Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from 2019 NBA Summer League

1. Clemons is legit

In spite of not being among one of the 60 players to have his name called in this year’s draft, Chris Clemons managed to make quite the splash during his time at NBA Summer League.

On top of showing why teams should not have sought to overlook his prolific scoring prowess, as the undersized guard who once haunted the dreams of opposing players and head coaches in the Big South Conference could be on pace to do the same at the next level.

Clemons — who agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Houston Rockets prior to Summer League — posted a team-high 20.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on 39.5 percent shooting from the field through five games for Houston.

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"“It’s almost like playing where I was at in college,” Clemons said to Allie LaForce of Turner Sports when asked about his inaugural fairing at Summer League. “I think my game translates [to the next level]. I’ve been telling everybody that since I left college.”"

Although it is more than likely that Clemons will see time at the G League level prior to cracking an official 12-man rotation, the former mid-major star contrived an impressive enough showing that could possibly help him to be one step closer towards landing an NBA job.

Throughout the duration of the event, Clemons displayed the ability to drive inside the paint and  finish amidst league-level length.

Plus an ability to knock down shots in catch-and-shoot situations, as the former Campbell star shot 41.1 percent from 3-point land and made strides as a playmaker throughout each contest.

"“They messed up,” Clemons further added in his interview with LaForce in regards to the teams that sought to pass up on him in this year’s draft. “The Rockets didn’t. I’m looking to make that team and we’re going to make big things happen.”"

Should Clemons continue to put together similar numbers within the league’s current minor league system — and show signs of growth and improvement on defense — then this could prove to be Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s biggest draft heist yet.