Should Gerald Henderson be Assigned to the D-League?

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 14, 2009 1:00 PM EST in Transactions Comment 20 comments

Duane Burleson - AP

I really wish this was a video so I could find out if he gets blocked or not.

Gerald Henderson, the Bobcat's first-round pick in this years draft, has picked up two DNP-coach's decisions and two appearances of four minutes or less in the past five games. This should reflect more on the coaching of Larry Brown than Henderson's skill level, but regardless, a first-round pick is getting minutes and the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell suggests a trip to Maine.

According to David Arnott over at Rufus on Fire, channeling his inner Donnie Walsh, Gerald Henderson is just too good for the D-League:

My general stance on sending players to the D-League is that there are guys, like Ajinca last year, who get close to nothing from being in the NBA. They're not good enough to learn and improve from playing against the top competition in practice and in games. Therefore, send them to Iowa to learn and improve until they're good enough to actually get something from the big club. Henderson isn't even close to that. Dude holds his own whenever he's on the floor. He's probably best served by playing against NBA competition more than he is by playing 35 minutes per game against D-Leaguers.

Well, David, I'm going to disagree, but let's get one thing correct before I get into this: He'd be sent to Maine, not Iowa. While in Maine, he'd learn from Mike Procopio, one of the best talent developer's in America (seriously, google it).

While in Maine, he'd be greeted with a younger, hungrier and possibly better group of swingmen than he has with the Bobcats. Billy Thomas, Billy Walker, Mario West and Trey Gilder all have NBA talent and all are working hard to get back to the NBA - yes, they all have been in the NBA within the past year. Seems that he may be able to improve by being pushed by those teammates every day just so he can say he didn't have to come off of the bench in the D-League.

If Henderson was sent to the D-League for the rest of December, he'd be matched up against former NBAer's Donnell Taylor, Reece Gaines and Cartier Martin while being checked by one of the best defensive players in the D-League in Fort Wayne's Ron Howard. For 35 minutes a game, none of those are easy match-ups.

Hmm, sitting on the bench and losing confidence or playing and practicing with NBA fringe talent (which is what Henderson is now, FYI) for a couple of weeks?

For me, the decision seems easy. D-League, Hooah!

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Nice....

as usual this makes sense. Though it’d be nice if some system were developed so that rookies got a little bit of D-League time regardless. In Gerald’s case, he could definitely use some development when it comes to his offensive game, and reps with other quality players never hurt.

Blogging at Ridiculous Upside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.

by Aisander D on Dec 14, 2009 1:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You make good points. The other side is they could just give him a more significant role on the Bobcats. Which he probably deserves.

by Vic De Zen on Dec 14, 2009 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

But that seems like it’s not going to happen. LB’s never loved playing rookies, and, unless Santa’s going to bring him a new attitude with regards to rookies, I don’t think it’s changing anytime soon.

If he’s not getting NBA minutes, why not give him minutes with coaches and players of NBA ability?

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 14, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I completely agree that’s the better solution than letting him sit and do nothing with DNP-CDs. However, I do think there’s something to be said for NBA practice with and against Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, and Flip Murray. Overwhelming all that, though, as Vic points out, the best solution is obvious, and that’s to give Henderson more NBA minutes, which his rare performances indicate he deserves. If Larry Brown can’t figure out how to work rookies into his rotation, even though 29 other teams have figured it out, then Brown’s the problem.

Rufus on Fire -- SB Nation's Charlotte Bobcats Blog

by David Arnott on Dec 14, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How many days is Charlotte practicing right now?

Tue 15 vs New York
Wed 16 @ Indiana
Sat 19 vs Utah
Sun 20 @ New York
Tue 22 vs Detroit
Sat 26 @ Oklahoma City
Mon 28 vs Milwaukee
Wed 30 @ Toronto

Aside from Christmas week, where they’ll probably get a couple days off, it looks like a lot of shootaround and travel days for the rest of December.

If they’re not going to give him in-game minutes (and let’s both agree that all signs point to They’re Not), why not give him a couple of weeks to play in games against like competition and get some developing from Procopio as opposed to carrying Raymond Felton’s bags around and attending shoot around?

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 14, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly...

…players need to play. If there is an extended period of downtime for Charlotte then they can shuttle him right back.

Plus, even as good as he his, he is not going to dominate. Maybe short stretches he might come close, but no one has and unless they decide to send LeBron or Kobe down, no one will.

by Rumble on Dec 14, 2009 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry...

But if they were of “NBA ability,” they’d be in the NBA.

Overheard in press box, from local reporter: 'If this Moore kid was any good, they'd be up 31-0 right now.'
--Darin Gantt, on CAR@NE

by MichaelProcton on Dec 14, 2009 6:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd love to agree with you

But it’s relative. Just because players have NBA ability doesn’t mean they’re in the NBA. If there were no contracts, no biases and you were to pick the top 430 players in the World, it’d be different than the 430 players currently in the NBA.

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 14, 2009 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this would make no sense whatsoever

--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..

by raysfan81 on Dec 14, 2009 5:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Care to explain?

by Scott Schroeder on Dec 14, 2009 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

it would make more sense to release stephen graham and play henderson

that way the Bobcats could build for the future. And Henderson is a better player anyway

--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..

by raysfan81 on Dec 15, 2009 8:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Cartier Martin was playing in Europe

I want him back on the Bobcats.

by MR. MANN on Dec 14, 2009 7:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He got released a few weeks ago.

Ridiculous Upside, where developing talent and winning are not mutually exclusive.

by Jon L on Dec 14, 2009 9:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ok, thanks

I would definitely rather have him than Stephen Graham on the Bobcats. Cartier is a baller.

by MR. MANN on Dec 15, 2009 2:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

I wish he was back with Bobcats as well

--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..

by raysfan81 on Dec 15, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What harm

There are 4 or 5 SG’s in the d-league that can head up outperform Charlotte’s first round pick.

The NBA can’t have that.

by scouting hoops on Dec 14, 2009 7:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

he gets no Playing time so how do we know what he could bring to the table with good minutes

--Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
--Someone should slap Larry Brown and bring him back to reality..

by raysfan81 on Dec 15, 2009 9:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This especially makes sense given that Henderson would be sent to Maine, one of the top teams in the league loaded with experienced veterans and a talented young coach. It’s not like he’s headed to the bottom of the Development barrel

by JFoss on Dec 15, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs