It’s Summer League season, and things will kick off next week with the Orlando Summer League from July 9-13. While the 8-team event doesn’t have the atmosphere of the much larger Las Vegas Summer League, it does make it easier to focus on the teams involved. This year’s group includes NBA Championship runner-up, Oklahoma City, the newly christened Brooklyn Nets, and of course, the Orlando Magic, who are breaking in a new General Manager, and hopefully soon a new head coach. Here are the rosters for the 8 teams, and a small break down of the players to watch and what to expect from each team.
Brooklyn Nets
|
Name |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Last Team |
|
MarShon Brooks |
G |
6’5 |
200 |
Nets (NBA) |
|
Stephen Dennis |
G |
6’6 |
180 |
Bakersfield (D League) |
|
Bryant Dunston |
F |
6’8 |
233 |
Hapoel Holon (Israel) |
|
Jeff Foote |
C |
7’0 |
265 |
Springfield (D League) |
|
Ashton Gibbs |
G |
6’2 |
190 |
Pittsburgh |
|
Taurean Green |
G |
6’0 |
177 |
Tofas (Turkey) |
|
Adam Morrison |
F |
6’8 |
198 |
Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) |
|
Carleton Scott |
F |
6’8 |
218 |
Notre Dame |
|
Tornike Shengelia |
F |
6’9 |
228 |
Spirou Charleroi (Belgium) |
|
Garrett Stutz |
C |
7’0 |
255 |
Wichita St. |
|
Tyshawn Taylor |
G |
6’3 |
185 |
Kansas |
|
Al Thornton |
F |
6’8 |
203 |
Golden St. (NBA) |
|
Julian Wright |
F |
6’8 |
225 |
Austin (D League) |
|
Edwin Ubiles |
G |
6’6 |
204 |
Dakota (D League) |
Who/What to Watch: There is no doubt this will be the MarShon Brooks show whenever he is in the game. A high-volume shooter during the course of the regular season, I cringe at what he will do in a Summer League scenario. Tyshawn Taylor will get his first run with the Nets after being chosen in the second round of the NBA Draft last week. Look for the coaching staff to give him ample opportunity to pair up with Brooks in the backcourt. Tornike Shengelia will also make his Nets debut, but I expect the pace of Summer League action to hamper him over the course of a few games. Edwin Ubiles was a bright spot last year in the D-League and his ability to get to the basket should be on display in Orlando. Two promising big men will also be in action in Jeff Foote and Garrett Stutz. Foote operates well around the basket and Stutz is dangerous with his ability to stretch the floor.
Boston Celtics
|
Name |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Last Team |
|
Craig Brackins |
F |
6’10 |
230 |
Philadelphia (NBA) |
|
Dionte Christmas |
G |
6’5 |
205 |
Rethymno (Greece) |
|
Jonathan Gibson |
G |
6’1 |
171 |
Enel Brindisi (Italy) |
|
JaJuan Johnson |
F |
6’10 |
221 |
Boston (NBA) |
|
Kris Joseph |
F |
6’7 |
215 |
Syracuse |
|
Stephane Lasme |
F |
6’8 |
215 |
Obradoiro (Spain) |
|
Fab Melo |
C |
7’0 |
255 |
Syracuse |
|
E’Twaun Moore |
G |
6’4 |
191 |
Boston (NBA) |
|
Jamar Smith |
G |
6’3 |
185 |
BK Prostejov (Czech) |
|
Jared Sullinger |
F |
6’9 |
260 |
Ohio St. |
|
Sean Williams |
F/C |
6’10 |
235 |
Boston (NBA) |
Who/What to Watch: The attention here will be solely focused on Jared Sullinger. The once-presumed Top 10 draft pick fell to #21 after a medical “red flag” was reported on his back. While the information attached to the “red flag” was never fully explained, Sullinger still felt the effect come draft night. Bad back or not, Sullinger was the most skilled big man in this class and I fully expect the Celtics to give people a chance to see how much of a steal they got last week. Their other first round pick, Fab Melo¸ as well as last year’s first round pick, JaJuan Johnson, will also be on display, and out to show how the development process has been working. Johnson had some opportunities last season with the Celtics and should continue to improve, especially with Kevin Garnett returning to Boston to finish his career. Craig Brackins is a former first round pick (2010) who has yet to show that he can stick in the NBA for consistent playing time, but is still an intriguing player, especially on the defensive end. Finally, Sean Williams will have another chance (3rd, 4th, 5th???) to show that he deserves to be in the NBA.
