NBA Summer League 2024

[Celtics2021]

Bubba Carrington looking good in this third quarter. Worth keeping an eye on as a good young player.

Sarr, on the other hand, is 0-11

Sarr was awful shooting tonight, but he did finish with 9rebs, 3blks, 3ast, and 1stl. For a 7 footer, he runs the floor really well and can handle the ball too. Has a ton of upside.

Sure, but Sarr set a summer league record* for futility, with the most misses without a make.  That is terrible for a #2 overall pick to do, regardless of the rest of his stat line.  And as his best shooting line in three games 4-12 with a TS% under 50%, he is looking terribly out of place.

*Probably a record, as summer league data was not tracked as well until the last decade.  But it would have been tied for the second worst in NBA history, and as summer league games are shorter and players typically get fewer minutes, it is a pretty safe bet that it is an unqualified worst.

It?s one summer league game. I?d imagine the GM of the Wizards isn?t losing sleep over it.

It?s three summer league games, but it?s not good.  The competition level isn?t great.  Are they going to let him just stink for 20-30 minutes a night as a rookie?  Will that help him?  Can you send your #2 pick to the G League?  He looks a lot further from NBA ready than I think they would have hoped.

[Goldstar88]

Man, Sheppard looks good. My first thought was he looks like TJ McConnell. Not super fast but uses his body well to shield the ball and plays at his own pace. Better shooting range than McConnell. McConnell's lack of a 3 point shot holds him back. If McConnell had a 3, he'd be a quality starting PG. Bodes well for Sheppard.

Second thought was how much Sheppard reminded me of Nash. Not so much for his passing but how he uses the dribble patiently, changes speeds, again plays at his own pace. It was Sheppard's scoring that reminded me of Nash's scoring more than their relative passing skills. That ability by Nash to pull up from anywhere and hit any type of jump-shot off the dribble from anywhere on the floor.

Sheppard could have some major league talent. Looks much more comfortable at the PG position than I expected. I thought of him more of a combo guard / SG with some playmaking. He looks a legit PG. Bodes well for him (comfort at PG) given his size.

I agree. I was trying to think of a comp yesterday and really couldn?t think of anyone in the league today. Reed is a unique talent for sure.

[Goldstar88]

Bronny is already getting a favorable whistle from the officials. 

[Phantom255x]

ESPN is literally posting highlights and hype videos of Bronny hitting his first 3 pointer on 17 attempts in Summer League 

[Goldstar88]

Bronny actually has a decent looking shot. Hasn?t been going in, but the mechanics aren?t bad.  Looks better than his dad?s. 

[Who]

Is A Sarr really 7-1?

He doesn't look that big on the floor. I don't know if it is just he is playing on the perimeter so much on offense. That he bends low on the dribble or protecting the ball on the pass. Does he make himself small? He looks small on defense too though. Is it just a lack of muscle? But he doesn't even look lanky tall.

He reminds me more of Myles Turner.

I mean even the guy Kel'el Ware looks much bigger on the floor than Sarr. Ware looks a Tyson Chandler type body. Sarr doesn't. He looks smaller.

[Goldstar88]

Is A Sarr really 7-1?

He doesn't look that big on the floor. I don't know if it is just he is playing on the perimeter so much on offense. That he bends low on the dribble or protecting the ball on the pass. Does he make himself small? He looks small on defense too though. Is it just a lack of muscle? But he doesn't even look lanky tall.

He reminds me more of Myles Turner.

I mean even the guy Kel'el Ware looks much bigger on the floor than Sarr. Ware looks a Tyson Chandler type body. Sarr doesn't. He looks smaller.

ESPN has him listed at 7-0 and 224lbs which sounds about right. He has a Chris Bosh build. More of a PF than a C.

[Moranis]

Bronny actually has a decent looking shot. Hasn?t been going in, but the mechanics aren?t bad.  Looks better than his dad?s. 

There is a reason he was a top 20 high school recruit.  I mean we aren't even at the year anniversary of his cardiac arrest yet.  People writing him off and acting like last year was normal are doing Bronny a disservice. He may not make it, but last year isn't indicative of his ability.  The cardiac arrest changed his trajectory immensely.

[Goldstar88]

Bronny actually has a decent looking shot. Hasn?t been going in, but the mechanics aren?t bad.  Looks better than his dad?s. 

There is a reason he was a top 20 high school recruit.  I mean we aren't even at the year anniversary of his cardiac arrest yet.  People writing him off and acting like last year was normal are doing Bronny a disservice. He may not make it, but last year isn't indicative of his ability.  The cardiac arrest changed his trajectory immensely.

The odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year have shuffled since the start of summer league, with the Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Edey now the consensus betting favorite at sportsbooks. But the most popular pick by bettors so far is a massive long shot with a famous last name.

More bets have been placed on Bronny James to win Rookie of the Year (ROY) than any other player at multiple sportsbooks. James has attracted nearly one in four of the bets placed on the ROY market at ESPN BET. BetMGM reported taking a $1,000 ROY bet on James at 250-1 on July 6, from a bettor in Ontario, and DraftKings said that only Edey had attracted more money wagered than James in its ROY market.

[Donoghus]

Bronny actually has a decent looking shot. Hasn?t been going in, but the mechanics aren?t bad.  Looks better than his dad?s. 

