One Big Takeaway for Every NBA Summer League Team

The Pelicans are the future, the Grizzlies have arrived, the Wolves culture change is real, and the Knicks don’t want to talk about it. What every NBA team’s fans should remember with Summer League 2019 in the books…

NBA SUMMER LEAGUE 2019 IS OFFICIALLY IN THE BOOKS, and the Memphis Grizzlies are Vegas champions. Brandon Clarke was named championship game MVP a few hours after winning Summer League MVP, and new Grizz coach and future boy band lead Taylor Jenkins celebrated with his team despite Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. watching from the sidelines.

Vegas Summer League was long and hot, and I already published almost 21,000 words on it yesterday, covering every key player from every conceivable angle. That was about zooming in. Today is about zooming out. Step back from the trees and look at the forest. What one key thing should each team’s fans take away from Summer League going forward?

Atlanta Hawks

The real ones are too good for Summer League.

The Hawks asset cupboard is locked and loaded. Atlanta could have rolled out a Summer League lineup of Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter. They would’ve stormed through Summer League, and every player on that list is 21 or under. But Trae and Huerter were so good last year they didn’t need summer ball, Collins lit up Vegas last year, and we have those Virginia championship DVDs to remind us of what Hunter can do. The real Atlanta youth were sitting this one out, so who cares if this team stunk?

Boston Celtics

Last year is in the past, and Boston’s asset treasure trove is locked and loaded once again.

Everything went wrong last season, but what’s done is done. Kemba is here to save the day, and Jayson and Jaylen haven’t gone anywhere. It’s a younger, more fun Celtics team going forward, featuring those two wings plus a heap of talented youngsters that made up the best and most exciting team at Summer League. Grant Williams and Carsen Edwards look like huge steals. Robert Williams is a beast. Tremont Waters can ball. Tacko Fall is the real deal and was the biggest buzz player in Vegas. And Boston’s top rookie pick, Romeo Langford, didn’t even play. The ages of those guys after Kemba: 21, 22, 20, 20, 20, 21, 23, and 19, in that order. Boston ain’t going nowhere.

Brooklyn Nets

Jarrett Allen is… still… good?

I still can’t really figure out why Jarrett Allen played a single game this summer let alone all of them. He is good, he started all year for a playoff team, and he did precious little this summer to extend his game beyond the arc or get reps as a facilitator. What was the point? Were they showcasing him for a trade? Either way, Ridions Kurucs and Theo Pinson showed a lot of growth and look ready to serve as reliable role players next to the new Nets stars.

Charlotte Hornets

Losing to Team China is only the beginning.

Team China trailed by 51 in their opener and ultimately lost by 41, and they entered their game against Charlotte as 23-to-1 underdogs but beat them anyway. Major yikes for a roster featuring a ton of young guys this team is hoping to build around with its reset going forward. Miles Bridges didn’t stand out. Malik Monk reportedly refused to report to Vegas. Cody Martin, Jalen McDaniels, Devonte’ Graham and others were disappointing at best. It’s going to be a long, uphill climb for Charlotte, and an embarrassing summer loss to Team China is only just the start.

Chicago Bulls

Coby White is ready to change Bulls culture and be the face of the franchise.

I was up and down on White’s performance as a prospect. He missed a ton of shots (3-for-30 on threes) and was up and down as a point guard running the offense. There’s plenty to like, but it’ll take time. But I think White could have a De’Aaron Fox culture change on this locker room with his infectious personality and style of play. White sets the tone off the court and on it. He’s at his best playing in transition and with tempo, and players like Daniel Gafford, Lauri Markkanen, and Zach LaVine are built to thrive in that setting. Now Jim Boylen and GarPax just need to figure that out too.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Things will be different under John Beilein.

It’s been a bumpy couple decades for Cavs coaches. Beilein is Cleveland’s 11 different head coach this century, and only Mike Brown held down the job longer than three years. Beilein is not Larry Drew or Tyronn Lue or David Blatt or Brown or any of the others. The Cavs offense looked juiced under Beilein. There’s a ton of movement and motion on offense and a lot of guys touching the ball and playing confidently. For a young, rebuilding team, a professional college coach like Beilein is just what the doctor ordered.

Dallas Mavericks

Our first-round pick didn’t play Summer League. He won Rookie of the Year.

The Mavs didn’t have a first rounder, but no one feels too bad. They used it to move up last year for Luka Doncic, the player I ranked #1 among prospects from the past three drafts, one spot ahead of Zion Williamson. Dallas fans should get used to not having picks play at Summer League, though — they still owe 2021 and 2023 picks to New York for Kristaps Porzingis, too.

Denver Nuggets

The injured guys are worth the wait. Michael Porter Jr. will be fine. We promise.

