2015 Orlando Summer League Preview

NBA Summer League is here, and, as usual, it starts in Orlando. With another Summer League added in Utah this year, a shortage of teams in Orlando has caused the Magic to field two teams here, but as usual, the Orlando Summer League rarely disappoints.

It’s a talented group this year, especially with the group of 2015 NBA Draft picks making their debut. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Frank Kaminsky, Stanley Johnson, Myles Turner, Justise Winslow, and Mario Hezonja are all first-round picks looking to make an early impression on their new teams.

Play will start the morning of July 4 – you can find the schedule of games here.

Here are my thoughts, and a mini-breakdown, on each of the individual team rosters:

Brooklyn Nets

Breakdown: There’s not much NBA experience on Brooklyn’s summer league entry, though second-year players Markel Brown and Cory Jefferson, along with veteran Earl Clark, give the Nets some athleticism and scoring ability. First-round draft pick Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will have a chance to show his defensive and rebounding ability on display, and the up-and-down tempo of the summer league game should hide a lot of his offensive flaws. Many think Khem Birch is NBA-ready, at least with his ability to run the floor, rebound, and protect the rim. His offense showed some improvement last year in the D-League, and he will have a good chance to make his case in Orlando that he is ready. After going undrafted, Cliff Alexander will also have a chance to make the case that teams may have made a mistake passing on the strong and active, but raw, former top high school player after a mess of a freshman year at Kansas.  2015 second-round pick, 19-year old Juan Vaulet, will get his first taste of the NBA game, though I’m not sure you’ll see much of him at this point. Point guard Ryan Boatright is a quick, heady player with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor, and a guy not afraid of big moments. A pair of big-bodied power forwards, Akil Mitchell and Juvonte Reddic, will give help on the boards and some versatility defensively.

Charlotte

Breakdown:  The Charlotte summer team has a nice mix of shooters and defenders, though not a very strong group around the basket, aside from a couple of players. The shooters are led by 2014 first-round pick, P.J. Hairston, and second-year player Troy Daniels.  Daniels played with three NBA teams last year, not really finding his shot until he landed in Charlotte late last season, but when he is on the floor, he opens the offense with his long-range ability. Hairston had some good moments in last year’s summer league, but he had trouble finding any consistency since leaving college. The player to watch will be 2015 first-round pick Frank Kaminsky, a skilled seven-footer with the ability to score inside and out; expect the Hornets to feature sets showing his ability to stretch the floor as a pick-and-pop big man. Former Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft had a very good year last season, winning a D-League title with Santa Cruz. He’s still not much of a shooter, but he runs a team’s offense well and is a top-level defender. Undrafted rookie Aaron Harrison, the man behind some of the biggest shots in Wildcat history, has NBA three-point range, though has never been really consistent, or shown much else. Another undrafted rookie, Alan Williams, was one of the NCAA’s best rebounders and inside scoring threats the past three seasons. Kevin Murphy is a former second-round pick of the Utah Jazz, and he showed he still has some scoring ability in the D-League last year, though he needs to work on his long-range shooting. Former North Carolina State guard Ralston Turner averaged almost three threes per game last year. Justin Burrell is a big-bodied forward who has played well at stops in France and Japan, showing good scoring ability around the basket and in the mid-range area. Former Georgetown point guard Jonathan Wallace hit over 41 percent from three-point range in Germany’s top division last year, as well as over 3 assists per game. Justin Cobbs was in training camp with the Hornets last year, and is coming off a very good rookie year in Germany.