Detroit Pistons
|
Name |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Last Team |
|
Austin Daye |
F |
6’11 |
190 |
Detroit (NBA) |
|
Andre Drummond |
C |
6’11 |
279 |
Connecticut |
|
Kim English |
G |
6’6 |
200 |
Missouri |
|
Yancy Gates |
F |
6’9 |
289 |
Cincinnati |
|
Armon Johnson |
G |
6’3 |
195 |
New Jersey (NBA) |
|
Brandon Knight |
G |
6’3 |
189 |
Detroit (NBA) |
|
Vernon Macklin |
F |
6’10 |
227 |
Detroit (NBA) |
|
Khris Middleton |
F |
6’7 |
217 |
Texas A&M |
|
Patrick Richard |
G |
6’4 |
208 |
McNeese St. |
|
Kyle Singler |
F |
6’8 |
228 |
Real Madrid (Spain) |
|
Casper Ware |
G |
5’10 |
177 |
Long Beach St. |
Who/What to Watch: There is a lot to watch with this Pistons’ squad, starting with their last two first round selections, point guard Brandon Knight and center Andre Drummond. Knight showed some of the usual growing pains in his first year, but the team still holds out hope that he will be a better-than-average NBA point guard. Drummond is big and athletic, but very raw. However, the Summer League style of play should allow him to show off some of the physical tools which made him a Top 10 pick. Former first round pick Austin Daye may be battling for his roster spot at this point, especially with the debut of Kyle Singler, the highly skilled Duke forward. Singler chose to spend last season in Spain once the lockout was announced, and by all accounts, has played very well. Yancy Gates and Vernon Macklin will both add a very physical element to the Pistons’ frontcourt, though Macklin has a year of pro experience under his belt and should get plenty of opportunity to show what he has learned. Second round picks Kim English and Khris Middleton will add some scoring punch, and both should make their case to be on the roster come next season. Casper Ware went undrafted last week, but he is exciting to watch and should be good for a spectacular play or two.
Indiana Pacers
|
Name |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Last Team |
|
Jarrid Famous |
F |
6’11 |
240 |
Petron Blaze (Philippines) |
|
Reggie Hamilton |
G |
5’11 |
176 |
Oakland U |
|
Ben Hansbrough |
G |
6’3 |
206 |
KRKA (Slovenia) |
|
Matt Janning |
G |
6’4 |
220 |
Novipiu Casale (Italy) |
|
Orlando Johnson |
G |
6’5 |
224 |
UCSB |
|
Tyren Johnson |
F |
6’7 |
225 |
Rio Grande (D League) |
|
Chris Kramer |
G |
6’3 |
215 |
s. Oliver Baskets (Germany) |
|
Julian Mavunga |
F |
6’8 |
245 |
Miami (Ohio) |
|
Hamady Ndiaye |
C |
7’0 |
235 |
Maine (D League) |
|
Jeff Pendergraph |
F |
6’9 |
240 |
Indiana (NBA) |
|
Miles Plumlee |
C |
7’0 |
252 |
Duke |
|
Matt Rogers |
F |
6’11 |
225 |
Texas |
|
Lance Stephenson |
G |
6’5 |
210 |
Indiana (NBA) |
|
Robert Vaden |
G/F |
6’5 |
205 |
Tulsa (D League) |
Who to Watch: Summer League play is exactly where Lance Stephenson is in his element. With the ability to handle the ball and create, Stephenson should be the highlight of the Pacers’ squad, if not the whole summer league. This year’s first round selection, Miles Plumlee, will also be in action and should impress many with his athletic ability. Former Big East Player of the Year Ben Hansbrough will continue his journey to make the NBA for the team of his brother Tyler. Hansbrough isn’t a great athlete, but he is skilled and has very good leadership ability. Jeff Pendergraph has shown that he can play in the NBA during some of his stints, but he has yet to stick for significant time. His experience should make him valuable to this group of players. Reggie Hamilton was a great college scorer and now he will have the chance to show that he can play point guard at the next level, while another great college scorer, Orlando Johnson, will be asked to just keep scoring. Matt Janning has been very good in previous summer league stints, but he is running out of chances to show that he belongs in the NBA.
