Mitnick: 10 Overseas Players Who Can Help NBA Playoff Teams

Mardy Collins, Guard, Olympiacos (Greece)

After four disappointing NBA seasons with the Knicks and Clippers, Collins has found himself out of the loop despite being a former first-round pick. A 6-6 ballhandler capable of playing all three small spots, Collins seems to have the type of versatility NBA teams love. However, he has struggled with attitude issues, and a lack of consistency with his jumper and decision-making certainly did not make things easier for him.

However, there is no denying his size and physicality for someone with his ballhandling ability, and with many familiar names off the market he could possibly help a team desperate for a player with size in the  backcourt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbjFBMKcNY4&noredirect=1

Currently playing with Olympiacos of the Greek League, where he signed after playing for Montegranaro in Italy (a ridiculous club which barely ever pays its players), Collins has not found a place in the rotation of the two-time defending Euroleague champs. With Collins currently out of the rotation for Euroleague and seeing only spot minutes in the Greek League, the word is that Olympiacos would let Collins walk free if he had a good opportunity outside of Europe.

Sebastian Telfair, Guard, Tianjin Steel (China)

This past summer, Telfair followed in the footsteps of his cousin Stephon Marbury, heading to China to try to pick up the pieces of his career. Once considered a top point guard prospect, Telfair struggled both on and off the court transitioning from high school to the NBA and never made the impact expected of him in stops with the Toronto, Boston, Minnesota, LA Clippers, Cleveland, Phoenix and Toronto.

Despite being a 10-year pro, Telfair is only 28 and still has a great deal of basketball left in him. While he probably could play the next 10 years in China, making good money and playing only a fraction of the games in the NBA, this next year or probably will be his last chance to return to the league. Despite being undersized, there is no doubt that Telfair is a true point, and with the NBA season winding to a close, there are not many D-League players who could step in and contribute to a team at Telfair’s level. Perhaps within the next year or two, Brooklyn will give him a chance to show what he can do back where it all began.

Raul Lopez, Guard, Bilbao (Spain)

Lopez is a true point once thought to be next in line to be the Utah Jazz’s floor general of the future before tearing his ACL and missing his entire 2001-02 rookie season. More than a decade has passed, and Lopez has been one of the more steady point guards in Europe, capably running the offenses of top-level teams.

While Lopez does not have standout athleticism and almost rarely will wow anyone on the floor, there is no denying his basketball IQ and ability to organize a game in high-pressure moments. With Bilbao in heavy financial trouble and unlikely to make the playoffs in the competitive Spanish ACB, Lopez could be an outside-the-box option for a playoff team looking for a third point guard. On European-friendly teams such as Toronto or Dallas, he could fill in for 10 minutes in a pinch.

Defensively, Lopez will struggle mightily in the NBA. But steadiness and good decision-making can come in handy down the stretch. The fact is there aren’t many 34-year-old point men with a sky high basketball IQ on the market at the moment. Lopez could be a creative solution for a team that has an injury between now and the playoffs.

Jajuan Johnson, Forward-Center, Pistoia (Italy)

Johnson seemingly fizzled out of the NBA before he arrived. Once thought to be a steal at pick number 27 in 2011, he never broke into the rotation in Boston and was released upon being traded to Houston. Johnson had some difficulties coming to terms with being squeezed out of the NBA and was inexplicably bad last season in the D-League.

This season, Johnson headed overseas with an open mind. Playing for Pistoia of Italy’s Serie A, he averaged 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds. However, with Pistoia currently out of the playoff hunt and holding a comfortable lead over relegation, Johnson may be able to negotiate a release should an opportunity with an NBA club arise.

Johnson likely could not make an impact for a playoff team but has the length and natural ability that makes him an intriguing prospect for a team that wants to take a flier on him to possibly contribute next season.

AJ Mitnick is an American living in Israel and working as an Assistant Coach for Maccabi Rishon Lezion of the Israeli Basketball Super League. A graduate of IDC Herzliya, Mitnick is in his third season with Maccabi Rishon, where they have made the Israeli League Final Four, and have twice made the Final Four of the Israeli State Cup . Follow him on Twitter.