Pioneers

NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; Zakai Zeigler scored 12 points, including a key 3 late in the second half as No. 7 Tennessee held off No. 13 Maryland 56-53 Sunday in a Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational matchup.
Tennessee (9-1) led by as many as 18 points in the first half before Maryland pulled within two points in the final minutes.
Tyreke Key scored nine points and Julian Phillips had six points and 10 rebounds for the Volunteers. Tennessee began the game allowing just 51.2 points per game, third fewest in the nation.
Jahmir Young scored 18 points while Hakim Hart and Donta Scott had nine apiece for Maryland (8-2), which has lost two straight.
Down by 16 in the second half, Maryland unveiled a full-court press and forced three turnovers during a 12-0 run.
NO. 20 IOWA STATE 77, MCNEESE STATE 40
AMES, Iowa (AP) &mdash; Aljaz Kunc scored 21 points and Iowa State broke away in the second half to beat McNeese State.
Jaren Holmes added 17 points for the Cyclones (8-2) and Gabe Kalscheur scored 15.
Ahead 33-24 at the break, Iowa State scored the first 15 points of the second half. McNeese (2-7) committed 10 turnovers in the first eight minutes of the period, leading to 13 points for the Cyclones.
Zach Scott and Trae English each scored eight points for McNeese, which finished with 30 turnovers.
NO. 23 MISSISSIPPI STATE 69, MINNESOTA 51
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; Tolu Smith scored 20 points to lead a balanced offense that complemented Mississippi State&rsquo;s smothering defense in a victory over Minnesota to say undefeated.
Mississippi State (9-0) is one of seven Division I programs still unbeaten.
The Bulldogs held the Gophers (4-6) to 28.8% shooting and a season-low in points.
Shakeel Moore scored 17 points for the Bulldogs, while Cameron Matthews added 11 and D.J. Jeffries scored 10.
Sophomore Dawson Garcia led Minnesota with 20 points and Joshua Ola-Joseph added 9.&nbsp;

A recap of Sunday's men's college basketball slate includes a tough battle between two top-15 teams.

No. 7 Tennessee holds off No. 13 Maryland 56-53

NBA and FIBA&rsquo;s Global Basketball Development and Community Outreach Program will be Held Aug. 7-10 in Canberra in Partnership with Basketball Australia.
12th Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp Will Bring Together Over 60 of the top High-School Age Boys and Girls from more than 15 Countries Across Asia-Pacific.
NEW YORK AND CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, Aug. 4, 2022 &ndash; The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Basketball Australia (BA) today announced over 60 of the top boys and girls from more than 15 countries across Asia-Pacific will travel to Canberra, Australia for the 12th Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia camp from Sunday, Aug. 7 &ndash; Wednesday, Aug. 10 at NBA Global Academy, the league&rsquo;s elite basketball training center at BA&rsquo;s Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport.
BWB Asia 2022 will mark the first time the NBA and FIBA&rsquo;s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in Asia-Pacific since 2019 in Japan and the first in Australia since 2016 in Melbourne. &nbsp;The camp will bring together the top male and female players ages 18 and under from throughout Asia-Pacific to compete alongside their peers from across the region and learn directly from current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players and coaches.
The campers will be coached by NBA players Jarrett Allen (2022 NBA All-Star for the Cleveland Cavaliers; U.S.), Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks; Australia), Cameron Johnson (Phoenix Suns; U.S.) and Coby White (Chicago Bulls; U.S.). &nbsp;NBA assistant coaches Damian Cotter (Bulls; Australia), David Akinyooye (Oklahoma City Thunder; U.S.) and Eric Glass (Miami Heat; U.S.); New York Knicks international scout and Serbia Men&rsquo;s National Team assistant coach Adam Tatalovich (U.S.); former WNBA players Kristi Harrower (Australia) and Annie La Fleur (Australia); and former Australia Women&rsquo;s National Team player Jenni Screen (Australia) will also serve as BWB Asia coaches.
Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia) will serve as camp director, while Dan Shimensky (Denver Nuggets; U.S.) will serve as the camp&rsquo;s athletic trainer.
Players and coaches will lead campers through a variety of activities, including movement efficiency drills, offensive and defensive skill stations, three-point contests, 5-on-5 games, and life skills and leadership development sessions. &nbsp;A ceremony on the final day of the camp will award the BWB Asia 2022 MVP, Defensive MVP, Three-Point Champion and the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award to the boys and girls who distinguish themselves on the court and as leaders.
A record 41 former BWB campers were among the record 121 international players on 2021-22 NBA opening-night rosters, including 2022 NBA All-Rookie Second Team member and NBA Global Academy graduate Josh Giddey (Thunder; Australia; BWB Asia 2018 and BWB Global 2020), Green (BWB Global 2018) and 2020 NBA All-Rookie Second Team member Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards; Japan; BWB Global 2016).
The NBA and FIBA have hosted 64 BWB camps in 30 countries since the program&rsquo;s launch in 2001. &nbsp;BWB has reached more than 3,800 participants from 133 countries and territories, with 105 former campers having advanced to the NBA or WNBA.
BWB Asia 2022 will be supported by Nike, which will outfit participants with Nike apparel and footwear, and Gatorade, which will keep players and coaches hydrated throughout the camp.
Fans in Australia can follow the NBA at NBA.com/Australia and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and follow BWB using the hashtag #BWBAsia.
The following is a complete list of players participating in BWB Asia 2022 (rosters subject to change):
GIRLS ROSTER
<table width="399">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="198">
First Name
</td>
<td width="201">
Last Name
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Opal
</td>
<td width="201">
Bird
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Layla
</td>
<td width="201">
Cameron
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Holly
</td>
<td width="201">
Griffiths
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Lulu
</td>
<td width="201">
Laditan
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Ruby
</td>
<td width="201">
Vlahov
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Shomira
</td>
<td width="201">
Bidaye
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Kavya
</td>
<td width="201">
Singla
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Angelica Jennifer
</td>
<td width="201">
Candra
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Deewell Windy Dido
</td>
<td width="201">
Gosal
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Vanissa Renata
</td>
<td width="201">
Siregar
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Reina
</td>
<td width="201">
Fukuo
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Honoka
</td>
<td width="201">
Morioka
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Chinami
</td>
<td width="201">
Yokoyama
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Anna
</td>
<td width="201">
Kochura
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Waimanu
</td>
<td width="201">
Clarken
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Maia Riley
</td>
<td width="201">
Jones
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Lilly
</td>
<td width="201">
Taulelei
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Quinn Kacey
</td>
<td width="201">
Dela Rosa
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Dianne Camille
</td>
<td width="201">
Nolasco
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Kayla
</td>
<td width="201">
Lim
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Seo
</td>
<td width="201">
Jinyeong
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Sooin
</td>
<td width="201">
Kim
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Siriwimon
</td>
<td width="201">
Damrongchai
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="198">
Priscilla Langkilde
</td>
<td width="201">
Jensen
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
BOYS ROSTER
<table width="397">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Lachlan
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;">Brewer</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Carlin
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Briggs
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Joshua
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Dent
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Joshua
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Hughes
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Joshua
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Ibukunoluwa
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
James
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
O&rsquo;Donnell
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Kye
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Savage
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Roman
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Siulepa
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Rocco
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Zikarsky
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Soy
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Pisey
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Junjie Barry
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Wang
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Yijiong &ldquo;Joe&rdquo;
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Zhang
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Xian-Wei
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Lin
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Arthur Vadel
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Krisma Putra
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Mohamad
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Amini
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Sarem
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Jafari
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Akira
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Jacobs
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Yuto
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Kawashima
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Taiga
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Okada
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Hayato
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Wakugawa
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Adil
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Kuantayev
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Daniil
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Severgin
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Rayan
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Hachem
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Azbayar
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Altangerel
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Kaia
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Berridge
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Dontae
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Nance
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
William
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Passi
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Kalid
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Petzer
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
William
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Shortt
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
L.A. John
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Andres
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Jared
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Bahay
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Caelum Emmanuel
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Harris
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Seungwoo
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Kim
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Chan You
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Ko
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Gwanwoo
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Lee
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Vladimir
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Bespalov
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Artyom
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Malikov
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 176px;" width="198">
Dinh Quang
</td>
<td style="width: 178px;" width="198">
Duong
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Jarrett Allen, Josh Green, Cam Johnson and Coby White will coach over 60 of the top high-school age girls and boys from 15+ nations.

