Summer League 3. Warriors vs. Kings, 7pm Pacific; Podz and TJD plan to play; also 2024 USA Olympic Men's Basketball exhibition v Canada, 7:30pm
So many things to hastily judge
The master Summer League post index has links to all the game previews and reports, and the full Summer League schedule.
To catch up on the story so far, check out:
This post includes:
Schedule
Rosters
Players to Watch thumbnails
Basic information about the USA Olympic MBB team.
I won’t be able to watch either game, so please post all the highlights and overreactions in the comments.
Schedule
California Classic Summer League, July 6-7 & 9
Saturday, July 6
Kings vs. Lakers | 1:30 p.m.
Warriors vs. Heat | 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 7
Kings vs. Heat | 1:30 p.m.
Warriors vs. Lakers | 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 10
Battle of NorCal: Warriors vs. Kings | 7 p.m.
Note: also USA vs Canada MBB, friendly game
Las Vegas Summer League, July 12-22
Sat 7/13/24. Phoenix at Golden State, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM, ESPN2
Sun 7/14/24. Chicago at Golden State, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM, ESPN2
Wed 7/17/24. Golden State at Cleveland, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM, NBA TV
Fri 7/19/24. Golden State at Oklahoma City, 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM, NBA TV
Summer League Roster
Warriors
Kings
Players to Watch
Current Warriors
These guys are already on the GSW roster.
Brandin Podziemski. 2023 #19 pick. Says he wants to play to practice being an on-ball point guard. I assume he won’t play much.
Johnson: Brandin Podziemski says "scoring the ball more" and defense has been his main offseason focus. Steve Kerr has encouraged him to shoot more 3s.
Podziemski and Jackson-Davis are part of USA Select who are scrimmaging the USA Olympic Men’s Basketball team, so they will be away Jul 5 - 8. Podz plans to play in the Jul 10 CA Classic and at least two games in Las Vegas. I assume TJD has the same schedule.
Trayce Jackson-Davis. 2023 #57 pick.
I assume he won’t play much. See Podziemski notes above.
Gui Santos. 2022 #55 pick.
Local cult hero for his aggressive, wild, and charismatic play with the Warriors. He was under contract in Brazil for multiple years, but came over to play on the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G-League, and made it to the All-Star Weekend G-League Next Up Game.
He might get some run. Staff may want to see if Gui can dominate Summer League.
However, Gui is with the Brazilian Olympic team during the CA Classic dates so if he plays, it will probably be in Las Vegas.
Quinten Post. 2024 #52 pick.
Johnson: Quinten Post has a minor left leg injury he’s getting over from a pre-draft workout. Post doesn’t know if he’ll be able to play in the California Classic but “really hopes” to play in the Las Vegas Summer League
Quinten Post is the most accomplished Stretch 5 in the second round of the Draft. The offense at Boston College often ran through Post at the high or low post with numerous off-ball cutters, so I think Post would fit in quickly in the Kerrball system. He also is a legit 7-0 in socks who was #2 in blocks in the ACC so there is rim protection there. Did I mention he shot a stunning 43.1% and 42.6% 3P in his last two years? That’s over 170 3PA. His career FT% is 80.1%, so that shooting looks real.
The big question is whether he’s athletic enough to stay on the court. Let’s see if he can hang with the highly athletic (if disorganized) players of Summer League.
Reece Beekman. Undrafted in 2024, joined on a two-way.
I rather dismissively called him too small in the DNHQ Draft Tourney Group C. But he’s definitely worth a shot to see if he can play bigger than his size. At least in college, his wingspan allowed him to be a plus defender (ACC Defensive Player of the Year, TWICE). The dream would be that he develops into a point of attack defender like GP2 but healthy and someone who can really run an offense well.
Pat Spencer. May be auditioning to keep his two-way contract with GSW or at least catch on with another team.
Lindy Waters III. Traded from OKC for 2024 #52 pick. New, but as he’s already a three-year NBA pro, MDJ says he WON’T play Summer League.
Usman Garuba.
There were reports that Garuba was headed back to Real Madrid, but Garuba said he hadn’t decided. As of Jul 4, he still had not signed with anyone yet, hoping to get back to the NBA.
