Official Summer League Thread (Includes Roster Pg.2)

[Optimus_Steel]

Smith couldn't have imagined Gortat earning such praise three years ago. The club didn't deem him good enough to even face free-agent wannabes, sending him back home to Poland.

Asked about Gortat's improvement since he returned, Smith said, "Huge. He's 25 pounds heavier than he was, his footwork is better. He has grown immensely."

Gortat, the son of an Olympic boxer, surely has that fighting spirit.

He dabbled in boxing, but he inherited his father's toughness and picked himself up after being floored by the Magic's initial rejection.

"It's been a long road for me. I could not quit after I was cut after the third game. My feeling was the people made a decision too fast," Gortat said. "They thought it was better I get experience in Europe.

"I was so mad. When I went to the gym [in Poland], I wanted to hurt every guy. It was hard for me, but now I'm a better player. I want to be the best Polish player in the history of basketball."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/o ... 0829.story

[drsd]

I dont think anyone is making the arguement that dominating the summer league gaurentees nba success, but, i think everyone can agree that dominating the summer league cant possibly be a negative thing ...

Said in the opposite: not dominating the Summer League is a near-certain sign of NBA failure!

(Kruger et. al need to be very concerned!)

[sportsrock37]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-all-summer-league-teams-named,0,760453.story

Orlando Magic's Courtney Lee, Miami Heat's Michael Beasley selected to all-summer-league 1st team

From Staff Reports
5:54 PM EDT, July 11, 2008

Orlando Magic shooting guard Courtney Lee and Miami Heat power forward Michael Beasley were among the players named to the Orlando Pro All-Summer League first team at the conclusion of the five-day, six team tournament at the RDV Sportsplex.

New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez and Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and forward Jeff Green rounded out the first team.

Magic center Marcin Gortat, Heat point guard Mario Chalmers, Indiana Pacers guard Earl Calloway and Nets guard/forward Chris Douglas-Roberts and guard Jaycee Carroll were selected to the second team.

The teams were selected by viewers who tuned in to the Webcasts of the competition this week at OrlandoMagic.com.

A sign of things to come!

From the 2007 Summer League
FIRST TEAM
G – J.J. Redick, Orlando
POINTS PER GAME
1. J.J. Redick, Orlando 19.8 ppg.
3. J.J. Redick, Orlando 3.8 apg.
Orlando guard J.J. Redick led all scorers in the contest with 30 points, tying the record for the fifth-most points scored in a game in Pepsi Pro Summer League history.

I thought I should post this after all of the glowing reports about Lee and this Summer League action and I am reminded about how many of you said it's just the Summer League it means nothing.
So your saying that this time it's different because it's Lee, yea right and some one is full of it.

http://www.insidehoops.com/summer-league-orlando.shtml

Everyone was raving about JJ after the summer league last year as well. I remember there was a poll that several people thought we should start JJ at SG over Turkoglu last year(with Shard at the 3 and Battie at the 4). This is a message board of course you will have the people who are overly optimistic. Every fan base has the really negative people and the really positive people.

I agree with you don't take much out of the summer league statistically, but I'm saying yes it will be different because it's Lee. I'm basing my assessment on what I saw from him and not the stats. Just watching him though with his speed, athleticism, and not to mention how smooth his shot looks it makes me think he can get into our rotation. If he makes our rotation then it is already different to JJ. Not many people have seen Lee play, while EVERYONE knows what JJ can do. I think that's the difference between the last 2 years on Lee and JJ. Lee showed he could play some defense, which makes most of us assume he will get in our rotation, while JJ really didn't show anyone anything that they didn't know already, he can score. I'd be very excited if Lee was able to play 10-15 mins and produced in that time.

[Cigamodnalro]

We'll just go out back and you can hose me down

You messed your pants because of summer league, wow you really were desperate for some basketball action. Don't worry when the real thing hits town you will be able to keep your pants clean.

As a precaution, during the regular season, I don't wear pants. It's only an issue when I have to take out the trash during an Orlando game

[EasternMagic]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-all-summer-league-teams-named,0,760453.story

Orlando Magic's Courtney Lee, Miami Heat's Michael Beasley selected to all-summer-league 1st team

From Staff Reports
5:54 PM EDT, July 11, 2008

Orlando Magic shooting guard Courtney Lee and Miami Heat power forward Michael Beasley were among the players named to the Orlando Pro All-Summer League first team at the conclusion of the five-day, six team tournament at the RDV Sportsplex.

