Official Summer League Thread

[omegatronic3]

Hey Nick Young...try Big 2.

To say theres a new big 3 and then come out and stink like that is just laughable. I also don't know why wed sign Dee Brown...he didn't show me anything we couldn't get from a D leaguer. But I guess hes got NBA experience and is insurance. Still I see very little to be impressed about in his game.

[Dat2U]

SI.com All-Vegas Summer League Team

PG -- Jerryd Bayless, Portland
SG -- O.J Mayo, Memphis
SF -- Donte Green, Houston
PF -- J.J. Hickson, Cleveland
C -- Kevin Love, Minnesota

I got wondering whether Andray would deserve to be on a second team, if they named one. Conclusion: just on the cusp. Here's the guys I'd put on an All Summer League Second Team.

G: Bobby Brown 15 ppg, 3 rbg, 6 apg (Hornets) - You could (and some no doubt will) argue for Ramon Sessions or Aaron Brooks, who also showed they can direct their squad's offense as well as score. But I liked the way Brown took care of the ball (demonstrated by his almost 3:1 assist to turnover ratio). Some on this board will want to say DJ Strawberry deserves the nod, but he's just another scorer, and his running mate Alando Tucker was more impressive at that skillset.

G: Alando Tucker 22 ppg, 5 boards 57% FG (Phoenix) - just a flat out scorer and seemed eager to be the go-to guy for his Phoenix squad. I also considered Quincy Douby, who also filled up the bucket (22 ppg), but did little else (1 board, 1 assist).

F: Andray Blatche 18 ppg 7 rbg, 2 apg (Washington) - Someone will claim Joey Graham did an equally good job (18/6), but Graham needed to be in the top 10 players in minutes played to turn out the same production. Still others will want Thadeus Young, but he showed a remarkable ability to avoid rebounds during his 35 minutes on the court, even having a couple games with just 2 boards. So I'll give this one to Andray.

F: Anthony Randolph 21 ppg, 8 rpg (Golden State) - Dude was a beast out there.

F: Marreese Speights 18 ppg, 10 rbp, 2 blocks (76ers) - Ditto, #3 in blocks in the summer league

Honorable mention: Spencer Hawes (Kings) 17 ppg, 8 boards... looks like the Kings have a good C on their hands

Wish I'd seen more of him: Richard Hendrix 8 ppg, 10 boards, 2 swats in 15 minutes in 1 game (Warriors). Anyone know why he didn't play more?

Saw too little of: Nick Young. Where'd you disappear to, kid? The only reason I knew you were around was the constant sound of bricks hitting the iron.

Here's my list based on what I saw:

1st team:

G Jerryd Bayless...best player in Vegas, hands down.
F Donte Greene...A 6-10 hot & cold perimeter scorer who can take it to the basket when he wants to.
F Anthony Randolph...Very talented, very skilled, very left handed. Reminds me of Jonathan Bender
F Marresse Speights...low post monster, Al Jefferson 2.0
F Kevin Love...Will be the ultimate role player, does all the little things

2nd team:

G Ramon Sessions
G Marco Belinelli
F Alando Tucker
F J.J. Hickson
C Spencer Hawes

3rd team:

G D.J. Augustin
G D.J. Strawberry
G Bobby Brown
F Andray Blatche
F Dominic McGuire

Big time duds...disappointments:

G Nick Young...just played like he didn't care. At least 2/3 of shots were fadeways.
C Alex Ajinca...Worst player in the summer league. Nice kid but I don't think he'll ever make it to a 2nd NBA contract.
F Corey Brewer...looked like he improved his ballhandling but got nothing accomplished on the court.

[Dat2U]

I actually got to speak with EG a bit on Sunday. He's a real nice guy and was willing to answer my questions.

He really liked what he saw from Dominic McGuire. He thinks Dominic has earned a shot to be the team's backup at SF.

It sounded like unless they find a vet to take a similar deal to the one DeShawn Stevenson got two years ago the Wizards may stay pat. EG talked about how they want to remain flexible in case something happens in the regular season like last year.

