s since featured in Formula E, where he scored a podium in his second appearance.Jean-Eric VergneJean-Eric Vergne is unfortunate that his make-or-break

After Kamui Kobayashi tweeted a light-hearted application for the vacant Mercedes drive this week, ESPN has compiled a list of left-field candidates we would love to see the world champions take a big gamble on -- however unlikely they may be.Kamui KobayashiAs his tweet inspired this list, its only fair Kobayashi is the first name on it. A popular driver when he was in Formula One, he returned to the grid in 2014 after a crowd-funding initiative earned him a seat at Caterham. The highlight of his career had come in 2012, when he claimed a home podium at the Japanese Grand Prix for Sauber. Kobayashi disappeared from F1 when Caterham went into administration at the tail-end of 2014, and he did not re-surface when the team made a final appearance in Abu Dhabi that year.?Kobayashis uncompromising racecraft helped him forge a cult status in Formula One and his return would be good in for the Japanese market, where F1 remains as popular as ever. He undoubtedly deserved a better crack at Formula One and Mercedes would provide the perfect chance to show what he can really do behind the wheel.Jorge LorenzoThree-time MotoGP champion Lorenzo drove a Mercedes this year, running a 2014-spec car at Silverstone. The fact the team said his pace was competitive suggests he would have no problem adapting to the demands of a Formula One car -- the Spaniard even suggested he found the experience rather easy compared to MotoGP. Lorenzo is not the first two-wheel legend to flirt with Formula One in recent years: Valentino Rossi tested for Ferrari on several occasions and was often linked with a switch to four wheels, coming closest in 2009 when the team searched for a stand-in for the injured Felipe Massa.We know this is practically impossible, especially given Lorenzos recent switch to Ducati, but it would be a great PR moment for both F1 and MotoGP. Ruthless, frighteningly fast and a true icon of motorsport, Lorenzo going up against Hamilton in 2017 would be absolutely fascinating.?Robert KubicaIts safe to bet Kubica could have been a world champion by this point in his career had he not suffered serious injuries in a rallying accident in early 2011. That crash almost severed his arm completely and left him with injuries which have made a return to single-seater racing impossible, though he has since forged a career in rallying.?Kubica was admired by fans and his peers alike, with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso previously saying he is one of the sports lost world champions. His performances before his crash show he was a man just waiting to be given a car to match his huge talent. We know the Pole will never grace the F1 grid again but undoubtedly a fully healthy Kubica would have been top of the list of candidates for this drive.Alexander RossiAlexander Rossi is one of the great racing stories of 2016. Cast aside by Manor in Formula One after a flurry of races at the end of last year, Rossi stunned the racing world by winning the Indy 500 at the first attempt during his rookie IndyCar season, vindicating his talent. The fact he has signed on for another season with Andretti Autosport seems to have closed off a route back to Formula One, meaning the American looks set to join the list of drivers that missed out on a fair chance.Rossi to Mercedes would be gold-dust for Formula One. Cracking America remains the obsession for Bernie Ecclestone and prospective new owners Liberty Media. Despite the popular U.S. Grand Prix and the debut of Haas this year, Formula One is still a slow-burner stateside. A competitive, marketable driver like Rossi in a class-leading car challenging for the championship alongside Lewis Hamilton -- the most recognisable athlete in the sport -- would be a gamechanger in terms of recognition in the States. Sign him up, Toto.António Félix da CostaA case of massively unfulfilled potential. Undoubtedly a talented driver, Da Costa, now 25, slipped through the cracks of the Red Bull programme early in his career. Despite links to various teams through his first racing years and an appearance at a young driver test in 2010, the opportunity to drive in F1 never arose. Like with many others before and since, once the door closed on Da Costa it never re-opened.He hinted at what might have been earlier this year by winning the prestigious Macau Grand Prix after a late call-up, beating out a host of young drivers gunning for the F1 opportunity he was never given. Hes admitted a future in F1 is not on the cards but we get the feeling Mercedes would love resurrecting a former Red Bull protégés career...Robin FrijnsFrijns is another driver who somehow never made it to the F1 grid. Clearly a great talent, the Dutchman was a coming man in the early 2010s and beat Jules Bianchi to the 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 title in his rookie season. A place on the F1 grid seemed certain but despite a test with Red Bull and test roles with Sauber and Caterham in 2013 and 2014, a full-time drive never materialised as he was often overlooked for better-funded drivers. He has since featured in Formula E, where he scored a podium in his second appearance.Jean-Eric VergneJean-Eric Vergne is unfortunate that his make-or-break season at Toro Rosso coincided with two big events in the history of Red Bull Racing: Sebastian Vettels decision to leave for Ferrari and the emergence of Max Verstappen. When Vergne was overlooked for Vettels seat, which went to Daniil Kvyat, his days in the Red Bull programme were numbered and he was dropped byToro Rosso altogether when the team signed Verstappen and Carlos Sainz for 2015. He hasnt been in F1 since.Like many Red Bull castaways before him, Vergne was confined to the scrapheap way too early and has always maintained that he had a balanced rivalry with Daniel Ricciardo when they were teammates -- the Australian has since blossomed into one of the best drivers on the grid. Vergne has stayed near F1 with a reserve Ferrari role and a surprise nod from Mercedes would be massively popular given the high regard many have for the Frenchman.Mick SchumacherSchumacher is one of the names that resonates with motor racing across the world. Father Michael remains the most successful in F1 with 91 wins and seven world championships, meaning young Micks career has already been subjected to intense scrutiny and attention. The 17-year-old has been heavily linked with Mercedes junior programme in recent months and has shown promise in