New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez and Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook and forward Jeff Green rounded out the first team.

Magic center Marcin Gortat, Heat point guard Mario Chalmers, Indiana Pacers guard Earl Calloway and Nets guard/forward Chris Douglas-Roberts and guard Jaycee Carroll were selected to the second team.

The teams were selected by viewers who tuned in to the Webcasts of the competition this week at OrlandoMagic.com.

A sign of things to come!

From the 2007 Summer League
FIRST TEAM
G – J.J. Redick, Orlando
POINTS PER GAME
1. J.J. Redick, Orlando 19.8 ppg.
3. J.J. Redick, Orlando 3.8 apg.
Orlando guard J.J. Redick led all scorers in the contest with 30 points, tying the record for the fifth-most points scored in a game in Pepsi Pro Summer League history.

I thought I should post this after all of the glowing reports about Lee and this Summer League action and I am reminded about how many of you said it's just the Summer League it means nothing.
So your saying that this time it's different because it's Lee, yea right and some one is full of it.

http://www.insidehoops.com/summer-league-orlando.shtml

Cougar, stop hatin on Lee, your still pissed we got Lee instead of whoever the heck you wanted in the drat.. And it's quite hypocritical for you to put those JJ stats up cause aren't you the one who keeps saying JJ is going to be a great NBA player he just needs the chance to play.... So basically you make no sense saying JJ did good in SL but not in the regular season... Lee is better than JJ anyways, he is quicker a better defender a better overall shooter (with the pass and shoot, shooting off the run and that sick pull up J he's got) and he has better ball handling skills. Why can't you just be happy that maybe we got an excellent pick this year

[Catledge]

We'll just go out back and you can hose me down

You messed your pants because of summer league, wow you really were desperate for some basketball action. Don't worry when the real thing hits town you will be able to keep your pants clean.

As a precaution, during the regular season, I don't wear pants. It's only an issue when I have to take out the trash during an Orlando game

A reasonable precaution, but what the heck are you doing taking out the trash during a Magic game? That's just ridiculous.

[BassMaster]

From the 2007 Summer League
FIRST TEAM
G – J.J. Redick, Orlando
POINTS PER GAME
1. J.J. Redick, Orlando 19.8 ppg.
3. J.J. Redick, Orlando 3.8 apg.
Orlando guard J.J. Redick led all scorers in the contest with 30 points, tying the record for the fifth-most points scored in a game in Pepsi Pro Summer League history.

I thought I should post this after all of the glowing reports about Lee and this Summer League action and I am reminded about how many of you said it's just the Summer League it means nothing.
So your saying that this time it's different because it's Lee, yea right and some one is full of it.

http://www.insidehoops.com/summer-league-orlando.shtml[/quote]
Cougar, stop hatin on Lee, your still pissed we got Lee instead of whoever the heck you wanted in the drat.. And it's quite hypocritical for you to put those JJ stats up cause aren't you the one who keeps saying JJ is going to be a great NBA player he just needs the chance to play.... So basically you make no sense saying JJ did good in SL but not in the regular season... Lee is better than JJ anyways, he is quicker a better defender a better overall shooter (with the pass and shoot, shooting off the run and that sick pull up J he's got) and he has better ball handling skills. Why can't you just be happy that maybe we got an excellent pick this year[/quote]

Not hating Lee, but remembering what you said about summer league meaning nothing (as in reference to Redick).
Better ball handling you are refering to Lee, I remember something about his problem with turnovers in yep the summer league.
I am saying that all of your hype and others about Lee is funny because it is based on the same summer league play that you said was worth nothing in the real NBA.
Plus I have agreed that Redick is a backup, but I think that is the same case for Lee as well.

[CourtsideTV]

JJ is good. we already knew that.

