Returning or Moving On? – Craig Winder

I almost feel dirty already writing this post. It was just half a month ago that Craig Winder hit the greatest shot in the history of mankind and sent the Vipers to the NBA Development League Championship. I still haven't come off that cloud (if you're wondering why that audio from the game-winning shot still welcomes you to rgvipers.com... I'm the webmaster).

Still, I guess it's time to start thinking about what next year's roster will look like.

The NBA Draft isn't until June 24, so we're still a little ways away about thinking about possible NBA-assignees or allocation players and we're an even longer way away from the NBA D-League Draft. However, we can look at players from this year's roster and try to answer the age old question – returning or moving on?

There will not be a single player with a cut and dry answer. It's not as simple as, he had a great season, of course he's coming back. There are a lot of factors. Development, age, past GATORADE Call-Ups, how close is he to the NBA? Do the Vipers want him back? Does he want to come back? Might he go overseas? Has he been invited to free agent mini-camps or Summer League? Is there a lot of interest in the NBA? Might he break camp with an NBA team? Those are just some of the questions we have to ask, and we can't necessarily answer them all. Despite that, I will endeavor to do a player by player breakdown over the next few weeks. This not only includes players on the active roster, but players who the Vipers still have the D-League rights to who were waived due to injury or are currently in the NBA.

With that said, I start at the only place that makes sense, with the man who hit the shot – Craig Winder.

Winder is an original Viper. He was invited to the training camp in 2007 out of a local tryout. The University of Texas graduate had only been a role player at the DI level, and that was the role he served for two seasons. He was a serviceable and inconsistent 10th man. With the league's talent improving exponentially every year (at least since the Vipers joined the league), what place did Winder have with the suddenly hybrid Vipers? I'm not sure if he wasn't invited to training camp or if he just chose not to come, but Winder opened the season in Syria, likely making a bit more money than he was making in the NBA D-League. I spoke with Craig when he came back... it seemed like he had enjoyed the experience (in fact, he's in Qatar for their playoff run), but he made no mistake about it... he was thrilled to have the opportunity to come back.

Winder came back around the same time Mike Harris got his first GATORADE Call-Up of the season, and you know what? The Vipers didn't miss a beat. Winder hit the scene with a fury like none of us had ever seen before. Was this really the same Craig Winder?

You know how the story ends, but long before that shot Winder proved his incredible worth to the team. He was easily the best sixth man in the league (the only competition is the Vipers' fan base).

Winder truly developed this year. Part of it was the Rockets' system and the great coaching, part of it was Winder's work ethic and determination. After a season like this, he can certainly make a lot of money overseas next year. I mean, think about it, if he'd put up these numbers two years ago, or last year, that would have been pretty good, but to make a big leap in a year in which the league was better than it's ever been? That's not just impressive, that's incredible.

Winder averaged 14.3 points per game and 16.0 in the playoffs! He was 7.9 and 8.9 points in each of his first two years. All of his stats were up, but how about the shooting percentage? .503 He was at .441 last year and .383 the year before. .371 from behind the arc (.295 last year, .357 the year before).

I fully expect Winder to get an invite to NBA Summer League, which will give him the opportunity to earn an invited to NBA Training Camp. Someone's gotta give him a chance after a year like this. So let's say he ends up in NBA Training Camp and doesn't make the team. Then what?

He could take the money and run. After all, he's 26 years old and has already spent three years in the NBA D-League. He has to make his big money while he still can. But, at the same time, if he's that close to the NBA, doesn't it behoove him to give it one more try in the NBA D-League and continue to work hard to prove it was no fluke and earn a GATORADE Call-Up? He could stick around through the Showcase, and if he doesn't earn a Call-Up, head overseas for the money. But what if he's having a good season at that point? Wouldn't it then behoove him to stick around to see if he can get one later in the season like Garrett Temple and Antonio Anderson? But what if it doesn't come? Then wouldn't Winder have just given up a year where he could've earned more money overseas?

If you ask me, it'd be worth it. You can't put a price on chasing your dream. Is Winder's dream to play in the NBA? Or can he be happy simply playing basketball, regardless of where? I'm not sure.

Still, it's a tough decision.

So... will Winder be back with the Vipers to defend the title? I say yes.

I'm not sure that he's NBA-ready yet. If he's not, he's close. I think he'll give it one more shot. He's not like a regular guy who's been in the NBA D-League for three years. I really don't count his first two years. He's a completely different player now. I think he's got one more chance at it.