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Fred Katz writes Wednesday about the art of dealing with a 10-day contract, focusing on Sean Kilpatrick, who made the most of his audition, with a $2.25 million contract, and Henry Sims, who's trying to do the same.
The two 26-year-olds, the first players signed in the Sean Marks era, tell Katz what it's like having so little time to impress and what they learned from previous 10-days, recalling how their first short-term deal made them a bit crazy. Anxiety haunts your every move and not just when on the court.
"I think probably when you’re on your first 10-day or you’re a rookie or something, you’re not accustomed to the NBA lifestyle," Sims told Katz. "You don’t know you’ve got to be early to everything. Get in the gym early, stay late. Be attentive with film. [There are] just things you don’t know, and it’s not your fault, because you haven’t experienced it."
Now, Sims is a bit more adjusted and recently won a second 10-day. At the end of this 10-day, the Nets must decide what to do with the 6'11" Georgetown product: sign him for the rest of the year or give him an early vacation.
Sean Kilpatrick. who's looking like a real find, agrees. He, too, had earlier 10-days.
"My first 10-day was more stressful," said Sims, whose initial 10-day contract came with the Hornets in 2013. "I didn’t know what to expect. And it was a little difficult, just in the aspect of trying to sleep at night, trying to come into the gym not being on eggshells and not really know what to do on a 10-day. But now, this 10-day is a little different. I know what to expect. I know what to do. I’m older. I’ve been through it."
Kilpatrick, of course, has wowed fans since his call-up and will be paid an NBA salary for the rest of this season and all of next season, with a team option in 2017-18, which worked out well for both team and player.
"It’s been great, man, being able to kind of relax now a little bit, mentally," Kilpatrick said. "Now, I can just go out and not have to worry about all the other stuff and just play my game now."