First Wave of Players Head Overseas Following D-League Showcase

Filed under: NBA D-League, Reno Bighorns, Maine Red Claws

The NBA Development League is well known as the best, and typically only, way to make an NBA roster once the regular season begins, which is why players agree to play for salaries that max out at $25,500 -- plus housing and insurance -- to relocate to Bismarck, North Dakota, for the 50-game season.

Now that last week's D-League Showcase on South Padre Island is complete, however, some of the more talented players are deciding to take their talents overseas in hopes of greener pastures and larger paychecks since the most-scouted event in the D-League has wrapped up.

Already this week, Maine Red Claws wing Paul Harris and Reno Bighorns guard D.J. Strawberry (right) have bought out their D-League contracts -- a fee of $35,000 to $45,000 depending on the type of contract they signed -- to play for larger salaries in the Philippines and Lithuania, respectively.

While an NBA call-up was surely on both players' minds going into the season, the fact that both were relegated to sixth-man duty thus far in the D-League caused them to seek a steadier income. After all, during a season that's currently on pace for the least amount of call-ups all time, it'd be quite the feat to make the NBA after not even earning starter's minutes in the D-League.

 

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