Sammy Mejia cut by Ft. Wayne

by Matt Watson on Nov 28, 2007 12:42 PM EST

It's a fine, fine line between being good enough to play in the NBA and being banished overseas. Sammy Mejia, who almost made the Pistons roster, was waived by the D-League Ft. Wayne Mad Ants. From Chris McCosky's blog for the Detroit News:

Don't know if you caught this, but Sammy Mejia was cut from the D-League Fort Wayne team. Kind of a shocker. The late second-round pick was the last guy cut by the Pistons and one of the first cut by a D-League team. Problem was, apparently, Mejia's ankle hasn't gotten right since he hurt it in August. They don't carry any extra bodies in the D-League, so if you can't play, you are out. The Pistons think Mejia will hook on with somebody overseas, probably in China.

I won't say the guy tore up the preseason, because he didn't, but he was solid in the Vegas Summer League and generally looked like he knew what he was doing out there. Plus, as a point forward during his time at DePaul, he knew how to handle the rock.

I still believe that he'll eventually make his way back, but to think that he'll do it via Shanghai or Beijing, wow -- that's a tough break.

buy music online|greatest mp3 portal|Download Mp3

Tweet Comment 4 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

It’s crazy how thin the line is for fringe-NBA players when it comes to early success in the league. Some better luck and Sammy Mejia could be Jamario Moon.

by Matt, your friendly Bulls Blogger on Nov 28, 2007 12:50 PM EST reply actions

I have a question about the NBDL. Who makes the decision to cut players. For example, if we send Cheick Samb down to Ft. Wayne, could he be cut? What are the Pistons options in that scenario? I suppose we’d just take him back since he earned the roster spot.

But in the case of Mejia, isn’t the idea of the NBDL that a team can get a look at a player without investing a roster spot? If the NBDL affiliate has that much autonomy over personnel, that sets up a dynamic that cannot be beneficial.

by kevin s. on Nov 28, 2007 1:08 PM EST reply actions

Hey DBB folks, anyone know if there will be a p2p for tonight’s Cav’s game? Those of us who live outside the area have been able to tune in thanks to your generosity in posting links, especially those of us who ae just starting to learn about p2p. Thanks in advance.

As for cutting Meija, an NBDL GM would have to be remarkably dumb to do something like that without Joe D.’s consent. Why bite the hand that feeds you players like Amir who can sell a few more tickets?

by PDXPistonsFan on Nov 28, 2007 2:23 PM EST reply actions

Matt: good point.

Kevin: the Pistons can only send players down that are on the 15-man roster, which Mejia failed to make — he was released outright before the start of the season.

If the Pistons send Samb (who IS on the 15-man roster) down, he’s NOT eligible to be cut, and in fact I think the Pistons can at least indirectly lean on the Ft. Wayne coaching staff to give him playing time. But the fact Mejia landed with Ft. Wayne even after being cut is pretty much a coincidence, it’s not like he was assigned there by the Pistons.

(Okay, not 100% a coincidence — the coaches, some of whom spent time in the Pistons training camp, were already familiar with him, plus he has Midwestern college ties, which the D-League recognizes when assigning players instead of forcing them to be in the D-League’s draft … but my point is that he was in the D-League not because the Pistons sent him there but because he was released by the Pistons and wanted to stay close to the NBA instead of immediately jumping for more cash overseas.)

by Matt Watson on Nov 28, 2007 2:23 PM EST reply actions