This is the season in the NBA where fringe NBA prospects are given 10-day contracts to stake their claim for a longer stint. This worked for Leandro Barbosa a year ago and Earl Barron this year, while it only exposed A.J. Price as a really bad fit.
Next up: 6'3" guard Jerel McNeal (6'7" wing span), who surprisingly profiles like every other guard the team has brought in over the past couple of years. He's a combo guard who can pass but doesn't have great court vision, a bit undersized for the shooting guard position, but can score and assist just enough to help a winning cause from an off-ball role.
McNeal helped the Bakersfield Jam run roughshod over the D-League this season as they lead the league in wins (tied with Santa Cruz). McNeal played mostly shooting guard, but in the Suns offense - which Bakersfield imitates - he's still averaged 18.5 points, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals this season with 43.3 percent overall shooting and 34.9 percent 3-point shooting.
Sound familiar?
Brandon Knight averaged about 18 points and 5 assists for the Bucks before being acquired. Eric Bledsoe has averaged about 17.5 points and 5.8 assists for the Suns over the past two years. Goran Dragic averaged about 18 points and 5 assists in the 1.5 years under Hornacek's offense.
The 27-year old McNeal is a two-time D-League All-Star who has never played in an NBA game but has looked ready to take that next step for years now.
The big question now is how much he plays.
And whether Archie Goodwin punched a wall.