4 NBA players to coach at Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp in Australia

Keep track of where the top 2022 undrafted free agents are headed after draft night.

2022 NBA UDFA Tracker: Latest news on undrafted free agents

Leading up to last month's NBA trade deadline, Jerami Grant's name was consistently popping up in trade rumors. Teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks were all linked to the 28-year-old.
However, for the second year in a row, the Detroit Pistons ultimately decided to hold onto him.
With that said, it's very possible that the Pistons will revisit a potential Grant trade this offseason. If that happens, Portland is the team to watch, says Pistons beat writer James Edwards III of The Athletic.
"I reported, and you did as well, that the Blazers were one of the teams persistent in trying to get Grant," Edwards <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/pistons-rumors-jerami-grant-marvin-bagley-jalen-brunson-mitchell-robinson-chet-holmgren/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype</a>. "I don&rsquo;t think at the time they had the assets [Pistons general manager] Troy Weaver was looking for to trade Grant. He&rsquo;s somebody they like and a good player. Troy had all the leverage. He doesn&rsquo;t have to trade Grant.
"Portland&rsquo;s going to find itself in an interesting situation where they could have a high draft pick coming up&hellip; Maybe if it&rsquo;s high enough, it&rsquo;s an offer the Pistons can&rsquo;t refuse. If Jerami gets traded anywhere this offseason, it&rsquo;s going to be Portland. It feels like Portland is still the front-runner."
The Blazers are currently 27-45, which is the seventh-worst record in the NBA. If Portland stays in this spot, they would have a 31.9% chance of landing a top-four pick in the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft</a>. Edwards wonders whether the Blazers may be willing to include their lottery pick in a trade for Grant.
"I think a lottery pick would be the kind of sweetener that would [get a deal done]," Edwards explained. "Portland is obviously heading towards that trajectory. It wasn&rsquo;t all the way clear at that point at the deadline. Troy was in no rush to get something done at the deadline.
"My gut tells me that Portland really makes a legitimate push and goes and gets Jerami."
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It remains to be seen how much the Blazers are willing to give up for Grant, but it seems that Portland's veterans would love to see a trade go down (judging by <a href="https://twitter.com/joshhart/status/1506109637006970885" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Hart</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1506109718930067458" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jusuf Nurkic</a>'s recent tweets).
Edwards believes that the Pistons would be more likely to trade Grant if they are able to draft a top forward like Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero or Keegan Murray in the 2022 NBA Draft. This would seemingly make Grant more expendable since they would have his replacement on the roster.&nbsp;
This season, Grant is averaging 19.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 threes, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steal while shooting 42.6% from the field, 35.7% from three and 83.8% from the free-throw line. At 20-53, the Pistons have the third-worst record in the NBA and are clearly rebuilding around Cade Cunningham and Co.

Keep an eye on the Portland Trail Blazers as a likely trade destination for Jerami Grant this summer, says James Edwards III.

Jerami Grant trade rumors: 'Portland is still the front-runner'

