Implications of the Initial Roster Cuts

If you missed it, the BayHawks announced they had cut cut their training camp roster from 17 to 13 last night. Gone are Raheem Moss, Derrick Mercer, Jeff Skemp, and Ryan Troutman. One more player must be cut to get the roster down to the D-League mandated 12 by tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. The final 10-man roster must be set by Nov. 26.

Skemp and Troutman were the BayHawks' fifth and sixth round picks from Wisconsin-Platteville and Tusculm, respectively. Moss was a late training camp roster addition from Cleveland State, who also happened to be the last man cut in training camp last year. Mercer, a point guard from American, was Erie's fourth-round selection.

Speculation alert! No roster spots are guaranteed for the BayHawks, but I'm going to suggest it would be surprising if the BayHawks cut any of their four returning players. After talking with Coach Treloar on media day, I'd also be surprised if the team cut either of its first-round draft acquisitions, Donell Taylor and Alade Aminu. Assuming those six are safe, which is not guaranteed but likely, that leaves seven players battling for just four open spots.

I've groupedt he players into one of three categories: backcourt (point guards/shooting guards), wings (small forwards, shooting guards), and frontcourt (power forwards/centers).

Backcourt
Likely in: Oliver Lafayette

Still in contention: Cedric Jackson, Joe Jones, Martin Zeno, Zach Sowers, Rod Wilmont

Analysis: With the departure of Maureece Rice, there's a lot of scoring to be replaced at the guard spot. But perhaps more importantly, the BayHawks need to find themselves a point guard. Of the six players listed here (including Lafayette) are each listed between 6'2" and 6'5". Jackson is really the only true point guard of the bunch, which may give him a leg up on the competition. The other small guards would do well to show the coaching staff they can distribute and defend from the point guard position. My gut tells me it's one of the five guards above that gets the axe tomorrow. In terms of the final roster, I expect two or three of the guards listed above to make it along with Lafayette.

Wings
Likely in: Ivan Harris, Jackie Manuel, Donell Taylor

Still in contention: N/A

Analysis: You could easily make a case that some of the shooting guards listed in the backcourt section are better suited for a wing classification, but I chose to lump them together because a lot of the minutes at small forward and shooting guard figure to go to returnees Harris and Manuel and newcomer/number one pick Taylor.

Frontcourt
Likely in: Alade Aminu, Jarvis Gunter

Still in contention: John Bryant, Kyle Goldcamp

Analysis: It wouldn't surprise me if all four of these players make the final roster, giving Erie four viable big man options. It's also possible that Bryant and Goldcamp, who have similar games based on work ethic and sound fundamentals in the post, are battling each other for a spot. But I'd expect them to both remain on the roster through at least the preseason game on Friday before that decision is made.

Better Know Your BayHawks: 2009 D-League Draft Review, Part 1

The 2009 D-League Draft is in the books. (Check out the official D-League recap and the more opinionated Ridiculous Upside review and DraftExpress Diary.) And that means its officially time to start honing in on who will be on the floor when the BayHawks tipoff the season three weeks from tonight, Nov. 27, in Fort Wayne. Training camp gets underway next week (Nov. 13 or 14) and the first roster cut will come shortly thereafter. Then the BayHawks will play a preseason game in Meadville on Nov. 20 before making their final roster cuts.

Wednesday, I introduced you to Erie's first seven training camp invites, which included four returning players from last year's team and three locally allocated players. Today, it's time to put the first five players from Erie's 2009 draft class under the microscope and examine exactly who and what they acquired with last night's selections. On Monday, I'll look at the final four picks made by the BayHawks.

1st round: Donell Taylor, F, 6'6", 185 lbs, Alabama-Birmingham
What I know: Taylor has 98 games of NBA experience with the Washington Wizards. To put that in perspective, the rest of the BayHawks players heading to training camp have a combined ZERO games of NBA experience. There's a reason Erie chose him number two overall when rumors had them looking to go with a big man and that reason is that he brings a level of professional experience that is significantly lacking on this team with the departure of the veteran team leader from last season, Erik Daniels.

What I want to find out: Now 27 years old, how has Taylor tailored his game to make an impact for the BayHawks this season? He shot just 39.5% from the field, 20.6% from 3-point range, and 64.1% from the line in his two years with the Wizards. As Erie's top pick, I expect Taylor to be a focal point on offense, but he'll need to show that his shooting proficiency has improved.

*1st round (via Fort Wayne): Alade Aminu, PF, 6'10", 235 lbs, Georgia Tech
What I know: Aminu was one of the names rumored for Erie's top pick. Instead, they got him in a draft-day deal with Fort Wayne, sending Rob Kurz to the Mad Ants. Coach Treloar had his eye on Aminu since he saw him back at the Cavs mini-camp in June. He's also one of five players Erie will bring to camp listed at 6'10" or bigger, which should mean a much different frontline look than last year's team that resorted to playing the undersized Erik Daniels out of position at center most of the year.

What I want to find out: Despite playing at a big-time ACC school, I've never heard of Aminu. The first thing that jumps out at me is that 235 seems a bit light for a 6'10" power forward. The second thing that stands out is the jump he made from his junior to senior season in terms of a statistical impact with the Yellow Jackets. Whether or not he can continue to build on that upward trend will be the big question for Aminu in Erie.

