[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

Follow up on my last post. Here are a few more standouts from summer league, but I’m also going to include a few ‘disappointing’ performers from summer league.  

(+)Josh Hart has been a revalation. He’s shooting above 40% from three on high volume and is the ‘go to guy’ for the LAL SL team. He’s even getting minutes at point and has looked great with the ball in his hands. He’s been attacking the rim, getting there with ease, and either getting a bucket or getting fouled. And all while guarding the oppositions best player which is probably the most impressive part of his SL performance. He, Svi, and Wagner have looked like NBA rotation players. 

(+)Zach Lofton has gotten more minutes for Detroit the past couple games and has played very well on both ends. He’s still a little rough around the edges but has the physicality, skill level and competitiveness to at least get a two way. 

(+) Christian Wood has looked awesome for Milwaukee. He’s crazy long and very athletic with some light feet and above average coordination. He’s already a legit rim runner and lob target but looks to have some legitimate offensive upside with his shooting stroke and fluidity for his size. 

(+)Rawle Alkins for Toronto is a bit enigmatic to me, but definitely looks the part of an NBA player – in his highlight tapes at least… He’s a crafty ballhandler and explosive athlete with a great NBA build. As a secondary ball handler and on ball defender, I like his chances of making it, but his decision making, jumpshooting and overall consistency will need to improve. 

(+)Alfonzo Mckinnie of the Raptors has really impressed me with his development and how he’s expanded his game. He’s very quick and nimble for a 6’8" combo forward and is improving with his jumpshot and ballhandling to the point that I could see him devloping into a true SF. If so, I believe he could be an efficient two way player.

(+)Semi Ojeleye got meaningful minutes in the ECF as a rookie and has developed with that experience, and it’s been on display at summer league. He hasn’t been as prolific of a shooter as he was in college, but his shooting stroke is smooth, efficient and repeatable. He’s a physical specimen with ridiculous strength for a wing player that coupled with his athleticism and length, make him a very versatile defender.

(+) Jon Jenkins has been playing for Portland and has looked like an NBA player. He’s been super efficient as a shooter and has worked really well away from the ball. He spent last year in Spain but may have never left the NBA if he hadn’t battled back injuries. Tbh, I think he looks like he’s lost a little bit of athleticism, but he’s still managed to be as efficient and productive as ever. Definitely worth a flyer if his medical checks out. 

(+)Brandon Goodwin has been backing up Jevon Carter on the Grizzlies summer league squad and has been a great compliment to him off the bench. His size isn’t great for a point guard and he’s more of a combo guard atm, but his ability to score the ball is advanced with him being able to take defenders off the dribble, pull up from deep, finish with floaters, and finish at the rim. He’s also a pesky defender but struggles against bigger players. If he can improve his vision and playmaking while adding some physical strength, I could see him being a third pg on an NBA team. 

(-) Deyonta Davis was a lotto pick for the Grizzlies and is at a make or break point in his career. He has gotten much stronger but that appears to be about it. Playing next to JJJ who has been balling out of his mind doesn’t help, but he has been underwhelming regardless on his own account. He doesn’t have much of any offensive game and doesn’t seem to have the athleticism and/or coordination to even be a reliable lob threat. He better rebound and play D out of his mind or he will be out of the league sooner than later. 

(-) Henry Ellenson is a player that I’ve always really liked and rooted for but just hasn’t ‘found his footing’ in the NBA. He’s a stretch 4 with great size, length, and coordination, but just seems to be a step behind more often than not. His lack of athleticism really holds him back but I do believe he could be an effective player with added strength. He should try to be a Raef Lafrentz type but seems to think of himself as more of a Kevin Durant/Dirk Nowitzki. Time will tell, I haven’t given up but also haven’t been very impressed. 

(-)Giorgios Papagiannis seems to be on his last leg in the NBA and has been playing with the Portland summer league squad. He’s huge and has a little bit of a mean streak but just doesn’t have the athleticism or skillset for the modern NBA. In a different era, I think he’d get more time to devlop, but in the modern NBA he’s a bit of a relic that teams aren’t going to waste cap space on. He has multiple offers in Greece that will be bigger than anything I could see him getting offered state side. 

(-) DJ Wilson was an upside pick in the first round of the 2017 draft for Milwaukee and saw spot minutes as a rookie. He has all the requisite size, length, athleticism and coordination but just hasn’t been able to put it all together. He has a decent looking shot but hasn’t been shooting well and it seems that his confidence is contingent on it. He’s just seemed frustrated and out of sorts. And with the type of athlete/physical specimen he is, I’d like to see way more hussle plays and engagement on the defensive end. 

Feel free to add to the list and check out the "summer league standouts" and "summer league ramblings" to see who else I’ve covered. I will probably make one more of these posts then an ‘All summer league teams’ post. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 How is Zach Collins looking to you thus far? More than likely he will become a projected started with Ed Davis moving on.

