Summer League 6. Golden State at Cleveland, 7:00 PM Pacific; plus US Men's Exhibition vs Serbia 9:00 AM Pacific on FS1
Summer league star Mr. Plowden signed by GSW. TJD and Podz will NOT play. No word on Post or Beekman.
The master Summer League post index has links to all the game previews and reports, and the full Summer League schedule.
Daeqwon Plowden signs two-way contract with GSW
Woj:
Free agent G Daeqwon Plowden has agreed on a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors, his agent Drew Kelso tells ESPN. Plowden has been one of the stories of summer league — averaging 16.6 points on 54 percent shooting and 48 percent on three-pointers.
Apricot says:
This does put GSW in a bind. There are only three two-way contracts allowed at a time. Reece Beekman already signed one on Draft Night. Pat Spencer signed a two-year two-way last year. That makes three, but without accounting for 2024 #52 draft pick Quinten Post.
So one of them will have to have their two-way contract waived, since there is not currently enough space under the first-apron level salary hard cap to give one of them an NBA contract.
I do think Spencer is likely the odd man out simply because he is the least likely to be offered a two-way by another team, so GSW has a chance of stashing him in the G-League again. He is a fun player and a fun story, but he’s not yet for sure at an NBA level and at 28 is at an age where prospects don’t tend to make leaps.
I had previously speculated about some kind of draft night assurances to Beekman since he likely had multiple suitors. I repeat: there is no actual reporting of any guarantees to Beekman. However, Beekman is 22, won multiple awards in college and has excellent analytics (even if people like me are prejudiced against his sub 6-2 height and questionable shooting).
Quinten Post is exactly the Stretch 5 archetype GSW could use, so it would be weird to give up on him so soon. Add in the sunk cost fallacy of using a 2nd round pick on him, for which GSW paid some multiple millions of dollars. That is illogical but real psychologically.
Apricot’s Game 4 Live Comments
I try to keep the write-ups updated every post.
Olympics basketball starts around Jul 27, so there is plenty of time for Gui Santos to play GSW SL. However, BRA may play exhibition matches like USA MBB is doing, so I don’t really know whether Gui is playing SL or not. He’s on the official roster.
I assume and hope someone will ask Coach Vereen about Gui at the pre-game press availability….
Don’t worry, you won’t have to watch… I’m sure everyone will post an overreaction the minute Gui or Quinten plays.
[[ #Warriors' Trayce Jackson-Davis spoke to @Sportskeeda on: US Select Team, training w/ Brandin Podziemski, Draymond's defensive advice, Klay's departure, dunk on Wemby/block on Jaylen Brown & why he's "very comfortable" with a bigger role next season. ]]
Good interview, but the site does have the vibe that you are catching a new virus with every paragraph
At Coach Vereen’s availability yesterday, he sounded like both Post and Beekman would NOT play today, due to Ramping Up™
Hey Quinndary Weatherspoon! Back in the G-League with PHX after playing in China.
TJD is working on his defensive communication. He navigated that play nicely where Quinndary set a back screen on him to force a switch and then on a handoff, TJD scram switched with another defender to avoid being ISOed.
[Is his communication bad?] Hard to tell as a fan, but he, Podz and others have said the vocal communication is what he’s working on and that it’s already better…
Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro looking good on defense as advertised, a rough matchup for Collins and Podz at point. Ryan and Oso looking really rough on offense, also as advertised.
Gorgeous semi-no-look pass from Podz to baseline backdoor cutter
I’m not sure this is a hot take, but I don’t think people should take charges or play zone in Summer League.
I imagine some team will offer Plowden a two way, so I think it would have to be a GSW offering him a two way. But Post and Beekman will have two ways. I assume that Pat Spencer is holding on to his, but I don’t have confirmation. In any case, it is easy for a team to waive a two way, so it is possible Plowden is playing his way into Spencer or Beekman’s two way.
[Can Post have a roster spot to free up a two-way for Plowden?] I don’t see how that can happen unless there is a trade, as GSW has 14 players without Post and they are about 700k under the hard cap first apron level, so they can’t offer a full season minimum.
Yuri has looked bad, but to be fair, he is trying to take Ryan Dunn off the dribble, who I must emphasize is considered the best defender of this draft class.
Yuri has been on SCW and played okay. He’s short so I don’t consider him a serious candidate to make the NBA. (Officially 6-0.)
I know summer league wins don’t mean anything and people are just working on their game, but it is WAY more fun to watch SL when the team is playing well.
Apricot’s Game 5 Live Comments
Beekman was held out after Game 2, possibly because of minor injury and that he played a back to back. Pat Spencer had some minor injury in Game 1 and he's been held out. Post is Ramping Up™ Bolden, I have seen no updates on his injury.
The interviews where they shrink the screen are idiotic. I don't see how that appeals to casuals, and hardcore fans will be annoyed Doris and Mark mostly took it seriously, but yes it was horrible the way they were rooting for the game to end for the last five minutes of game time.
On the two-ways, I imagine they have to give Post a two-way since that was likely the agreement at draft time. I am guessing they may have given Beekman a quiet guarantee of a two-way since he probably had multiple suitors. But that is just a guess. Spencer is 28 and played most of two seasons in the G-League without anyone else picking him up on a two-way or ten-day. So he seems the most likely to be replaced if GSW wants to clear a spot for Plowden.
I think Beekman probably had multiple suitors for his two-way, so I am guessing (GUESS) that GSW will keep him, as it would be a very bad look with agents for GSW to dump him from his two-way after he chose them, after two summer league games.
[Will the two-ways get any minutes?] Maybe not, but Ty Jerome and Anthony Lamb played a lot of minutes as two-ways. So Kerr's not afraid to use two-ways...
