Jeff Adrien

Charlotte - Jeff Adrien and Chris Douglas-Roberts: Adrien's small role on the team is limited to offensive rebounding, some shot blocking, some dunking, and a lot of fouling, but he performs it fairly well. Meanwhile, mid-season call-up Douglas-Roberts is recording a lot of minutes in the Bobcats's remarkably weak small forward forward sans the injured Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jeff Taylor, but has not played especially well in them. He has shown enough improvement recently, however, to perhaps earn an extended look, but Kidd-Gilchrist's impending return might scupper it.

Memphis - James Johnson and Seth Curry: Johnson has been Memphis's best small forward in his short spell with them thus far this season, and while this is an indictment of his competition, he has also been a genuine breath of fresh air. Curry, meanwhile, has yet to play since his midseason call-up, and although he was in the midst of proving he was an NBA calibre point guard during his short D-League stay, there is a good chance he is waived to save money, albeit potentially subsequently re-signed.

James Johnson - Johnson has more talent than the rest of the list, but doesn't seem to know what he's good at and what he isn't. He is with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League, averaging 17.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.3 blocks and 3.9 turnovers per game. If an NBA team can call him up, and work out an agreement whereby they can fine him every time he takes a shot from outside of 15 feet or attempts any handle outside of a straight line drive, they might have themselves a player. They will also need him to stop chasing the ball defensively, however.

Jeff Adrien - Adrien did well to win a roster spot with the Warriors in training camp, making up for his significant size disadvantage through sheer bloody mindedness and aggressive. He was however waived in December, after averaging 2.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16 games, when Ekpe Udoh returned from injury and the Warriors' priority became point guard depth. (Or conceivably, since they signed Acie Law, small forward depth.) Adrien went immediately to the D-League, where he averaged 11.2 points and 8.0 rebounds off the bench for the Erie BayHawks before being traded to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (where, with the recall of Patrick Patterson, he immediately became their best big man). Adrien played sufficiently well in his time at Golden State that he's in position for another call-up later - as Chuck Hayes and Craig Smith have proved, it's OK to be a power forward with a shooting guard's height if you're just better than the bigger guys.

Adrien also played in summer league, averaging 5.2 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as 8.5 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Orlando Magic. Last year he played in Spain's LEB Gold (second division), averaging 12.3ppg and 7.7rpg for Breogan Lugo. After somewhat predictably going undrafted, Adrien's only way back to the NBA was to try and do what Udonis Haslem did, putting up big rebounding numbers and playing good defensive even in spite of his lack of size for the NBA. He's off to a pretty good start. Adrien will always be a 6'7 power forward; he hasn't tried (and shouldn't try) to become a small forward, although adding a mid range jumpshot and a free throw stroke would greatly help his chances. If he does not make the team, Adrien has already committed to going to the D-League next season.

Jeff Adrien

It's hard for a 6'7 power forward to make it in the NBA. You have to be pretty exceptional at something to do it. Adrien, though, is exceptional at nothing except toughness. He's solid at most things except foul shooting; decently athletic, willing and able to rebound, capable of defending the post, prepared to run, and able to shoot right handed hook shots. But despite his height, he's in absolutely no way a small forward. He's a very undersized power forward who is neither really athletic nor Chuck Hayes.

Adrien played in the LEB Gold last year, averaging 12.3ppg and 7.7rpg for Breocgan Lugo. It's a league ideally suited for him.

- Jeff Adrien

Adrien is in Spain, averaging 12.8 points and 7.7 rebounds for Leche Rio Breogan Lugo. Those are good numbers, but they come from the second division, the LEB Gold. And even though the Spanish league is the strongest league in the world outside of the NBA, the second division isn't particularly great. (It's better than Switzerland, though.) Adrien has also managed to total only 5 assists in 15 games, which is quite hard to do.