Detroit Pistons

Breakdown: The Pistons have a nice mix of players from the NBA team, along with a good representation of players from their D-League affiliate and NBA veterans. The group is led by second-year guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who played well in limited minutes in the second half of the season. A big point guard at 6’6, Dinwiddie loves to create off the dribble, but really needs to work on his ability to knock down shots. Expect all eyes to be on first-round pick Stanley Johnson, a power wing from Arizona. The 19-year old has improved as a perimeter shooter, but has the body to attack the basket, even if finishing there has been an issue. Johnson also has a lot of long-term defensive potential. Quincy Miller is only 22, but he’s been in the NBA for three seasons, and has never lived up to his promise after leaving Baylor as a freshman for the NBA. A versatile wing, Miller is still a work-in-progress in many areas. Sundiata Gaines has played parts of 3 NBA seasons, though he’s been much better overseas, where he has an advantage with his quickness. His teammate in Italy, Justin Harper, is a stretch four, who hit almost 39 percent from long-range last year. Second-round pick Darrun Hilliard is a solid spot-up shooter and wing defender who should do a great job in the D-League early on. Rookie free agent Kendall Gray is a player to watch; an athletic center who can protect the rim, clean the boards, and finish on lobs at the basket. Billy Baron was a rookie free agent darling a year ago, though his summer league performance wasn’t as good as expected. Still, Baron is a good long-range shooter with some ability to create off the dribble. Jared Berggren is a skilled forward, with the ability to score in the post and on the perimeter, as well as being a solid team defender. David Wear received a late-season call up from Sacramento after doing well in Reno’s D-League system. He’s another guy looking to make his mark as a stretch four. Manny Atkins, Kelsey Barlow, Kammeon Holsey, and Adonis Thomas will all look to build off a solid season with the Drive, and Thomas will have a good chance to show that he deserves another NBA shot.  Big man Adam Kemp is coming off a solid season in Macedonia, averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds, as well as over 1 block, per game.

Indiana Pacers

Breakdown:  Indiana has a strong veteran presence in Orlando, something which should be very good for this year’s draftees. Myles Turner is a skilled seven-footer, though still raw in many ways, with the ability to knock down jumpers and block shots. Second-round pick Joseph Young was one of college basketball’s most dynamic scorers in stops at Houston and Oregon. Solomon Hill had a good second season for the Pacers last year, starting 78 games after the injury to Paul George kept him out most of the year. Hill is a good defender, and does a lot of the little things coaches need on the floor, though he does need to work on his ability to knock down shots. Second-year center Shayne Whittington appeared in 20 games last season, though the skilled big man didn’t get enough time to really show what he can do around the basket.  Former Syracuse big man Arinze Onuaku has picked up a few 10-day contracts the last couple of seasons, with his strength around the rim on both ends of the floor always on display wherever he goes. Xavier’s Matt Stainbrook may not look the part of a talented big man, but he was as skilled a post player as college basketball’s seen the past few years. Christian Watford has some scoring ability, though consistency from the perimeter hasn’t been there in his pro stops so far. James Nunnally has been a summer league standout the past couple of years, and he even picked up a few 10-day deals along the way. Last season, in the D-League, Nunnally hit 97 threes at an over 41 percent clip. Jarell Eddie also had a big season in the D-League, hitting over 45 percent from behind the arc in Austin, before getting called up by the Atlanta Hawks. Rookie free agents Jon Octeus and DaVonte Lacy should earn some minutes in the backcourt, while Romero Osby, a former second-round pick of Orlando, could have a chance to shine with his energetic play, coming off a good year in Puerto Rico and France.

Los Angeles Clippers

Breakdown: There isn’t much that will stand out about this Clippers’ summer league team, but there are a few players who could find themselves on NBA rosters down the road, as well as some guys trying to rejuvenate their careers. 2014 first-round pick CJ Wilcox didn’t make much of an impact in his first year, but the Clippers still hope he can provide some shooting off the bench. Jordan Hamilton has bounced around the league already in his four seasons, never quite showing the scoring ability he showed at Texas, but if he ever does, the Clippers could use it.  Royce White is ready to put his tumultuous times behind him it seems and looks to get back into the NBA starting here. The versatile forward’s battle with depression and his teams overshadowed his skill and playmaking ability, but if it’s all behind him, he may still get his real NBA chance. Nate Wolters had a good rookie season with the Bucks before roster depth at the point guard position saw him being moved. A very good playmaker and scorer, Wolters would be a great third point guard for an NBA team. After time in Phoenix and Utah, Diante Garrett is looking for another shot; the 6-5 guard averaged over 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal per game in the D-League last year. Athletic forward Eric Griffin has shined in summer league and the D-League the past few years, but he’s still looking to get past training camp with a team. Former Penn State point guard DJ Newbill is a versatile scorer and playmaker, with the athletic ability to play good perimeter defense. Yanick Moreira made his mark in the 2014 FIBA World Cup playing for Angola, and is coming off a solid, though unspectacular season at SMU. He does have good size and skill for the post, and he will find a good career playing somewhere. 2015 second-round pick Branden Dawson played a few different positions at Michigan State, but he thrived as an undersized four; if he can show he can move back to playing on the wing, his skill could find him in the NBA soon. Big man Liam McMorrow has played well in Canada and the Phillipines, though he has yet to show much stateside in the D-League and summer league. Patric Young had an impressive rookie year in Turkey, and could make an NBA roster, though there are rumors that he has signed to play in Greece next year.