[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

He’s been a standout for sure. His coordination, lateral agility and quickness off the floor make him a very good and versatile defender. He has a nose for the ball, great motor and is surprisingly scrappy with a quick first and second jump for such a big guy. He’s also super efficient and can contribute without having any plays run for him. He’s a smart pick and roll guy who can roll to the rim or pick and pop. Should keep improving as a shooter and overall scorer but could probably have a good career in the league even if his offense doesn’t come along. I think he’s going to be a fun player to watch the next couple of years because he just keeps getting better the more confident he gets. Hopefully he maintains his quickness and overall athleticism as he fills out pysically – I think he will. 

Idk just how high his ceiling is but he makes plays that contribute to winning basketball with consistency and doesn’t make too many mistakes. 

 

[Striver347Participant]

 Zach Collins’ defensive intensity is perhaps the most encouraging thing to watch on this summer league team. I think guard play will be covered in some aspect since Baldwin, Curry, and McCollum also play the 1 in spurts. I think the loss of Ed Davis leads to addition by subtraction, Collins has access to more minutes than before, and so long as his offense improves, I’m convinced he’s going to be the most important bench player for Portland this year.

 

Troy Brown had an incredible summer league. His jumpshot was falling and he scored with some nice efficiency numbers. He’s also a player with a smooth game and natural feel. It shows in his movements and how he makes certain plays. I though Washington may regret drafting a player akin to Evan Turner and it seems that he’s further along in shooting than Evan Turner. Should he pan out, Washington would be all the better for it.

 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 From what I’ve seen from Alkins playing the NBA game (a very early critique) he seems to struggle fitting in and finding his own niche. He’s good at alot of things but not particularly great at anything and he has a hard time finding out when to use certain strengths. The one thing he does consitently is rebound. He’s had good and bad moments though and has certainly shown he has NBA skills. 

This Raptors SL team was composed of mostly Raptors 905 G-League players that have been to two G-League Championships in a row so its not like its a disorganized SL team that would be difficult to fit into when given an oppurtunity. 

He had one good game where he was hitting all his shots but those shots were available to him all throughout the tournament. He hesitates at times shooting and I think its because he doesnt get elevation on his jumpshot so he’s afraid of it getting blocked so he gets out of rythm. 

Doesnt use his strength and size enough to punish smaller defenders constantly uses it for rebounding and an excellent rebounder at the gaurd position. However when driving and attacking the rim with a purpose he is hard to handle, similar to Lance Stephenson in those regards but not quite the playmaker.

He’s really a mixed bag and I think he would be a good addition to the G-League team however I dont think he is an NBA player right now.

 

 

 

 

[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

Couldn’t agree more. He’s a head scratcher. He has all the requisite size, athleticism, skills and motor but just might not have the brain…. He’s still young though and might be better served in a real system that’s been thoroughly installed and not in the Summer League setting. But I don’t have any confidence to say either way, but he’s definitely worth being brought into the fold just in case he does put it all together. And especially for a non free agent destination and/or small market team.

Can’t help but think that his high school, aau and college coaches allowing him to play with the ball in his hands so much hasn’t potentially stunted the overall growth of his game. He doesn’t work well away from the ball and doesn’t do quite enough with it either. 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Yeah I feel like he could eventually be  great glue guy if he attempted to learn those skills but does he understand how he can effect the game in a positive way?

Also Toronto defenitely is not a free agent destination but its the 3rd largest market in the NBA. Just saying.

 

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 Raptors plan to waive McKinnie before his contract becomes guaranteed on Wednesday.

[cominup7Participant]

 Devin Robinson has been flashing some good 3-D ability with potential for more. Putting up 20 & 6 with good defensive stats. He always seemed like a passive player but he’s been more aggressive this summer…that Washington bench is gonna be fun to watch.

 

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 Deyonta Davis was a second rounder
Not a lottery pick

 

[Dog_ShammdogParticipant]

Idk why I was thinking he went so high but at 31 overall he isn’t quite as much of a disappointment, but definitely still a disappointment. And I don’t think it has anything to do with the organization but has everything to do with him. Memphis has gotten a lot more out of lesser touted prospects than they have Davis. I can’t really point to much of anything that I believe he does well… He’s just a physical specimen with some athletic upside but just doesn’t seem to be operating on a wave length that translates to the NBA. He’s unengaged on defense and indecisive on offense and doesn’t have the athleticism or hands to even be a passable lob target type big. 

I think his days are numbered in the NBA unless something clicks and he turns things completely around. 

 

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 He was a projected lottery pick
Thats probably why you thought so
Hopefully he turns it around, he’s still young

 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

Deyonta Davis infuriates me man. I hate his demeanor on the court. It’s very lazy and he just seems not to care. While I acknowledge that some players have a natural "dont care" face like T-Mac but are real competitors, Davis looks lazy and plays lazy. I hate it.

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

 Wojo is reporting the Kings r putting 2gether a trade to send Temple to Memphis for McLemore & Lazy Deyonta Davis. 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

Disgusting haul for the Kings man.

[Author]

Posts