SUMMER LEAGUE 2025: Begins FRI July 11

[esqtvd]

Kobe Brown – Los Angeles Clippers [Pick No. 30 in 2023 NBA Draft]
Jordan Miller – Los Angeles Clippers [Pick No. 48 in 2023 NBA Draft]
Cam Christie – Los Angeles Clippers [Pick No. 46 in 2024 NBA Draft]
Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Penn State [Pick No. 30 in 2025 NBA Draft]
Kobe Sanders – Nevada [Pick No. 50 in 2025 NBA Draft]
Trentyn Flowers – Los Angeles Clippers (Two-Way Contract)
Patrick Baldwin Jr. – Los Angeles Clippers (Two-Way Contract)
Jahmyl Telfort – Butler
John Poulakidas – Yale
Zavier Simpson – U-BT Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
Izaiah Brockington – Vancouver Bandits (Canada)
Juwan Gary – Nebraska

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[Clemenza]

Should be good. Need one of these guys to pop. Wish Kobe Brown and Jordan Miller we're sitting this one out. Its not a good look that they're still playing in SL. Need all the shots, play calls, and minutes to go to Cam Christie, Flowers, Baldwin, Yanick, Kobe Sanders, and company.

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[KL2]

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[esqtvd]

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[Clemenza]

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He lost confidence in his jumper and then his patented slowed down Euro step got shut down in the big leagues. His hitting threes is what was going to keep him in the league. I wasn't surprised by this move. Cam Christie, Flowers, and Pat Baldwin Jr. made him expendable. Christie is up next.

[Clipp312s]

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What? That's really disappointing. With Norm gone and Amir likely not coming back, I was hoping he could get some meaningful rotation minutes. I guess this means they're going all in on trying to get Bradley Beal.

Even more reason for Jordan Miller to play and ball out summer league. I liked the idea of him playing 10th man type role, bring some energy off the bench and maybe crack the top 8 for $2-3M a year.

The last couple times we've had a 1st round and 2nd round pick, our 2nd round pick have been the better player:

Terance Mann (48) outpeforming Mfiandu Kabengele (27)
Jordan Miller (48) outperforming Kobe Brown (30)

I'm really hoping this year is different and we get more out of Yanic Konan (30) than Kobe Sanders (50), but it could very well be the same result.

[Clemenza]

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What? That's really disappointing. With Norm gone and Amir likely not coming back, I was hoping he could get some meaningful rotation minutes. I guess this means they're going all in on trying to get Bradley Beal.

Even more reason for Jordan Miller to play and ball out summer league. I liked the idea of him playing 10th man type role, bring some energy off the bench and maybe crack the top 8 for $2-3M a year.

The last couple times we've had a 1st round and 2nd round pick, our 2nd round pick have been the better player:

Terance Mann (48) outpeforming Mfiandu Kabengele (27)
Jordan Miller (48) outperforming Kobe Brown (30)

I'm really hoping this year is different and we get more out of Yanic Konan (30) than Kobe Sanders (50), but it could very well be the same result.

How does this work though? He's not on the team anymore so he's going to take shots and minutes away from the development of Christie, Flowers, PBJ, Kobe Sanders, etc. to light it up-go for 30 for an audition for another team? I hoping the best for him and he gets picked up by another team, but him still being on the SL team sounds counter productive from a team's player development standpoint.

[esqtvd]

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What? That's really disappointing. With Norm gone and Amir likely not coming back, I was hoping he could get some meaningful rotation minutes. I guess this means they're going all in on trying to get Bradley Beal.

Even more reason for Jordan Miller to play and ball out summer league. I liked the idea of him playing 10th man type role, bring some energy off the bench and maybe crack the top 8 for $2-3M a year.

The last couple times we've had a 1st round and 2nd round pick, our 2nd round pick have been the better player:

Terance Mann (48) outpeforming Mfiandu Kabengele (27)
Jordan Miller (48) outperforming Kobe Brown (30)

I'm really hoping this year is different and we get more out of Yanic Konan (30) than Kobe Sanders (50), but it could very well be the same result.

How does this work though? He's not on the team anymore so he's going to take shots and minutes away from the development of Christie, Flowers, PBJ, Kobe Sanders, etc. to light it up-go for 30 for an audition for another team? I hoping the best for him and he gets picked up by another team, but him still being on the SL team sounds counter productive from a team's player development standpoint.

