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5 players to watch at 2019 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

By Daniel Lubofsky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: Allonzo Trier #14 and Mitchell Robinson #26 of the New York Knicks wait to rebound during the first half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on February 26, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: Allonzo Trier #14 and Mitchell Robinson #26 of the New York Knicks wait to rebound during the first half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on February 26, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

4. Old-man Cam Johnson

The Phoenix Suns weren’t ones to avoid the headlines on draft night, especially after trading down from the sixth pick to 11th overall. With the selection, the front office decided to go with Cameron Johnson in a move that baffled draft analysts everywhere.

Coming out of the University of North Carolina, Johnson was widely regarded as arguably the best shooter in the draft, having shot 45.7 percent on 5.8 3-point attempts per game last season at UNC. But at 23 years of age, he’s already older than franchise star Devin Booker while most mock drafts didn’t even have him going in the lottery, and some not even in the first round.

Even his teammate at UNC and No. 7 pick Coby White was shocked to find out where his friend wound up. No matter where exactly anyone may have predicted Johnson to go, the pick by Phoenix was viewed as a reach of epic proportions, one that falls right in line with a string of questionable decisions for most of this decade.

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1141909951893430273

Johnson won’t really be able to prove himself until his rookie season officially gets underway, but that doesn’t make Summer League completely useless. It provides a platform for him to go out and do what he does best against NBA-caliber talent.

Detractors will say what they want. Johnson can’t control that. A string of solid outings won’t outright stop the flow of criticism, but they could help to shed some light on Phoenix’s thought process when it came time to make a selection.