Summer League 2021

[Roscoe Sheed]

I know we were all disappointed in Kennard last season, but he came around somewhat in the playoffs. He is such a great shooter that you don't just want to give him away. Perhaps he will contribute even more next season with Kawhi out and increased confidence.

I think he got better by the end of the season, and definitely was better in the playoffs. I mean if he can step up (relatively speaking) while in the playoffs, you'd think it would be easy to carry that over into the next regular season.

His guaranteed contract is actually right around the full MLE for 3 years, plus incentives and 4th year team option. That's more or less fine IMO, compared to the 4 year/$64 first reported. Here are the details on the (yearly) incentives:

$620,454 for 66 games played or 1772 minutes played (for an 82-game season, pro-rated if the team has less than 82 games scheduled; remember that these bonuses do not apply to this season’s shortened schedule)
$477,273 for playing in the first round of the playoffs
$143,182 for making the Western Conference Finals
$143,182 for making the NBA Finals
$190,909 for winning an NBA Championship
$334,091 for maintaining a defensive rating under 105

https://213hoops.com/luke-kennards-contract-details-clippers-extension/

The first two seem very likely, the other ones gradually less so. I'll contribute to a Kickstarter if it will help Luke achieve the defensive rating incentive.

I know he isn't exactly on the level of Duncan Robinson (although his offensive repertoire is more versatile), he can make similar contributions and Robinson just got a humongous contract.

[madmaxmedia]

So for those who didn't watch, here's a good long extended highlights video:

Watch on YouTube

Scrubb looks really smooth against the lesser competition, I think he needs to tighten it up on an actual NBA floor but has a legit shot if he takes the right lessons from these games.
Preston looks like a bonafide PG. Court vision and passing are legit, handles look reasonable, his NBA defense is main question I have right now.
Oturu's feet are too slow for the NBA, and he doesn't nearly have Trezz's explosiveness which allowed Trezz to find his place as a small big man in the NBA.

[TrueLAfan]

Agree about Oturu's foot speed/quickness. He's better than Kab, who looked like he had no sense of the game at all--but Oturu looks like he lacks quicks to make quick switches. He picked it up in the second half, but fouled a lot--sign of a guy who's reaching way too much 'cause he gets beat. Not a good sign.
Scrubb looked great; the fact that he had to play a more complete game as a JUCO player works to his advantage. He had to do so much that his skillset is full; the question is whether those skills are at (or are near) the NBA level. Based on last night, they're definitely at the Summer League level.

[ejftw]

I really am big on Scrubb and he absolutely showed he has the offensive repertoire last night.

I was impressed by Preston's passing but that's about it....Keon showed he has raw talent but needs to hone it.

Boston disappointed me, thought he'd do better but it's only one summer league game

[Clemenza]

Agree about Oturu's foot speed/quickness. He's better than Kab, who looked like he had no sense of the game at all--but Oturu looks like he lacks quicks to make quick switches. He picked it up in the second half, but fouled a lot--sign of a guy who's reaching way too much 'cause he gets beat. Not a good sign.

Scruff looked great; the fact that he had to play a more complete game as a JUCO player works to his advantage. He had to do so much that his skillset is full; the question is whether those skills are at (or are near) the NBA level. Based on last night, they're definitely at the Summer League level.

Kabengele actually looks good for the Cavs right now on their summer league team. They got him rebounding and defending first and foremost unlike us who had him shooting the three ball as soon as he stepped foot on the court. Not saying he's a great player but we developed him wrong imo.

[Clemenza]

So for those who didn't watch, here's a good long extended highlights video:

Watch on YouTube

Scrubb looks really smooth against the lesser competition, I think he needs to tighten it up on an actual NBA floor but has a legit shot if he takes the right lessons from these games.
Preston looks like a bonafide PG. Court vision and passing are legit, handles look reasonable, his NBA defense is main question I have right now.
Oturu's feet are too slow for the NBA, and he doesn't nearly have Trezz's explosiveness which allowed Trezz to find his place as a small big man in the NBA.

You guys don't remember these games during the regular season. Granted they were the games that people claim we tanked but nevertheless actual NBA games.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[madmaxmedia]

Agree about Oturu's foot speed/quickness. He's better than Kab, who looked like he had no sense of the game at all--but Oturu looks like he lacks quicks to make quick switches. He picked it up in the second half, but fouled a lot--sign of a guy who's reaching way too much 'cause he gets beat. Not a good sign.

Scruff looked great; the fact that he had to play a more complete game as a JUCO player works to his advantage. He had to do so much that his skillset is full; the question is whether those skills are at (or are near) the NBA level. Based on last night, they're definitely at the Summer League level.

Kabengele actually looks good for the Cavs right now on their summer league team. They got him rebounding and defending first and foremost unlike us who had him shooting the three ball as soon as he stepped foot on the court. Not saying he's a great player but we developed him wrong imo.

I didn't see the games, but Kabengele actually had a good Summer League for us, this article says "averaging 17.7 points on 46% shooting with 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game." Not sure if that was his entire Summer League line or maybe just the first couple of games.

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/mensbasketball/2019/07/10/florida-state-fsu-mens-basketball-nba-terance-mann-mfiondu-kabengele-la-clippers-contracts-seminoles/1697349001/

If he amounts to anything in the NBA then we developed him wrong. IIRC he just looked completely lost on an NBA floor during his time here (even though he has some good physical attributes.) OTOH Oturu looks physically outmatched.

