Summer League 5. GSW v DAL. EARLY 2:30pm START. Game thread and open thread.
Is Dereck Lively II the one that got away?
The master Summer League post index has links to all the game previews and reports, and the full Summer League schedule.
Update: Trayce Jackson-Davis will not play today. He is aiming for tomorrow.
A report in the Mercury News said:
Trayce Jackson-Davis is expecting to make his Warriors debut at Summer League for the team’s game on Thursday afternoon, the rookie told this news organization. He is expected to sit out Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks as a precaution, he said.
On Sunday he expected to play today or tomorrow:
“It was just a little nip in my hamstring, it was nothing too crazy,” Jackson-Davis told The Chronicle. “The team doctors and trainers have done a really good job, but we’re just trying to take it slowly. It’s summer league. Obviously we’re trying to win games, but at the same time we don’t want anything lingering. That’s the biggest emphasis.
“My right hamstring is honestly probably better than my left right now, just the impact of how much work they’ve done on it. … Hopefully I’ll be on the court soon.”
“I’m ready to go out there. I’m ready to start playing,” Jackson-Davis told The Chronicle. “But I’m also going to listen to what they say, and hopefully I’ll be cleared for Wednesday or Thursday.”
Schedule
Las Vegas Summer League
Fri Jul 7, 8:00pm, ESPN. GSW v LAL. Jalen Hood-Schifino (vs TJD, teammate reunion!), Maxwell Lewis
Sun Jul 9, 7:00pm, ESPN2. GSW v NOP. Jordan Hawkins
Wed Jul 12, 2:30pm, NBA TV. GSW v DAL. Oliver-Maxence Prosper, Dereck Lively II
Thu Jul 13, 4:00pm, ESPN. GSW v HOU. Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore
Jul 15 or 16 Bonus Game, TBA
Jul 17 6pm Championship possibly
Summer League Roster
Players to Watch
Mavericks
Dereck Lively II. 2023 #12 pick. The winner of our DNHQ Draft Tourney.
Oliver-Maxence Prosper. 2023 #24 pick. This guy rocketed up the draft charts at the last minute and had the honor of being the highest pick that wasn’t scouted at our Tourney.
Young Warriors
These guys are already on the GSW roster.
Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Not playing.
Brandin Podziemski. 2023 #19 pick. The most polarizing prospect in the draft. I look for him to have an accurate catch-and-shoot 3 ball, cut well off-ball, and to handle the ball in the pick and roll. He doesn’t have the burst to get by defenders off the dribble, but he’s very sly using screens and splitting defenders and he has outstanding court vision.
Trayce Jackson-Davis. 2023 #57 pick. Still awaiting his debut, delayed due to hamstring issue. So how did one of the best college basketball players this year almost go undrafted? His knock is being too old (23 yo) and too slow to be a wing and too short to guard centers. I’m expecting him to finish some lobs, have some nice weak-side help blocks and show some touch around the basket. Can he show he can guard the bulky bigs or strong fast wings?
Jacob Rubin is the head coach and is an Assistant Coach with GSW.
The Santa Cruz Guys
These guys were on the Santa Cruz Warriors last year, and are fighting for a two-way contract (or more).
Lester Quinones. Undrafted. 2022-23 Two Way contract with GSW. 2022-23 G League Most Improved Player and 2022-23 G-League All-Rookie Team. He has an all-around offensive game with decent shooting and driving. Got only a few garbage time minutes in 2022-23 and played like a caffeinated Jack Russell Terrier. Looking to see him play a settled and effective game.
Gui Santos. 2022 #55 pick. Local cult hero for his aggressive and charismatic play. 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. GSW owns his NBA rights.
Jayce Johnson. Hustling, bruising big guy.
The other guys
No Ceilings reviewed some of the other guys here. These guys are fighting for a spot in the G-League or maybe a two-way contract somewhere.
Exhibit-10 Contract:
-Javan Johnson, 6’6.25”, DePaul
-Kendric Davis, 5’11.5”, MemphisSummer League Deal:
-Yuri Collins, 6’0”, Saint Louis
-Gabe Kalscheur, 6’4.5”, Iowa State
-Adam Kunkel, 6’4”, XavierJavan Johnson ranked 95th on my final board. He’s got long arms and is a great shot-blocker for a wing with a career 3.0 BLK%. Johnson loves to contest and swat shots in the mid-range when guarding the ball. He also hit 41.2% of his threes on high volume this year while also showing off a mid-range scoring bag and some creative passing chops. He’s not great the rim, but there’s the framework of a 3-and-D, dribble-pass-shoot wing here.
Kendric Davis is a small guard who can score like few others, averaging 21.9 PPG this past season. He’s a sharp live dribble passer, an impressive skill for someone who didn’t play until high school. Davis received rave reviews for his work ethic and attitude in interviews with teams. He’ll need to continue to blend his playmaking for other with his shot-making and find a way to stick as a small guard in a big, unforgiving league.
Yuri Collins faces a similar predicament, but he’s far and away a more pass-first player. He averaged 10.1 APG to 3.6 TOV, getting into the paint time and time again before rewarding his open teammates. A 32.9% career three-point shooter on low volume, he desperately needs to be less tentative and more effective from distance.
Gabe Kalschuer had a strange career, hitting 37.1% of his threes as a freshman and sophomore before a two-year cold streak (23.9% from three). As a graduate, he got his shot going again (35.4% on 6.2/game). During his “off years,” he still stayed on the court due to his powerful frame and defensive tenacity. If the shot can stick, he has a chance.
Adam Kunkel scored 16.5 PPG during a breakout sophomore year at Belmont. He transferred up to Xavier, and it wasn’t until his graduate year that he truly found his form again. He hit 42.5% of his threes last season, with many coming off movement. There’s a chance for him to grab a specialist role.
Not too worried about Podz and his lack of right hand and that random ending floater so long as he puts his work in at the lab. Pick and roll Perry opened my eyes and could have scored even more had his teammates found him.
Given how we like to decide if draft picks are good or bad based on their summer league performance a couple weeks after being drafted, it made me think of a fun (but totally unrealistic) summer league/draft re-work.
- Summer league is only draft-eligible guys, and occurs BEFORE the draft
- the league will consist of 6 teams, headed by NBA coaches who volunteer/are selecting to participate
- coaches will take turns drafting out their full team from those eligible
- teams will play each other round-robin style (5 games), and and then a championship game between the top 2
- after conclusion of the league, then the regular draft occurs with our infinitely superior knowledge of how guys did in that environment
It ain't happening (most importantly because it doesn't make sense to risk injury right before the draft), but wouldn't that be entertaining?? Better than the in-season tournament for sure. And thn for all of us who don't watch college ball, we could watch a few games and pretend like we gained valuable insight and curse the GM even more when they don't pick who we liked.