The Players Nobody Wanted

Daniel saw a connector who could pass on the move, screen without slipping early, and punish closeouts without needing a play called. Tyrese Grant arrived angry. He had played on two-way contracts, ten-days, and summer league rosters that treated him as disposable. Six-foot-seven, long arms, heavy shoulders, a jumper that made assistant coaches wince. But his defensive possession data was absurd. Opponents turned away from him before a screen even came. He guarded point guards in emergency switches and centers out of spite. Jamal Brooks came in last, moving carefully. Three years earlier he had been projected seventh in the draft. Then came the knee, the compensating hip, the back spasms, and the whispers.