Good question. I think it's foremost a courtesy they show to guys who've been with the org for awhile. It's good politics, good for the org's rep. Think poor Sindarius. Just didn't have it but he was a Clipper in his heart.

I'd say the idea is to give JM some exposure in the SL and offer him a G-League slot if he doesn't want to go become a Tel Aviv Maccabee.

[ERClips]

Yeah hard to pinpoint logistics but I’m definitely about moving forward in development with other young players. Also unfortunately for his position there’s a lot of comprable players. Glad they’re still considering Kobe B. His size and skill is a thing even if his age at this point isn’t

[Captain Ballmer]

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The angle of the learning curve is higher when you are young, 25+ years old players are like %99 finished product. Jordan Miller as a finished product last season showed enough to me that he don't belong.

Frankly, the news of sending Jordan and Kobe B. to the Summer League was also interesting. This move suggests that management still isn't convinced about these two players. I didn't understand their inclusion in the Summer League, because if they convinced our FO, there was no need for them to be there anyway, and if they didn't, it was time to cut ties anyway.

I don't think Kobe will be on the main team anymore, either. Whether a trade or simply cut.

[esqtvd]

I don't think Kobe will be on the main team anymore, either. Whether a trade or simply cut.

Yes, you're right. He's a stiff and turns 26 in January. The Clips would love to expose him in SL and have someone pick up his guaranteed contract, freeing up more sal cap money. Cutting him leaves his salary on the books.

Trade him for cash considerations [$1] and the rights to Cenk Akyol. [Oldtimers know who I mean, lol.]

Because hey, anyone can sign 6-7 Amir Coffey, 28, for the same $$. Amir isn't great but he's a real NBA player and still better than a lot of scrubs out there in the league. [VORP = 0.1.] Kobe has done NOTHING in the NBA.

[TrueLAfan]

I don't think Kobe will be on the main team anymore, either. Whether a trade or simply cut.

Yes, you're right. He's a stiff and turns 26 in January. The Clips would love to expose him in SL and have someone pick up his guaranteed contract, freeing up more sal cap money. Cutting him leaves his salary on the books.

Trade him for cash considerations [$1] and the rights to Cenk Akyol. [Oldtimers know who I mean, lol.]

Because hey, anyone can sign 6-7 Amir Coffey, 28, for the same $$. Amir isn't great but he's a real NBA player and still better than a lot of scrubs out there in the league. [VORP = 0.1.] Kobe has done NOTHING in the NBA.

This. I like Kobe Brown and think he’s somewhere between a marginal bottom of the rotation player, and a good overseas player. I’d love to save his money, somehow, though. Because on the surface:

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What? That's really disappointing. With Norm gone and Amir likely not coming back, I was hoping he could get some meaningful rotation minutes. I guess this means they're going all in on trying to get Bradley Beal.

Even more reason for Jordan Miller to play and ball out summer league. I liked the idea of him playing 10th man type role, bring some energy off the bench and maybe crack the top 8 for $2-3M a year.

…this is right. But think about it. It’s looking increasingly like Coffey will be getting a salary averaging in $3-4 million range. There is *way* more than $1 million difference in terms of being an NBA player between Miller and Coffey.

What I’m wondering is how much salary space we have. The vet minimum for Coffey is $2.875 million this year, of which $2.3 million counts against the cap. Like I said, it’s looking like Coffey may get a deal barely above that—something like 2 year/$6.5 million deal or something. Do we have enough space to offer Coffey that 2 year deal? It would cost us $800,000 more even though the salary gain for Coffey is only about 10%. But we are trying really hard to stay under the first apron. Miller was cut so we could sign Beal and a vet minimum guy. If Coffey is the vet minimum guy, I think it’s a good deal. If we can offer him a bit more and stay under the apron, I’d do that.

[KL2]

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Waiting for one of the others to report it.

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[Clemenza]

Wow! League is extremely cutthroat now. I thought they like Pat Baldwin. Guess not

[KL2]

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Flowers, Sanders, and Yanic showing some nice stuff.

Brown too good to be playing here.

Miller and Christie with lots of activity but not getting the payoff for it.

