By James O’Dwyer (@ODwyer1010)
NBA fans are currently enjoying a chaotic 2019 Free Agency, and have more to look forward to as Summer League tips off today. The Summer League (SL) schedules have been announced (accessible here) and will be once again held in Salt Lake City (1st-3rd of July featuring the Grizzlies, Spurs, Cavaliers and Jazz), California (1st-3rd of July featuring the Heat, Lakers, Warriors and Kings) and then finishing with the main event, the ‘MGM Resorts Summer League’, a tournament spanning 10 days (5th to the 15th of July), featuring all 30 NBA teams and some Chinese and Croatian squads.
Summer League is a yearly platform for NBA hopefuls to earn their first contract, as well as an opportunity for newly established players to hone their skills. But most fans view it as their first glimpse at potential superstars (or busts), and the reactions to these games are often absurd to look back on. So what games should you be tuning into this July?
Talk of the Town: Zion Williamson vs R.J. Barrett
It is no surprise that the talk of the MGM Resorts tournament will be the clash between the #1 and #3 2019 overall picks that were teammates at Duke. According to Kaelen Jones of Sports Illustrated, Memphis’ #2 pick Ja Morant will miss out on SL in order to be fully healthy for the start of the 2019 season after undergoing minor knee surgery. So the stage is set for Zion and Barrett to steal the show.
New Orleans will play New York on the opening night of the MGM Resorts Summer League tournament at 9:30pm ET, so fans won’t have to wait long before they get to see the rookies in action. Zion Williamson needs no introduction as all NBA fans know about his explosive play and thunderous dunks. R.J. Barrett also had his fair share of highlights at Duke last season, and demonstrated to the world that he wasn’t just Zion’s sidekick.
Alonzo Trier, Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson will also suit up alongside Barrett, so he won’t be short of help in terms of NBA talent. Newly drafted center out of Texas, Jaxson Hayes, will make his SL debut alongside Zion, so it will be certainly interesting to see how they handle the raised level of basketball talent. It is important to remember not to overreact to this game or its outcome, but everyone still will, and we will undoubtedly see early rookie of the year hot-takes based on who claims the win.
The Other Rooks
Zion and R.J Barrett will most likely dominate the headlines, but plenty of other rookies will be trying to make a name for themselves with their offensive and defensive skills.
Michael Porter Jr
Perhaps the most interesting rookie making his Summer League Debut this week will be Michael Porter Jr of the Denver Nuggets. MPJ was forced to take the Ben Simmons path after sitting out the 2018-19 season to fully recover from injuries, but now the 6’10 forward is ready for action. Porter possesses a unique skill set with great size and strength. If he is able to stay healthy once he returns to the floor, he could be a lethal scoring weapon for the Nuggets, and be the extra punch they need when playoff time rolls around, as he will have had a full year of professional training and conditioning. But that’s a while away. For now, Porter will be focusing on the domination of this week’s Summer League. Coming out of his solo season at Missouri, Porter was projected to be an elite scorer with massive upside, but was prone to questionable shot selection and defensive lapses. We’ll see if this has changed when the Nuggets play their first Summer League game against the Phoenix Suns this Friday the 5th of July, at 11:30pm ET.
Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter
At this current moment, Trae Young looks to be skipping SL this offseason, meaning Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter will have plenty of the ball when they represent the Atlanta Hawks this week. Reddish, who the Hawks drafted at #10, is quite tall for a shooting guard, standing at 6’8. His potential is great, as he has shown that he can use his skills and athleticism to create his own shot consistently. However, efficiency from outside the line and within troubled him at Duke, and SL will give him an early opportunity to silence his current critics.
The Hawks traded up the order to grab Hunter, a versatile small-forward who stands at 6’7. He has shown he can compete at an elite level on the defensive end, and shot 44% from downtown this past season with Virginia. Hunter won’t care that it's ‘just summer league’ and will give 100% until the buzzer sounds. Hunter and Reddish will be a duo to keep your eye on all tournament long, and their campaign begins Saturday July 6th, at 5pm ET, against Milwaukee.
Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will also debut two rookies who have generated quite a bit of hype. Darius Garland, who the Cavaliers took at #5, is a crafty playmaker and dynamic shot creator who was shooting the lights out last college season before injuring his left knee, so he will be motivated to prove he’s still got what it takes after recovering from the injury.
Kevin Porter Jr. has the potential to win SL MVP. It’s a huge call, but his scoring potential is as good as any in this year’s draft; he just has to bring the passion and intensity every night and get his teammates involved. Porter’s elite handles and explosive athleticism will lead to must-watch basketball, but whether or not his highlights translate into wins for his squad will be the biggest question. Garland, Porter and the Cavaliers play their first game Monday July 1st against Spurs at 7pm ET.
Rui Hachimura and Admiral Schofield
The Washington Wizards are a strange franchise. They currently do not have a permanent GM due to firing Ernie Grunfield after years of questionable decisions, and whether or not John Wall ever returns to All-Star level play will alter the future of their team. However, they seem to have drafted two fairly safe picks with Rui Hachimura from Japan at #9 and Admiral Schofield (coolest name in the NBA, no debate allowed) at #42. Both players are older than the average rookie (Rui is 21 and Schofield is 22) but look versatile and well rounded, and should make an immediate impact in the NBA, let alone in Summer League.
Rui struggled with consistency at Gonzaga last season, and was criticized for his lack of range beyond the three-point arc. However, once he gets going, Hachimura is a dominant force with multiple scoring options who attacks the hoop hard and has the length and athleticism to alter or block his opponents shots on defence.
Admiral Schofield is ready for NBA action. He is explosive, exciting and developed a great three-point shot in his final season at Tennessee, shooting 42% from downtown. Just by watching his college highlights it is clear what we can expect from Schofield, and that is winning plays on both sides of the ball. He may not improve drastically over the course of his career, but Admiral is well equipped to compete at the highest level right now. This powerhouse duo take on Zion and the Pelicans in their SL debut on the 6th of July at 10pm ET.
There are plenty of rookies to keep your eye on in this upcoming Summer League, as well as some second-year players like Marvin Bagley III, Mo Bamba and some international prospects looking to earn a roster spot, so the competition will be fierce.
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