Memphis Grizzlies

Breakdown: The Grizzlies’ summer league team is highlighted by a group of young players that they hope will be able to help the team off the bench next season. Jordan Adams was known as a scorer coming out of UCLA, but not much of a shooter, especially from long-range, but he showed better shooting ability in his limited D-League and NBA stints last year. Combined with his defense, the Grizzlies may use Adams more next season. Jarnell Stokes has the body to be a good scorer and defender around the paint, though he may need another season before he’s ready to contribute. Russ Smith shined in summer league last year, and after being acquired by the Grizzlies, his speed on both ends of the floor, as well as fearless play, could be valuable. 2015 second-round pick Andrew Harrison brings good size to the point guard position, though his game is pretty limited. He is very good at using his size to attack the basket, but his long-term career may be spent playing over at the shooting guard spot. JaMychal Green has shined in the D-League over the past few years with his ability to use his athleticism to make plays around the rim on both ends of the floor.  Green got his first NBA shot last year, and though the minutes were limited, he could help the Grizzlies off the bench. Seven-footer Alex Kirk had some good moments as a rookie down in the D-League. He’s more skilled on offense than defense, but he did show improvement on both ends last year. Okaro White, a lanky forward out of Florida State, had a good rookie year in Italy’s top division, averaging 12 points and 7 rebounds per game. A strong summer league could see multiple NBA teams interested. Michael Holyfield was one of the NCAA’s top shot-blockers last season, at almost 2.5 per game, and though efficient on offense, he didn’t get many opportunities; much of his offense came off of offensive rebounds. Ky Madden is another big point guard out of the SEC, though a much better defender and passer than Harrison. First round pick Jarell Martin won’t be playing due to an injury.

Miami Heat

Breakdown: This team will certainly be shortened by the time July 4 comes around, with some joining the Vegas team, but it is still an interesting group with many players worth keeping an eye on. I wouldn’t expect Hassan Whiteside and Henry Walker to play much, if at all, and even Zoran Drajic, James Ennis, and Tyler Johnson will probably only play a couple of games, at most. Shabazz Napier will need to try and build off a very disappointing rookie season, which started with a rough summer league outing last year. 2015 first-round pick Justise Winslow will be making his anticipated Heat debut, and the athletic forward should thrive within the fast-paced summer league style of play.  Second-round pick Josh Richardson is an athletic shooting guard who likes to attack off the dribble, but has improved as a perimeter shooter, hitting 36 percent from three-point range last year.  Willie Reed has been a star in the D-League the past few years, but hasn’t made it out of the preseason yet with an NBA team. He’s long and skilled, so he should get a chance soon.  I’m not sure if the Heat will be able to get anything out of undrafted rookie Joshua Smith, but when he’s motivated the 6’10, 360-pound center is a force around the basket.  His former college teammate Greg Whittington, who was dismissed from the Hoyas after missing a year due to academics, is an athletic forward who can make an impact on defense.  Former Iowa center Gabriel Olaseni is a high-energy big man who can rebound, block shots, and score around the basket. Tyler Kalinoski was one of my favorite players in the country last year; the Davidson point guard is a skilled shooter and passer who’s improved each of the last few years. Another point guard, Travis Trice, was a key member of Michigan State’s Final Four team, and a career 40 percent long-range shooter. Seth Tuttle was an All-American at Northern Iowa, showing a versatile skill set to impact the game on both ends of the floor.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Breakdown: Oklahoma City has sent an experienced team to Orlando, with five players who all played for their D-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, as well as Mitch McGary, who was limited with the parent club last year due to injuries. McGary impressed during summer league last year, and I won’t expect him to play more than a couple of games in Orlando. Guards Semaj Christon and Frank Gaines are both great scorers, though Gaines is the better shooter. Marquis Teague is trying to salvage his NBA career after being a disastrous first-round pick a few years ago for Chicago. Talib Zanna and Richard Solomon are both solid scorers from 10 to 15 feet in, with the length to impact the defensive end. 2015 second-round pick Dakari Johnson is a raw big man out of Kentucky who is a couple of years away, if at all, of being an NBA player. Undrafted rookie Quinn Cook was one of the key players in Duke’s National Championship run, showing the ability to knock down shots or distribute the ball. Another undrafted rookie, Tekele Cotton is an athletic guard who may be one of the more underrated defenders in this class. James Southerland had a couple of games with New Orleans and Charlotte in the NBA before spending last season in France, where he played limited minutes and never really found his shooting stroke. Travis Bader hit over 500 three-pointers in college, and his quick release and NBA+-range will have in some team’s training camp this fall. Two more undrafted rookies, Maxie Esho and Levi Randolph, are both athletic players who can run the floor and create turnovers on defense.