[esqtvd]

Wouldn't it be great if our highest-paid and best player became a team leader?

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[Clipp312s]

Nice to see Kawhi in attendance.

Clippers were clearly the better team but just got very sloppy at the end. Reed Sheppard was clearly the best player on the court though. He's going to be a problem. Fred Van Fleet might be expendable soon.

Wish we won by more because point differential could be what keeps us out of the top 4 teams, but was impressed with a bunch of players.

Jordan Miller continued to show he's too good for Summer League and even G-League. He's got that slowdown ability that very few in the league have. He also has the Shai like elbow/shoulder check where he'll create separation without getting a foul called. I hope we're able to keep him. He can be a special role player for us given his size and versatility.

Kobe Brown came out hot. I think he might tweaked his calf or hammy since he sat the whole 4th w/ a band on the bench. Shot was pure and was playing big out there. There may still be hope for him after all.

Cam Christine was aggressive, clearly a year older, a little stronger, and has a pure shot. Still only 19 years old, finally a talented young guy we can develop.

Trentyn Flowers reminded me of Jordan Miller last year. Attacking the basket, all over the place. Not sure what position he plays yet, but he's got some talent. Still very raw, but good motor. Active on defense and rebounds.

Kobe Sanders is taller than I expected. He really is like a mini Slo-Mo huh? Want to see more from him. He's a little slow to play PG but does have good feel for the game.

Yanic played big. Kind of a deer in the headlights on offense, but rebounding and blocks were impressive. Still very raw, so lots to improve.

Less Zavier Simpson and John Poulakidas please. Those two were awful.

[Don Tommy]

Yanic was awful! Watching him run down on offense, it just looked awkward. Getting back on D, it was like watching a different person, his entire stride was longer. His hands were never ready, he wasn't prepared for the lob pass thrown his way... I can't see him ever being ready for the pros.

I hope I'm wrong and it was just first game nerves but he looks like a G League lifer who eventually moves overseas. There were centers with better track records, but we went with the guy who was a combine favorite. We looked at what he did over a couple of days instead of his entire college season, and it showed tonight.

On the other hand, did Reed Shepard throw more than two passes before the 4th quarter? Every time he touched the ball he was launching it. 4th quarter the coaches tell him they want to see his playmaking, and suddenly he gets hurt?

[TrueLAfan]

The problem I have with summer league is that it’s become a showcase league rather than a developmental league. Even in the G-League, you get some consistency with lineups and coaching. You don’t have that in Summer League. So if you’re an iso player or a player that is more of a shot creator or a high usage player, it’s your league. If you need development and/or structure—which a lot of young players do—then it’s not very helpful or indicative. That’s why, imo, players can shine in Summer League and struggle in the pros and vice versa. They have the skills to do well in a super ISO friendly game against good, but not NBA, quality players. That dries up in a formal scheme with more off ball movement and structure against top level athleticism and skill levels. You end up with guys who can dominate in the summer league and play well—but not quite as well—in the G-league, but just can’t pull it off in the pros.

Anyway, Kobe Brown looked good. Jordan Miller focused on his own play and played pretty well (but he’s exactly the type of player who is better in summer league than in the pros, imo. Sorry.). Cam Christie looks a lot better than last summer; the G-league clearly helped him. Trentyn Flowers showed flashes, but was careless. And I actually really like Kobe Sanders, who didn’t do a huge amount—but what he did was good. He played within himself and seemed like he was trying to get a feel for his teammates. That’s rare in summer league.

Yanic needs structure and looked pretty bad on offense—but not horrible. He put the ball on the deck after making a steal and brought it down and had a good spin move to put up a good shot … which he missed. He has a considerable amount of work to do there. But he’s also a PnR player, and that’s not something you really run into in summer league. I actually think his shooting stroke is okay; he just needs to get more comfortable and better with it. And on D and rebounding—look, he can help now. Right now. And he’s got some growth there too—but he’s got a lot figured out already there. Picked up early fouls, then went 15 or so minutes without fouling, and getting plenty of boards and blocks.

[clipsfever]

Sanders size/skill package intrigues, but at age 23 he needs to.

Maybe Miller won't have any options but to park himself back on the 2-Way taken from Baldwin, and maybe both sides are keeping that option open?