GSW had an extended look at Garuba in the G-League and also had him on a minimum at the end of the season, and did not give him much playing time.
I haven’t found a direct confirmation, but we can infer that GSW did not extend a qualifying offer and Garuba is now an unrestricted free agent.
He is definitely not playing on the GSW Summer League teams. In fact he’s currently playing for the Spain Olympic team.
Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Too old for summer league.
Anthony Vereen is an Assistant Coach with GSW and he is serving as SL head coach.
The Santa Cruz Guys
These guys were on the Santa Cruz Warriors last year, and are fighting for a two-way contract (or more).
Yuri Collins. 6-0 but he can play. Pass-first with 5+ assists per game, shoots 39.7% 3P. (G-League stats)
Did not play Game 1, due to Coach Vereen wanting to alternate players between games, to give each one more run in each game
Jackson Rowe. 6-7 wing who shoots 6+ 3PA per game and hit 35.6% of them. (G-League stats)
Jimmy Whitt. I admit I know little about Jimmy. Only played 22 of the 31 games.
The other guys
Mantas Rubstavicius, NZ Breakers
6'6 G/F, 43% 3P, 81% FT in NBL, really fast in transition, super quick release from deep, high arching shot. - OriiBeruu
Had pre-draft workout with GSW.
Did not play Game 1, due to Coach Vereen wanting to alternate players between games, to give each one more run in each game
Game 2, he looked pretty spry, showed off 2-5 shooting from three.
Allen Flanigan, Ole Missreportedly not with the team anymore, no reason given.
Santiago Vescovi, Tennessee
I don’t know why this guy became a site cult favorite, but he has no chance of getting a two-way with GSW. He might work himself onto a G-League team, or if he goes crazy, maybe a two-way with another team.
Played for U Tennessee. Undrafted in 2024
A bit more about Tennessee records he set:
Vescovi started the most games in Vols history with 144, but that isn't the only record he set. He also is the program-record holder with 212 steals. He's the lone player in program history to record more than 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals.
He ranks No. 2 with made 3-pointers with 325. He is one of two players to make more than 100 3-pointers in season after making 102 as a junior in the 2021-22 season.
The 6-foot-3 guard is eighth in assists with 453 and 10th in 3-point percentage with 37.2%..
Had pre-draft workout with GSW.
Kevin Knox II, Rip City Remix
2018 #9 pick by NYK. It never worked out for him, and he’s bounced around four teams in six years playing 306 games. He’s still grinding. I hope things come together for him.
Update:Donta Scottis replacing former No. 9 overall pick Kevin Knox on the Warriors' summer league team, the team announces. Knox out with a strained calf.Knox is playing after all in Game 2. He says the coaches helped him with the injury.
In Game 2, he brought a truly chaotic presence, with some awkward flailing (JaVale-like) plays, gasp-inducingly horrible shot selection, mixed in with some productive moves. It was, frankly, electrifying.
Marques Bolden, Charlotte Hornets
Played in 18 NBA games across 5 years, played in the G-League. Grinding, trying to make his dream com true.
Played really solid ball and outclassed first round pick Kel’el Ware in Game 1.
Daeqwon Plowden, Osceola Magic
Played for Bowling Green University. Undrafted in 2022
Now he’s 25 years old, he’s bounced around the G-League, most recently for ORL.
He was on fire in Game 1 and maybe will get some more attention. He had a nasty knee bump that has unknown effect on his availability. I would guess he’ll sit Game 2.
Ethan Thompson, Osos de Manatí
Scorching hot shooting in Game 1. Steady scoring in Game 2 and got a double double. 22 PTS, 11 REB. Not bad at all for a 6-5 guard.
Played for Oregon State. Undrafted in 2021.
Now he’s 25 years old. He’s played G-League for CHI and Capitanes de Ciudad de México and now plays in the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation.
Roman Sorkin, Maccabi Tel Aviv
OriiBeruu: 16/6 in 23mpg in Maccabi, 41% 3P, 6'10 PF/C, 3&D center
Beefy, banged under the basket, three not dropping: 0-3 Game 1, 0-2 Game 2.
Christian Terrell, Lahti Basketball*. 27 y.o.
Played for UC Santa Barbara, then Sacramento State.
Undrafted in 2021, he played in the G-League for SAC. Now playing in Finland.