Orlando White

Breakdown: One of two Orlando entries in their summer league, this team lacks the name recognition of their Blue team, but has a nice mix of young veterans and unheralded rookies. Chris Singleton was a former first-round pick for the Wizards, but after three seasons of inconsistent play, he’s looking for a fresh start. The defensive specialist has added some offense to his game, and a good showing here should have him in training camp in the fall. Glen Rice, Jr. was a hot name last year after winning MVP of the Vegas Summer League, but it didn’t last and now he’s looking for another shot at the NBA. If Rice can keep his long-range shooting consistent, he’ll get another shot. A former second-round pick for Atlanta, Keith Benson has bounced around a bit since then, spending the past few years in Eastern Europe, where he has played well. A skilled big man, Benson never really had the motor to compete at the NBA level, but his chances are running out, so maybe he starts his new journey here. A couple of players from Orlando’s D-League team in Erie are on the roster; Keith Appling has a nice stretch of games after coming over from the Los Angeles D-League team, and Lenzelle Smith played well off the bench for the Bayhawks. Appling has a lot of tools for a solid backup point guard, so he’ll have a chance to impress here. 7’2 Jordan Bachynski came to the D-League in February, heading to Westchester. The Pac-12’s all-time leader in blocked shots does just that; in 18 games for Westchester, he blocked 40 shots. He may never improve much on offense, but his defense will always garner interest. Former Florida point guard Scottie Wilbekin had a very good rookie year in Australia, averaging 15 points and over 4 assists per game. He’ll end up back there again this year, but he’s worth keeping an eye on down the road. Jahii Carson has a slightly less impressive rookie year in Australia, still showing a lot of the issues which caused teams to pass him over in the 2014 draft. Still, Carson’s speed in the open floor can be a lot of fun to watch. Melvin Ejim has a solid rookie year in Italy’s top division, though his offense was inconsistent. Undrafted rookies Jarvis Williams and Youssou Ndoye are lengthy frontcourt players who love to hit the boards and defend the basket. Fellow undrafted rookie Antoine Mason was the NCAA’s leading scorer two years ago at Niagara, before transferring to Auburn for his final year. An impressively versatile scorer, Mason is the son of former NBA player Anthony Mason.

Orlando Blue

Breakdown: Obviously the more exciting of the Orlando teams, the Blue squad features Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon, both who should play a couple of games, as well as rookie Mario Hezonja, fresh off a ACB Championship series against Real Madrid last week. Hezonja’s athleticism will fit in with the young Orlando core, and his shooting ability is badly needed. Second-round pick Tyler Harvey was the NCAA’s leading scorer this past season.  Harvey hit 43 percent from three-point range for his career, though he is undersized for the shooting guard position. A few more players are here from Orlando’s D-League team, including point guard Peyton Siva, who had an impressive year with over 13 points and almost 7 assists per game. Daniel Coursey is a solid post presence on both ends of the floor, though he needs to get stronger, and Drew Crawford has the potential to stretch the floor with his long-range shooting ability. Former second-round pick Devyn Marble didn’t get much time with the Magic last season, but his scoring ability, plus ability to create off the dribble, will help him as he improves.  Former Net and 76er Brandon Davies spent last year in Europe, playing in France. At his best, he is a force around the basket, especially on offense, as well as a rebounder on both ends of the floor.  The Magic have an undrafted rookie here who is very similar, TaShawn Thomas out of Oklahoma, so it will be interesting to see the two of them compete. Undrafted rookie Jordan Sibert is a spot-up perimeter shooter, while Nnanna Egwu is a defensive presence in the middle.   Former Valparaiso star Ryan Broekhoff has impressed over in Europe, hitting 45 percent from three-point range last year, including 50 percent in Eurocup play.

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