Oklahoma City Thunder
|
Name |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Last Team |
|
Cole Aldrich |
C |
6’11 |
245 |
Oklahoma City (NBA) |
|
Morris Almond |
G |
6’6 |
220 |
Washington (NBA) |
|
Kent Bazemore |
G |
6’5 |
200 |
Old Dominion |
|
Dwight Buycks |
G |
6’3 |
190 |
Tulsa (D-League) |
|
Marquez Haynes |
G |
6’3 |
185 |
GC 2014 (Spain) |
|
Lazar Hayward |
F |
6’6 |
225 |
Oklahoma City (NBA) |
|
John Holland |
G |
6’5 |
205 |
Chorale Roanne (France) |
|
Reggie Jackson |
G |
6’3 |
208 |
Oklahoma City (NBA) |
|
Perry Jones III |
F |
6’11 |
235 |
Baylor |
|
James Mays |
F |
6’8 |
227 |
Arecibo (Puerto Rico) |
|
Gary McGhee |
C |
6’10 |
250 |
Bandirma Kir (Turkey) |
|
Ryan Reid |
F |
6’8 |
235 |
Tulsa (D-League) |
|
Garrett Temple |
G |
6’5 |
200 |
AS Junior Pallacanestro (Italy) |
|
Latavious Williams |
F |
6’8 |
225 |
FITAC Joventut (Spain) |
Who to Watch: While the roster is incomplete, it is easy to see where the attention will be. Perry Jones III inexplicably fell to Oklahoma City in last week’s draft (yes, I know about the knee, it’s nonsense), and if there were questions about his desire before, I expect him to be out to prove that teams made a big mistake passing on him. While he still has a long way to go to reach his potential, Oklahoma City is a great spot for him to learn. Cole Aldrich and Tibor Pleiss will be looking to find a home next year on the Thunder roster, which may be a little more crowded with the recent agreement to sign Hasheem Thabeet. Reggie Jackson has shown very little, and I don’t expect that to change before next season. Kent Bazemore is a very good defender and he could make his case to get a pre-season invite if he can shut down some the guards he is matched up against in Orlando.
Orlando Magic
|
Name |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Last Team |
|
Kevin Anderson |
G |
6’0 |
175 |
Strasbourg IG (France) |
|
Bradford Burgess |
G |
6’6 |
225 |
VCU |
|
Justin Harper |
F |
6’10 |
225 |
Orlando (NBA) |
|
DeQuan Jones |
F |
6’8 |
221 |
Miami (FL) |
|
DeAndre Liggins |
G |
6’6 |
209 |
Orlando (NBA) |
|
Luke Nevill |
C |
7’2 |
265 |
Perth (Australia) |
|
Andrew Nicholson |
F |
6’9 |
250 |
St. Bonaventure |
|
Kyle O’Quinn |
C |
6’10 |
224 |
Norfolk St. |
|
Josh Owens |
F |
6’8 |
240 |
Stanford |
|
Magnum Rolle |
F |
6’11 |
235 |
Atlanta (NBA) |
|
Ish Smith |
G |
6’0 |
175 |
Orlando (NBA) |
|
Dominique Sutton |
G |
6’5 |
212 |
NC Central |
|
Ryan Thompson |
G |
6’6 |
218 |
Centrale del Latte (Italy) |
|
Maalik Wayns |
G |
6’1 |
195 |
Villanova |
|
Charlie Westbrook |
G |
6’4 |
196 |
South Dakota |
Who to Watch: Both of this year’s Magic draft picks, Andrew Nicholson and Kyle O’Quinn, will be on display. Nicholson is a highly skilled big man who can score around the rim, or step out to 15 feet and hit his jumper consistently. O’Quinn is a very active big man who can rebound and run the floor, but he will need to show that he can operate as a full-time post player. A trio guards who went undrafted last week, Maalik Wayns, Bradford Burgess and Charlie Westbrook, will have the chance to make their case that they should be brought to a pre-season camp this fall. Wayns could have used another year in school to hone some his weak areas, but he is still a good point guard who can get into the lane and create. Westbrook is a quality scorer who can help out in many different spots on the floor. Burgess is another good all-around player, and should bring a workman’s mentality to this squad. Luke Nevill, a former Mountain West Player of the Year, is back in America to give another shot at making the NBA. With the possibility of Dwight Howard leaving Orlando, Nevill could earn an opportunity to add some much needed size in the post.
