4 NBA D-League Players Miami Heat Should Consider Signing
By Wes Goldberg
Oct 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors small forward Jordan Hamilton (25) controls the ball against New York Knicks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (5) as Toronto Raptors power forward Tyler Hansbrough (50) sets a pick during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
1. Jordan Hamilton (F, Reno Bighorns)
Hamilton, 24, has NBA experience but hasn’t found a squad to stick on. That’s where the Heat come in. Hamilton is a bit of a tweener–something between a 3 and 4 who could even play some small ball 5. Not having a true position maybe has led teams to shy away, but he’s certainly talented.
Averaging 16.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game with splits of 46/31/80, Hamilton ranks No. 3 on the D-League’s prospect watch.
"Gifted scorer who has a nose for rebounds and has proven it in NBA (15.6 points, 7.5 rebounds per 36 minutes). Game is too one-dimensional, lacks a defensive mindset. Has the tools to transition into a stretch-4 and fits well in small-ball league."
Over at RoadtotheAssociation.com, Chris Reichert names the Heat as a potential destination.
"Hamilton is not a significant threat from the 3-point line however if he can sustain even the 35 percent from outside he creates at least a hint of a threat. His true strength has been getting to the basket and finishing very well amongst the trees. The D-League is guard heavy and while many of the league’s big men have come and gone, it’s not exactly a walk in the park to get to the basket and finish. While some players can be classified as “shooters“, Jordan would fall into the “scorer” category. Again, at age 24 he still has room for improvement and while he will certainly continue to put up big numbers in Reno, developing with an NBA franchise would be ideal for him."
Hamilton could double as a backup at small forward and a stretch-4 behind Chris Bosh. He’s a young prospect who could be a potential contributor and a rare asset for this team down the road.
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