Tigers

Blake Stern previews the NBA's Central Division, breaking down each team's projected lineup and burning question entering the year.

NBA Central Division Preview: Burning questions, rotation projections

Following a 12-year NBA career, Shareef Abdur-Rahim retired from basketball on September 22, 2008. The former All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and No. 3 overall pick averaged 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds over the course of 836 NBA games.
After his playing days, Abdur-Rahim spent five years as an assistant coach and assistant general manager with the Sacramento Kings, then served as the general manager of the NBA G League&rsquo;s Reno Bighorns. From there, he spent two years working in the NBA league office.
All of these jobs helped prepare him for his current role: president of the NBA G League. Over the last four years, the 46-year-old has helped the G League grow &ndash; from the launch of the G League Ignite to the league&rsquo;s expansion into Mexico with the addition of the Mexico City Capitanes (the first G League team outside of the United States and Canada).&nbsp;
Abdur-Rahim opened up to Basketball News about the G League&rsquo;s growth, the league&rsquo;s decision to acquire the Capitanes, what his job entails and much more.
The G League acquired the Mexico City Capitanes from the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional. What went into the decision to add the Capitanes to the G League?
Shareef Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;Starting broader, there&rsquo;s the ongoing commitment that the NBA has had to Latin America and Mexico City. [Tonight] is the 31st game that the NBA has brought to Mexico, and there&rsquo;s an overall commitment of developing players and developing basketball there &ndash; we have an NBA Academy there. So, I think that was really the start, just the commitment that the NBA has had over the years to Mexico and Latin America.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Then, from a G League perspective, we are flexible and positioned in a way where we can add a team. The process of doing that isn&rsquo;t as extensive as it is [in the NBA] &ndash; even though it&rsquo;s been a lot of work. We can add a team and have a permanent residency in Mexico City in a way that maybe right now the NBA can&rsquo;t. It just made a lot of sense and, so far, it&rsquo;s been going really well. We&rsquo;re really proud of the opportunity we have with Capitanes."
As you mentioned, tonight will be the 31st NBA game in Mexico City, and today marks the 30th anniversary of the NBA&rsquo;s first-ever game there. How have the local fans responded to the Capitanes and has the G League become more popular in Mexico?
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;Everything points to it being positive. It&rsquo;s early, so it&rsquo;s hard to say the total impact and the numbers and that sort of thing. But you think of having 50 games broadcast in Mexico [and the impact that has]. Attendance has been strong. Merchandise of the Capitanes is selling well and setting records in the G League, setting a new tone for what teams can do with merchandise. Last year, when they weren&rsquo;t in Mexico City, you had fans traveling to the United States to support the team. Not to mention, the size of the market and everything we can do there. It&rsquo;s early, but all of the early indicators are extremely positive and point to there being a lot of excitement and support around the team.&rdquo;
(Editor&rsquo;s Note: The Capitanes&rsquo; home debut drew a crowd of 7,391 fans, which is the largest home-opener crowd in the G League since 2019.)
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Does the G League hope to continue expanding and adding more international teams in the near future?
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not something that I&rsquo;ll close the door on. But I can say: there aren&rsquo;t a ton of markets &ndash; maybe Canada &ndash; where you have the travel ease. Mexico comes with some challenges, but [it&rsquo;s somewhere] our teams can get to. I wouldn&rsquo;t close the door on it, but it&rsquo;s not something that we&rsquo;re focused on at the moment.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The G League is known for getting creative and trying new things, especially in recent years &ndash; from creating the G League Ignite, to acquiring the Capitanes, to experimenting with different rules. Are there any other creative ideas you guys are actively considering?&nbsp;
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;This year, all of our overtime games have the final target score &ndash; the first team to 7 is the winner. That&rsquo;s just innovation and trying things and experimenting with rules; that&rsquo;s kinda the lifeblood and DNA of the G League. It&rsquo;s something that we always want to look at and try to do. We want to be a little bit different. That&rsquo;s always a part of what we do, and we&rsquo;ll keep doing that. Historically, a lot of that [experimenting] has been based on basketball rules, but we want to continue to push the envelope from a business and fan-engagement standpoint as well.&rdquo;
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You were named the president of the NBA G League in 2018, and the league has seemingly made huge strides over the last four years. From when you took over to now, what are your thoughts on the G League&rsquo;s growth and how far it has come?
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited about it, but I think we&rsquo;re still just scratching the surface as far as what we can be. I&rsquo;m just looking forward to us continuing to grow, continuing to try new things and continuing to be bigger and stronger as a basketball league, but also an overall business.&rdquo;
The G League Ignite have attracted top prospects and helped them become top picks in the NBA Draft. What are your thoughts on the Ignite and the success they&rsquo;ve had?
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re really proud of them. I think there have been something like eight NBA draft picks and 10 players overall who are in the NBA. And I think we&rsquo;ve got another good group this year. I&rsquo;m really proud of what we&rsquo;ve been able to do with the Ignite and what they mean to the G League and the opportunity we&rsquo;ve been able to give young players.&rdquo;
You played in the NBA for more than a decade, and then you worked as an NBA assistant coach, an NBA assistant GM and a G League GM before becoming president of the G League. How did your time as a player, coach and executive help prepare you for your current role in the G League?
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;I think those jobs all prepared me in different ways for this role and kinda giving me context about the G League. They definitely prepared me, man. And they positioned me and set me up to learn and grow. Some of my skills and the information I have come from my past, and then there was a lot that was left for me to learn and get up-to-speed with, and that&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;ve tried to focus on and do.&rdquo;
