NBA D-League Alum Terrel Harris Suspended 5 Games For Violating Anti-Drug Policy

On a day where the MLB is expected to take the cake with regard to an array of unfortunate suspension news, the NBA also suspended one its own on Monday, albeit for a different drug violation.

Terrel Harris, who spent time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers this past season before getting called up to the New Orleans Pelicans, was suspended five games for violating the league's anti-drug policy.

Harris was involved in the trade that brought D-League All-Star D.J. Kennedy to RGV, but never actually went on to play for the Erie BayHawks. He was called up by New Orleans three days after the trade.

What this means for Harris' future plans next season remains to be seen. Though it's only five games, will an NBA team still feel positive vibes from such a player and be curious enough to bring him into training camp? For a player on the bubble like Harris, a not so good look into his character doesn't exactly work in his favor heading into September.

Will Harris still be brought into training camp at all? Might NBA teams be discouraged from potentially adding on a player who is guaranteed to miss the first five games of the season? Perhaps such a suspension could motivate Harris to look more seriously overseas for a better and/or more lucrative offer, should his five game ban be enough to make him believe he has even less of a shot of making an NBA squad out of camp.

The guard, who participated in NBA Summer League last month with the Blazers, averaged 12.5 points (on 50% from the field and 47% from deep), 7.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists through 12 contests with the Vipers last season.