DeShawn Sims

DeShawn Sims - Sims began the year with a training camp invite from the Boston Celtics, but turned it down in order to sign in Greece with PAOK Thessaloniki. He played only three games with PAOK, however, one of which was this truly bizarre event. (All Greek players, except those of Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, were on strike, and PAOK had only their five imports available. Rough night for Donnie McGrath, one assist away from the elusive 40 Trillion.) Sims then walked out on PAOK without telling them and returned to America, where, after a brief contract dispute, he joined the D-League's Maine Red Claws. Sims has since poured in 17.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, shooting 54% from the field, and being the inside/outside scoring threat he was at Michigan to go along with some decent rebounding and acceptable defense. He is not of the forward call-ups list, but he's on it.

DeShawn Sims

Sims was covered in the Celtics summer league round-up from last week. The Orlando summer league has now finished, and Sims averaged 7.5 points and 1.8 rebounds for the team. He also totalled 0 assists.

DeShawn Sims

Sims declined an invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, despite his status as a likely undrafted player. He later changed his mind, but it was indicative of his varible frequency oscillator of a season. Forced to play centre in the really awful Michigan system - how can you base your offense around three point shooting when you have no good three point shooters? - Sims demonstrated a versatile offensive game, improving his jumpshot as time went on, being able to drive the ball from about 16 feet away to about 8, and also score a little bit in the post. Problematically, however, Sims is only about 6'7 and 220, which are not NBA measurements for a power forward. And apart from occasional three point range, he is a small forward in size only, unable to handle the ball on the perimeter or defend opposing 3's. Skillz Train is of a similar size and less athletic, yet Skillz Train knows how to get open for shots.