Michael Porter Jr. was supposed to be one of the summer’s feature players, but he never played a second after a last-minute injury sidelined him. That stunk. But Jarred Vanderbilt showed out and looked well worth the weight as the other injured guy Denver took a risk on last year. Vando’s athleticism is back, and he’s added some surprising dribbling and maybe even a shot. If this is what it looks like to wait on an injured guy, then Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol can take all the time they need.

Detroit Pistons

Holy cow, Bruce Brown can really do some things.

Brown was one of the stars of Summer League, averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists and becoming only the second player ever to put up a Summer League triple-double. He expanded his game by playing point and ran the pick-and-roll to near perfection. Brown nearly got my vote for summer MVP and might have if he were not shut down early. The Pistons finally have a real wing.

Golden State Warriors

Uhh… we don’t have to play any of these guys in the playoffs, right?

Last year’s first-round pick Jacob Evans has been moved to point guard but doesn’t look comfortable dribbling and doesn’t make great decisions with the ball. This year’s picks, Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall, didn’t exactly stand out. Alen Smailagic looks promising but isn’t ready yet. It’s a good thing the Warriors are loaded and… wait, this is almost the entire bench next season??

Houston Rockets

Who needs Chris Paul? We have Chris Clemons now.

The Rockets last made a draft pick in 1993, but you’d never know it the way Chris Clemons was out there dominating, looking like a young James Harden with an array of deep threes and dazzling shot-making. Who needs Chris Paul anyway? Houston can just plug any old guy off the street into the lineup and let the Mike D’Antoni system do its thing.

Indiana Pacers

Summer is over. Winter is coming. Victor Oladipo will be back soon.

No NBA team had an uglier Summer League performance than the Pacers, who were outscored by almost 14 points a game. Aaron Holiday scored a million points on a billion shots. Goga Bitadze never got his passport stuff figured out. Alize Johnson and Bruce Bowen… sure. Come back soon, Vic.

Los Angeles Clippers

Look at our stuff, isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you say you should trade for these peeps?

The Clippers still have a bunch of interesting young guys, even after moving heaven and earth to go get Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, but it’s hard to see all these youngsters doing much with this core. Mfiondu Kabengele looks as advertised, blocking shots and hitting threes. Jerome Robinson can get buckets. Terance Mann does a little bit of everything. That’s all well and good, but these guys probably have a future on another roster if the Clips can find a third star to trade them for.

Los Angeles Lakers

SHUT UP EVERYONE, WE STILL HAVE LEBRON AND BROW!!

Free agency was a disaster. Summer League wasn’t even worth watching. Zach Norvell? Please. Who needs rookies when you have LeBron and Brow? We don’t need Kawhi Leonard. We never wanted him in the first place.

Memphis Grizzlies

The #21 pick just won MVP and led us to a Summer League championship and we didn’t even play our two young stars.

It’s hard to feel much better about your summer than this. Brandon Clarke is everything I thought he would be when I ranked him #2 on my final big board ahead of the guy the Grizzlies actually picked at 2, Ja Morant. Clarke is a stud defender and athlete, has great touch around the basket, and can already shoot threes. Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. cheered from the sidelines and looked like future stars. New Grizz coach Taylor Jenkins lifted his first NBA trophy. For a team that had basically no future as recently as 13 months ago, this is one heck of a turnaround.

Miami Heat

The Miami development machine is alive and well.

Every year, the Heat churn out another prospect. They made Josh Richardson a star, then turned him into Jimmy Butler. Bam Adebayo and Justise Winslow are franchise building blocks. Hassan Whiteside went from G-League scrap heap to a near max deal. There’s Tyler Johnson and Derrick Jones Jr. and Rodney McGruder. Looks like Kendrick Nunn is up next. Nunn was a revelation at Summer League and looks like a real piece, and Tyler Herro already looks like far more than just a shooter. Miami keeps churning ‘em out.

Milwaukee Bucks

If Giannis is seriously only 60% of what he can someday become, you guys are all like super screwed.

Summer League? What’s Summer League? We brought back Khris! And Brook! And we re-signed Bledsoe months ago! Wait til Giannis jumps from 60% to 100%. You guys are so screwed.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota culture change is real and meaningful.

The Timberwolves just looked and felt different in every way this summer. Draft picks Jarrett Culver and Jaylen Nowell never got to play, but the Wolves won anyway. Josh Okogie sat out most of the playoffs, but the Wolves nearly took the trophy. Minnesota fell behind early often but the team never wavered, confidently coming back each time. It was an egalitarian offense, sharing the ball and playing tough team defense under new assistant coach Pablo Prigioni. Even better players like Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop were letting other players shine in key moments. Everything feels different in the Gersson Rosas regime. Maybe this franchise is finally taking a step forward.

New Orleans Pelicans

The future is here, and it is INCREDIBLE.

