had to be good. Whenever you play good, you’re going to have a bigger opportunity. You don’t stop working, you have to continue working. The things that you already know how to do, you have to do it to perfection, and the things that you don’t know how to do or that you’re not so good at, you just keep working day after day." Jackson, who was a member of France’s 2010 World Championship entry at age 20, had a cup of coffee in the NBA in 2014, when he played summer league with the Boston Celtics averaging 6.7 ppg in 12.1 minutes per contest, but he wants more. "Some people say I’m undersized for the NBA," the 6-foot-3 Jackson told HoopsHype. "But I would object to that. Now you have guys like CJ McCollum who pretty much has point guard size and Isaiah Thomas, who’s a point guard but pretty much plays like a shooting guard."
Although his NBA experience is limited, he has big-name NBA acquaintances such as Tony Parker. Between 2010 and 2014, Jackson played for ASVEL Villeurbanne, the French club owned by the Spurs All-Star guard. "I think of him like he’s my big brother," Jackson said. "We’re very close because, you know, we both have double citizenship, French and American, we have a lot in common. We always wanted more, the passion that we have for the game. Our dads were both professional basketball players. We really get along years back, so we’re very close friends." In the States, it’s OK to be ambitious, to have goals and not being afraid of talking about your dream and how you want to achieve it. In France, it’s a little bit different. People are more shy about what they want to achieve. I might come across as cocky a little bit, but it’s the ambition, it’s something that you’re willing to work for. When I was younger, people took my ambitions as something that wasn’t always good for me, while now it’s very different because I’m actually doing good for myself."


G-League offers:

Just one recommendation for now: Taking a look at Kennesaw State Owls roster, leading the nation with 43.2% 3FG. -

Kendrick Ray – Senior

21.2 PPG, 48.7% 2FG, 39.9% 3FG, 79.2% FT, 3.6 REB, 3 AST. -

Nick Masterson – Jr.

2nd highest 3FG% in all of college with

54.1%. 85.3% FT 49.8 2FG 2.4 REB 3.1 AST 12.9 PPG.

I have never heard his name mentioned on any draft, 21 years old 6’6" guard, seems like he should be on someone’s radar, but I guess the school hasn’t performed well enough.

Again, these are G-League suggestions.

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