his career so far.Signing him for 2017 would be an incredible risk and we know Schumachers name will not be on Toto Wolffs candidates for a drive, but he looks like a good candidate for a future seat at Mercedes. Whichever F1 team signs him up knows Mick will come with great marketing opportunities but with massive expectations. Though he is far off the required superlicence points for a place on the grid at the moment, he makes this list as he turns 18 just in time for next years season-opening Australian Grand Prix.Paul di RestaAs a youngster, Paul di Resta made his name by out-performing teammate Sebastian Vettel in the 2006 F3 season. Despite impressing in junior categories he never recieved the backing required -- and that he felt his talent deserved -- and had to wait until Force India signed him for the 2011 F1 season. Though consistent in his three seasons at the team he never scored a podium and was dropped at the end of 2013.?Despite possessing a great amount of talent Di Resta has failed to return to the grid since and has had to make do with three seasons of DTM. He was named Williams reserve driver this season but thats as close as he has come to another shot. He remains closely linked to Mercedes through DTM and may have been a viable candidate for Rosbergs seat his F1 career had ended more recently.Pastor MaldonadoSay what? I know, I know -- just hear me out. Maldonado was axed by Renault ahead of this season due to complications with his funding, leaving with one of the most unenviable reputations in recent memory. Maldonados crash-strewn career has spawned a host of internet memes and even a website charting the time since his last accident but overshadows the fact the Venezuelan was always supremely fast.In fact, most in the paddock would agree Maldonado was quicker than most on the grid in terms of raw speed, his victory at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix for Williams the stand-out drive of his career. However, Maldonado never seemed to shake his wildly erratic style and his final season at Lotus was littered with incidents which did little to shake the notion he was in F1 for his sponsors money and nothing else. But was his over-aggressive driving a by-product of driving uncompetitive cars? If Mercedes tamed his wild side and gave him a race-winning car Maldonado could provide the perfect foil to Hamilton on the other side of the garage. Cheap Heat Jerseys .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Wholesale Custom Heat Shirts . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. http://www.customheatjersey.com/ . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Custom Heat Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Authentic Custom Heat Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves seemed to be two teams on similar paths; young rosters filled with high draft picks to develop with new coaches.While Minnesotas youth seemed to be further along and the Timberwolves were considered an upstart team to begin the season, Los Angeles has adapted the quickest with its new pieces gelling under coach Luke Walton.The two teams get their first chance at each other Sunday as each will play the second game of back-to-back situations.The Lakers (6-4) showed their growth again on Saturday night in New Orleans, cruising to a 126-99 victory against the Pelicans. Los Angeles has won five of its past six games.I think our guys love competing, Walton said. I think they feel more challenged in the second half to go get it done. Its almost as if when the game starts, you know we have 48 minutes to get it done. Obviously, we dont want that ... but its a process.Under coach Tom Thibodeau, Minnesota has struggled to open the season, especially on the defensive end. The Timberwolves (2-6) lost at home to the league-leading Los Angeles Clippers 119-105 on Saturday night, giving up 21 fast-break points to Los Angeles and allowing the Clippers to shoot 52.6 percent from the field and make 11 of 24 3-pointers.Right now were not consistent enough, Thibodeau said. We have to build the right habits. Defensively its hard to win when you give up 119 points.Defensive improvement was expected under Thibodeau for a team that has long struggled to stop opponents. The transition is proving to take time. Minnesota has allowed 119 points in two of its past three games. Opponents have scored more than 102 in all but one game.The Timberwolves did get point guard Ricky Rubio back in the lineup on Saturday after he missed five games with a sprained right elbow. Rubio had seven points, six rebounds and six assists in the loss.Im trying to find a rhythm, trying to find how to run the team too, Rubio said. First game bacck after a couple weeks, just get the rust off.dddddddddddd.Minnesotas talent has shined at times on the offensive end. The Timberwolves have two players averaging more than 20 points per game in forward Andrew Wiggins (23.8) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (22.1). Guard Zach LaVine was also above the mark before he was held to 15 points on 7 of 15 shooting on Saturday.Wiggins struggled against the Clippers league-best defense on Saturday. He scored 22 points but was constantly harassed and shot just 8 of 24.The Lakers had no trouble shooting Saturday against New Orleans, particularly from Los Angeles guards and bench.Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points and Williams added 21 for the Lakers, who entered the game leading the league with 48.8 points per game from their bench.Me and Lou are going to be real aggressive coming in. Were trying to do a good job of leading this second group, bringing the energy, scoring the ball, pushing the pace, Clarkson told the Associated Press. Coach gave that to us. Thats our role and thats what were going to do.Including starters DeAngelo Russell (22 points) and Nick Young (15), the Lakers backcourt accounted for 81 points on 31-of-51 shooting, including 15 of 25 from 3-point range.We got some great guards -- we got some killers, Russell said. Its up to us to go out there and maintain it and do it every game.Los Angeles rookie Brandon Ingram left Saturdays game with a sprained ankle but told the Associated Press he could have returned if the game was closer.Of course, these are two teams used to integrating high draft picks. Towns was picked No. 1 overall a year ago, one spot ahead of Russell. In 2014, Wiggins was the top pick by Cleveland before being traded to Minnesota. The Lakers took Julius Randle seventh overall.Ingram was this years second pick and the Timberwolves went with Kris Dunn at No. 5. ' ' '