Lakers – Andrew Bynum had an ugly game, but followed it up with a much stronger effort. JR “Today I’m not Danillo” Pinnock seems to be the early favorite for the last roster spot. He had another strong overall game including a dunk where he literally pulled the basket down. A dark horse for that last spot is Marcus Slaughter, an undrafted SF from San Diego State. He’s shot the ball well and has shown excellent defensive instincts, blocking three shots against Dallas.
Clippers – James Singleton is a rebounding beast. He’s averaging almost 14 in 35 minutes this summer.
Philadelphia – Shavlik Randolph flashed the potential he showed at Duke in a dominating performance versus Seattle in his first summer league game.
Atlanta – Marvin Williams is a smooth operator, but doesn’t have the bulk to play the 4 spot. Shelden Williams isn’t showing much (and I’m not surprised).
Utah – Deron Williams is good, very good like 16 points and 7 assists in less than 20 minutes good. Ronnie Brewer will be a Swiss army knife player in the NBA. Paul Milsap is as good a rebounder as in college and a good garbage player.
Cleveland – King James is going to like Shannon Brown a lot.
Houston – John Lucas is a summer league god and is fielding offers from 5 different teams (leaders in the clubhouse Houston and Phoenix). Matt Haryasz could make the team as a back-up big man. He’s nothing spectacular, but he’s competent. Chuck Hayes grabbed 19 boards vs. Dallas.
Dallas – Maurice Ager is streaky, but has good range and should fit in the Dallas offense better than Marquis Daniels (and I’m a huge Daniels fan). Rawle Marshall has been very adept at getting to the free throw line and converting. Kevin Pittsnogle, after an exceptionally poor showing with Miami, has joined the Dallas team at the Rocky Mountain Revue.
Portland – Brandon Roy is showing he can do everything by running the point with solid results the day after dropping 35 on Phoenix. Martell Webster is not your average straight-out-of-high-school player. He’s a great shooter, but doesn’t seem to have the ball skills to get to the bucket. Normally, HS picks are of greater athleticism. His shooting, however, is great. One scout says he could become Glen Rice.
Washington – The reports on Andray Blatche continue to be glowing. Peter John Ramos sounds like a porn name to me, not sure why.
Chicago – Kirk Heinrich’s replacement at Kansas, Aaron Miles, might be his back-up in Chicago if he continues his strong play. If Chicago can’t find a spot for him, it looks like another team might. Tyrus Thomas is a stud athlete and defender. He cannot, however, shoot to save his life. Everyone knew this when he was drafted and it looks like he’ll have to spend a lot of time in the gym.
Miami – Earl Barron continues to impress and for a 7-footer is an excellent free throw shooter.
Charlotte – Adam Morrison can score from anywhere with any move. He sometimes just misses a lot. Sean May has been very good and has shown a large increase in his shooting range, including hitting a few 3-pointers. As an undersized PF, if he can show the game to occasionally play SF that will really help his future and that of the Bobcats as well. Okefor, May, Wallace, Morrison, Felton is a very promising starting 5. They also have Knight at PG and Brezec at C who are quite competent at their positions.
Orlando – Dwyane Wade’s former backcourt buddy Travis Diener has looked very good running the point and shooting from outside including a nice 7/10 from behind the arc versus Chicago en route to 34 points. In other short white shooter news, neither Gerry McNamara nor J.J. Redick has played yet.
Indiana – Everyone’s favorite Catamount, Taylor Coppenrath, had a solid game versus Miami scoring on a variety of moves and getting to the free throw line 11 times.
New Jersey – Josh Boone looks like an average big man in the league. He rebounds well and can finish well, just don’t ask him to shoot from beyond 6 feet. Marcus Williams can use a bit more consistency on his shot, but he will be a top-10 point guard in the league within 4 years.
Memphis – Rudy Gay’s debut of 21 points and 10 rebounds set off 100s of West Hollywood residents to run to their local sports gear store to pick up his jersey. He scored on dunks, pull-ups and a 3-pointer. He teamed with Hakim Warrick to form the best pair of forwards in the summer league. My sleeper pick, Alexander Johnson added 25 (on 7-11 shooting) and 11 rebounds versus Dallas. Johnson followed it up with 15 (on 6-12 shooting) and 12 rebounds in 24 minutes against the Lakers.
