Small Players in Big Roles

[VCFAN]

What are some players in this league that dont get many points rebound assists etc. due to very small minutes and roles on their team but have the potential to become great players in the league if they were just part of another team or were given a bigger role?

An example is Andrei Kirilenko and Gerald Wallace(we will se this season).

I would say Darko Milic could be a Nowitzki type player but he has to play behind Ben and Rasheed Wallace. I also believe Lamond Murray could be the same if he didn't have to be behind Carter, Rose and Peterson.

Any other players? Give expected numbers if they were on a team if they got full minutes and opportunities.

[Andrew]

Earlier in his career with the Clippers and Cavaliers Lamond Murray certainly was a decent player, averaging double figures from 1997 to 2002. He'd probably be playing much better were he in Charlotte (the way Steve Smith has added some scoring off the bench), but I don't think Murray would be one of the great players in the league if he was getting more minutes; after all, he is on the downside of his career.

Darko is probably the best example of a player who isn't getting all that much PT right now but could become a great player. Mike Sweetney is a good example of a player who has benefited from increased minutes. Sweetney's minutes have more than doubled so far this season and he's averaging 14 ppg and 5.5 rpg.

Kareem Rush, Rodney White, Eddie Griffin and Ronald Murray are other players whose playing time is restricted by high profile teammates who have the potential to be very good players given a key role and consistent minutes.

[Fresh8]

What about Bobby Jackson playing behind Mike Bibby. Or is Bobby a better bench guy?

[Donatello]

no matter how much it saddens me to see the kings fall apart before our very eyes, i wish bobby jackson could play on another team- he is just too good to not be a starter, IMO

[Matt]

hmmm, Milicic won't play, even if he's ready, unless he has post game. Time after time Brown pulled Okur out of games for hanging on the perimeter

I'm high on Maciej Lampe....he's a good rebounder, good but raw offensive game and he's got a big body and he's just 19. He'll have a chance to play in Phoenix

[Fresh8]

Is Mr Tabuse any good. He made the league at 5'9" so maybe he awesome but playing in a superior Guard rotation.

[Andrew]

What about Bobby Jackson playing behind Mike Bibby. Or is Bobby a better bench guy?

Difficult to say. Aside from starting in 26 out of 59 games in 2003 in place of an injured Bibby, he's only had one season where he's started a large percentage of his games and that was his rookie year (53 of 68 games). I think he's capable of being a starting point guard in the NBA but I don't think he'd be significantly better in a starting role.

[Fresh8]

So Bobby at his best is Sixth Man material Andrew?

[Andrew]

No no, he's capable of being a fine starting point guard, but I don't think that he would surprise us with Marbury or Francis-like numbers.

[Fresh8]

Just playing with you man!

[NNpF]

Any team could have an All-Star on their bench right now and not even know it. Look at Andrei Kirilenko and Michael Redd. They had to sit on the bench behind some great players and they never got a chance to show what they can really do.

But after Payton and Cassell left the Bucks and Malone left the the Jazz, these two became starters and more than that, All-Stars.

So for all we know the Atlanta Hawks could have an All-Star on their bench and not even know it. Predrag Drobnjak? Jon Barry?

[GloveGuy]

Al Jefferson, Ndubi Ebi, and Marcus Banks.

All of their respective coaches are high on their ability and potential.

Jefferson's an absolute beast. Plain and simple, he knows how to put the ball in the basket. Right now, he's backed up by Lafrentz and Blount, but I could see him slowly coming along over the year.

Ebi right now is still very raw. I haven't been able to see much of him this year, but I'm hoping to see that he put on some muscle last year. Unlike Jefferson, he came into the league without the NBA body. Hopefully, playing behing KG will give help him tremendously.

Marcus Banks is a huge IF right now, especially in the situation he's currently in. The Celts are still looking for their PG of the future and it looks like it's come down to him, Delonte West, and Jiri Welsh. Out of the three, I like Banks the best due to his natural quickness and ability to shut down opponents. With GP's help, I'm looking for Banks to become a more composed NBA point guard, unlike last year where he was a loose cannon everytime he stepped onto the floor.

[MaD_hAND1e]

Is Mr Tabuse any good. He made the league at 5'9" so maybe he awesome but playing in a superior Guard rotation.

In order to make roster space for Bo Outlaw, the Suns placed guard Yuta Tabuse, the first Japanese-born player to make an NBA roster, on the injured list with a right quadricep strain.

Coincedence?

[J@3]

So for all we know the Atlanta Hawks could have an All-Star on their bench and not even know it. Predrag Drobnjak? Jon Barry?

Actually... I wouldn't put it past Drobnjak, he's been impressive for them off the bench this season.

[Matt]

Juan Dixon is waiting to explode off the Wizards bench....put him on the Hawks and he'll fill up the stat sheet

[TheBigEasy]

An example is Andrei Kirilenko and Gerald Wallace(we will se this season).

Yep ... Gerald Wallace will surprise some people I'd say. Same with Primoz Brezec. Stuck deep on the Pacers bench in the past he can now show what he can do. I'd say he can average 15/10 for the season.

I would say Darko Milic could be a Nowitzki type player but he has to play behind Ben and Rasheed Wallace.

Nah ... there is a reason he hasn't seen enough minutes last season. If he had shown what he can do in practice, Brown would have played him more. And Larry already said he won't get any minutes this year either. I doubt very much thats just because of their deep roster.

Another player not getting enough minutes right now is the Hornets first rounder, JR Smith. In the preseason he has clearly shown, what he is able to do, but now he is stuck behind an aging David Wesley. I just hope they are giving Wesley this much playing time because they wanna showcase him for trades ... And since we are on the Hornets ... David West anyone? He has the potential to become a solid contributor, yet he still isn't given enough minutes.

TBE

[J@3]

Juan Dixon is waiting to explode off the Wizards bench....put him on the Hawks and he'll fill up the stat sheet

Gotta agree with that one.

[j.23]

brent barry, the guy's such a prick on offense, he could kick your ass in so many ways.. shoot the 3, drive and dish, slash for the layup.. i had fits when i saw him play washington back when MJ was still around

[MaD_hAND1e]

hmm....
I just realised... shouldn't this thread be called big players in small roles?
aaanyway.. I think basically the whole Bobcats team fitted into this category last year, it's amazing how players like Brezec turn out to be pretty decent players after warming the bench for Indy for so long.

You could look at the per 48 minutes stats to find these players

[J@3]

That's the interesting thing, people don't pay a whole lot of attention to per 48 minute stats for bench riders (i.e Brezec) but when these guys get a genuine amount of playing time they seem to do quite well.

[air gordon]

put any of the aforementioned players on the hawks and they should get good stats

i think bobby jackson is a good one. same with sweetney. frank wililams if he ever got his ass in shape.

[Donatello]

toni kukoc is still a solid, solid player. i really wish he had found his way to the bobcats or hawks somehow this year.

[Matt]

hmm, the per 48 min stats can be deceiving because i'll bet theres a lot of bench guys that are stocked away that would struggle to make it through 30 mins.