[On Quinones getting his two-way pulled] Aha, I forgot that happened. We’ll see, I’m only guessing. However, my vague memory is feeling like they informally signed Quinones a few days after the draft (as opposed to Beekman being informally signed right after the draft). To me this suggests a different level of competition to sign Beekman. With Lester, I remember thinking (perhaps unfairly) he was signed because he was friends with Wiseman from Memphis.
[belilaugh found a tweet indicating it was the same as Beekman]
Plowden is working hard on the offensive boards. I think trying to show off nonscoring dimensions of his game
Sorkin getting some extra time due to Bolden's injury. But CHI is going right at him, not respecting his rim protection.
Really glad that Podz is hitting his open threes.
[Plowden] My heart says he's fun to watch. My brain says that Plowden had two years in the G-League for every team in the league to scout, and he still hasn't gotten a two-way contract. So he still has something to prove.
Coach Vereen throwing down the challenge to keep his star Podz happy
Interesting play Q2.6.57. PNR coverage confused. Sorkin switched to Buzelis, Scott stayed with Buzelis, so the screener had a clean roll to the basket. Podz huddles together with them right after to straighten it out.
Q2.6.30. Buzelis goes back to attacking Sorkin-Scott in PNR. Scott seems to be getting ready to fight over the screen and Buzelis ball fakes, rejects screen, floats over the heady rotation from Podz.
The main post describes Post's situation with injury. He will sign a two way unless there is a trade and they need his rookie minimum to sign.
Yes I think it's time to shut [Podz and TJD] down. Beekman and Post should be ready soon (they've been practicing) so they can take over PG/C.
Podz with speed turns that break into a 2-on-1 and he saw Plowden all the way. Plowden is very good at cutting off ball. He's got memorable baseline cuts, 45 degree cuts weak side, and of course that sky high tip dunk. I wonder if he's been dinged in past stops as someone who doesn't create shots well.
Podz, in true Steph disciple fashion, is now going for highlight passes to set up other guys, while Trayce is engaged in hand to hand combat with the bruising big man Sanogo.
Schedule
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
#10 Donta Scott joining the team in Las Vegas.
Players to Watch
Who plays Summer League?
So as a loose guideline, of the NBA roster players, you definitely see rookies and usually 1st year players who didn’t get that much playing time (JK and MM played after Y1, so did Keegan Murray), but not usually players after that.
I believe anyone can play SL, so GSW could send out the entire actual GSW team. But the team and player have to balance messing up summer rest, special events like Olympics, injury risk versus a chance to see players possibly get extended run, possibly in roles they don’t get to play in normal situations.
For instance, Kuminga and Moody are too established as NBA players to be selected or agree to play Summer League. As far as I know, there is not a literal age limit.
Also, Wembanyama probably wouldn’t play Summer League even if he weren’t already occupied with the France Olympics MBB.
The rest of the SL teams are made of players wanting to be noticed by NBA teams and get signed to a G-League team or perhaps even a two-way contract. These are usually undrafted free agents, both right out of college and experienced non-NBA pros (overseas or G-League). A small number are free agents like Kevin Knox who were drafted but fell out of the league and are trying to make a comeback.
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.
Game 5 was the last game for Podziemski and Jackson-Davis.
Trayce Jackson-Davis. 2023 #57 pick.
I assume he won’t play much. See Podziemski notes above.
In interviews, people say Trayce is working on more vocal defensive communication, which we’ve heard in different Mic’d Up segments.
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.
(2024-07-13) Olympics basketball starts around Jul 27, so there is plenty of time for Gui to play GSW SL. However, BRA may play exhibition matches like USA MBB is doing, so I don’t really know whether Gui is playing SL or not. He’s on the official roster.
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
I expect Quinten Post to play in the Las Vegas Summer League games, possibly as early as the first weekend. I suspect GSW will play Trayce Jackson-Davis for two of the first three games and play and start Post for the rest. This would (1) not overdo it for TJD, (2) give Bolden and Sorkin a little more playing time, (3) not rush Post into action.
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.They are too established as NBA players to be selected or agree to play 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: #10 Donta Scott is replacing former No. 9 overall pick Kevin Knox on the Warriors' summer league team, the team announces. Knox out with a strained calf. Update update: Knox is playing, Scott stays on the team.
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.
Had to be walked off the court in Game 4 with a non-contact lower leg injury. Hoping that he recovers quickly.
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 seems to not have slowed him down.
He had a bunch of highlight plays in Game 4 that had announcers Doris Burke and Mark Jones fawning over him.
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.
Cavaliers
Jaylon Tyson, Cal. 2024 #20.
Emoni Bates, Eastern Michigan. 2023, #49. Once considered the top recruit of his class, his reputation took a nosedive in a shaky two years in college. He’s had a handful of games with CLE, but he’s mostly trying to work his way out of the G-League.
Olympics
USA Olympic Men’s Basketball Info
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. PACIFIC. Serbia; Lille, France
July 31, 12 p.m. South Sudan; Lille, France
Aug 3, 8:15 a.m. Puerto Rico; 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)Derrick White (Celtics)
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
In total, the U.S. will take 12 NBA All-Stars, four NBA MVPs and six NBA champions to Paris.
Don't know how to describe what you are doing for this site, this Summer, ERIC; ''PROLIFIC'' and ''COMPREHENSIVE'' do not do it justice. THANK YOU.
Preseason stats (per 36 min)
Podz 21.8 pts on .683 TS / 11.2 reb / 7.6 ast
TJD 18.7 pts on .726 TS / 11.8 reb / 3.5 ast
Plowden 23.8 pts on .679 TS / 5.8 reb / 1.9 ast