5 NBA D-League Studs the Los Angeles Lakers Should Audition Before Season Ends

The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the final leg of a season that has become all about development and evaluation. With only 11 active players on the roster, it would make sense to audition a D-League stud.

After all, real NBA games are the best way to try out prospects for the future.

With Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Julius Randle and Ronnie Price all out for the season, the Lakers have applied to the NBA for a hardship exception, which would allow them to add a 16th player to the roster.

As Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times recently wrote: "The Lakers could look to their own NBA Development League affiliate for talent, or to the general free-agent pool, perhaps with a 10-day contract to offer. The Lakers can also look at other D-League players who aren't on their specific minor-league squad."

There’s a good reason most development league players aren’t already in the NBA—they tend to have certain flaws to their game or fall into niche categories.

But for a rebuilding team with needs at every position, inexpensive young role players can be essential.

From shooters to rebounding savants, the following list is a sampling of D-Leaguers who are currently creating the kind of buzz that warrants closer inspection.

Seth Curry, G, Erie BayHawks

Tim Cattera/Getty Images

A knack for long-range shooting runs in the Curry family.

There’s patriarch Dell Curry, who had an NBA career average of 40 percent from behind the arc, and his oldest son Stephen—one of the league’s deadliest assassins and the hero of the Golden State Warriors.

And then there’s the lesser-known son, Seth, who went undrafted out of Duke in 2013. The youngest Curry is the D-league’s second-leading scorer this season at 23.1 points per game. He's also the league’s most efficient three-point shooter, connecting at a scorching 48 percent.

Currently with the Erie BayHawks, Curry mirrors that accuracy from two-point range at 48 percent and is sinking 91 percent from the charity stripe.

Frankly, his shot-making ability is ridiculous.

The 6’2” combo guard had a couple of call-ups from the development league last season, to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

So, why hasn’t the D-League All-Star succeeded at the NBA level?

As Scott Rafferty for SB Nation’s Ridiculous Upside writes, Curry “doesn't have the lateral quickness to stay in front of opposing NBA-caliber point guards, and he doesn't have the height or strength to guard opposing 2s.”

But Rafferty also points out Curry’s willingness on the defensive end, his talent for assists and, most of all, his shot wizardry:  “The various ways in which he can knock down a shot, be it off the ball or with the ball in his hands, makes him an intriguing prospect, as it allows him to play two positions depending on the lineups.”

The Lakers need shooters badly. Maybe they should add a Splash Brother's brother to the mix on a minimum-salary contract.

Vander Blue, G, Los Angeles D-Fenders

Still only 22 years old, Vander Blue has played with an amazingly large assortment of professional basketball teams in a short period of time.

After not being drafted in 2013, the former Marquette standout played for eight organizations during his rookie season, including the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Maccabi Rishon LeZion in the Israeli Super League and an array of D-League teams.

The 6’5” combo guard with an explosive first step continued his torrid pace last summer, playing for the San Antonio Spurs in summer league, followed by a training camp contract with the Washington Wizards. When he failed to make the cut, Blue signed with the Idaho Stampede and was then traded to the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Blue has found stability in Los Angeles, starting 36 of 37 games, playing both guard positions and averaging 21.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists.

Although he can be a volume scorer, Blue also piles up stats across the board. He had a triple-double with 27 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds against the Reno Bighorns Feb. 5 and another triple-double Feb. 28 against the Bakersfield Jam, with 14 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.

After that most recent effort, Blue spoke with Lakers.com's Joey Ramirez, about compensating when his shot isn't falling the way he wants: “I’m glad I could still contribute in other places, setting my teammates up, crashing the boards, trying to be everywhere on the floor and playing as hard as I can at all times.”

A D-League All-Star this year, Blue is known for perimeter defense, athleticism and latching onto whatever opportunities come his way.

And he’s right in the Lakers’ own backyard.

Jabari Brown, SG, Los Angeles D-Fenders

Jabari Brown knows how to put the rock in the hole. The 22-year-old swingman is the D-League’s leading scorer at 24.3 points per game.

A D-League All-Star and member of the D-Fenders, Brown put up a smoking 50 points against the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Jan. 10. 

At 6’4” and 202 pounds, the rookie has excellent shot mechanics and can score in a multitude of ways, from deep distance shooting to attacking defenses off the dribble.

Beyond playing for the D-Fenders, Brown has another close Lakers connection—he played alongside Jordan Clarkson last season at Missouri.

But while Clarkson wound up being drafted by L.A., Brown wasn’t chosen by anyone.

As Janis Carr for the Orange County Register wrote last October, the former college roommates have a tight bond. “Following the draft, the friends didn’t think they would ever wear the same uniform again. Brown turned off the television broadcast when it became apparent he wasn’t going to be drafted.”

Brown ultimately won an invite to Lakers training camp but didn’t make the final roster. He had to settle for the developmental end of the spectrum.

The idea of Brown and Clarkson working together again in the backcourt isn’t that far-fetched. The Lakers just need to dip into their own pool and give the D-League scoring leader a 10-day contract.

Roscoe Smith, SF, Los Angeles D-Fenders

Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

While it’s true that the Lakers need help across the board, some needs are especially dire.

Such is the case at the small forward position—Wesley Johnson’s chameleon act certainly hasn’t been the answer over the past two seasons.

Enter Roscoe Smith—a multipurpose, hard-banging forward for the D-Fenders.

At 6’8”, the 23-year-old is averaging 19.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. A D-League All-Star this season, Smith is also leading the league in double-doubles.

Smith won an NCAA title as a freshman with UConn in 2011. He transferred to UNLV when the Huskies faced a postseason ban for 2012-13, due to low scores on the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate.

Smith defended multiple positions for Jim Calhoun at Connecticut and manned both forward positions for the Runnin’ Rebels under Dave Rice.

The lanky, 202-pound defender has an impressive 7'1 ½" wingspan and uses his length and athleticism to create havoc in the passing lanes and around the rim.

After going undrafted last June, Smith joined the Lakers’ summer-league squad and also earned a training camp invite. And while he didn’t survive the final cut, he was called back for a private workout in late November.

This is a guy with a high motor and a consistently aggressive style of play. He’s well worth a call-up, either now or for next season.

Willie Reed, C/PF, Iowa Energy

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

D-League All-Star Willie Reed will flat-out rebound the ball.

The 6’10” combo center/power forward is a three-season veteran of the development league and is currently with the Iowa Energy. The 24-year-old is averaging 15.5 points and 12.1 boards per game this season.

NBADLeague.com also rated him as the top prospect for the first week of March: "Proven at NBA D-League level; simply waiting on NBA opportunity. Proficient rebounder who at the least can crash the offensive glass at the next level. Athletic and mobile with an NBA frame; can run the floor and finish lobs. Offensive repertoire is limited beyond that."

Reed went undrafted in 2011 after two seasons at St. Louis University. He signed briefly with the now-defunct Club Basquet Sant Josep in the Spanish League and has had moments with NBA teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies during summer league in 2013, the Sacramento Kings last March and the Brooklyn Nets during this season’s training camp.

And although his offensive game lacks refinement, he has scored at least 30 points twice this season.

At 220 pounds, Reed is on the slight side for an NBA big man. But he possesses that instinctual feel for grabbing loose balls that is always intriguing—and he is currently creating a genuine buzz at the developmental level.