Only playing in the CA Classic.
Kings
(Golden 1 Center Squad)
For Games 1 and 2, SAC saved all the most interesting prospects for the home crowd. These guys WILL play against the GSW Summer League team on Wednesday.
Keon Ellis, sparkling undrafted find by SAC, played most of last year on the pro team. Too good to be playing in Summer League.
Mason Jones, 3 year NBA/G-League vet journeyman.
Devin Carter, Providence. 2024 #13.
Isaiah Crawford, Louisiana Tech. 2024 undrafted, two way contract. Scouted at our Draft Tourney.
Isaac Jones, Washington State. Scouted at our Draft Tourney.
(Chase Center Squad)
Jordan Ford, undrafted, played college locally at St. Mary’s College of California. 6 games with SAC last season, time in the G-League.
Fardaws Aimaq, played college locally at Cal.
USA Olympic Men’s Basketball
The USA Men’s Basketball team will compete in the Paris Olympics this summer with a roster featuring some of the NBA’s biggest stars.
Exhibition games begin July 10 and Olympic action tips off July 27.
See below to find out when Team USA is scheduled to play during the Paris Olympics, the dates for their exhibition games in Las Vegas and the players on the U.S. roster.
Team USA exhibition schedule
Training camp for Team USA will be held in Las Vegas before exhibition matchups against Canada, Australia, Serbia, South Sudan and Germany. Here’s the full exhibition schedule for Team USA:
July 10 7:30 p.m PACIFIC. Canada, Las Vegas, NV; FS1
July 15 9 a.m. Australia, Abu Dhabi, UAE; FS1
July 17 9 a.m. Serbia, Abu Dhabi, UAE; FS1
July 20 12 p.m. South Sudan, London, UK; FOX
July 22 12 p.m. Germany, London, UK; FOX
Paris Olympics schedule
The men’s basketball action tips off on July 27 — one day after the Opening Ceremony in Paris — with 12 countries competing in the initial Group Phase.
Team USA will play in Group C against Serbia, South Sudan, and the winner of the Puerto Rico Qualifying Tournament. The top two finishers in each Group, plus the two best third-place teams, advance to the Final Phase – a single-elimination, eight-team tournament to determine gold, silver and bronze medals.
Group Phase games will be played at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France. The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be played at Bercy Arena in Paris.
July 28, 8:15 a.m. EASTERN. Serbia; Lille, France
July 31, 12 p.m. South Sudan; Lille, France
Aug 3, 8:15 a.m. Winner of PR Tournament; Lille, France
The full schedule for the men’s basketball 5-on-5 tournament can be found here.
USA Olympic roster
The USA men’s basketball roster features 12 NBA players and a combined 10 Olympic gold medals. Kevin Durant is a three-time gold medalist, LeBron James is Team USA’s all-time leading scorer (plus two-time gold medalist), and Bam Adebayo (2020), Devin Booker (2020), Anthony Davis (2012), Jrue Holiday (2020) and Jayson Tatum (2020) are each gold medal winners.
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers)
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
In total, the U.S. will take 12 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs and six NBA champions to Paris.
Awesome. Thank you! ❤️
I hate B/R articles, but this one had me thinking “there goes our size issue” while also keeping Podz and TJD? I’m all about it:
Trade idea: Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Moses Moody, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 2nd round pick, a 2028 second-round pick (via ATL) and a 2031 first-round pick swap to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler
The Warriors have a deep roster, just like they had a deep roster this past season. If they're going to dabble in the trade market, they need to bring back a difference-maker.
This would nearly deplete the Dubs' asset collection, but you could argue a player of Markkanen's caliber is worth such a splurge. He'd be the most skilled costar Stephen Curry has had since Kevin Durant skipped town, as Markkanen is a scoring 7-footer with a fiery outside shot, a plethora of post moves to punish switches and enough defensive utility to be a positive presence on both ends.
If Golden State still wasn't fully convinced Markkanen is worth the sacrifice of Kuminga, adding Kessler to the exchange might get a handshake done. A team that struggled with a lack of size and force around the basket could see real value in adding a 22-year-old 7-footer with an even 69.0 career field-goal percentage and per-36-minute average of 3.7 blocks.