Yesterday, the Tulsa 66ers acquired DeVon Hardin, a former Oklahoma City Thunder draft pick. It's very rare that players whose draft rights are owned by an NBA team end up playing in the D-League; in fact, off the top of my head, the only other time I can remember it happening was with Ejike Ugboaja back in 2007. Nevertheless, after playing in China for some summer money, Hardin seems to value the exposure right now more than a bigger paycheck. Ambitious for a man currently fighting an impossible battle against B.J. Mullens and Serge Ibaka for an NBA roster spot, but noble nonetheless.

Hardin takes a spot on the 66ers roster that previously belonged to former Oklahoma State point guard Byron Eaton. Eaton was assigned to the 66ers due to his local ties after he went undrafted in the past NBA draft, despite his senior season being his best ever season by quite a long way. His small size counted against him, as did his lack of three point jumpshot, and the fact that he just doesn't really have NBA talent.

Byron Eaton is best known as a basketball player for being fat. Measuring between 5-9 and 5-11, depending on whose measurements you believe, Eaton weighed over 240lbs in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, and if you're wondering what that looks like on a professional 5'10 athlete, then here's your answer:




Perhaps recognising the irony of his surname, Eaton lost a lot of weight for his senior season, and it's no coincidence that that was his best season ever. He was still a touch fat at about 210 or so, but he was a lot slimmer and faster, which greatly helped a man whose offensive game is based around his driving game.




Unfortunately, now that he's graduated and started to get paychecks as a professional basketball player, Eaton has let himself go again. In fact, he's let himself go more than before. Looking fatter than he has ever done - an observation backed up by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, who says that he was told that Eaton currently weighs 260lbs - Eaton's media day picture for the 66ers reveals the damage:





If Byron Eaton lost weight and played the way he can do, he'd be on the cusp of the NBA. He'd probably never be in it, but he'd be a good D-League player, and no doubt able to plunder 6 figure contracts from overseas teams. Unfortunately, he hasn't done so, and instead of being on the cusp of the NBA, Eaton is now on the cusp of the D-League. The waiving isn't the worst news in the world for Eaton, as he'll get paid either way. But the hope now is that it serves as a reminder to him to lose those 50lbs of unnecessary fat that so affect his basketball career. Because if he doesn't, it might be a short one.


Also in the D-League this week, Trey Gilder joined up, and Mario West did too, fresh from multiple unsuccessful tryouts in China. Both joined the Maine Red Claws, which gives them a pretty freaking stacked roster right now. Especially after the assignment of Alexis Ajinca.