After a pandemic-induced hiatus, the NBA&rsquo;s Las Vegas Summer League returns. And with that comes the most electric small sample of inconsequential games on the league calendar.&nbsp;
The 2021 draft class will don NBA jerseys for the first time, and most of the 2020 class will finally receive a real training ground after missing out last season. With so much young talent descending on Las Vegas, every single team has multiple storylines to follow.
But fans also have the final few weeks of their summer to savor. So while I'll surely be watching as many games as possible, what teams should be considered appointment television? What rosters are chock full of prospects and intrigue?
Below are the eight "must-watch" teams of 2021 MGM Resorts Summer League, with a complete schedule included&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2021/vegas/schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Detroit Pistons
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Here&rsquo;s the Pistons&rsquo; Summer League roster <a href="https://t.co/oDl06KKiEF">pic.twitter.com/oDl06KKiEF</a>
&mdash; James Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLEdwardsIII/status/1423370122199248902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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As with every year of summer league, the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft immediately grabs headlines as a player to watch. And&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;expects big things from Cade Cunningham, who is largely considered to be one of the more polished prospects in recent memory.&nbsp;
However, it's not just Cunningham who makes this an exciting roster. Second-year forward Saddiq Bey joins the squad after landing on the All-Rookie First Team last season. Saben Lee turned heads as a second-round rookie. Killian Hayes is out to prove himself after injuries hampered the seventh overall pick of the 2020 draft. Sekou Doumbouya has some asserting to do as well, having yet to make a major leap since being drafted 15th overall in 2019.
You won't see Isaiah Stewart, Isaiah Livers or Chris Smith in action; they're&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/detnewsRodBeard/status/1423371634967257090" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly not playing due to injuries.</a>&nbsp;But there's simply so much talent and intrigue, even without those three. This could be a rare summer league team that could both win games and introduce the masses to some notable young players.
Houston Rockets
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
🚀 Summer League roster is here! More info: <a href="https://t.co/nDED5Tfu0M">https://t.co/nDED5Tfu0M</a> <a href="https://t.co/q2wnObZApV">pic.twitter.com/q2wnObZApV</a>
&mdash; Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1423752361252728835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Until July 29, the Rockets had not made a first-round pick in the NBA Draft since selecting Sam Dekker all the way back in 2015. This year they picked not once, not twice, but four times in the first 24 selections.&nbsp;
All four choices &mdash; Jalen Green (the No. 2 overall pick), Alperen Sengun (No. 16), Usman Garuba (No. 23) and Josh Christopher (No. 24) will suit up in Vegas. They represent the future of the franchise and the first first-round picks by general manager Rafael Stone.&nbsp;
Don't forget about uber-athletic K.J. Martin, son of NBA veteran Kenyon Martin, and his quietly-successful rookie season, either. He could make some of the highlight-reel plays of the tournament.&nbsp;
Memphis Grizzlies
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/memgrizz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@memgrizz</a> today announced their 17-player roster for MGM Resorts <a href="https://twitter.com/NBASummerLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBASummerLeague</a> 2021 in Las Vegas. <a href="https://t.co/rJ0HBn26Lf">pic.twitter.com/rJ0HBn26Lf</a>
&mdash; Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrizzliesPR/status/1424099014979555328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Grizzlies might be my early pick as Las Vegas Summer League champs. Desmond Bane is frankly too good to be here. After making the All-Rookie Second Team last season and emerging as one of the better shooters in the entire league, Bane could eviscerate the younger opponents he'll face.
He'll be joined by three other 2020 draft picks in Xavier Tillman, Killian Tillie and Sam Merrill, who was recently acquired in the trade that sent Grayson Allen to Milwaukee. As far as summer league goes, this should be one of the more experienced squads in Las Vegas.
Toss in two first round picks in Ziaire Williams (No. 10) and Santi Aldama (No. 30) as well. Both were picked at least six spots higher than BasketballNews.com draft analyst Matt Babcock&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicted</a>&nbsp;before draft night. Time will tell if they were the right choices, but both can make a strong first impression at summer league. If undrafted rookie Yves Pons is doing&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/1423792346123145218?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stuff like this</a>, he's another one to watch.
Orlando Magic
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
As expected, the Magic&rsquo;s NBA Summer League roster will include second-year guards Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton in addition to rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner. <a href="https://t.co/lyACl7whtD">https://t.co/lyACl7whtD</a> <a href="https://t.co/q6aPtdx7vG">pic.twitter.com/q6aPtdx7vG</a>
&mdash; Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/status/1422196207372361740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Orlando was one of two teams with multiple lottery picks in this summer's NBA Draft. Both Jalen Suggs (the No. 5 pick) and Franz Wagner (No. 8) will make appearances as two potential cornerstones for the franchise.
Suggs in particular should garner interest because he joins a crowded lineup of young, exciting guards in Orlando. Viewers will see two of the others in Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton. How will the Magic balance minutes in the early going? Will any of the three separate themselves from the pack? How often will Orlando try a three-guard lineup?
Those are just some of the questions that first-year head coach Jamahl Mosley will eventually have to answer.
Golden State Warriors
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Warriors announce updated Summer League Roster ahead of the team's five-game slate at the MGM Resorts Summer League 2021 in Las Vegas: <a href="https://t.co/E1CKLAyd1I">pic.twitter.com/E1CKLAyd1I</a>
&mdash; Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/WarriorsPR/status/1424098129180123138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Are Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga ready to join a rotation with win-now expectations? That's the central question for Golden State ahead of summer league. Both prospects had rocky-yet-promising debuts in the California Classic. Moody dropped 19 points (7-for-18 shooting) to go with seven rebounds, while Kuminga logged 18 points (7-for-14 shooting) and three rebounds against six turnovers.
As the No. 7 pick, Kuminga is theoretically a long-term upside play. Moody (No. 14 pick) is typically viewed as a safer, more NBA-ready prospect, but he too is a one-and-done wing. Even as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green push for a championship, these two shouldn't be forced into action. They'll grow at their own paces; summer league serves as a starting point.
Gary Payton II is the third player to focus on. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/what-andre-iguodalas-warriors-return-could-mean-rest-roster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drew Shiller of NBC Sports</a>, the Warriors have until Aug. 11 to waive the guard before guaranteeing $659,000 on his contract. We'll see how that plays out as Payton goes through the next 10 days.&nbsp;
Charlotte Hornets
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The Charlotte Hornets&rsquo; summer league roster featuring James Bouknight, Kai Jones and LiAngelo Ball, brother of Hornets star LaMelo Ball. More NBA from me: <a href="https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP">https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP</a> <a href="https://t.co/keKAzpdc9O">pic.twitter.com/keKAzpdc9O</a>
&mdash; Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1422248415778455557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Hornets garnered widespread praise for their 2021 NBA Draft. Charlotte came away with a dynamic scoring guard in James Bouknight at No. 11, and then grabbed two high-upside talents in Kai Jones (at No. 19) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jt-thor-could-be-2021-nba-draft-diamond-in-the-rough-auburn-tigers-prospect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JT Thor</a>&nbsp;(who is not in the above graphic but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article253197298.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will play</a>) at No. 37.
I'll be especially intrigued in seeing just how NBA ready Jones and Thor appear to be. The Hornets don't have to rush either prospect and could opt to send them down to their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. If they do flash skill at summer league, though, they could eventually become exciting targets for LaMelo Ball.
And speaking of Ball, his brother LiAngelo will probably have his best shot at making the NBA this week. His name alone creates another storyline to follow, as LiAngelo hopes to follow his two brothers into stardom in the Association.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cavs</a> have announced their Summer League roster. <a href="https://t.co/4rAzBB6KmZ">pic.twitter.com/4rAzBB6KmZ</a>
&mdash; Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinDavies/status/1422347397154344965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Cleveland is the only team in the NBA carrying two top-5 draft picks into summer league. Evan Mobley &mdash; a unique blend of size, speed and skill and this year's No. 3 pick &mdash; is certainly the headliner. Mobley has a ceiling as high as any in this draft class, and this week will give the first glimpses at how Cleveland looks to optimize him.
The other is Isaac Okoro, who started all 67 of the games he played last season. His usage rate was low, though, and the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft struggled with shooting efficiency as a rookie. He made just 29% of his three-pointers and had a true shooting percentage of just 51.4, which is relatively poor. He can demonstrate improvement in this setting while getting more touches and the chance to showcase his defensive prowess.
One other player I'd keep an eye on is Mfiondu Kabengele. The Cavs signed him outright in May after playing through two 10-day contracts. Kabengele is a 2019 first-round pick who never clicked with the Clippers, so this could be a good place to start fresh.
Toronto Raptors
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Raptors Summer League roster below! Moses Wright will no longer be with the Raptors in Vegas. Became uncertainty as other moves were made and he'll opt for a different situation. (Not uncommon.) <a href="https://t.co/lRcbGUWYrL">pic.twitter.com/lRcbGUWYrL</a>
&mdash; Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeMurphyODC/status/1423298986606223365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Kyle Lowry's departure signals a new era in Toronto -- one currently centered around Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby. Though they've graduated from summer league reps, fans will get to see three more key pieces that could define the franchise's future.
Toronto caught most draft analysts off guard by selecting Scottie Barnes with the fourth overall pick, but make no mistake, Barnes is a versatile forward whose combination of athleticism and processing speed will be on full display in Las Vegas.
Though Precious Achiuwa is not listed above, the second-year center will <a href="https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2021/vegas/team/1610612761/raptors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also be with Toronto</a>&nbsp;after coming over from Miami in the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade. Although the league has reportedly opened a tampering probe against the Miami Heat, at this time, there&rsquo;s no reason to believe that Achiuwa won&rsquo;t be in uniform for Toronto.
Fellow 2020 first-rounder Malachi Flynn will likely run the summer league offense in hopes of staking his claim as the Raptors' third guard in the rotation.&nbsp;
Newly-extended Masai Ujiri will surely keep a close eye on the three prospects as he ponders the identity of Toronto's next iteration.
---
After a one-year hiatus, it&rsquo;ll be nice to have summer basketball back. And without question, these are the teams that I&rsquo;ll be keeping a close eye on.