Jaxson Hayes loped up and down the court, swatting shots and obliterating guys on dunks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker looks like a superstar, with a dazzling array of step-back threes, showtime passes, big time steals, and long Euro steps to the rim. Didi Louzada Silva is legit and well rounded and looks loaded with potential once he comes over in a year. And we got ALL those guys for the #4 pick, and that was only PART of the trade package for Davis, and OH YEAH, WE STILL HAVE ZION TOO AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

New York Knicks

Shut up, Pelicans.

Oh Zion? Yeah a lot of good he does sitting on your bench. We got the real Duke star in R.J. Barrett. Did you see how much he improved in just five summer games? He was practically putting up triple doubles to end the summer! And Jaxson Hayes? Please, Mitchell Robinson will block Hayes into oblivion, as long as he doesn’t foul out first. Kevin Knox will hit more jumpers than Nickeil can ever dream of. Iggy Brazdeikis is definitely going to keep hitting 58% of his threes. Wait, you guys think your roster got better in one month than ours has after two decades of tanking? Ahahaha you guys are loosers and Zion is a fat bust and Kevin Durant sucks screw that guy.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Seriously. Screw that guy.

Orlando Magic

Wait, you guys play your young guys at Summer League?

Why would anyone play young guys at Summer League? Mo Bamba is already good! He had as many three pointers as rebounds in his one game! Two is good right? And two is one spot lower than Markelle Fultz was picked, so why would we play him? He’s obviously good. We never barely played Jonny Isaac his first summer, and look how good he is! Honestly, we drafted Chuma Okeke this year specifically so we wouldn’t even have to think about playing any interesting youngsters in Summer League.

Philadelphia 76ers

We’re just here for the Matisse and Zhaire highlight show.

Matisse Thybulle is a defensive savant with out of this world instincts. He is an absolute joy to watch on defense, and he’s worth at least three highlights a game swatting someone from behind or jumping a passing lane for a steal and a free bucket. Or maybe an alley oop to Zhaire Smith, cuz holy cow is his athleticism back in spades. Zhaire jumped for a dunk in the Sixers finale and he still has not come down yet. Imagine these two wreaking defensive havoc as role players with the greatest starting five-man lineup money can buy.

Phoenix Suns

We finally have our point guard of the future!!

Devin Booker? That experiment is over, we’ve got Rubio now. Eric Bledsoe? More like point guard of the past. Brandon Knight? Never heard of him. Tyler Ulis? More like Tyler Useless. De’Anthony Melton? Old summer news. We traded that scrub for Jevon Carter. Elie Okobo? Nah, that guy can hit a pretty jumper but we’re probably gonna cut him. Cuz we got Jalen Lecque now! Future Russell Westbrook right there. Dude can jump out of the gym. He’s definitely, definitely the guy we’ll be building around a year from now.

Portland Trail Blazers

Anfernee Simons has arrived, and Portland might have the best three-guard rotation in basketball now.

Simons is a C.J. McCollum clone. He was absolutely blazing for the entirety of his time in Vegas, averaging 22 points a game and shooting a ridiculous 65% from downtown. Simons can score at all three levels. He can get to the rim and finish with both hands, and the pull-up jumper looks great. He looked like a guy that can score anytime he wants, and he seems ready to become the third scoring guard behind Dame and C.J. Put any two of them out there and Portland should keep right on rolling.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings didn’t have a fun young player because they traded their first-round pick four years ago to dump the previous year’s lottery pick and create cap room they ended up using on Rajon Rondo.

Oh and they also gave up swap rights that cost them the #1 pick in the 2017 draft, but it’s fine cuz they already traded that pick anyway. But Kyle Guy!!

San Antonio Spurs

Trust the process.

Derrick White matured last summer and turned into a star in the playoffs. Bryn Forbes turned his summer into a starting gig. Kyle Anderson and Dejounte Murray did it too. Every year the Spurs take some guys you forgot about and help them find new skill sets. Every year those guys turn into the Spursiest Spurs that ever Spursed. This year it looks like Lonnie Walker. Next year it will probably be Keldon Johnson or Luka Samanic. These things take time. Just be patient and trust the Spurs machine.

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions.

What else even matters? (Also, Chris Boucher and Terence Davis are good.)

Utah Jazz

We already did out summer work before Vegas, thank you very much.

The Jazz first-round pick did need to play Summer League ball because he is MICHAEL FREAKING CONLEY. Gobert is a stud. Spida will be soon. Jingles rocks. Bojan is a perfect fit. Who needs Summer League when you don’t have any playing time for young guys anyway?

Washington Wizards

Rui Hachimura got picked for Second Team All Summer. That means he’s good!!

Hachimura was widely panned as the #9 pick, but all the good rookies sat out and Rui got buckets, so sure! He also blocked two shots a game, so I suppose that makes all those wildly irresponsible Kawhi Leonard comparisons totally legit now. Besides, Admiral Schofield was the #1 pick by draft name, and you don’t even need a general manager to figure that one out. ■

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