Hawks sign another NBDL player to 10day contract

[Blunt91]

Hawks Sign Benjamin to 10-Day Contract

Benjamin

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Corey Benjamin to a 10-day contract, it was announced this morning by VP/General Manager Pete Babcock. Benjamin, a former number one pick of the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 Draft, was playing in the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) for the North Charleston Lowgators before his call-up by the Hawks.

In 26 games with the Lowgators (the former team of Hawks assistant coach Alex English), Benjamin averaged 18.0 points – second in the NBDL – and 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists, in addition to connecting on 47.0 percent of his FGs, 43.5% from three-point range (4th in the league) and 75.9 percent from the line.

Between stops with the Orlando Magic (training camp 2002), Montegranaro in the Italian A-2 League and the Southern California Surf in the ABA, Benjamin played three years with the Bulls (1998-99 to 2000-01) and finished with career averages of 5.5 ppg and 1.6 rpg in 144 games. He enjoyed his best season in his second year in Chicago, scoring 7.7 points and grabbing 1.8 rebounds.

The 28th overall pick in ’98 Draft, Benjamin played collegiately at Oregon State, and he wear #25 for the Hawks.

E-mail this page to a friend

[Guest]

Why does the team sign these guys??For what

reason?

[KB21]

Who else is there to sign? Would you rather just play with 11 players while guys are on the injured list?

At least an NBDL player will play hard and give you effort. That's more than what our NBA veterans are doing right now.

I'd rather see this team with 5 NBDL players on the court and watch them lose with effort than to watch this team lose because they aren't giving any effort.

I think the Hawks should sign Tang Hamilton who plays on the Columbus NBDL team. He leads the NBDL in rebounding, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, and double doubles.

[Guest]

Who is this bum replacing?Mike Wilks?

[cyman3]

if hes hustling and got game.. bring him in!

[KB21]

Yeah. He started a few games for the Heat a couple of seasons ago because he is a terrific defensive player. He played collegiately at my alma mater, Mississippi State. Tang has lots of athletic skills. He can flat jump out of the gym. He's one of those guys who needed to develop their game because he moved from being a college power forward to a professional small forward. He had to develop his jump shot and perimeter ability.

On the year, Tang averages around 16.2 ppg and 9.9 rpg as a small forward for the Columbus Riverdragons, coached by Jeff Malone, another former MSU Bulldog.

[KB21]

Wilks signed a second 10 day contract on the 20th.

It really wouldn't surprise me to see Benjamin take Glover's playing time. Dion Glover is a guy who could really use some time in the NBDL.

Right now, the Hawks roster stands:

Jason Terry PG/SG

Mike Wilks PG

Dan Dickau PG

Dion Glover SG

Cory Benjamin SG

Ira Newble SG/SF

Glenn Robinson SF

Darvin Ham SF/PF

Shareef Abdur Rahim PF

Alan Henderson PF

Theo Ratliff C

Nazr Mohammed C

Injured list:

Chris Crawford SF

Emanuel Davis PG/SG

Dermarr Johnson SG

[TheDude]

i think we sign more nbdl players than any other team....

that doesn't usually mean we're doing good....

[KB21]

Actually. Atlanta has two on their roster. Toronto has two on their roster now. Neither team is doing well, but Toronto may have stumbled onto their PG of the future in Rafer Alston.

Toronto has Rafer Alston and Damone Brown. Alston played at Mobile while Brown played at North Charleston.

A total of seven NBDL players have been called up:

Bobby Simmons - Washington Wizards

Mike Wilks - Atlanta Hawks

Mikki Moore - Boston Celtics

Rafer Alston - Toronto Raptors

Devin Brown - San Antonio Spurs

Damone Brown - Toronto Raptors

Corey Benjamin - Atlanta Hawks

There are some other players that may get a call before the season is over:

Tang Hamilton - Columbus

Nate Johnson - Columbus

Matt Barnes - Fayettville

Sedric Webber - North Charleston

[Diesel]

Damone Brown is pretty good. I watched him playing one Mon Night... He's good.

[Guest]

You gotta fill out the practice squad as well - and I think it's obvious that this team needs practice.