The 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas begins on August 8, and some teams qualify as 'Must See' TV.

Who are the must-watch Summer League teams in Las Vegas?

Five years after the NBA Global Academy opened its doors, Australian swingman <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/joshua-giddey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Giddey</a> is set to become the first graduate selected in an NBA Draft on Thursday night.
&ldquo;I give a lot of credit to the NBA Academy,&rdquo; Giddey said at his pre-draft media availability. &ldquo;They got me in there at an early age, when I personally thought that I didn&rsquo;t have a big future in basketball. They got me in and they believed in me when I didn&rsquo;t necessarily believe in myself. I was there for 18 months and they worked with me every day, so I give &lsquo;em a lot of credit.&nbsp;
&ldquo;They developed me and pushed me in the right direction and set me up to where I am today, essentially. So, the NBA Academy was big for me. It allowed for me to go overseas and get the exposure that I wouldn&rsquo;t have gotten if I stayed back home in Melbourne. It&rsquo;s a big honor and it makes me pretty happy to be the first NBA-Academy player to be drafted.&rdquo;
Chris Ebersole, the NBA's senior director of international basketball operations, worked closely with Giddey during his time at the NBA Academy and Basketball Without Borders (BWB), and he's watched as the son of two professional basketball players went from an off-the-radar prospect to a top-10 projected pick in rapid fashion.
Ebersole knew Giddey from an early age through Marty Clarke and members of the Academy's coaching staff. (Clarke was actually teammates with Giddey's father, Warrick, in the NBL.) Having shown promise at BWB Asia, Giddey found his way to the Academy in 2018.&nbsp;
When Giddey arrived in Canberra, Australia, he was around 6-foot-5 with a good amount of potential. When he left, he was a 6-foot-8 sensation who was highly coveted by NBA decision-makers. Even Ebersole couldn&rsquo;t predict that his ascent would happen this fast.
&ldquo;To be completely honest, I don't think any of us had potential lottery pick in the 2021 draft in our sights for Josh at the outset,&rdquo; Ebersole told BasketballNews.com in a phone interview.
To be fair, Giddey didn't see this coming either.
&ldquo;Up until I moved to the Academy, I was a good player, but nothing special,&rdquo; Giddey <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nbl-adelaide-36ers-josh-giddey-good-chance-ill-be-declaring-for-2021-nba-draft-prospects-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told our Matt Babcock back in March</a>. &ldquo;I was challenged every day by my teammates and my coaches, and at times, I struggled early on and didn't enjoy myself. But as I grew into it, I fell in love with wanting to get better, and my coaches never took it easy on me &ndash; and that was a massive part of my development.&rdquo;
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Giddey didn&rsquo;t make an Australian junior national team until he played for the U18 club. But as he grew literally, Giddey also grew skillfully. Between sprouting three inches to 6-foot-8, developing his perimeter skills, improving as a playmaker and asserting himself as a lead ball-handler, it was clear that his ceiling was rising as a player -- and that was before any draft buzz.
&ldquo;I think from that point [of making the U-18 squad], that was maybe when a switch sort of went off that he had a chance to be special in basketball,&rdquo; Ebersole said. &ldquo;I think it's always been a dream for him, but the fact that he went through some of that adversity at a young age and the disappointment of not making some of those teams probably fueled him. And by the time he was 18, he was not only making a state team, but he was excelling on it and leading those teams.
&ldquo;In basketball terms, in relative terms, you could sort of label him as a late-bloomer in terms of how quickly his stock has risen. I think a lot of those traits have been there the whole time, but a lot of times it's confidence, it's putting it all together on the court, and I think that's the part that's really blossomed.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s not just his size that stood out, either.
&ldquo;Beyond that, he's also developed his game, and that part is really the key. There are not a lot of 6-foot-8 people out there who are able to do what Josh can do on the court,&rdquo; Ebersole said. &ldquo;I mean the size certainly helps, but the development of his game in terms of growing into such a rare level of passer and leader of an offense on the court, I think that's the part that catches most people's attention &ndash; just how advanced he is in those areas of his game.&rdquo;
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The Academy traveled to different tournaments and took on varying levels of competition. Ebersole recalls the 2020 Torneo Junior Ciutat L&rsquo;Hospitalet, a tournament that featured the top junior teams around Europe. Giddey <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/news/australias-josh-giddey-mvp-nba-global-academy-fc-barcelona-2020-torneo-junior-ciutat-de-lhospitalet/10xt6unne3wrg1b6j6ljrut7yc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">led the Academy to a win in Spain over the local FC Barcelona club</a> and earned MVP honors after averaging 11.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
Giddey saved his best performance for last, contributing 15 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in the tournament final.
&ldquo;He was never fazed,&rdquo; Ebersole said. &ldquo;He elevated his game... He makes those jaw-dropping plays look routine. Just an interesting part of his game is that he's able to make passes that no one else on the court, or watching the games, could see [coming]. And so, he'll make a pass and you're almost wondering where the ball is going, and it'll end up in the hand of his teammate right under the hoop. He does that multiple times a game (laughs). He can throw all different types of passes with both hands from any angle, and so he actually ends up making these extraordinary plays look very routine in his game.&nbsp;
&ldquo;There have been countless examples of that just watching him, whether it's games at some of our events [in the] States or overseas; you see him make those types of passes and you just kinda look at each other on the sidelines and you sorta shake your head. It's so advanced, it's so rare to see a player of his age with that understanding of all the moving pieces on the court.&rdquo;
Just two months later, instead of coming to the United States to prepare for the NBA via college or the G League Ignite, Giddey elected to sign with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League as a part of its Next Stars program (just like LaMelo Ball and R.J. Hampton). It turned out to be a brilliant choice, as Giddey boosted his stock even further.
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With the 36ers, Giddey won the NBL Rookie of the Year Award. He averaged the most assists in the league (7.6), and led Adelaide in rebounds per game (7.3). Giddey also scored the fourth-most points per game (10.9) on the team, while playing the second-most minutes per contest (32.1). The 18-year-old also became the youngest player in NBL history to record a triple-double (taking the record from LaMelo). Then, he did it again the very next night, making him <a href="https://nbl.com.au/news/night-of-sixers-celebrations-against-bullets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the only Australian to have triple-doubles in consecutive games</a>.
&ldquo;Obviously, his time in the NBL [was] a huge factor in developing his confidence,&rdquo; Ebersole said. "He was handed the keys in a lot of ways when he got to Adelaide. The fact that he was able to translate all those skills in a league of that caliber... the NBL is a league of grown men and really talented players. For him to go in and showcase his skills at that level and translate them so quickly at that level, I think, is a huge boost for his confidence. I think at each level, he's able to now realize that he can impact these games and he's not out of place and he can hold his own.&rdquo;
"Great kid, very nice," Giddey's 36ers teammate and former NBA pro Brandon Paul told BasketballNews.com. "I think he's more mature than his years the way he carries himself on and off the court, and he's just someone who's got a crazy ceiling."
