Will NBA D-League Alum Troy Daniels Earn Lucrative Contract in Free Agency?

Still just a couple months removed from emerging as a postseason hero for the Houston Rockets, it's already time for D-League vet Troy Daniels to weigh some free agent options and potentially cash in on a lucrative contract.

The sharpshooter was one of the most talented prospects the minor league had to offer this past season. It's safe to say the Rockets caught on relatively quickly. Setting records, turning heads, and knocking down the long-ball at an ever efficient rate, Daniels was proving himself to be an incredibly valuable player for the affiliated Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Perhaps sensing that the writing was on the wall for Daniels to get an NBA call-up, Houston signed him to a multi-year contracts just weeks after he was named a D-League All-Star.

And though he still spent plenty of time in Rio Grande Valley while on assignment back and forth, Daniels emerged to find his niche yet again just in time to pour in the points for Houston en route to the Rockets' playoff run.

On a team that already featured superstars James Harden and Dwight Howard, Daniels still managed to stand out in Houston. After a successful handful of games during the regular season (during which he averaged 8.4 points), the stud continued to put his offensive prowess on display in the playoffs. He averaged 7.8 pints (on 53% from the field and downtown as well), and even hit a game-winning shot during the Rockets' series with the Blazers.

The young gun is an absolute stud, and it didn't take him quite long to prove it, either. His confidence and assertiveness on the offensive end are two things that aren't equally matched by most players in his position. He takes some bold shots, but often displays the consistency necessary to back up his sometimes eye-popping selection.

Needless to say, Daniels is the type of sharpshooter who could stand to make an impact on any number of teams. His skill-set is one that always proves to be of value, regardless of a team's given situation.

Daniels is still young and rather inexperienced, but should there be an immense amount of competition for his services, it wouldn't be the most shocking thing to see him rise up as a mini-midlevel contract candidate. Sometimes a bit more of a lucrative contract is what it takes to truly lure a player away from familiar surroundings.

As a restricted free agent, the Rockets have the right to match any and all offers tossed in Daniels' direction. That said, the team's expected pursuit of top notch free agents like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony may sway their attention and allow an opposing team to snatch the sharpshooter right up from under them with a good offer.