Nick Fazekas

Nick Fazekas - After being the first pick in the 2010 D-League draft, Fazekas has somewhat underachieved. He has averaged 14.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 26 minutes a contest, shooting 53% from the floor and somehow committing only 1 foul a game; good numbers, to be sure, but not what you would expect from your number 1 fringe NBA pick. Yet part of the reason why has been injuries; Fazekas has been hobbled by an ankle injury that has left him in a walking boot, and it's an ankle injury that prematurely ended his 2009/10 season as well. (Same injury, same ankle? Don't know. But it's a logical conclusion to make.) Fazekas has also had a cyst in his shoulder that required surgery, and is currently out of action recovering from these injuries. However, if he's able in the next few weeks to get healthy and put up the big numbers again, he's a late season call-up possibility.

1st: - Reno Bighorns - Nick Fazekas, Nevada

Even though he was drafted by the Mavericks with the 34th pick in 2007, and even though he signed to a two year guaranteed deal with the team, Fazekas only ever played 9 minutes with Dallas, and was cut a few months into his first season to open up a roster spot for the Jason Kidd trade. The Clippers picked him up for the remainder of that season, and in limited minutes, Fazekas played extremely well; he shot 57% from the floor, grabbed 19.1% of all available rebounds, and had a PER of 19.8. However, due to their cap space aspirations, L.A. didn't keep him. Fazekas has since spent most of his last two seasons in France, where last year in an injury-shortened season he averaged 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 24 minutes of 9 games for Dijon.

Despite not having the best couple of years - not helped by injury - Fazekas absolutely has the talent to be in the NBA. And he probably should be. He can score from inside and out, rebounds incredibly well, and is big enough defensively. By putting himself into the D-League, Fazekas is now set up for a call-up that he may well get. Teams like Chicago, Denver and Indiana could use him already.

- I Faze Knacks

Nick Fazekas is signed with Dijon in France, where he has averaged 12.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in 25 minutes per game for Dijon. However, he has not played since the end of November due to injury. Sports24.com has more:

Coup dur pour Dijon. Touché à une cheville, Nick Fazekas est out pour trois mois. L’intérieur américain va devoir passer sur la table d’opération. Ancien de Dallas et des Clippers en NBA (26 matches, 4,1 pts), Nick Fazekas est arrivé cet été en Bourgogne. La JDA s’est mise en quête d’un pigiste médical pour pallier son absence.

Indeed.