Giddey&rsquo;s stint with the 36ers ended on May 16, when both parties agreed to allow him to begin preparing for the 2021 NBA Draft. He carried over the momentum from the NBL into this summer, joining the Australian team&rsquo;s pre-Olympic training camp as one of 24 invitees and giving him a chance to play with some fellow Aussies whom he'd looked up to. Many NBA scouts and executives were in attendance to observe the practices and exhibitions.
&ldquo;He's definitely garnering significant attention throughout this whole process,&rdquo; said Ebersole, who was present with Giddey in Las Vegas. &ldquo;And of course with his time in Adelaide in the NBL &ndash; although there was maybe some limitation on how many scouts could get there to see him just given some of the restrictions on travel &ndash; it was clear the buzz around him was picking up during that time frame... I think he's gotten somewhat used to it.&rdquo;
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Even though the Boomers left Giddey off their Olympic roster, they did name him as a replacement player and the experience was beneficial.
&ldquo;It was fun. Obviously, it sucks I didn&rsquo;t make that team, but I still got to be around the guys and be able to train and compete against them every day right up until they left,&rdquo; Giddey said. "So for me, it was great because I got to compete against guys like [Matthew Dellavedova], Patty Mills, Joe Ingles &ndash; and then learn and train against them every day. So it was such a beneficial kinda month, two months for me, being able to learn from those guys.&nbsp;
&ldquo;And then, it&rsquo;s such a good environment to me. I think for me going forward, it&rsquo;s gonna be critical to get this early taste of it because hopefully [in] the next 12-15 years, I&rsquo;m gonna have a long career playing with the national team.&rdquo;
Ebersole is a California native, and he describes Giddey's personality as similar to his own: laid-back and self-deprecating. He says that Giddey is always fun to be around and has great leadership qualities. He can lead by example, but he's also a good communicator with both teammates and coaches alike.
"I've seen him interact with people and [he's] always very welcoming, even when he's being hounded," Paul added.
Ebersole assures that Giddey is a &ldquo;hooper at heart.&rdquo; As for his off-court interests, the young Aussie is a sneakerhead.&nbsp;
When asked what kind of team or situation would be conducive to Giddey thriving as a rookie, Ebersole confidently said &ldquo;anywhere.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I don't think there's necessarily one team or type of team that sticks out,&rdquo; Ebersole said. &ldquo;I think he does have such a versatile game that he'll be able to have an impact anywhere he goes... He's sort of proven that he can be that primary ball-handler, lead operator out of the pick-and-roll. But if he goes to a team where he's asked to play off the ball and go into some of those secondary actions, I think he's fully capable of doing that as well. When he was with our Academy, he played both roles at different points, so I think he's fully capable offensively playing either role.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Defensively, I think that's one part of his game that people may be questioning. But I think he actually has a chance, just given his size, to be a multi-positional defender too and be able to guard multiple positions. He's versatile on both sides of the ball, and that's gonna allow him to thrive [in] whatever situation that may be. I think he's got a good chance &ndash; whether it's the primary guy or the secondary ball-handler &ndash; to impact offenses and keep the ball moving, which is his number one NBA skill at this point.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
"I love passing the ball and he loved shooting the ball" 🇦🇺 <a href="https://twitter.com/joshgiddey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@joshgiddey</a> on his friendship with <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Adelaide36ers</a> guard and fellow NBA Academy alumni <a href="https://twitter.com/Mojaveee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mojaveee</a> and how they continue to push each other. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GiddeyUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GiddeyUp</a> Watch the 2021 NBA Draft, July 30 on <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNAusNZ</a> and NBA League Pass. <a href="https://t.co/IyEf9UQiyt">pic.twitter.com/IyEf9UQiyt</a>
&mdash; NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_AU/status/1419103123092623360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Ebersole acknowledges that he's impressed with how Giddey has handled the pre-draft process and the hype surrounding him. The 18-year-old has approached it with humility, staying grounded and true to himself while &ldquo;keeping those blinders on.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I don't think it's easy for a young person to have this amount of pressure and success and expectation placed upon them in such a short amount of time, especially in Josh's case &ndash; where only a few years ago, he was not on anyone's radar in terms of the NBA-draft potential,&rdquo; Ebersole said. &ldquo;[It] speaks to the type of worker he is, the type of focus he has.
"And that, of course, bodes well for his future &ndash; because once he gets to the NBA, that noise only grows. The fact that he's been able to sort of stay on course through all of this and not get side-tracked or distracted, I think, speaks to that character he has.&rdquo;
In a day&rsquo;s time, Giddey will hear his name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It's a dream come true for him to be drafted, and I think even for him growing up, this was obviously a dream, but only in the last two years has it really accelerated and evolved into reality,&rdquo; Ebersole said. &ldquo;I think for him, it's somewhat surreal &ndash; but I know he's really excited and probably somewhat anxious to figure out where he's going to end up, as is the case, I think, with every prospect in the draft. But I think he's just beyond excited to finally realize his dream.&rdquo;
And the moment that Silver utters those words, Ebersole will not only be happy for Giddey, but for those who will come after him in the NBA Global Academy.
&ldquo;We're definitely proud of him, obviously. To have our first graduate to be drafted be somebody like Josh &ndash; who's a selfless player, who has just a great approach to the game and approach to life &ndash; I think it makes it that much more special,&rdquo; Ebersole said. "I think it opens the doors to future breakthroughs.
"Our first draft pick in the 2021 draft will likely be Josh, and then you turn around and look at the door that&rsquo;s gonna open. In 2022, we expect to have multiple draft picks coming out of the NBA Academy program. We've now had NBA-Academy alumni in each of the first two years of the G League Ignite program (Princepal Singh and Dyson Daniels) and expect that to continue to grow... It's going to inspire future generations. There's a generation of young Australian players who are looking up to Dyson Daniels, young Argentinian players looking up to Francisco [Caffaro], young Indian players looking up to Princepal Singh. All of these individual successes are great in their own right, but they also open up the possibilities to so many others, so that's the part that really gets us excited. It's much bigger than any one player.&rdquo;
Giddey echoes those sentiments, and is honored to be a part of a global movement in basketball that is only getting stronger.
&ldquo;On the international scale, you see how big the game&rsquo;s growing worldwide, outside of America. I think it&rsquo;s good for players all around the world because they can look at role models in their countries and see how well they&rsquo;re doing, and it allows the next generation to come through," Giddey said. "So, it&rsquo;s exciting times for basketball all around the world. And I think it&rsquo;s evident now, with countries beating the States &ndash; when 10 years ago, it was America just dominating on a world stage. So, it&rsquo;s really good to see.&rdquo;
BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock has Josh Giddey projected to go No. 7 overall to the Golden State Warriors in his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest 2021 NBA Mock Draft</a>.