Boston – Telfair, Rondo, Gomes and Green continue to impress. Al Jefferson finally had a good game versus Denver.
Sacramento – The Kings have a player named “Pooh” on their summer league roster. It’s been too long since we’ve had a Pooh in the Association. If you’re a basketball fan, you must become a Pooh fan.
Toronto – Andrea Bargnani with 2 good numbers - 21 points, 11 rebounds - and 2 bad numbers - 7 turnovers, 7 fouls. Kris Humphries showing nice PF skills added 19 points, 12 boards and 2 blocks versus Golden State.
Minnesota – As much as I don’t want it to be it’s looking like Randy Foye is going to be a playa.
7 Comments:
Marcus Slaughter made a huge mistake leaving early. I saw him play in person a few times his sophomore year at SDSU, and he can be a nice defensive/rebounding presence in the post. Unfortunately, Rony Turiaf already serves a similar role w/ the Lakers, so I don't know if there will be room for him.
The report is that Slaughter has been showing good range on his jumpshot and has been able to defend SFs, so he might have a shot as the 3rd SF. If they take one of Green/Pinnock though, they'd have to waive someone on the roster (i.e. Aaron McKie) to make room for Slaughter
A few things...
Shavlik Randolph showed potential in high school, he sucked at Duke...
Atlanta is still wishing they had drafted Chris Paul...
Good luck to Paul Milsap and his 6'7, 245 lb. frame. If you get blocked less than 9 times a game in the pros consider that a great success...
Look at John Lucas and you will see why the Summer League was created, so guys like him could show why he should be in the NBA...
Maurice Ager looks like he knows how to score the ball, that especially will be the case on the Mavs, where he will be the 4th or 5th offensive option on the floor...
Tyrus Thomas the next Amare? He can be, the question is whether or not Chicago can design an offense to utilize him...
Adam Morrison might be one of the safest draft picks in NBA history. You knew exactly what you were getting when you got him...
Coppenrath better make the NBA this year. He deserves to and is a solid "instant-offense" player off the bench...
I don't wanna toot my own horn, but this is a comment from my blog on 6/29/2006, "In regard to Rudy Gay, I think he will end up being the best player in this draft. I have said that for the past month, and now it seems he has a huge chip on his shoulder to prove that to everyone who said he doesn't have the desire or determination. The Gay trade doesn't make much sense for Houston at all. Battier is an average player...Gay has so much potential."
....I am starting to look like a stinkin genius.
Atlanta's just a bad bad franchise.
Re: Milsap...Dennis Rodamn was 6'7" 228 and he seemed to be a strong rebounder in his career. Last I checked Barkley was 6'6" 252. I'm not saying Milsap will be a stud, but you can be an effective PF, especially a rebounder, at his height.
Thomas has a long long way to be Amare. Thomas right now has no offensive game to speak of except for garbage buckets and fast-break dunks. Amare can score those ways as well as by posting up or hitting a jumper up to 15 feet.
Unfortunately I don't think that Coppenrath will make the league. Perhaps he'll get a 10-day or 2, but nothing guaranteed coming out of summer league.
As for Gay, I think he'll be good, but the best player of the draft will be Roy immediately and then either Roy, Foye or Bargnani long-term.
Are you actually questioning someone that made it on deadspin today? Unbelievable...hehe. Okay here is my response to your comments...
I was being a little bit too hard on PM. He does have the potential to be a quality backup in the NBA. He is a naturally rebounder, and they say that talent is innate (can't be tought). The next Danny Fortson anyone?
We will see about Tyrus Thomas, I have faith in Double T...but imagine Chicago playing Big Ben and Tyrus Thomas at the same time. Yikes, if I were on the opposing team I wouldn't even consider driving to the hoop. Then again, when Chicago is on offense, imagine two guys on an NBA floor that can't shoot the ball from outside of 5 feet...double Yikes!
Coppenrath deserves to be on an up and coming team that needs offense...Atlanta? Charlotte? New Orleans? Anyone?
I hear farmar is making a smooth transition... good for him.
i really like that guy.
Yea Farmar is money.
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