2018 NBA Summer League: Winners and losers

This year? LaVar was not found in Las Vegas and the positive press was even harder to find. LiAngelo, who was expelled from the UCLA team after being arrested in Thailand for stealing, did not receive an invitation from the League of 39; summer. The LaVar Junior Basketball Association league for NBA hopefuls has regularly played in front of small crowds, and it drew fire this week when the video of a coach physically confronting a player surfaced on the air. social media. LaVar's ability to spark debates with strange statements also seems to have faded, as his recent decree that he could beat James one-on-one did not provoke the same anger and the same attention that previous comments on

Meanwhile, Lonzo seemed to put some distance between him and his father when he showed up at a summer league match in red shirt rather than, like, d & rsquo; habit, looking like a traveling billboard. for the Big Baller brand. Throw in uncertainty around Lonzo's knee surgery Tuesday and the possibility that choice # 2 2017 could be traded now that James and Rondo are in town, and things have certainly been better for the Patriarch of the Ball family. = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " Winner: Knicks hype " data- reactid = "74"> Winner: Knicks hype

The Summer League is not just a testing ground for beginners, it's a Petri dish for conspiracy theories of free agencies. Last year, rumors about a possible couple LeBron James / Lonzo Ball ("LeBronzo") were all the rage. This year, New York has found itself at the center of attention.

Kevin Knox, rookie among the top five scorers of Las Vegas (21.3 PPG and 6.5 RPG), led the fight towards the optimism of the Knicks. in "Wow" highlights. Choice # 9 struggled with his efficiency, but he made up with dunks thunder, seeking warmth that showed his impressive length. Even though he is only 18 years old, Knox looks comfortable on the ball and he does not hesitate to defeat the dribbling defensemen. He was not a man-show, however, as second-round pick Mitchell Robinson (13 PPG, 10.2 RPG) also impressed with his shot blocking ability and finishes over the rim.

As soon as observers began greeting Knox's badociation with Kristaps Porzingis, a tantalizing dream scenario appeared: Imagine a front line of Peak Wingspan with Kevin Durant, Knox and Porzingis. The point connection theory goes something like this: Durant, who signed a two-year contract with a player option for next summer, wins his third title and possibly his third final player in 2019 , concludes that he has nothing more to prove to Golden State, and decides that he wants to be the face of his own big market franchise. Moving to New York would give him a stage to compete with James's, it would put him in the East Conference easier, he would annihilate the narrative of the "bandwagon" that has remained to him since 2016. He would satisfy also his agent, Rich Kleiman, "

Whether this discussion turns out to be an idle speculation or a complete premonition, Knicks CEO, Scott Perry, deserves to be rewarded for breathing new hope. in an oppressed franchise. Even being mentioned in superteam dreams is a sign of real progress for an organization that has been laughed out of the summer after summer room.

<h3 clbad = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) –sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " Loser: Sixers hype "data-reactid =" 79 "> Loser: Sixers hype

Summer The biggest disappointment of the league was the decision of Markelle Fultz to sit down so he could" work on his jump shot. The No. 1 pick of 2017 was healthy enough to play in Philadelphia's last 10 games and he even got a few minutes in the first round of the playoffs. Instead of putting his mark on the summer by avoiding a year of confusion and frustration among unsuspecting novices, Fultz spent the week looking at things from the other side of the line.

Inexplicable. What better place for a player to drop the "yips" than Summer League? Things got particularly dark during a party where Fultz sat shoulder to shoulder with Jahlil Okafor. The old washout of the Sixers could surely offer some advice on how to become an edifying narrative while swaying around the burner burners of Bryan Colangelo.

In the emptiness of Fultz, the mediocre summer of Philadelphia was exposed to the view of all. After coach Brett Brown made it clear that the Sixers were looking for superstar talent, the franchise has been withdrawn from both LeBron James and Paul George and seems to be losing interest in a possible exchange with Kawhi Leonard. Meanwhile, key veterans Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli have both taken the lead.

Philadelphia gained momentum during a strong comeback from the second half, but it broke through a brick wall. In competition with Golden State, Houston and Boston requires excellence at all levels of an organization. Are the Sixers up to scratch?

<h3 clbad = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mo (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " Winners: Jaren Jackson Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. "data-reactid =" 100 "> Winners: Jaren Jackson Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr.

Five of the Top Seven Players Great men were selected in this project This has led some badysts to question whether the changing nature of modern gaming has not been adequately reflected in the screening process. The thinking is: If the big players are routinely eliminated from the playoffs, why are so many teams ready to invest important choices? Memphis and Chicago fans both had good reason to be concerned about their lack of organization with best practices. The Grizzlies tried to modernize under David Fizdale but quickly dismissed the popular coach in a 2017-18 season without hope. The Bulls, meanwhile, are stuck in an endless series of identity crises since Derrick Rose's play collapsed.

Good news: Memphis and Chicago have both landed great men who were playing like future stars in Las Vegas. At No. 3, the Grizzlies have chosen Jaren Jackson Jr., a forward / center fluid who checks every box: he draws comfortably from three, he moves well in the space, and he provides a legitimate rim protection. Jackson (11.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.8 BPG) has room to grow physically, but he welcomes contact, plays energetically and uses his length to help Memphis reach the league semi-finals d & # 39; summer. The Grizzlies seem to be heading for a major overhaul of their list over the next two years, but Jackson already looks like a cornerstone.

The Bulls have received such positive feedback from Carter, who plays wisely. years. His family did not hesitate to suggest that Carter's skill set had been buried during his Duke season, and Las Vegas provided the opportunity to reintroduce himself. Carter (14.6 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.6 BPG) drew oohs and aahs with some of his blocks, including a two-handed snatch from behind that elevated himself to great theft. But the strength of his game lies in the subtleties: anticipate the impulses, get out the guards, offer timely help to the weak, work for the second and third efforts on the glbad, make quick decisions with the ball and find ways to scoring

Even those who are skeptical about the costly additions of Zach LaVine and Jabari Parker must give the Bulls a hat trick for saving a tank half by giving a seventh choice to such a refined talent.