2nd round: John Bryant, C, 6'11", 300 lbs, Santa Clara
What I know: According to this video (insert your soundtrack of choice here), Bryant is also known as "Big" John Bryant and a master of the up-and-under move, a backyard basketball favorite of mine. More importantly and impressively, he was named the 2009 West Coast Conference Player of the Year over strong competition that included Patty Mills of Saint Mary's and Josh Heytvelt of Gonzaga.

What I want to find out: How will he adjust to Erie coming from Santa Clara? He'll be one of the biggest bodies in the D-League, but how will he matchup against smaller, quicker centers that other teams will use to counter his size advantage?

3rd round: Martin Zeno, SG, 6'5", 205 lbs, Texas Tech
What I know: The BayHawks roster comes from many different basketball backgrounds, but few can say they played for as legendary of a coach as Zeno did, playing for Bob Knight at Texas Tech.

What I want to find out: Zeno led the Red Raiders in scoring and was second in assists as a senior in 2007-08. As a junior, he was second on the team in scoring and first in assists. Almost everyone good enough to make a D-League roster was a top-scorer in the past, but if Zeno can develop that playmaking ability and be a high assist/low turnover producer from the 2-guard spot, he could definitely play a valuable role for the BayHawks this season.

4th round: Derrick Mercer, PG, 5'9", 170 lbs, American
What I know: Along with backcourt mate Garrison Car, Mercer nearly led American University to a stunning first-round upset of Villanova in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament. Mercer played all 40 minutes, scoring 17 points on 8-16 shooting.

What I want to find out: Is he the guy to fill Rice's shoes? I've made a big deal about the void left by the departure of Erik Daniels, but the absence of last year's point guard, Maureece Rice, who opted to play in Mexico, is also a major concern for the BayHawks. Mercer is four inches smaller and 55 pounds lighter, and thus plays a much different style than Rice, so it'll be interesting to see if and how Coach Treloar adjusts the role of the point guard position to better suit Mercer's strengths, if indeed he wins the starting job.

2009 NBA Development League Draft Results and My Initial Reactions

Unfortunately, Erie did not select any of the 15 players I had listed as guys I'd like to see in a BayHawks uniform this year. But this is why I write the blog and John Treloar and Ben McDonald—the guys who will actually be coaching these players drafted tonight—make the picks. My list was made up primarily of high-profile names from big-time college programs. The coaches picked based on players that could fit into the BayHawks system and develop in their program.

It was a solid draft that sured up some week areas for the team and it should lead to a very competitive training camp, especially at the center and point guard position where Erie looks to replace Erik Daniels and Maureece Rice, arguably its two best weapons last year.

Expect a more substantial draft review tomorrow after we've all had time to digest eight rounds of D-League names (and the draft party food). For now, I'll just offer a quick list of those we picked and the whereabouts of those we passed on from my wish list (that would be all fifteen of them).

1st round: Donell Taylor, F, 6'6", 185 lbs, Alabama-Birmingham
*1st round (via Fort Wayne): Alade Aminu, PF, 6'10", 235 lbs, Georgia Tech
2nd round: John Bryant, C, 6'11", 300 lbs, Santa Clara
3rd round: Martin Zeno, SG, 6'5", 205 lbs, Texas Tech
4th round: Derrick Mercer, PG, 5'9", 170 lbs, American
5th round: Rod Wilmont, SG, 6'4", 215 lbs, Indiana
6th round: Jeff Skemp, C, 6'10", 270 lbs, Wisconsin-Platteville
7th round: Ryan Troutman, G, 6'2", 165 lbs, Tusculum
8th round: Zach Sowers, SG, 6'3", 205 lbs, William Jessup

* Erie traded the rights to Rob Kurz to Fort Wayne for the #10 overall pick

By drafting Bryant and Skemp and trading for Aminu, coach John Treloar will have a very healthy competition for the frontline roster spots as those three battle along with returning BayHawk Jarvis Gunter and Gannon University alum Kyle Goldcamp.

I'd expect Taylor, as the number two overall pick, to make the team and be a significant contributor for the BayHawks. His NBA and overseas experience should be a major plus.

I grant thee zero wishes
While the BayHawks didn't agree with me, I certainly wasn't the only one high on these players. Eleven of the 15 went in the first two rounds and all of them were selected by round six.

My congratulations to Tulsa and Idaho for agreeing with me enough to choose three players from my wish list apiece. I'll definitely be circling Erie's matchups with the 66ers and Stampede on the schedule (unfortunately watching via FutureCast since they're all on the road this year.) Here's a recap of my full wish list as well as when and where the players were drafted:

1st round, 3rd selection: Deron Washington (Los Angeles D-Fenders)
1st round, 8th selection: Paul Harris (Maine Red Claws)
1st round, 9th selection: Rashad Anderson (Iowa Energy)
1st round, 12th selection: Antonio Anderson (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
1st round, 14th selection: JamesOn Curry (Springfield Armor)
1st round, 15th selection: Sundiata Gaines (Idaho Stampede)
1st round, 16th selection: Latavious Williams (Tulsa 66ers)

2nd round, 1st selection: Mustafa Shakur (Tulsa 66ers)
2nd round, 11th selection: Russell Carter (Austin Toros)
2nd round, 13th selection: Reece Gaines (Bakersfield Jam)

4th round, 1st selection: Jeral Davis (Tulsa 66ers)
4th round, 12th selection: Jason Richards (Utah Flash)

5th round, 1st selection: Shagari Alleyne (Albuquerque Thunderbirds)
5th round, 15th selection: JC Mathis (Idaho Stampede)

6th round, 2nd selection: Mike Gansey (Idaho Stampede)