[EasternMagic]

Cougar he had seven TO's in the first two games which is one less than OJ Mayo had in his first SL game and then he had five combined TO's for the remaining three games. That means for the whole summer league he averaged about two turnovers a game... I would hardly call that a turnover problem for a rook (or anyone else).
Let me just ask you this, if your picking teams and your SG option is between Lee and Redick, who are you gonna pick, the shooter or the athletic, fast, defensive, shooter?
I know what your saying, Lee might not be good and we should hype him up till we know for sure... I get that, but if we would have picked Kosta Kufos or whoever it is you wanted I bet you would be excited about him when you saw his summer league stats and they were damn good... You are right, he MIGHT not be as good as we all hope and think he will be... but there's a damn good chance he will... so be happy for the magic, as of right now it looks like we got a good draft pick.

[BassMaster]

Cougar he had seven TO's in the first two games which is one less than OJ Mayo had in his first SL game and then he had five combined TO's for the remaining three games. That means for the whole summer league he averaged about two turnovers a game... I would hardly call that a turnover problem for a rook (or anyone else).
Let me just ask you this, if your picking teams and your SG option is between Lee and Redick, who are you gonna pick, the shooter or the athletic, fast, defensive, shooter?
I know what your saying, Lee might not be good and we should hype him up till we know for sure... I get that, but if we would have picked Kosta Kufos or whoever it is you wanted I bet you would be excited about him when you saw his summer league stats and they were damn good... You are right, he MIGHT not be as good as we all hope and think he will be... but there's a damn good chance he will... so be happy for the magic, as of right now it looks like we got a good draft pick.

I never wanted Kosta Kufos, though I remember you saying you wanted him before you got on the Lee bandwagon.
I wanted the Magic to take either a PF/C or PG because the Magic are weak in both area's. Lets see the Magic just have Battie coming back and that's not the kind of fix they need. And as of now they have one PG.
Also disagree about the summer league action. I believe in waiting to see how the player pans out in the real world not summer league.
So yes I think it was a wasted pick considering the Magic also picked up an SG in free agency. It sounds like the Coachs and Otis didn't think that Lee was the answer so they got another SG in free agency.
So drafting a PG or PF would have been the better option for the Magic. Not doing has already cost the Magic.

[EasternMagic]

Cougar he had seven TO's in the first two games which is one less than OJ Mayo had in his first SL game and then he had five combined TO's for the remaining three games. That means for the whole summer league he averaged about two turnovers a game... I would hardly call that a turnover problem for a rook (or anyone else).
Let me just ask you this, if your picking teams and your SG option is between Lee and Redick, who are you gonna pick, the shooter or the athletic, fast, defensive, shooter?
I know what your saying, Lee might not be good and we should hype him up till we know for sure... I get that, but if we would have picked Kosta Kufos or whoever it is you wanted I bet you would be excited about him when you saw his summer league stats and they were damn good... You are right, he MIGHT not be as good as we all hope and think he will be... but there's a damn good chance he will... so be happy for the magic, as of right now it looks like we got a good draft pick.

I never wanted Kosta Kufos, though I remember you saying you wanted him before you got on the Lee bandwagon.
I wanted the Magic to take either a PF/C or PG because the Magic are weak in both area's. Lets see the Magic just have Battie coming back and that's not the kind of fix they need. And as of now they have one PG.
Also disagree about the summer league action. I believe in waiting to see how the player pans out in the real world not summer league.
So yes I think it was a wasted pick considering the Magic also picked up an SG in free agency. It sounds like the Coachs and Otis didn't think that Lee was the answer so they got another SG in free agency.
So drafting a PG or PF would have been the better option for the Magic. Not doing has already cost the Magic.

Never EVER did I even think about saying that I wanted Kufos, in my book he was a last option... It was always between Rush CDR and Lee for me, and I never hopped on a bandwagon, I did my draft research the night the magic finished their season, and I had him at the time my third pick behind CDR and Rush as he did better in workouts he moved up in my book... so i would appreciate it if you would cut the lying down to a minimal

So your telling me if we would have picked the guy you wanted ( i now remember it was Jason Thompson who wasn't available to us at 22) and he did very well in SL you'd say the same things you are saying about Lee? Doubtful...

Already cost the Magic? How can you tell? Practice what you preach. We haven't seen the team together yet and the off season isn't over and we haven't even played a preseason game! We are now stronger than ever at our weakest position last year, and We have 4 PF this season with Lewis, Battie, Cook, and Augustine. Yes, we need to acquire another backup PG, but the off season is far from over...

Oh and if you don't believe me about my draft choices, I would be happy to email you the draft analysis I did for the players who i believed the magic were interested in.