Each week, ESPNDallas.com will take a look at the Texas Legends, the D-League affiliate for the Dallas Mavericks, in order to see how the two are working hand in hand to improve one another.
January 5 is an important date on the NBA’s calendar for everyone in the D-League. That’s due to the fact that NBA teams can sign anyone, including players in the D-League, to 10-day contracts. A 10-day contract is just that, a player contract which lasts ten days (or three games, whichever comes later). Teams cannot sign players to 10-day contracts that would extend past their last regular season game.
A team may sign an individual player to two 10-day contracts in one season. After the second 10-day contract, the team can only retain the player by signing him for at least the remainder of the season.
With the talent the Legends have, it’s possible that some of their players could receive the call and earn a 10-day deal. Here are some of the players that have performed at a level that could merit some attention from the NBA.
Every team needs a versatile weapon at their disposal. The athletic Griffin ranks 10th overall in the league in scoring with an average of 20.1 points per game. In addition, he’s able to fill up the stat sheet by averaging 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.7 blocks this season.
Rebounding is a valuable commodity in the NBA, and James has shown the ability to handle his own in that department. The Legends’ leading rebounder ranks 10th overall in the league with an average of 10.3 rebounds per night.
At age 39, the veteran is looking to show he’s still worthy of one more run in the NBA. After multiple 10-day contracts with them, James finished last season with the Chicago Bulls. While the position is as deep as ever, a veteran point guard like James might come be useful as injuries pop up.
Mark your calendars
The 11-7 Legends have a two-game homestand over the weekend. They will host the Los Angeles D-Fenders on Friday. The Legends then host the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Saturday. Both games will tip off at 7 p.m. CT at Dr.Pepper Arena in Frisco.
Fans will be able to watch the D-League live on the NBA D-League YouTube Channel (YouTube.com/nbadleague), the Legends’ website, as well as via the NBA D-League Center Court mobile app -- the league’s free mobile application providing fans with access to NBA D-League content.
But not least …
It’s a light schedule for the Legends as they prepare for the next phase of the D-League’s season. The 2015 NBA D-League Showcase tips off with a four-game slate on Jan. 15 when the Texas Legends and Bakersfield Jam face off in a Showcase Cup game at 12 p.m. CT.
The five-day event in Santa Cruz, Calif. continues with four games apiece on Jan. 16-18 and culminates in a three-game schedule on Jan. 19. Each of the NBA D-League’s 18 teams will play two games apiece during the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase, with eight teams competing for the inaugural Showcase Cup, a bracketed in-season tournament.
The league’s premier in-season scouting event, the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase affords players and coaches the opportunity to show their skills in front of general managers and player personnel executives from all 30 NBA teams.