There is a reason he was a top 20 high school recruit.  I mean we aren't even at the year anniversary of his cardiac arrest yet.  People writing him off and acting like last year was normal are doing Bronny a disservice. He may not make it, but last year isn't indicative of his ability.  The cardiac arrest changed his trajectory immensely.

The odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year have shuffled since the start of summer league, with the Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Edey now the consensus betting favorite at sportsbooks. But the most popular pick by bettors so far is a massive long shot with a famous last name.

More bets have been placed on Bronny James to win Rookie of the Year (ROY) than any other player at multiple sportsbooks. James has attracted nearly one in four of the bets placed on the ROY market at ESPN BET. BetMGM reported taking a $1,000 ROY bet on James at 250-1 on July 6, from a bettor in Ontario, and DraftKings said that only Edey had attracted more money wagered than James in its ROY market.

The lesson, as always, is that there are plenty of people out there who love lighting money on fire.

[Goldstar88]

Bronny actually has a decent looking shot. Hasn?t been going in, but the mechanics aren?t bad.  Looks better than his dad?s. 

There is a reason he was a top 20 high school recruit.  I mean we aren't even at the year anniversary of his cardiac arrest yet.  People writing him off and acting like last year was normal are doing Bronny a disservice. He may not make it, but last year isn't indicative of his ability.  The cardiac arrest changed his trajectory immensely.

The odds to win NBA Rookie of the Year have shuffled since the start of summer league, with the Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Edey now the consensus betting favorite at sportsbooks. But the most popular pick by bettors so far is a massive long shot with a famous last name.

More bets have been placed on Bronny James to win Rookie of the Year (ROY) than any other player at multiple sportsbooks. James has attracted nearly one in four of the bets placed on the ROY market at ESPN BET. BetMGM reported taking a $1,000 ROY bet on James at 250-1 on July 6, from a bettor in Ontario, and DraftKings said that only Edey had attracted more money wagered than James in its ROY market.

The lesson, as always, is that there are plenty of people out there who love lighting money on fire.

Clays head is going to explode when he reads this. 

[Goldstar88]

Looks like Zack Edeys summer league is over. Just rolled his ankle.

[Moranis]

Bronny with another solid game just into the 2nd half against the Cavs. 

Tyson for Cavs looks really good.  Nearly a triple double and the 3rd quarter just started.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Bronny actually has a decent looking shot. Hasn?t been going in, but the mechanics aren?t bad.  Looks better than his dad?s. 

There is a reason he was a top 20 high school recruit.  I mean we aren't even at the year anniversary of his cardiac arrest yet.  People writing him off and acting like last year was normal are doing Bronny a disservice. He may not make it, but last year isn't indicative of his ability.  The cardiac arrest changed his trajectory immensely.

This is a valid observation I haven't considered enough. I still tend to think his name played a part in his high school ranking, but he wasn't a scrub coming into USC. The heart thing was a real issue, and the mental part of recovering from that might have been more significant than fans saw. Many guys that have significant injuries or health concerns have to work through the mental piece with a professional as well - learning to trust your body and play freely again.

He didn't deserve the full four year contract he got and he hasn't demonstrated he was worth it in summer league yet. However, there are some legit skills there that could prove to be helpful to an NBA team. Given that he didn't earn his contract, I'm worried he won't be hungry enough to develop the right way, but the raw tools are there.

[Moranis]

Bronny actually has a decent looking shot. Hasn?t been going in, but the mechanics aren?t bad.  Looks better than his dad?s. 

There is a reason he was a top 20 high school recruit.  I mean we aren't even at the year anniversary of his cardiac arrest yet.  People writing him off and acting like last year was normal are doing Bronny a disservice. He may not make it, but last year isn't indicative of his ability.  The cardiac arrest changed his trajectory immensely.

This is a valid observation I haven't considered enough. I still tend to think his name played a part in his high school ranking, but he wasn't a scrub coming into USC. The heart thing was a real issue, and the mental part of recovering from that might have been more significant than fans saw. Many guys that have significant injuries or health concerns have to work through the mental piece with a professional as well - learning to trust your body and play freely again.

He didn't deserve the full four year contract he got and he hasn't demonstrated he was worth it in summer league yet. However, there are some legit skills there that could prove to be helpful to an NBA team. Given that he didn't earn his contract, I'm worried he won't be hungry enough to develop the right way, but the raw tools are there.

That is a Klutch special.  Chris Livingston signed basically the same contract last year.  Trayce Jackson-Davis did as well, though he isn't repped by Klutch, his agents are at Excel.  They were the 57th and 58th picks last year and signed nearly identical contracts to Junior.  None of those contracts have a 4th year guaranteed.  They are all team options.  Junior has a partial guarantee in the 3rd year while I believe that both Livingston and Jackson-Davis do not.  But that is becoming a thing with late 2nd round picks.  If you want the guy, you have to give them a couple of years guaranteed (and it is at the minimum). If you aren't going to do that, the player won't sign and you essentially waste the pick.  It is an interesting strategy but can work if the agent knows of a team that would take the player as an undrafted free agent.  So everyone says Junior got 4 years and just under 8 million, but really only 4.3 million is guaranteed.  This year and next year at the minimum and then a buy out in year 3 if they don't want to keep him (I think the buy out is around half of what the contract would otherwise be).