The All-Potential Team
Who is the next J.O.?When I caught wind of the news out of Phoenix this morning that Alando Tucker (knee) will be out for 2-4 weeks, my initial reaction was, “That’s too bad.” But right after that I realized, “He probably wasn’t gonna play anyway.”
Although talented, Tucker is one of many NBA youngsters stuck on his team’s bench with no daylight in sight. While everyone in the organization and some knowledgeable fans believe in them and can see them becoming the next Jermaine O’Neal (benchwarmer-turned-All-Star), they haven’t been able to show it on the big stage. Tucker only saw action in six games as a rookie in Mike D’Antoni’s notoriously short rotation, and early this season has yet to get his number called by Terry Porter.
This season we’ve seen a couple of players formerly in Tucker’s position — Amir Johnson in Detroit and Antoine Wright in Dallas — finally handed starting jobs and ample playing time to show their skills, with mixed results: Johnson (6.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) has looked better every night, while Wright has already logged one DNP-CD before reclaiming his spot as the Mavs’ two-guard.
Who is that “potential” player on the end of your team’s bench whom you think will be good once they get some burn?
November 4th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Mark S. says:
Tucker hadn’t seen any action this year, because the team was resting him in the hopes that he wouldn’t need surgery. It had nothing to do with what they thought of him.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Junio says:
Blatche – Wizards
Darko Mil.. – just kidding
November 4th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
doc says:
Mareese Speights.That youngin is gonna be a certified beast one day soon.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
nick says:
hassan adams-raptors
talented but only 6-3 and too small for a two and don’t have the handle to be a pg.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
vinny says:
aaron brooks-houston
I understand there only rookies but anthony randolph-gs
and ryan anderson-jersey are going to be good some day.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Austin Burton says:
Eric Gordon in L.A. He didn’t see the court until there were three minutes left last night.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
tim says:
also on the pistons…Walter Sharpe…you can find his first two NBA points on need4sheed…a nice little drive baseline followed by a reverse jam on some dude’s head.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
JDigiac says:
Gerald Green, Javaris Crittenton, Dorell Wright would be solid starters or WILL be. There young so they have time. Leon Powe, Jason Maxiell and Nick Young could be putting up HUGE numbers in the near future if the superstars in front of them leave or are injured.(Garnett, Sheed, Arenas)
November 4th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Austin Burton says:
Roy Hibbert. Trust me, he’s gonna be nice.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Big Sia says:
SALIM STOUDAMIRE IS THE DEFINITION
November 4th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
A$$Cube aka Zeke says:
E-City by fat, er, far.
One day he’s gonna stuff it to the Dwight Howards and Tim Duncans in the world.
Either that or I’m gonna choke on my pills!
November 4th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Alex "Robocop" Murphy says:
Do Kwame Brown, Stromile Swift, Robert Swift, Yi Jialian, and Darko Milicic count?
How about Brian Scalabrine?
Royal Ivey?
November 4th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Xavier says:
SERGIO RODRIGUEZ
McMillan has zero trust in him, he will bench him in 5 minutes if he commits one turnover, for example. With more burn he could be the next Steve Nash
November 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
I say Marco Bellineli from my squad. This kid lights it up playing for the Italian’s and I think he’s going to be a great shooter if he every gets off Nellies bench. I don’t see why he isn’t getting the nod at point while the Warriors are thin at that position.
November 4th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
CP3DaMan says:
Julian Wright- Dude has skills outta this world. If he ever puts it all together he could be an impact player on both ends of the court, with a motor, and length like crazy
November 4th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
SayItAintSo says:
I agree with Xavier…I’ve been preaching the Spanish chocolate for ages. I don’t understand why Nate is so hard on Sergio…is he that big of a liability on defense because that guy can see only like 7 minutes and put out like 4 or 5 assists with just one turnover. And he does that on a pretty consistent basis.
November 4th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Austin Burton says:
Sergio Rodriguez is in the same situation Carlos Arroyo was in; he can’t play freely because he knows one mistake will get him the hook.
November 4th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
THE MAMBA says:
I will make a short list of guys who i think will be studs…
1) danillo gallinari
2) trevor ariza
3) jarvis cittenton
4) gerald green, still has too much talent not to make it
5) andre bynum, not sure if he still qualifies cuz of the contract
6) JR smith??
7) tyrus thomas
November 4th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
sans says:
Jason Thompson
Marc Gasol
Carlos Delfino–if he shoots like every team is Greece
Corey Williams
Alex Murphy–your list is hilarious. And NO, they don’t count.
If Spanish Chocolate is so good, why wasn’t he on Spain’s Olympic squad…sudden case of vaginitis?
November 4th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Celts Fan says:
@AB, I always liked Hibbert. 7′2″ at least means he can get boards and blocks and he had a nice touch (passing and short jumpers) at GTown. Short of injuries, I think he’s Kendrick Perkins at worst. They’re both slow as fuck but at least they should be able to run the paint at that size and you won’t be one of those teams that’s easily pushed around. I wanted him when we got the #5 before he didn’t declare and we found a MUCH better couple moves…
I think Leon Powe could be a nice starting 4 (think David Lee, but cooler) if he had a good scoring center next to him (who’s fucking w/ him next to Dwight Howard or Yao?) He never stops out there and looks like he eats a diet of nothing but steroids. We all know what he can do on the glass, but he’s also a pretty solid foul shooter gets there a lot and doesn’t take many bad shots. (you could say the exact same thing about Jason Maxiell and David Lee and I wouldn’t argue.)
I also kinda think Gabe Pruitt could become like Delonte West in a few years. Nothing ridiculous, but a solid contributor.
November 4th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
khalfani says:
ramon sessions
November 4th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Celts Fan says:
Bill Walker too for a real, not in the rotation at all guy.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Celts Fan — I got way too excited when Hibbert checked into the season opener and unleashed a pro move along the baseline for his first NBA bucket, then later on stopped his man from scoring twice. Too excited because Hibbert did all of that against Kwame Brown.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Luigi says:
our best player calls him East Kobe AKA Nick Young
KG = Andray Blatche in 2-3 years
November 5th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Dominique says:
Javaris Crittenton can be better than what Conley is right now… Even Lowry is better than Conley.
Then, Jason Thompson is not really at the end of his team’s bench, but he deserves more PT.
Could compete for ROY with 35 min per game.