[madmaxmedia]

So for those who didn't watch, here's a good long extended highlights video:

Watch on YouTube

Scrubb looks really smooth against the lesser competition, I think he needs to tighten it up on an actual NBA floor but has a legit shot if he takes the right lessons from these games.
Preston looks like a bonafide PG. Court vision and passing are legit, handles look reasonable, his NBA defense is main question I have right now.
Oturu's feet are too slow for the NBA, and he doesn't nearly have Trezz's explosiveness which allowed Trezz to find his place as a small big man in the NBA.

You guys don't remember these games during the regular season. Granted they were the games that people claim we tanked but nevertheless actual NBA games.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Thanks for those- I remember him getting burn at year end but didn't see the games myself. He is definitely a super smooth guy with very good body control- by NBA standards I think. The jumper looks really promising.

To me, if he just focuses on doing all the little things right, the legit opportunities to spread his wings will come (possibly sooner than later.) He's naturally skilled enough that had he been drafted by a mediocre team he might have been thrown into the starting line up, where he's 'good enough' to develop bad habits as a volume shooter. I think all he has to learn at the NBA level is to be efficient (which most all young players need to do) so he can contribute to this team.

EDIT- Am I right that Jay got absolutely no G-League time last season, and went straight from JUCO to long injury rehab, to his 5 game stint with us last season? If so, that's really impressive. I'm starting to get a little irrationally excited about the guy. If he listens to coaches he will make it in the NBA.

[madmaxmedia]

I really am big on Scrubb and he absolutely showed he has the offensive repertoire last night.

I was impressed by Preston's passing but that's about it....Keon showed he has raw talent but needs to hone it.

Boston disappointed me, thought he'd do better but it's only one summer league game

Boston has raw potential, with the emphasis on RAW. Anyone who shoots 35.5% from the field on significant volume in college, definitely has some learning to do.

If Preston can defend at the NBA level he will stick around. I think Keon and Boston are better off mainly playing G-League this year. I know there are roster questions at this point with the different contracts, but seems likely Scrubb and Preston will be more ready on Day 1 (even though Scrubb is the one on the 2-way contract.)

[TrueLAfan]

Yeah, Scrubb went straight through from injury to rehab to the roster—no G-League.

Which brings me to Kab, and Summer League in general. Summer League is kind of a half step below the G-League, which is a half step below the NBA. And those half steps trip people up. I’m sure Kab was good in Summer League with us; Kab was fine in the G-League too. But he was mechanical. He had no feel for the game. A good comparison is Johnathan Motley, who was a terror in the G-League (basically 23-10, 50% plus from the field, and around 30% from three). Motley was a (much) better, more natural player in the G-League … but that last half step was just too much. I wish Kab well and hope he develops, but watching him was like watching a physically gifted guy who didn’t fully understand the game. If you understand the game and can compensate for some of your weaknesses, you develop and move on. If you don’t, you don’t. And if your physical skills are simply too deficient, no amount of smarts can make up for them.

Another thing I want to mention here is a problem we have. Kind of a good problem, but a problem. Look at this:

Jay Scrubb. 6’5” barefoot, 6’6.25” in shoes, 6’9.5” wingspan, 8’8.5” standing reach. 185 pounds.
Terance Mann. 6’4.75” barefoot, 6’6.5” in shoes, 6’7.5” wingspan, 8’5” standing reach. 205 pounds.
BJ Boston. 6’5.75” barefoot, 6’7” in shoes, 6’7.5” wingspan, 8’8” standing reach. 188 pounds.
Amir Coffey. 6’7” barefoot, 6’8” in shoes, 6’7.5” wingspan, 8’8.5” standing reach. 203 pounds.

You talk about similar guys fighting for the same roster position—there you go.

[nickhx2]

yeah let's not lose sleep over kabengele. had the tools but looked like he had literally zero clue on the court.

[TheNewEra]

Let hope for a better outing

[TheNewEra]

Slow start but catching up

[MartinToVaught]

Why does Portland have three longtime NBA veterans starting for their Summer League team? Do they know what Summer League is supposed to be for?

[TheNewEra]

yeah let's not lose sleep over kabengele. had the tools but looked like he had literally zero clue on the court.

Think he’s in a better situation for his style of play in Cleveland. Seems the fans like him and he’s working hard. Just not a fit here

[TheNewEra]

These guys need a lot more time playing together

[Clemenza]

Why does Portland have three longtime NBA veterans starting for their Summer League team? Do they know what Summer League is supposed to be for?

They're not really developing anybody. Also I'm hearing there might not be any spots for Americans in the Chinese league this season. Don't quote me on this though

[esqtvd]

no Justise no cheese

if ANYBODY needs the work it's him
couldn't even get off the bench for the Grizz in the playoffs

where the hell is he
shoulda been in Vegas before the ink was dry

[TheNewEra]

Game not going well at all

[esqtvd]

yeah let's not lose sleep over kabengele. had the tools but looked like he had literally zero clue on the court.

Think he’s in a better situation for his style of play in Cleveland. Seems the fans like him and he’s working hard. Just not a fit here

You have to know enough to know what you don't know but Fi doesn't even know how much he doesn't, you know?