Philadelphia 76ers
|
Name |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Last Team |
|
Maurice Harkless |
F |
6’8 |
208 |
St. John’s |
|
Justin Holiday |
F |
6’6 |
184 |
Aalstar (Belgium) |
|
Terrence Jennings |
F |
6’10 |
230 |
Liege (Belgium) |
|
Chris Johnson |
F |
6’6 |
201 |
Dayton |
|
Solomon Jones |
C |
6’10 |
245 |
New Orleans (NBA) |
|
Jacob Pullen |
G |
6’1 |
200 |
Angelico Biella (Italy) |
|
Jeremy Richardson |
G |
6’7 |
210 |
Armia (Georgia) |
|
Zach Rosen |
G |
6’1 |
175 |
Penn |
|
Jon Scheyer |
G |
6’5 |
190 |
Maccabi Electra (Israel) |
|
Devin Searcy |
F |
6’10 |
226 |
Toyama Grouses (Japan) |
|
Xavier Silas |
G |
6’5 |
205 |
Philadelphia (NBA) |
|
Clay Tucker |
G |
6’5 |
210 |
Lottomanica Roma (Italy) |
|
Justin Williams |
C |
6’10 |
260 |
Los Angeles (D League) |
|
Nik Vucevic |
C |
7’0 |
240 |
Philadelphia (NBA) |
Who to Watch: Last week’s first round pick, Maurice Harkless, will have his chance to show Philly fans why he was worth the 15th selection. Harkless is very athletic and should be able to show the ability to create scoring opportunities in Orlando. Xavier Silas performed very well in the D-League last season before a late-season call-up to the Sixers, and he will get a chance to show he should be on the team from the start next season. Guards Zach Rosen and Jon Scheyer are both high quality players who won’t wow fans with what they do on the court, but they will impress teams and scouts. Jacob Pullen will get another shot at trying to make the NBA after going undrafted in 2011. A good scorer and leader, Pullen still needs to show that he can play the point guard spot reliably. There are a group of average big men, Nik Vucevic, Solomon Jones, and Justin Williams, who will all try to show that they have what it takes to stick around.
Utah Jazz
|
Name |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Last Team |
|
Blake Ahearn |
G |
6’2 |
190 |
Utah (NBA) |
|
Alec Burks |
G |
6’6 |
202 |
Utah (NBA) |
|
DeMarre Carroll |
F |
6’8 |
212 |
Utah (NBA) |
|
Tony Gaffney |
F |
6’8 |
215 |
Telekom Baskets (Germany) |
|
Stephen Graham |
G |
6’6 |
215 |
Ft. Wayne (D League) |
|
Mike Green |
G |
6’0 |
175 |
Sigma Barcelona (Italy) |
|
Enes Kanter |
C |
6’11 |
267 |
Utah (NBA) |
|
Justin Knox |
F |
6’9 |
240 |
Minsk (Belarus) |
|
Salah Mejri |
C |
7’0 |
209 |
Antwerp (Belgium) |
|
John Millsap |
G |
6’6 |
220 |
Guaros (Venezuela) |
|
Kevin Murphy |
G |
6’6 |
185 |
Tennessee Tech |
|
Cedric Simmons |
F |
6’9 |
235 |
Asefa Estudiantes (Spain) |
|
Henry Sims |
C |
7’0 |
241 |
Georgetown |
|
Michael Stockton |
G |
6’0 |
Karlsruhe (Germany) |
|
|
Deron Washington |
F |
6’7 |
210 |
Obradoiro (Spain) |
|
Kyle Weaver |
G |
6’6 |
201 |
Alba Berlin (Germany) |
Who to Watch: Last year’s two first round picks, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter, will hope to show that they have improved over the course of the past season. Kanter, especially, needs to show that he is going to be worth the time and money invested in him. This year’s second round selection Kevin Murphy will be a new face to a lot of people watching, but I expect him to quickly impress with his scoring ability. DeMarre Carroll and Blake Ahearn will be looking to solidify the chance they got last season with the Jazz, and Ahearn could earn himself a full-time spot in the NBA. Henry Sims went undrafted last week, but I think a good showing here will get him a bigger look from the Jazz or other NBA teams. Tony Gaffney has always shown a good skill level and very good athleticism, but needs to show consistency in order to stick around.
Click here for a complete schedule of games, which will also be shown on NBA TV.
Check back Monday for a preview of the Las Vegas Summer League. Follow me on Twitter – @nbadraftblog – or feel free to email me at [email protected]
