1) Portland could also be geniuses
The Portland Trailblazers had been the butt of each draft night time joke after they took China’s 7ft 1in Yang Hansen, who had been extensively projected as a second-round choose, at No 16 total. However it seems the joke could also be on the remainder of the NBA, at the very least if Vegas Summer time League is any indication. Hansen was unequivocally the story of the week, impressing together with his high-level offensive skillset, and, specifically, his aptitude for passing and facilitation, an uncommon trait for somebody his dimension that has garnered him comparisons to at least one Nikola Jokić. Regardless of a ton of consideration from world media (Hansen is already getting huge quantities of press again dwelling in China), the jovial 20-year-old seems to have head on his shoulders, too. He advised Ben Golliver of the Washington Submit this week: “There’s a saying in my coronary heart, don’t fear about something that’s greater than eight hours away. And even when it’s inside eight hours, don’t fear an excessive amount of.”
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2) Cooper Flagg is nearly as good as marketed
Heading right into a scalding scorching week within the desert, the discuss of the city was an adolescent from Maine, and he proved his mettle in his two Summer time League appearances. There was an astronomical quantity of hype across the No 1 total choose main into his Dallas Mavericks debut, and whereas the photographs didn’t begin falling till his second sport, all of the indicators of somebody who will nearly actually be a extremely impactful NBA participant had been there from tip-off. Flagg is extremely well-rounded: he can create, rating, move, and defend at a excessive degree, and he showcased a bit of little bit of every part in Vegas. Posting 31 factors and 4 rebounds in his second (and closing) Summer time League look in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs, Flagg confirmed why many scouts have known as him probably the most promising faculty prospect since Zion Williamson. And with Flagg’s reported maniacal work ethic, his profession is primed to simply clear his fellow Duke alum’s.
Associated: Cooper Flagg’s NBA delicate launch confirmed the highlight matches simply fantastic
3) Bronny James is an NBA participant
It’s been a rollercoaster begin to his NBA profession for Bronny James, who noticed his temporary faculty basketball tenure at USC interrupted by a cardiac arrest after which confronted extra criticism than maybe any late second-round draft choose in league historical past. It even led to a feud between LeBron James and Stephen A Smith, when the ESPN blowhard scolded Bronny’s father on tv for, he purported, forcing his son right into a highlight for which he was woefully unqualified (“I’m pleading with you, as a father, cease this,” Smith stated). Bronny didn’t have a very spectacular first season within the league, to make sure. However between his time within the G League final yr and his stint for the Lakers in Vegas this yr, one factor is turning into clear: he has upside as an NBA position participant. For a lot of the week, James Jr was the Lakers’ standout participant, flashing spectacular playmaking and athleticism that recalled his days as a extremely touted highschool recruit earlier than his myocardial infarction. Maybe Mr Smith spoke too quickly.
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4) San Antonio have a humiliation of riches at guard
Flagg is clearly the frontrunner to win rookie of the yr this season, however there’s a non-zero likelihood {that a} San Antonio Spur may take the award for the third yr operating, which is fairly damned exceptional. Dylan Harper, the Rutgers guard who the Spurs drafted second total, showcased why San Antonio have an opportunity at a ROTY three-peat. Harper missed the start of Summer time League with a groin harm, however in his marquee match-up in opposition to Flagg, he showcased the defensive depth and level of assault chops that make the guard such an intriguing prospect. At 6ft 5in, he has nice dimension for his place, and his ending across the basket is already spectacular.
5) Denver are sitting fairly
Only a yr in the past, I predicted that the Denver Nuggets – NBA champions only some seasons in the past and residential to Jokić, extensively considered the most effective participant on this planet – had been getting ready to a disastrous season. In any case, not solely had they let yet one more key part of their championship core (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) stroll out the door for nothing, however the flooring spacing massive man, DaRon Holmes II, who they’d drafted only a few weeks earlier to be Jokić’s backup, suffered a harrowing achilles tear in his Summer time League debut and was out indefinitely. What a distinction a yr could make: Denver had been capable of make some shrewd free-agency strikes and persuade Jonas Valanciunas to not abandon ship for Europe. And a yr after his devastating decrease leg harm, Holmes hasn’t simply picked up the place he left off, he might have exceeded expectations, grabbing a staggering 17 rebounds and including 19 factors in his closing sport in Vegas.
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6) Keep watch over the Hornets
No staff will be the laughing inventory of the league for ever, however the Charlotte Hornets have held the excellence for about so long as humanly doable. However their standing appears primed to alter, and never simply because the franchise received its first ever Summer time League Championship final weekend (or championship of any form, for that matter). Underneath new, Jumpman-less possession, the Hornets lastly appear to have a course: hiring tremendous good and beloved head coach Charles Lee, showing to nail the draft choose of ahead Brandon Miller a few years again, and having a reasonably stellar draft this yr as effectively. They scooped up UConn’s Liam McNeeley, who was one of many greatest Vegas standouts, alongside Duke’s Kon Knueppel, who obtained some shine of his personal when his clutch play netted him Summer time League Championship Recreation MVP honors. Knueppel was in Flagg’s shadow for many of his one and executed season at Duke, however he’s cerebral, expert and a artful scorer, and must be instantly impactful for the Hornets. Out of the blue issues don’t look so bleak in North Carolina.