Spencer Davies chats with NBA international basketball ops director Chris Ebersole, who witnessed Josh Giddey's meteoric rise firsthand.

In the blink of an eye, Josh Giddey ascended to top NBA Draft prospect

Blake Hairston breaks down the top NBA Draft prospects to keep an eye on from the Southeastern Conference.

2021 NBA Draft: Analyzing the SEC's top prospects

The 2021 NBA Draft will be held on July 29, 2021, which means it's just 15 days away. Our NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock went through a number of picks with the highest upside and the most potential.
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With the 2021 NBA Draft just weeks away, most of our scouting work has already been completed. After <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently updating our 2021 NBA Mock Draft</a>, I&rsquo;d like to highlight some of the prospects that we think possess the most potential and upside in the entire draft this year:
2. Houston Rockets: <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/evan-mobley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evan Mobley, USC</a>
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Bottom Line: Standing 7-feet tall with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, while also being a fluid athlete, Evan Mobley utilizes his unique combination of length and mobility to be an elite rim protector. He has also shown flashes of being an effective passer and outside shooter. Overall, it&rsquo;s rare to find players with his size, skill and athleticism, making him a special prospect. Depending on what the Detroit Pistons value, he could be in contention for the No. 1 pick.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/jalen-green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jalen Green, G League Ignite</a>
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Bottom Line: Although known mostly as a high-flyer, Jalen Green showed a more versatile offensive repertoire this past season for the G League Ignite. His explosiveness and ability to create space off the dribble, along with his improved outside shooting, have made him one of the most coveted prospects this year. Green is perhaps the most athletic and dynamic prospect in the entire draft, and he has subsequently established himself as a near lock to be a top-five pick.
11. Charlotte Hornets: <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/kai-jones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kai Jones, Texas</a>
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Bottom Line: At 6-foot-11, Jones teased with his athleticism and offensive tools this past season at Texas. He will need to develop his physical strength and add polish to become a high-level NBA player; however, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ncaa-basketball-kai-jones-the-beginning-bahamas-deandre-ayton-texas-longhorns-nba-draft-prospects-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his long-term ceiling is extremely high</a>. At this point in the draft, he might be worth the risk.
18. Oklahoma City Thunder: <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/ziaire-williams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ziaire Williams, Stanford</a>
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Bottom Line: Having struggled with his consistency at Stanford, Ziaire Williams has become a somewhat polarizing prospect. Overall, his freshman season was underwhelming. Although his slim build and ability to finish at the rim have drawn concerns, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ziaire-williams-eager-to-take-his-next-developmental-steps-in-the-nba-2021-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his upside is worth noting</a>. A 6-foot-8 wing who is capable of creating space and hitting tough, contested shots, Williams has the potential to be a versatile scoring wing at the next level.
30. Utah Jazz: <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/jt-thor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JT Thor, Auburn</a> 
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Bottom Line: Thor is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing prospects in this class. He's long, rangy and fluid for his size. These, paired with his ability to shoot the deep ball and protect the rim, give promise to great impact at the next level if it clicks. He likely won't be ready to contribute early in his career, but the physical tools and skill set are worth betting on.
34. Oklahoma City Thunder: <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/joshua-primo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Primo, Alabama</a> 
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Bottom Line: Despite being a little ways from making a real impact on an NBA floor, Josh Primo has <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2021-nba-draft-combine-recap-7-players-who-stood-out-prospects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tremendous long-term potential</a>. He progressed well during his freshman season at Alabama, averaging 9.0 points per game while shooting 41.4% from three and 89.3% from the free-throw line in conference play. With good positional size, Primo will need to continue to build on his basketball IQ and versatility as he moves on to the next level, but he shouldn't be on the board too long, as his upside is undeniable.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Be sure to check out Matt's latest 2021 Mock Draft (and click on each player's name for in-depth analysis, stats, measurements and more).</a>

NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock highlights some of the prospects that he feels have the most potential and upside in the 2021 class.