He didn't say it outright, but he implied that the Wizards weren't going to exceed the luxury tax unless something big came along. My guess is if they can get a 'Pau Gasol' type acquistion then they'll consider going over the tax threshold, but he's not going to do it for a 8th/9th man in the rotation or a deep bench player.

[W. Unseld]

Good info Dat, I love the cajones of walking right up to EG and asking the questions. Man, I've got to get to Vegas for a summer league, Ivan Carter swears by it. Is that it for the Wiz or do they have another league coming up?

[BruceO]

I've always taken offense to nick calling himself, dray and dmac the new big three. It's almost like he thinks they will be the future of the franchise when he hasn't really earned it yet. As though they are automatic stars. Also If i was pecherov and mcgee I'd take further offense because he thinks he's automatically gonna be one of the top three players.

[AAEXPRESS]

I actually got to speak with EG a bit on Sunday. He's a real nice guy and was willing to answer my questions.

He really liked what he saw from Dominic McGuire. He thinks Dominic has earned a shot to be the team's backup at SF.

It sounded like unless they find a vet to take a similar deal to the one DeShawn Stevenson got two years ago the Wizards may stay pat. EG talked about how they want to remain flexible in case something happens in the regular season like last year.

He didn't say it outright, but he implied that the Wizards weren't going to exceed the luxury tax unless something big came along. My guess is if they can get a 'Pau Gasol' type acquistion then they'll consider going over the tax threshold, but he's not going to do it for a 8th/9th man in the rotation or a deep bench player.

Did you run into EJ? If you had what would you have said to him?

[AAEXPRESS]

I hope the Wiz will shut down Blatche and give some of the other players some run. Dont want to risk injury. I would like to see Jonathan Wallace get some more run, hey if Steve Kerr can carve out a career why not Wallace. Plus he may be a better GM than Kerr someday.

I really would like to see Wallace and Forbes get some serious run. I am so not impressed with Dee Brown, who know maybe he will fair better this time around or maybe his game will improve when training camp starts.

NY1 needs to breakout and dominate, its kind of embarrasing to see other less heralded player dominate while he runs around seem distinterested.

[Dat2U]

I actually got to speak with EG a bit on Sunday. He's a real nice guy and was willing to answer my questions.

He really liked what he saw from Dominic McGuire. He thinks Dominic has earned a shot to be the team's backup at SF.

It sounded like unless they find a vet to take a similar deal to the one DeShawn Stevenson got two years ago the Wizards may stay pat. EG talked about how they want to remain flexible in case something happens in the regular season like last year.

He didn't say it outright, but he implied that the Wizards weren't going to exceed the luxury tax unless something big came along. My guess is if they can get a 'Pau Gasol' type acquistion then they'll consider going over the tax threshold, but he's not going to do it for a 8th/9th man in the rotation or a deep bench player.

Did you run into EJ? If you had what would you have said to him?

I got to see EJ pretty much every day but I didn't bring myself to talk to him. A few other Wiz fans there did. But I couldn't walk up and lie to the man about what a great job he's done.

I didn't talk to Ivan either, I heard from others there that he's not as congenial as his blog suggests he is.

One disturbing fact, and I think Ivan mentioned it, EJ & Ernie were sitting together in the stands on a couple of different ocassions. It appears like their relationship has improved. At least for now.

I did call Pech "Stewie" to which he kinda shooked his head at me and turned away. I don't he liked that too much. Someone beside me asked him to say "I get buckets son", and he complied. it had everyone rolling. I had a ball. There are so many stories to tell. I recommend anyone who loves basketball should do it at least once. This is definitely going to be an annual vacation for me.

[MJG]

I hope the Wiz will shut down Blatche and give some of the other players some run. Dont want to risk injury. I would like to see Jonathan Wallace get some more run, hey if Steve Kerr can carve out a career why not Wallace. Plus he may be a better GM than Kerr someday.

I really would like to see Wallace and Forbes get some serious run. I am so not impressed with Dee Brown, who know maybe he will fair better this time around or maybe his game will improve when training camp starts.

NY1 needs to breakout and dominate, its kind of embarrasing to see other less heralded player dominate while he runs around seem distinterested.

Summer league is done for the Wizards, just so you know.