
by Joey Villar | philstar.com
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is looking at two NBA veterans and a former PBA import as candidates for naturalization and replacement for Jamal Sampson, who failed to meet the team officials’ expectations.
Earl Barron, a member of the 2006 NBA champion Miami Heat who suited up for Red Bull years ago, has been considered for inclusion to beef up the Filipinos’ ambitious Olympic bid.
The seven-foot Barron has averaged an impressive 13.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for the Iowa Energy in the NBA’s developmental league, the NBDL and should be the best bet since he’s only 28 years old.
Smart Gilas’ Serbian coach Rajko Toroman is also considering the 6-11 Courtney Sims, a 26-year-old forward who normed 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He also played for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA two years ago.
Jameel Watkins, who suited up for Shell, has also been included in the short list of candidates.
Watkins churned out norms of 15.9 points, 10.1 caroms and 2.7 blocks in the current Chinese Basketball League season with the Jiangsu Dragons. But at 32, he could be too old for Smart Gilas, which is composed of the country’s top collegiate players.
Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim is currently in the US trying to arrange workout sessions with these three players with Toroman, who is expected to join Lim anytime this week.
The team has also tried out 6-10 Darian Townes.
Toroman, who steered Smart Gilas to a third place finish in the import-laden 21st Dubai Invitational despite playing practically all Filipino, said he is still weighing his options with regard to the selection of a naturalized import.
“I will look at all these players and see some more before we make a decision,” said Toroman.
Courtney Sims' Professional career highlights: (via wikipedia)Sims played briefly for the NBA's Indiana Pacers in 2007–08. Signed to a non-guaranteed contract after going undrafted, he appeared in only two games for the Pacers before being waived on December 4, 2007.
He was signed again on December 12, and waived again on December 19. Going scoreless in three total games, he had one rebound, one assist and committed two personal fouls in eleven minutes of action.
On February 25, 2008, Sims was acquired by the NBA Development League's Iowa Energy.
He played for the New Orleans Hornets during the 2008–09 NBA pre-season.
With the Energy, he registered a rare triple-double on November 28, 2008, in a 113–101 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce with 22 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.
On December 28, he scored a season-high 36 points, including 13 in the last quarter, to go along with 16 rebounds in a 107–101 victory over the Utah Flash.
On January 20, 2009, the Phoenix Suns officially announced they signed Sims to a 10-day contract.
He was signed to a second ten-day contract on February 14, but was released by the Arizona club upon the expiration of this contract, as the third would immediately mean his signing until the end of the season. Sims signed another ten-day contract on March 23, 2009, this time with the New York Knicks, and signed a second on April 2. On December 27 he was signed by CSKA Moscow until the end of season with a club option to terminate the contract after one-month trial period.
On January 12, 2010, Sims was replaced in CSKA's lineup by Pops Mensah-Bonsu
Earl Barron's Professional career highlights: (via wikipedia)A 7'0" center from the University of Memphis, he was never drafted by an NBA team, and instead began his professional career with the Turkish team Tuborg Pilsener in 2003.
He spent the 2004 pre-season with the Orlando Magic, but was waived before the regular season began.
In 2005, he played with the Red Bull Thunder team in the Philippine Basketball Association. He also had several stints in the NBA Development League, and from 2005 to 2008, he played for the Miami Heat, with whom he earned an NBA Championship ring.
He then signed a one-year $2 million deal with the Italian team Fortitudo Bologna. On September 29, 2009, Barron was signed by New Orleans Hornets to their training camp. He was waived on October 21, 2009.
After signing with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the D-League, he was traded to the Iowa Energy in November 2009.
Jameel Watkins: (via wikipedia)Watkins made his Philippine Basketball Association debut for the Formula Shell. He is slated to play for the Magnolia Beverage Masters in the PBA 2007-2008 season.
Watkins then made his way to China. He now plays for the Jiangsu Dragons of CBA. He average 16 points, 10.2 rebounds an 2.8 blocks in 2008-09 season, and 15.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in the recent 09-10 season.
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