Charlotte Plucks Justin Hamilton from Skyforce for 10-Day Audition

Rumblings began on Sunday Sioux Falls Skyforce center Justin Hamilton would be signing a 10-day contract with the Charlotte Bobcats.  Tuesday that became reality as the clock now begins on Hamilton’s NBA career.

The Skyforce will certainly miss the 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2 blocks per game Hamilton has supplied per game so far.  Nonetheless, we wish Justin the best as the 29th Gatorade Call-Up this season with a reasonable shot at getting some court time as the Bobcats will have 5 games in the next 10 days starting Wednesday night at home with league-leading Indiana.

From the NBA Development League perspective, there was an infinitesimal chance to ride on the coattails of LeBron James and his 61 point rampage against the Bobcats.  If Hamilton would have been eligible to play for Charlotte on Monday, he would have opposed his D-League teammate DeAndre Liggins.  Liggins was active for the Heat, playing the last minute and a half plus scoring a bucket while on his own 10-day odyssey.  Alas, the Bobcats waited just a bit to start the NBA journey for the former Iowa State and LSU player.

Nonetheless, Hamilton gets to kick off his time at the NBA level with a team that has a 27-33 record.  By virtue of playing in the Eastern Conference, the Bobcats are good enough to qualify for the postseason if they were held today.  At this time it’s unclear how long Hamilton will stay with Charlotte.  The center position is currently manned by Al Jefferson as the starter and Bismack Biyombo in a reserve role with Brendan Haywood still recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot.  Below is a recap of a Skyforce game earlier this season where Hamilton showed dominance in the paint.

The Sioux Falls Skyforce will march forward to face the NBADL top team Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Thursday and Friday at the Sanford Pentagon.