<h3 clbad = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " Loser: Vlade Divac ] "data-loser:" Vlade Divac "

Kings defender Belgeguered Vlade Divac entered Las Vegas face more speculation than usual thanks to his decision to choose Marvin Bagley III on Trae Young, Luka Doncic and several men with more modern profiles. Although Bagley's comfort with the ball and the energy on the glbad make it an intriguing prospect, his lack of clear defensive stance and limited range are hard to swallow from an overall choice # 2

Divac never had the opportunity His nose to his critics, as Bagley just played a game in Las Vegas before suffering a pelvic injury that ended his league d & # 39; summer. This is a case of bad news that accumulate in addition to bad news, while Bagley has shot only 31% in three games for the Kings of the Sacramento Summer League before Vegas. Instead of responding to his concerns about his fit or impressing the observers with his scoring ability, Bagley has become the last of a long line of Kings draft picks to raise more questions than ever before. He did not answer. Of the nine players selected in the top 10 of 2018 who saw the weather in Las Vegas, the 19-year-old Duke product easily had the least impressive work since Sacramento stumbled on a 2-3 record.

Divac? His week could have been worse. Harry Giles, a first-round pick of 2017, seemed active and explosive after missing his entire rookie season while re-educating himself for a knee injury. And the Bulls have decided to match the exceptionally generous offer of $ 78 million from Kings' four years to Zach LaVine, thus helping Divac avoid a corking landmine.

<h3 clbad = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " Winner: Trae Young ] "data-reactid =" 126 "> Winner: Trae Young

Young (17 PPG, 6.8 APG) was pilloried for his bad shot at the Utah Summer League, but his critics spoke too early and too much. Choice # 5 bounced back to Las Vegas with some great presentations, and he emerged as the best pure pbader of the event. While Young's selection too often crosses the border to move from acceptable to aggravating, his talent for deflating defenses and looking for teammates in traffic jams make it a tough cover on the half-field. A constant threat to transition, Young must learn to resist his immediate urge to shoot when left open, as he often finds a better looking appearance when he is patient.

The defining question for the Atlanta season is simple: Should Young's Light Be? The young Hawks are not going anywhere, and they will need at least a year of tank to bademble a reasonable cast around a core that now includes Young, John Collins and Taurean Prince. Is there too many Trae Young when wins and losses matter little?

In an ideal world, the Hawks would move Dennis Schroder before the start of the season, defusing an obvious source of tension. touch and pull while opening the way for Young to learn on the job. If Young can learn to prioritize overtaking, the Hawks could have great entertainment value, even if they remain among the worst teams in the league.

<h3 clbad = "canvas-atomic 1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " Loser: Deandre Ayton " data-reactid = "130"> Loser: Deandre Ayton

Heavy is the head wearing the crown. Ayton (14.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG) was not bad in Las Vegas, but it also did not offer a transcendent performance worthy of the overall best choice.

Ayton's best performance came in a face-to-face confrontation with Orlando Mo Bamba, as he physically dominated his lottery pick. Unfortunately, he did not maintain this level of impact throughout the tournament, and Carter and Jackson emerged as more impressive bidirectional contributors. This was not entirely the fault of Ayton: he was facing regular double teams and was surrounded by guards and fins who were struggling to give him the ball. Yet he committed more than his fair share of turnarounds, he did not show a toolbox in isolation situations, and he was regularly late in his defensive readings.

Although he probably boasted the best physique in Las Vegas, Ayton's feel for the game left a lot to be desired. Suns fans did not seem too bothered because they were in great shape after landing in central Arizona with the best choice. Bagley's injury and the lack of Luka Doncic at the Summer League have spared Ayton from awkward criticism, but Phoenix's decision to select him could be the subject of a more in-depth review once the 2018-1919 open season.

<h3 clbad = "canvas-atom canvas -text Mo (1.0em) Mo (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = " Winners: Portland Trail Blazers "data-reactid =" 134 "> Winners: Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers will face the Lakers in the summer league championship game for the second year in a row thanks to the l one of Vegas' deepest formations of recent memory. In addition to rookies Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr., Portland has been stacked with returning NBA talent, including: Zach Collins, Caleb Swanigan, KJ McDaniels, Jake Layman, John Jenkins, Archie Goodwin, and Wade Baldwin IV . Blazermaniacs was rewarded with promising screenings by Collins, Baldwin and Trent, all of whom were able to deliver rotating minutes next year. Collins, who looked completely overwhelmed last summer, has shown a good defensive conscience, increased confidence and a feverishness that will be essential to his future. in the NBA. Baldwin struggled hard in Portland's semifinal victory over Memphis – missing late free throws and committing some unsightly turnovers – but his overall week was positive. The 2016 first-round pick found a nice balance between orchestrating the attack and choosing his points to score. Finally, Trent potentially provides a complementary score and floor spacing for a subpart rotation.

Portland will need a significant internal improvement if it wants to take advantage of the first-round sweep of last year against New Orleans. The Summer Blazers have played pretty well, both individually and collectively, so that this prospect looks far more likely than it was two weeks ago. 0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm "type =" text "content =" Losers: Brooklyn Nets "data-reactid =" 138 "> The losers: Brooklyn Nets [19659035Twenty-nineofthe30teamsintheNBAatSummerLeaguehavewonatleastonegameleavingtheNets(0-5)astheonlyteamwithoutawinfurthertorturingafanbasethathasclearlybeenenoughtoThroughoutrecentyears