Three Takeaways from Las Vegas Summer League
1. Watch Out For The T-Wolves
It’s no secret that the T-Wolves have one of the brightest futures in the NBA, with an explosive young core of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine. After this year’s summer league, however, they - without a doubt - stand to be a serious problem for the rest of the NBA. New Head Coach & President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau’s first move in charge was selecting point guard Kris Dunn out of Providence with the 5th pick. Though Dunn’s run in the tournament was cut short as a result of concussion symptoms, the minutes he did play did not disappoint. Dunn not only led his team with 24 PPG, but also racked up 7 RPG and 3 APG; his play is reminiscent of a young Deron Williams. Thibodeau’s coaching favors pressuring the ball, and the rookie’s aggressive defensive style - collecting 2 steals and a block per game - proves he is potentially the ideal point for a Thibodeau led team.
While Dunn was expected to excel, Tyus Jones’ excellence was a welcome surprise. The second-year guard out of Duke spent much of his rookie year inactive, and when he did play, he struggled to score, shooting just 36% from the field and 30% from three. Summer league was a very different story for Jones as he averaged 20.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and led everyone at summer league with 6.8 APG - all while while raising his 3 point percentage to over 41%. The real catalyst for Jones’ stellar performance was his entry into the role of full-time point in Dunn’s absence. Jones truly began to flourish - averaging 25.8 PPG and 8.5 APG over the last four games, leading to his being named MVP of Summer League. The combination of Dunn & Jones appears to be the future of the PG for the T-wolves; a combination that provides potential flexibility to move proven vet Ricky Rubio for assets or pieces that better serve the cohesion of the team.
2. 76ers: Trust In The Process
The abandonment of Sam Hinkie & his “Great Rebuild”, by both Sixers ownership & the NBA at large, may have been premature. It appears that the Sixers, a team with young talent & assets in abundance, has finally found a player worthy of being the face of the franchise. Ben Simmons was an absolute stat stuffer, piling in 12.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 5.5 APG over the course of his four game appearance in Vegas. He was the definition of a point forward, as he seamlessly grabbed defensive rebounds above the rim, led the break down the court, and sought out streaking teammates for easy layups. While concerns about his shooting abilities remain valid, as he proved hesitant to take jump shots, he did show his ability to knock down open midrange jumpers. Simmons also proved that he doesn’t have to be a scorer to make an impact on the game; he has the potential to be a LeBron-level facilitator.
The Sixers already have several complementary pieces to Simmons that just haven’t developed yet: Nik Stauskas, Dario Saric, Joel Embiid, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Jerami Grant, and Richaun Holmes. Last season, the team made a trade with the Kings for SG Stauskas, a potentially quality shooter. Saric, the Sixers’ 2014 first-round pick, will also be joining the team this year to provide a stretch four element that would fit perfectly with Simmons. After missing the previous two seasons due to injury, it appears that in 2016, Embiid will finally make his NBA debut. Luwawu-Cabarrot, the rookie out of France, has the athleticism and shooting ability to be a quality “D and 3” guy in the near future. Additionally, Grant & Holmes emerged as two players whose production could increase this upcoming year with additional minutes.
3. Underwhelming Performances
While Simmons and Dunn played as advertised, there were several rookies that struggled in their first taste of NBA action. Though third-overall pick Jaylen Brown put together a solid stat line (16 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.8 SPG), he was wildly inefficient, shooting only 33% from the field. He displayed a poor perimeter shooting touch and poor shot selection. Although at times he demonstrated his elite athleticism, it was clear that he has a long way to go fundamentally to reach the potential Danny Ainge & the Celtics management saw in him during the pre-draft process.
Many believed that the Celtics should have drafted Dragan Bender over Brown with the third pick, but Bender’s performance in Summer League did not substantiate that belief. Bender, known to be a sharpshooter, was anything but during his five-game outing. Averaging a mere 8.6 PPG and 5.6 RPG in 30+ minutes per game, Bender shot just 27% from three on 34 attempts. Physically, Bender isn’t quite ready to bang in the post with other power forwards - and if his shot isn’t following, he possesses little present value for the Suns.
