NBA 10-Day Contract Candidates

Beginning on Monday, NBA teams can start signing players to 10-day contracts. After the first contract expires, a team can sign that player to one more 10-day contract and then they must decide if they want to sign that player for the remainder of the season or cut ties. The 10-day contract serves as a try-out period for a respective player, with most of those players originating from the NBA’s Development League.

The D-League is quickly proving to be a legitimate avenue for prospects with more and more players getting called up. Last season, a total of 37 players earned an opportunity to play in the NBA on a record 49 call-ups. Players like Chris Douglas-Roberts, Kendall Marshall, Shawne Williams and Dewayne Dedmon all earned call-ups last season and are currently still playing on NBA rosters.

With the window now open for teams to start signing players to 10-day contracts, here are 10 prospects (in no particular order) that could earn a call-up.

Brady Heslip – Perhaps the first prospect that will get a chance at a 10-day contract is Heslip from the Reno Bighorns. Heslip is currently leading the D-League in scoring and appears on the cusp of an NBA contract. Heslip reportedly was set to take a contract overseas in Turkey, but changed his mind and will now stay in the D-League and wait for an opportunity in the NBA. Through 13 games for Reno, Heslip is averaging 27.7 points and is shooting 50 percent from three-point range. The fact that he turned down money overseas to stay in the United States says there is real interest from teams in the NBA.

Seth Curry – Curry currently sits at number two in the D-League in scoring, averaging 26.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists per game for the Erie BayHawks. Curry signed with the Orlando Magic during training camp with the idea that he’d be waived prior to the start of preseason. Curry got some guaranteed money and the Magic would be able to monitor him on the BayHawks in a system similar to their own. Given his ability to hit from deep, Curry should be in the league sooner than later based off of that feature alone. Curry’s size (6’2, 185 lbs) for a two-guard is concerning, but he could fit well into a system where he’s primarily shooting against second units.

Peyton Siva – Siva, like Curry, joined the Magic during training camp with the idea that he’d get some guaranteed money and then join the BayHawks once the season started. Siva is fifth in the D-League in assists with 7.9 while adding 11.1 points per game in point guard duties for Erie. Siva played in 24 games last season for the Detroit Pistons, seeing the majority of his time in the last month of the season. It’s likely that Siva will find his role on the second unit of a team where he can come in and provide energy.

Damien Wilkins – The nine-year NBA veteran is currently making a strong case to get back into the league. Wilkins is fifth in the D-League with 21.9 points per game and is averaging 6.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Wilkins has an obvious advantage over his younger competition having played in over 500 games in the NBA and should be getting a phone call from a team at some point this season. As the long season continues on and injuries pile up, a team will look for Wilkins’ experienced play down the stretch.

Tyler Johnson – A Miami HEAT training camp invite, Johnson has been putting together a quietly strong season for the Skyforce and is said to be gaining some interest from NBA teams. After missing a few weeks with a groin injury, Johnson has responded by averaging 22 points a game in eight contests since returning for Sioux Falls. Johnson’s recent hot streak has raised his scoring to 19.3 a game, while also averaging four rebounds, 3.5 assists and one steal. Johnson brings elite athleticism to the floor and has shown that he can score from anywhere on the court, as indicated by his 50 percent shooting from three-point range and his five trips to the line a game.

Tim Frazier – Frazier has been one of the hottest players in the D-League as of late and is working to keep his name on the radar for NBA teams. In 18 games for the Maine Red Claws, Frazier is averaging 16.2 points, 8.3 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. His 8.3 assists are good for fourth-highest in the D-League and he’s recorded double-digits in assists in five out of his last eight games. Frazier is coming off of a 34-point, 12-assist, and seven-rebound performance on Saturday and he had a triple-double earlier in December. He’s demonstrated the ability to be a good defender with his 2.2 steals per game. With continued improvement in his three-point shot, Frazier could be up in the NBA sooner rather than later.

Willie Reed – The 6’10 Reed is hoping his solid play in the D-League can translate to a call from an NBA team. Reed is currently No. 10 on the D-League’s prospect watch for the Grand Rapids Drive and is averaging 13.9 points on 70 percent shooting. In addition, he has 11.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, which are both in the top 10 in the league. At this point, Reed has more than proven himself in the D-League and is just waiting on that opportunity from an NBA team. An injury or two will likely be what gets Reed back into the league.

Quincy Miller – While Reed awaits his chance from the No. 10 spot on the prospect watch, Miller currently finds himself at the top of that list. Miller is a player that really hasn’t had the chance set extended minutes in the NBA but has possible suitors across the league. Miller worked out with the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season and is said to have interest from the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers. It’s clear that his play in the D-League has warranted a call-up as the former Baylor product is averaging 25.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.5 assists per game in eight contests.

Khem Birch – Birch joins Johnson as a HEAT training camp invite and was the last cut made by the HEAT in the preseason as the team opted to keep sharpshooter Andre Dawkins as the final man on their 15-man roster. The 6’9 forward is currently fourth in the D-League in blocks at 2.4 per game and is also averaging 13.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Birch is a bit undersized for his position in the NBA, but can provide great rim protection in a limited role until he bulks up. It’s been reported that the Los Angeles Clippers may be one of the first teams to call him with the 10-day contract signing period now open so he may not be on the prospect list for much longer.

Chris Babb – Babb was cut from the Boston Celtics earlier in the preseason, but a call up could be on the way. Babb played in 14 games with the Celtics last season and played in the Summer League and preseason for them. Babb is familiar with the Celtics’ system and could come back if a spot opens up. Despite being on a non-guaranteed contract, Babb elected to stay in Boston over the summer and train at the Celtics’ facilities with teammates Kelly Olynyk, Phil Pressey and the training staff. This season in the D-League, Babb is currently averaging 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

As the season continues and more teams separate themselves in the playoff race, they may look to add some more talent to add depth and give their bench a spark and may look to the D-League to add some inexpensive help.