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For some, a coveted 10-day contract with an NBA team is a "been there, done that" type of experience. While others, are anxiously grinding away for a chance to prove their worthiness for the NBA's version of a Golden Ticket. Currently in the NBA Development League there is a cast of players who received a 10-day contract, or two, last season, and enter the upcoming NBA D-League Showcase looking to remind NBA team executives that their services are available once again. Below is a list of notable 10-day recipients from last season, looking for another opportunity to stick with an NBA team.
Justin Dentmon - Guard, (6-0, 180) Austin Toros
Dentmon is currently sixth overall in scoring average with 19.7 points per game, and is looking to regain his NBA D-League MVP form from a season ago. Dentmon received two 10-day contracts, one from the San Antonio Spurs, and later with the Toronto Raptors. Dentmon is a scorer, but doesn't have a whole lot of other tools that could help NBA teams. Perhaps he can get hot at the right time and NBA teams looking to plug in a scorer onto their bench could find value in Dentmon.
Morris Almond - Guard, (6-5, 196) Iowa Energy
Currently the NBA D-League's best free throw shooter (42-43, 97%), Almond has turned it on recently with the Iowa Energy. Almond played 42 minutes in each of his last two outings and dropped 26 and 27 points respectively. Last season, Almond was able to parlay his 10-day contract into a signing for the remainder of the season with the Washington Wizards. Can he have a repeat performance?
Dennis Horner - Forward, (6-9, 230) Springfield Armor
Horner was recently acquired by Springfield and has played in just one game to date. In that contest Horner put up solid numbers, 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Horner's career NBA D-League averages are slightly above his 2012-2013 debut numbers, 16.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. The North Carolina State product is hoping to stimulate the interest of Brooklyn, the Armor's NBA affiliate once again this season.
Ben Uzoh - Guard, (6-3, 205) Springfield Armor
Uzoh enters the 10-day contract season averaging 15.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists (8th overall in the D-League) per game. Uzoh was a two-time recipient of a 10-day contract last season, once via the Cleveland Cavaliers and the final time with the Toronto Raptors, whom he was able to sign with for the remainder of the year. A noted defensive terror, Uzoh's services will likely be used once again from an NBA team looking to add backcourt depth this season.
Keith Benson - Center, (6-11, 230) Erie BayHawks
Benson has been efficient for Erie so far this season, averaging 11.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Benson hasn't provided ample shot blocking for the BayHawks, but did notch 5 blocks against Iowa in a win earlier this NBA D-League season. In late March of last season, Benson received a 10-day contract with the Golden State Warriors. He will need to really impress at the Showcase and beyond for another opportunity.
Courtney Fortson - Guard, (5-11, 185) Los Angeles D-Fenders
Averaging 6.2 assists a contest, Fortson is third overall in the respective category so far this season. Fortson can score and rebound efficiently for his size as well, averaging 18.8 points, and 5.5 rebounds. Last season, Fortson utilized his 10-day contract with Houston in mid-March and signed with the club for the remainder of the season. Fortson is currently the 7th overall prospect on the NBA Development League's official prospect list, and surely an NBA team should take a shot on the Arkansas product yet again.
Mike James - Guard, (6-2, 190) Texas Legends
RidiculousUpside.com had an exclusive interview with the Long Island native, once news broke that James was looking for another opportunity to help an NBA backcourt, specifically the Dallas Mavericks. It remains to be seen if James can find that 10-day contract magic once again, but it shouldn't be a surprise if James indeed finds a role with an NBA team either mid-Showcase, or following after.
Donald Sloan - Guard, (6-3, 205) Sioux Falls Skyforce
In his first game with his new team, Sloan added 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in the Skyforce win Friday night. Sloan was most recently apart of a deal that sent Andrew Goudelock from Sioux Falls to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. However, as stated in a tweet from Sioux Falls Skyforce president Mike Heineman, "...gotta trade a good player to get a good player...think we have the best point guard (Sloan) in the league now." Sloan will undoubtedly be a candidate for a 10-day contract encore in the near future.