NBA Summer League July 10th-20th:

[Winter]

Didn’t watch much of summer league but did see highlights of the Bulls Yuki.  He was signed a as a two way.  Only 5’8 and tiny but boy is he exciting.  Had several out of your seat types of passes.  Really fun player and an easy guy to root for.  Was he in a Mavs summer league roster or G league in the past?

He's fun. Every game he has some highlight no-look bullet pass that you have to go back and watch on replay.

[Chicagojk]

Just summer league, but I would love Knueppel as a guard next to Cooper. Charlote may be a wasteland, but I really like him. Probably not the highest upside at 3, but he is going to be good. How good? TBD.

[SleepingHero]

Ignoring whatever substack wrote that because it's pretty hilarious to write off CF's summer league and simultaneously prop up Murray-Boyles as if he had remotely similar defensive pressure or coverage. Hilarious actually.

But a guy that has really popped off the page for me this summer league has been Charlotte's PJ Hall. He was a 2-way with Denver before being waived. He's still a FA and has 2-way eligibility. He looks to be an uber athletic do-everything 4. I'd be pretty happy if he got the last 2-way slot.

[SleepingHero]

Just summer league, but I would love Knueppel as a guard next to Cooper.  Charlote may be a wasteland, but I really like him.    Probably not the highest upside at 3, but he is going to be good.  How good?  TBD.

Kon was the guy I wanted before the Mavs won the lotto. Him next to Coop would be a perfect addition. It does make a bit excited to say that he modeled his game after Klay Thompson.

Now I'm imagining how good Klay will look next to Cooper.

[F Gump]

Ignoring whatever substack wrote that because it's pretty hilarious to write off CF's summer league and simultaneously prop up Murray-Boyles as if he had remotely similar defensive pressure or coverage. Hilarious actually.

But a guy that has really popped off the page for me this summer league has been Charlotte's PJ Hall. He was a 2-way with Denver before being waived. He's still a FA and has 2-way eligibility. He looks to be an uber athletic do-everything 4. I'd be pretty happy if he got the last 2-way slot.

I have no idea if what follows is applicable to the guy you name (who I don't know or have an opinion on) -- but I'm sharing an observation about SL play that can be helpful in assessing these random players who we think stood out there.

The idea I heard relayed from some NBA scouts/insiders is that if a player has played in the NBA a couple years, even if only as a 2-way, they should really stand out and be wayyyyyyyy ahead in SL. And conversely, if a guy is really standing out in SL, but he has had that experience, then what we saw in SL may not really be indicating any specialness after all, and look more closely, as he's only doing what you should consider to be ordinary.

[Chicagojk]

He's fun. Every game he has some highlight no-look bullet pass that you have to go back and watch on replay.

This isn’t a knock but when I watched highlights of Nembhard I was expecting to see these type of assists.  Instead you see a guy who didn’t hold the ball a ton and just made pretty simple passes, while limiting turnovers.  

For Yuki, it is probably going to be real tough for him to stick long in the nba.  He has played some already though.  He is just so small.  I am going to root for him.  I love stories like him.  I also like the Yang story too from Portland.

[Chicagojk]

Ignoring whatever substack wrote that because it's pretty hilarious to write off CF's summer league and simultaneously prop up Murray-Boyles as if he had remotely similar defensive pressure or coverage. Hilarious actually.

But a guy that has really popped off the page for me this summer league has been Charlotte's PJ Hall. He was a 2-way with Denver before being waived. He's still a FA and has 2-way eligibility. He looks to be an uber athletic do-everything 4. I'd be pretty happy if he got the last 2-way slot.

Sort of liked him in college too.  Mavs have a type of these types of long shot centers.  I would prefer guys like Hall than who they typically target.  But they are hoping to strike lightning in a bottle with guys who have height and athleticism but haven’t been very productive in college.

[Winter]

Yang's play had made that Portland GM look a lot better than he did on draft night.

[Chicagojk]

Yang's play had made that Portland GM look a lot better than he did on draft night.

I have no idea what type of NBA player he is.   He moves pretty well though and looks so natural dribbling the ball.    Pretty impressive for a big guy.  Portland fans are aready all in.   Sort of funny when you visit other teams boards.   I am pretty sure I am the same way with the Mavs though.