2021 NBA Mock Draft: Matt Babcock highlights prospects with the most upside

With the 2021 NBA Draft Combine wrapped up and the NBA Draft coming up on July 29, Matt Babcock shares his thoughts on which players' stocks have risen stemming from the event, and where things stand with their draft status going into the pre-draft process.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/josh-christopher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Christopher, Arizona State</a> 
After being one of the top-ranked players in the country out of high school, Josh Christopher had an up-and-down freshman season at Arizona State, leaving scouts all over the place in regards to their evaluations of him. I have been a bit higher on Christopher than most other evaluators all season long, and I was hoping to be able to see him perform well to give me more confidence in my initial evaluation. I was happy to see Christopher bet on himself by taking part in 5-on-5 play this week in Chicago, while many other players elected to sit out for various reasons.
It was a decision that clearly paid off, as Christopher took care of business, scoring 16 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, controlling the game and leading his team to victory. And in the process, he gave me what I needed to see to increase my confidence level in him. During live play, Christopher displayed his powerful explosiveness, the ability to create his own shot and the overall potential to be a high-level offensive weapon at the next level. If he is able to become more consistent as an outside shooter, I think he has a chance to be a very good NBA player. At this point, I can safely say that I think Christopher is worthy of being a solid first-round pick, and maybe even as high as a mid-first-round selection.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/joshua-primo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Primo, Alabama</a> 
When thinking of Josh Primo, one key word comes to mind: Upside. One of the youngest players in the draft at only 18 years old, Primo, from the Alabama Crimson Tide, is a smooth shooting guard with good positional size (6-foot-4 without shoes). He is far from being a finished product, but he showed enough for me to think that he has a chance to develop into being a starting-caliber player at the next level.
Talking to NBA scouts and executives this past week, the league as a whole generally seemed to be equally as excited about Primo&rsquo;s potential. I even spoke to one front-office executive who said that he had Primo rated as high as a late-lottery pick. Although I&rsquo;m not sure he should or will go quite that high in the draft, one thing is for sure, Primo is trending up.
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<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/nah-shon-hyland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nah&rsquo;Shon Hyland, VCU</a> 
In the first game of live 5-on-5 play on day one, Nah&rsquo;Shon &ldquo;Bones&rdquo; Hyland stole the show, scoring 17 points and dishing out 4 assists. An ultra-confident, crafty scoring combo guard, Hyland dazzled by utilizing his shiftiness, routinely shaking his opponents out of their shoes off the dribble and showing an ability to score from all over the floor. I know that he had some supporters prior to the Combine already, but for me personally, he helped himself a lot. Although the shooting guard crop is deep this year, Hyland has proved to me that he belongs in the conversation for teams selecting in the first round. His potential to be a microwave scorer and produce instant offense at the next level has me excited about his future.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/miles-mcbride" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miles McBride, West Virginia</a> 
The knock on McBride has been that he&rsquo;s not considered to be a pure point guard and lacks some offensive polish. I have been somewhat hesitant with McBride because of those reasons; however, after watching him the last few days, the tide is turning for me and I have become more of a believer. Many have described McBride as a &ldquo;typical Bob Huggins guy," which I interpret as a tough, no-nonsense, competitive fighter who will defend his tail off. And that is an accurate description of McBride. I&rsquo;ve heard mixed information on whether McBride will remain in the draft or return back to West Virginia for another season. Regardless of whether it&rsquo;s now or later, I think McBride has a chance to have a solid NBA career.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/sandro-mamukelashvili" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sandro Mamukelashvili, Seton Hall</a> 
A versatile lefty big man who can initiate the break, make plays for his teammates and shoot the ball from outside -- in addition to being able to handle typical big-man responsibilities -- I&rsquo;m not sure I have talked to one person who doesn&rsquo;t like &ldquo;Mamu&rdquo; on some level or another. Although it&rsquo;s been said regularly that the center position is easily replaceable, there is no denying that floor spacing, ball movement and pace are extremely valued in today&rsquo;s game. And Mamu can be a legitimate contributor to those things.
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I&rsquo;m still trying to get a grip of exactly what his market value is in regards to the 2021 NBA Draft, but I will say that I do believe he is trending in the right direction and fully expect to hear his name come draft night.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/quentin-grimes-looking-to-take-draft-combine-momentum-to-the-nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quentin Grimes, Houston</a> 
In 2018, Quentin Grimes was Texas' Mr. Basketball, a McDonald&rsquo;s All-American and one of the top-rated high school players in the country. Prior to his freshman season at Kansas, most would have expected Grimes to be a one-and-done and a likely lottery pick. However, that&rsquo;s not how things played out for Grimes. Instead, he had a rocky freshman season that led him to transfer to Houston. There, Grimes reinvented himself with the help of head coach Kelvin Sampson. Now 21 years old, Grimes was able to show that he has <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/quentin-grimes-looking-to-take-draft-combine-momentum-to-the-nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">matured and developed</a> under Sampson&rsquo;s tutelage. A strong 6-foot-5 wing with a high basketball IQ, strong defensive abilities and a much-improved outside shot, Grimes has gone from being a high-profile prospect, to being written off, to now being right back on everyone&rsquo;s radar.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/big-board/players/joe-wieskamp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Wieskamp, Iowa</a> 
After measuring at 6-foot, 5.75 inches without shoes with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, and recording an incredible 42-inch max vertical, Joe Wieskamp from the Iowa Hawkeyes can easily be considered one of the winners of the physical testing at the NBA Draft Combine. However, his success wasn&rsquo;t limited there, as he was terrific on the court as well.
In one game, he scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while shooting 6-for-7 from three-point range. Prior to the Combine, he was considered a fringe draft pick; now, I&rsquo;d consider him likely to be drafted. At this point, I don&rsquo;t think anyone would question that a shooter like Wieskamp -- who is capable of shooting at a high rate on the move and has positional size and athleticism -- has a place in the NBA.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out Matt Babcock's 2021 NBA Mock Draft (with a full scouting report on each player) here.</a>

Matt Babcock shares his thoughts on which prospects' stocks have risen stemming from the 2021 NBA Draft Combine.

