NBA: Bigger role ahead for Solomon Jones?

Former USF center Solomon Jones has had a quiet role in his first three seasons with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, coming off the bench for career averages of 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

But the start of the NBA's free-agent season today could change things for Jones. He's a restricted free agent, which means Atlanta has the right to match any offer made to him by other teams. But one of the primary players in front of him, Zaza Pachulia, is an unrestricted free agent and could be landing elsewhere, giving Jones more minutes as a backup to starter Al Horford.

Bleacherreport.com named Jones among its "top underdogs for each team" next season, arguing that Jones could see his playing time double if Pachulia leaves and the Hawks don't acquire another big man.

-- Another former USF big man, Kentrell Gransberry, played this season for the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League, helping the 14ers to a D-league championship. You can see video from their playoff run here, with a few shots of Gransberry, who averaged 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench.

Gransberry won't be back in Colorado next season, but only because the Colorado franchise is being moved to Frisco, Texas, and won't play next season. We'll get another update on his future soon ...

-- Big East news: Cincinnati has added a McDonald's All-American in 6-6 forward Lance Stephenson, who has off-court issues but should be an impact player for the Bearcats. Zagsblog has a good writeup.

Comments

[David Weber]

Stephenson should follow the Jennings route and go to Europe to play a coach that won't put up with his crap. Instead, he's going to Cincy where he'll be able to do whatever he feels like while hogging the ball and not refining the skills he'll need for the NBA. In Europe, guys learn a lot about fitting into a team and they get constant practice. Something tells me that Lance won't become the next Myron Rolle, so the whole college thing is kind of pointless.

I don't think Jones deserves a bigger role- when he was starting during their injuries, he became less and less effective as the season wore on. He's a 10th man, which is fine, but if he isn't grabbing boards and blocking shots, he's pretty useless.

[amazing....]

wow, cinci fires huggins for all of his antics and hug's thug's, and now they go ahead and take Lance Stephenson. He's easily one of the 10 best players in the country, but with multiple arrests in his background he's also easily one of the 10 biggest thugs.

He will take Cinci to another level though.

[Commish Chalko]

"Jones could see his playing time double if Pachulia leaves and the Hawks don't acquire another big man."

Awesome, double his stats and he'll average five points and four rebounds!!! Put him on the All-Star team!!!