[Chicagojk]

Ignoring whatever substack wrote that because it's pretty hilarious to write off CF's summer league and simultaneously prop up Murray-Boyles as if he had remotely similar defensive pressure or coverage. Hilarious actually.

But a guy that has really popped off the page for me this summer league has been Charlotte's PJ Hall. He was a 2-way with Denver before being waived. He's still a FA and has 2-way eligibility. He looks to be an uber athletic do-everything 4. I'd be pretty happy if he got the last 2-way slot.

Memphis signed pj hall to a two way.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Ignoring whatever substack wrote that because it's pretty hilarious to write off CF's summer league and simultaneously prop up Murray-Boyles as if he had remotely similar defensive pressure or coverage. Hilarious actually.

But a guy that has really popped off the page for me this summer league has been Charlotte's PJ Hall. He was a 2-way with Denver before being waived. He's still a FA and has 2-way eligibility. He looks to be an uber athletic do-everything 4. I'd be pretty happy if he got the last 2-way slot.

PJ signed a two-way deal with Memphis today.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I have no idea what type of NBA player he is.   He moves pretty well though and looks so natural dribbling the ball.    Pretty impressive for a big guy.  Portland fans are aready all in.   Sort of funny when you visit other teams boards.   I am pretty sure I am the same way with the Mavs though.

You are.  

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Don't shoot the messenger. I found that Substack article on HoopsHype.com. Everybody has an opinion I guess.

[SleepingHero]

Memphis signed pj hall to a two way.

That is mildly depressing. On the one hand, I am slightly vindicated that I may just have a little tiny eeny meny miny amount of talent recognition that NBA scouts also possess (except mine is consistently worse).

On the other, we're talking about 16th-18th men here, so in the grand scheme of things, this doesn't even matter. I mean how many of us remember Ricky Ledo? Kyle Collinsworth? Jonathan Motley? 


How about Daryl Macon (had to look this dude up LOL. Completely forgot about him!)

Point is, odds are PJ Hall will be forgotten to time so I don't really have anything to boast about........not that you suggested as such. 


I am in a post work stupor rambling here... But he did look mildly impressive in Summer League. I think FGump did raise a good point. Some of these Summer League Vets should absolutely "wow" to show they've improved. They've been around the block a couple of times which should weigh how we view their performances overall.

[Winter]

Many many years ago, I went to a summer league game. It just so happened that it would be Josh Howard's second summer league season. I remember watching it and thinking, "Why is this guy in summer league?" He looked so much better than everyone else that is was if he were playing against kids in grade school. In fact, I remember thinking to myself while watching him that the look on his face suggested he was pissed off just being there.

I exaggerate of course, but maybe that's what coaches really want to see.

[Chicagojk]

Many many years ago, I went to a summer league game. It just so happened that it would be Josh Howard's second summer league season. I remember watching it and thinking, "Why is this guy in summer league?" He looked so much better than everyone else that is was if he were playing against kids in grade school. In fact, I remember thinking to myself while watching him that the look on his face suggested he was pissed off just being there.

I exaggerate of course, but maybe that's what coaches really want to see.

What an interesting career he had. Some brilliant, some frustration.  Some very highs (all star?) and then disappeared pretty quick from being a good player to done it feels.  

Top 5 draft pick in the Cuban era? I would love to find another player like him late in the first round sgain. Sneaky good draft day by Donnie. Josh Howard and a good undrafted guy (can’t remember his name). I just wish the Mavs always gave away picks.

[david75090]

What an interesting career he had. Some brilliant, some frustration.  Some very highs (all star?) and then disappeared pretty quick from being a good player to done it feels.  

Top 5 draft pick in the Cuban era? I would love to find another player like him late in the first round sgain. Sneaky good draft day by Donnie.  Josh Howard and a good undrafted guy (can’t remember his name).  I just wish the Mavs always gave away picks.

Marquis Daniels. He and Josh were rookies together in an era when Nellie, allegedly,  wouldn't play rookies. It was always my contention that Nellie would play rookies who could play, otherwise, he wouldn't. Always thought Nellie had a dividing line. Can play / can't play. He was fairly stubborn about it. When someone's favorite rookie wasn't getting playing time, they'd break out the, "Nellie doesn't play rookies" saw. It was never strictly true.