2021 NBA Draft Combine Recap: 7 prospects who stood out

In order to best quantify the salary that players should be making based on their performance, former Rosenhaus Sports vice president of basketball operations and NBA agent Joshua Ebrahim has spent the last 20 months developing a new platform called <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athletes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ProFitX</a>. According to Ebrahim, ProFitX is the sports industry&rsquo;s first-ever comprehensive real-time financial and performance index powered by artificial intelligence.
One feature is <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract Value</a>, which creates a monetary value based on a player's on-court performance and skill-set.
Oftentimes when we talk about teams and salaries, the conversation is dominated by which team overpaid a free agent and players who haven't produced enough to justify their contracts (in some people's opinion). But which players have outperformed their current contract the most?
BasketballNews.com already assembled a roundtable regarding the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/roundtable-which-nba-contract-is-the-biggest-bargain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biggest bargain deals in the NBA</a>, but for this exercise, we'll take a more data-driven approach this (using <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract Value</a>).
We'll begin this two-part series with the Eastern Conference.
(Due to the frequency of rookie-scale deals undervaluing young talents, we will exclude them from this series. We will also have a minimum requirement of 40 games played.)
Atlanta Hawks: Brandon Goodwin - $1,701,593 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3057198/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $5,329,117 (+213.18%)
The undrafted Norcross, Georgia native has stepped up in a big way this season, particularly when pacing the Hawks sans Trae Young. In the three games he played at least 30 minutes, Goodwin has averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He has recently been relegated to a reserve role with the addition of Lou Williams and Kris Dunn&rsquo;s return from injury, but was paramount for Atlanta in the months of January and April.
Boston Celtics: Tristan Thompson - $9,258,000 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/6474/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $10,024,192 (+8.28%)
It is difficult to quantify Thompson&rsquo;s value on the floor with traditional statistics. He is a hustling extraordinaire that fights for every loose ball, does the little things in the paint and isn&rsquo;t afraid to take a defensive challenge, particularly on switches. He&rsquo;s also well-versed as a rolling big, and leads the Celtics with 215 screen assists. Thompson&rsquo;s most redeeming ability, however, is his ability to snatch rebounds and provide extra possessions.
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Brooklyn Nets: Jeff Green - $2,564,753 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3209/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $11,835,871 (+361.46%)
Aside from the somewhat surprising rim-crushing dunks he&rsquo;s had at the ripe age of 34, Green has been as steady as any veteran player in the NBA. Considering his professionalism, production on both ends and his versatility in general, It&rsquo;s kind of perplexing as to why he hasn&rsquo;t been able to cash in on his long-term value before this season. The Nets are his eighth team in the past seven seasons, and all of his deals have been for one year, and in Houston it was originally a 10-day contract. In addition to his defensive skills, Green is a reliable locker room guy and a tremendously-improved three-point shooter (39.5%) who is playing the most minutes of his career since the 2018-19 season, so he should be able to get a solid deal in the offseason with a contending team if he doesn&rsquo;t return to Brooklyn.
Charlotte Hornets: Jalen McDaniels - $1,517,981 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/4066731/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $6,050,304 (+298.58%)
McDaniels had his two-way contract quickly converted into a standard deal the year he was drafted, so it doesn&rsquo;t quite count as a rookie-scale. Though the Gordon Hayward injury was a setback to the team, the 23-year-old has not taken his uptick of minutes for granted. Since April 4, McDaniels is averaging 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and a steal in a career-high 26.8 minutes per contest. He is a rangy defender at 6-foot-9, closing out perimeter shots, staying disciplined, playing passing lanes and, offensively, running the floor and being ready to catch and shoot.
Chicago Bulls: Ryan Arcidiacono - $3,000,000 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/2991047/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $5,962,929 (+98.76%)
Arcidiacono barely meets the minimum requirement for this exercise with 42 games played (and only 10 minutes per game), and he hasn&rsquo;t quite been the sharpshooter he&rsquo;s been over the past two seasons with Chicago -- and usually shooters need to get reps in order to get into a rhythm. However, according to InStat, he has defended pick-and-rolls (0.86 PPP), catch-and-shoot (0.82 PPP) and catch-and-drive situations (0.72) at a respectable rate.&nbsp;
Cleveland Cavaliers: Dean Wade - $1,517,981 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3912848/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $8,441,563 (+456.10%)
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Did you know that the most successful starting lineup the Cavs have thrown out includes Wade? The quintet of Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen and Wade are 4-1 together. It&rsquo;s largely due to the spacing that the stretch-four provides, and his long-distance sweet spots are in both corners (51.2%) and the left elbow (40%). He&rsquo;s also a solid rebounder, as evidenced by his recent 19-point, 12-rebound career night vs. the Indiana Pacers. Wade started out as an undrafted two-way contract player and worked his way into an every night rotation player, and that&rsquo;s admirable.
Detroit Pistons: Frank Jackson - $77,250 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/4065651/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $12,215,306 (+15712.69%)
At the beginning of the season, Troy Weaver inked the former New Orleans Pelicans guard to a two-way contract. Prior to midseason, Jackson&rsquo;s minutes were sporadic; since that point, it was full-speed ahead. From March 15 and on, Jackson has played over 22 minutes per game, starting in six of those. He&rsquo;s averaged 12 points and has knocked down 41.6% of his threes, and defensively has navigated screens on the outside to defend hand-offs well.
Indiana Pacers: Edmond Sumner - $2,160,000 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3136485/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $10,915,772 (+405.36%)
While there may have been more turmoil than expected in Indianapolis, the emergence of Sumner has been an extreme bright spot for the Pacers. He brings a real physicality and has that dog in him, truly, on both ends of the floor. He&rsquo;s a savant in transition (1.31 PPP), a just-under-40% three-baller and a dependable option in the team&rsquo;s rotation -- so much that he&rsquo;s started 19 out of Indiana&rsquo;s last 20 games. Mighty impressive for anybody, but especially a No. 52 overall selection four years ago.
Miami Heat: Gabe Vincent - $77,250 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3137259/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $5,184,257 (+6,611.01%)
Due to Miami getting everybody back, Vincent&rsquo;s role has shrunk. But early in the season, with the Heat ravaged by health and safety protocols, injuries and inconsistencies, Vincent had the opportunity to play big minutes. In his first two career starts against the Philadelphia 76ers, he scored 45 points, dished out 11 assists and hit 34.5% of his 23 attempted triples in over 70 minutes of action. Following that game, his usage decreased, as did his output. Defense is his specialty, though, fighting away from the ball to stick to his man and defend out on the perimeter.&nbsp;
Milwaukee Bucks: Jeff Teague - $808,073 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/4015/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $9,183,063 (+1036.42%)
Teague began the season as a backup point guard for the Celtics; as soon as he started to find a rhythm with his new team, Boston dealt him to the Orlando Magic, where he was waived. So what did he do next? Reunited with his old friend Mike Budenholzer. Up to this point, Teague has played the role of a playmaker off the bench for the Bucks; it is of note that he has played fewer than 10 minutes over the last three games, but that could be just resting a vet for the postseason push. He&rsquo;s scored in double figures six times with Milwaukee as well, including a 19-point, 6-assist performance on April 9.
New York Knicks: Taj Gibson - $1,442,968 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3986/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $8,269,682 ($473.10%)
The Knicks have an old-school feel under Tom Thibodeau&rsquo;s direction. Could it be because he&rsquo;s got his former Bulls with him? Gibson has proven that his gas tank isn&rsquo;t anywhere near empty, with a career-best 66.7% True Shooting percentage and a 2.1 Defensive Box Plus-Minus. He is a burly stalwart who makes sound rotations, has great awareness and grabs key rebounds, including those oh-so-important cleanups.
Orlando Magic: Dwayne Bacon - $1,678,854 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3907821/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $12,848,836 (+665.83%)
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Bacon seemingly comes out of nowhere with multiple big-time scoring stretches every year. Under Steve Clifford for the second time in his career, the fourth-year swingman has averaged a career-high 11.2 points on 10.1 field goal attempts per night, as well as over three rebounds a game. Bacon loves to get into the pull-up mid-range, and his lengthy frame allows him to get to his spots.
Philadelphia 76ers: Furkan Korkmaz - $1,762,796 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3929325/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $15,251,267 (+765.17%)
Korkmaz signed a two-year minimum deal in 2019 after the Sixers declined his third-year team option on his original rookie deal. While he&rsquo;s been nursing an ankle injury as of late, the Turkish flamethrower has been a regular member of Philadelphia&rsquo;s rotation for the past two seasons. He&rsquo;s always ready to fire in the corner, and is anything but bashful when it comes to attempting shots off the catch that come his way.&nbsp;
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Toronto Raptors: DeAndre&rsquo; Bembry - $1,737,145 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3062667/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $6,449,471 (+271.27%)
With the Raptors thinned out by injuries, protocols and generally poor luck, Bembry had the opportunity to showcase his jack-of-all-trades skill set. Despite his shortcomings as a shooter, he does a lot of things well that don&rsquo;t show up in the box score with hustle plays and stout defense. He forces turnovers, gets out on the break and finishes. He&rsquo;s also a solid cutter and possesses quite a bit of athleticism.
Washington Wizards: Garrison Mathews - $77,250 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3913180/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $6,450,182 (+8249.75%)
It&rsquo;s not easy when rotations aren&rsquo;t consistent, but when Scott Brooks started Mathews for 21 games straight between Feb. 12 and March 25, he gave the Wizards a consistent three-point threat every time he was out on the floor. A solid catch-shooter, he drained a 43.8% perimeter clip during that span. That&rsquo;s a huge deal with Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal drawing the attention they do. While he has been in and out of the rotation as of late, that deserves plenty of praise for an undrafted mid-major player on a two-way contract.

Spencer Davies uses ProFitX to provide a team-by-team look at what players are outperforming their contract value the most in the East.

Joshua