When former lottery pick Rashad McCants again burst back onto the NBA's radar earlier this week, this time with a make-good preseason contract from the Dallas Mavericks, everyone hoped that this was the opportunity that was needed to put his sordid NBA past behind him. Unfortunately for the former North Carolina Tar Heel, who was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 14th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft, the Mavericks waived McCants almost as soon as they signed him along with fellow former first round pick Sean Williams, Dee Brown and Adam Haluska to get below the 15-play roster limit.
They did this in order to secure McCants' rights with the Mavericks D-League affiliate Texas Legends, taking advantage of a new NBA Development League rule that allows NBA teams to allocate up to three of their training camp cuts to their D-League affiliate if the players are interested in staying stateside instead of pursuing larger European paychecks.
According to McCants' agent Lindsey Maxwell, though, McCants has not yet decided if he wants to be a (Texas) Legend after not receiving a solid opportunity to compete for a roster spot with the Mavericks.
"We are disappointed that it didn't work out with them and we look forward to Rashad getting a REAL shot at making it back into the NBA," Maxwell wrote in a e-mail to FanHouse. "He is the best free agent in basketball that is available right now. He is in the best shape of his life and his shot making ability is better than ever."
Since McCants is seemingly so close to rejoining the NBA, especially if he truly is in the best shape of his life and his shot making is better than ever, it would seem that a quick stint dominating the D-League would be a lay-up on his way to at least a 10-day contract. However, McCants does not seem sold that Frisco, Texas -- a northern suburb of Dallas -- is the right spot for him.
"If he decides to go to the D-League, he will have to play for that team," Maxwell continued. "I can't speak as to Dallas' motives, but (McCants) did not get much of a chance to 'compete for a roster spot' as Dallas had announced a couple of days ago. Right now, all of his options are open and he and his family have not yet arrived at any decisions."
One might wonder if McCants would consider sitting out another basketball season altogether, as he did last season after appearing in 58 games split between the Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings during the 2008-09 season, in lieu of playing in the D-League -- though it's probably a bit too early to speculate about that at this point.
"It seems a travesty that he isn't on a team yet," Maxwell said. "We are headed back to the gym to keep working and grinding to get better in hopes that he will soon be in the NBA."
At 26 years of age, typically an age where a player has to have already reached his potential, McCants needs to be able to take advantage of his next opportunity -- wherever it is -- before the opportunities quit becoming available to him.
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