Summer League Winners and Losers
The whole purpose of the summer league trifecta (and all of the other semi-pro leagues that exist and feature NBA talent) is to hopefully catch either the eyes of NBA personnel who need to fill roster spots or scouts from wealthy international basketball clubs. Both types have been present in large numbers throughout the summer league and rumors have already begun about players that have good chances of making regular season rosters in America and abroad.
In the past, the summer league has helped young NBA players jumpstart their NBA careers as well as provide unsigned free-agents the opportunity to showcase their abilities for NBA personnel. Last season, Jose Juan Barea established himself as a quality scorer and floor general for the Mavericks and after earning two years of a minimum contract, was given a 3 year/$4.8 million dollar contract this offseason. Journeyman power-forward Josh Powell has been another such story, latching on with the Mavericks before signing a multi-year contract and seeing rotation minutes with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Golden State Warriors have had success in the past finding the likes of Kelenna Azubuike and C.J. Watson in past summer league seasons.
Looking at the current state of certain NBA rosters and the wealth of professional talent participating in these summer leagues, there seem to be more than a few roster spots up for grabs.
The most attractive teams seem to be the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Mavericks had three open roster spots coming into the summer league season and have made commitments to guards Gerald Green and Keith McLeod, both veteran presences to bolster a weak backcourt. Green's perimeter shooting and athletic potential make him a low-risk, high reward player who could one day develop into a very good two-way player. McLeod is steady and his inclusion on the roster could mean that Jose Juan Barea sees more minutes in the rotation.
The San Antonio Spurs, according to reliable rumor, are enamored with D-Leaguer Anthony Tolliver, a player who should be able to cover low-minutes at either forward spot and has a sweet-stroke from beyond the arc. Roger Mason Jr. also had a very steady summer league season, proving much of the same skill-set, but showing improvements that might lead Spurs officials to believe that he more potential.
Despite the improvements that the Minnesota Timberwolves made to their frontcourt, their backcourt is extremely thin with only Randy Foye under contract next year. Looking at their summer league roster, there is a multitude of lead guards available, mostly in the bench-spark plug variety. The most impressive guards of the pack, and the two most likely to get a shot at training camp, are veteran journeyman Pooh Jeter and former Miami Heat rookie and D-Leaguer, Blake Ahern. Ahern has had the more impressive performance thus far showing the ability to hit open shots and attack the basket. Should Sebastian Telfair choose to sign elsewhere, one of these guys has a very good chance of making the roster.
The Washington Wizards really liked Dee Brown when he was a member of the Utah Jazz and after he got cut from the Jazz and played a year in Turkey, the Wizards gave him a two-year partially guaranteed contract and a spot on the summer league roster. He did not disappoint, proving himself to be a reliable creator and scorer off of the bench. It is all but assumed that he will inherit Roger Mason Jr.'s role in the rotation.
The Knicks loved Anthony Roberson's ability to handle the ball and put points on the board. They loved him so much, in fact, that they offered him a guaranteed contract. Roberson will get playing time in D'Antoni's system if he can prove to be a competent lead guard.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost an important rotation player when Ronny Turiaf decided to bolt for Oakland. The good news, however, is that two perfect replacements turned in efficient performances on their summer league team: former Clemson Tiger Sharrod Tiger and Fordham rookie Bryant Dunston. Dunston seems like the front runner if either of these players actually has a chance, but Ford has more experience and a better resume. Both of these guys had great performances and Los Angeles's decision to draft Joe Crawford instead of a power forward seems just a bit suspicious. Crawford did a good job, but failed to show that he is a versatile scorer.
More to come...
In the past, the summer league has helped young NBA players jumpstart their NBA careers as well as provide unsigned free-agents the opportunity to showcase their abilities for NBA personnel. Last season, Jose Juan Barea established himself as a quality scorer and floor general for the Mavericks and after earning two years of a minimum contract, was given a 3 year/$4.8 million dollar contract this offseason. Journeyman power-forward Josh Powell has been another such story, latching on with the Mavericks before signing a multi-year contract and seeing rotation minutes with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Golden State Warriors have had success in the past finding the likes of Kelenna Azubuike and C.J. Watson in past summer league seasons.
Looking at the current state of certain NBA rosters and the wealth of professional talent participating in these summer leagues, there seem to be more than a few roster spots up for grabs.
The most attractive teams seem to be the Dallas Mavericks, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Mavericks had three open roster spots coming into the summer league season and have made commitments to guards Gerald Green and Keith McLeod, both veteran presences to bolster a weak backcourt. Green's perimeter shooting and athletic potential make him a low-risk, high reward player who could one day develop into a very good two-way player. McLeod is steady and his inclusion on the roster could mean that Jose Juan Barea sees more minutes in the rotation.
The San Antonio Spurs, according to reliable rumor, are enamored with D-Leaguer Anthony Tolliver, a player who should be able to cover low-minutes at either forward spot and has a sweet-stroke from beyond the arc. Roger Mason Jr. also had a very steady summer league season, proving much of the same skill-set, but showing improvements that might lead Spurs officials to believe that he more potential.
Despite the improvements that the Minnesota Timberwolves made to their frontcourt, their backcourt is extremely thin with only Randy Foye under contract next year. Looking at their summer league roster, there is a multitude of lead guards available, mostly in the bench-spark plug variety. The most impressive guards of the pack, and the two most likely to get a shot at training camp, are veteran journeyman Pooh Jeter and former Miami Heat rookie and D-Leaguer, Blake Ahern. Ahern has had the more impressive performance thus far showing the ability to hit open shots and attack the basket. Should Sebastian Telfair choose to sign elsewhere, one of these guys has a very good chance of making the roster.
The Washington Wizards really liked Dee Brown when he was a member of the Utah Jazz and after he got cut from the Jazz and played a year in Turkey, the Wizards gave him a two-year partially guaranteed contract and a spot on the summer league roster. He did not disappoint, proving himself to be a reliable creator and scorer off of the bench. It is all but assumed that he will inherit Roger Mason Jr.'s role in the rotation.
The Knicks loved Anthony Roberson's ability to handle the ball and put points on the board. They loved him so much, in fact, that they offered him a guaranteed contract. Roberson will get playing time in D'Antoni's system if he can prove to be a competent lead guard.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost an important rotation player when Ronny Turiaf decided to bolt for Oakland. The good news, however, is that two perfect replacements turned in efficient performances on their summer league team: former Clemson Tiger Sharrod Tiger and Fordham rookie Bryant Dunston. Dunston seems like the front runner if either of these players actually has a chance, but Ford has more experience and a better resume. Both of these guys had great performances and Los Angeles's decision to draft Joe Crawford instead of a power forward seems just a bit suspicious. Crawford did a good job, but failed to show that he is a versatile scorer.
More to come...
posted by Raoul Duke at 11:36 AM
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