Can you share what a typical day is like for you and what your job as NBA G League president entails?&nbsp;
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;A typical day ranges from speaking to our G League team presidents and owners about how we continue to grow the G League and grow our game, to visiting markets and those sort of things, to meeting with our business partners &ndash; be it someone like The General Insurance, who is a new partner, or someone like ESPN, who is a more established partner. I think of myself like the chief advocate of the G League &ndash; telling our story, communicating the vision and sharing the prospects of our league.&nbsp;
&ldquo;And then there is the stuff that&rsquo;s fun like watching basketball, talking about basketball. [Having conversations like], &lsquo;What&rsquo;s the future of basketball?&rsquo; Thinking of how we can continue to make the league better for our players. Our players are unionized now, so there&rsquo;s now an element of my day where I&rsquo;m co-existing with and working in partnership with the players&rsquo; union. It&rsquo;s all of that. There are some standard meetings and stuff that we do, but every day has a level of variety and I enjoy that.&rdquo;
Do you have goals going forward &ndash; either individually or for the G League as a whole?
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;Yeah, I think we kind of go through a [goal-setting] process as a league, and my goals are all pretty much connected to our league. For one, we want to continue to be the best place in the world to develop and prepare for the NBA. I know people hear that and think of players, but it&rsquo;s really for all people at this point &ndash; coaches, officials, business people, operations people, media, everything. We want to continue to establish that pipeline even more. We think we have something really exciting and special with the G League when we look at how the talent in the league is evolving and our connection to the NBA, so we want to continue to sell that story and build our audience. I think that telling our story and sharing that message [is important] along with continuing to build up our teams. The success at our team level and, locally, engaging with communities and having 30 strong teams is important, so we want to continue to do that. And we want to keep trying new things. Try to do things in a way that distinguishes the G League in its own way, so it is its own brand. That&rsquo;s what we want to do.&rdquo;
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I feel like there used to be a stigma that came with playing in the G League, especially if you were a top pick or a veteran player. Now, there are so many players with G League experience and it feels like that stigma is gone, which is great. Why do you think that is?
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;Well, I think it&rsquo;s two things. For one, I think players have seen so many examples of players who have had success &ndash; guys like Jeremy Lin, Seth Curry, Khris Middleton and all of our alumni. There are stories every year of players who start in some form in the G League and then elevate, so we&rsquo;ve become a real option for players and not something that&rsquo;s looked down upon. And then I think the integration with the NBA &ndash; with so many NBA teams owning G League teams and being connected to their G League team and truly integrating and seeing value in their G League team &ndash; has just improved the experience. Without a doubt, NBA teams know and understand the talent in the G League and have continued to invest in the G League, so the experience for players continues to get better, the coaching continues to get better and the opportunities for players continue to get better. As a league, we continue to try to improve the quality of life and the opportunity and the platform [for players] &ndash; from the number of teams, to the number of nationally televised games, to adding international games, to having higher salaries, to having more opportunities to get called up or signed to the NBA. All of that has just changed the idea of the G League and we want to continue to build on that.
&ldquo;This is a really exciting time for the G League. We have 30 teams for the first time &ndash; the 28 teams that are connected to NBA teams and then the two independent teams that have their own focuses and purposes &ndash; the international team in Mexico and the [Ignite] for young players. If you look at the young talent across our league, I think it&rsquo;s really a changing dynamic of our league where it&rsquo;s not just the players who have been overlooked anymore; now, we have these young, exciting players that NBA teams have assigned. We&rsquo;ve had 14 first-round picks get assigned [this season], from Washington&rsquo;s Johnny Davis to Charlotte&rsquo;s Mark Williams. In the past, lottery picks weren&rsquo;t really assigned to the G League, [but that&rsquo;s changing]. You also have the younger players who are sort of in-between like Sharife Cooper, Mac McClung &ndash; really good players who are just on the cusp &ndash; to experienced players like Jahlil Okafor, Norris Cole who are waiting to see what their next opportunity will be. I think it&rsquo;s just a really exciting time for our league and we want to continue to elevate it and tell our story.&rdquo;
You&rsquo;ve been very successful since retiring. What advice would you give to active players who are approaching retirement?
Abdur-Rahim: &ldquo;If possible, I think it starts earlier than retirement. People tell you this forever, but just know that your time as a player will end, so try to be curious and try to learn as much as you can and don&rsquo;t just limit yourself to just what you do on the court. There&rsquo;s so much that&rsquo;s going on around the game, so try to be curious about that and build relationships. And then, take your time to really find where your path is and what things you want to contribute beyond just being on the court. I think those are some of the really important things. Start early if you can. Be curious and learn as much as you can. Always value relationships &ndash; the same people I dealt with as a player are a lot of times the same people that I&rsquo;m dealing with in my role now. It is a transition, but be open to continue learning and don&rsquo;t be afraid of it.&rdquo;

NBA G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim opens up about the league's growth, international expansion and more.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim on NBA G League's growth, Ignite's success, more

PHILADELPHIA (AP) &mdash; Joel Embiid and James Harden were done with their preseason debuts long before Montrezl Harrell scored the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds left, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat Cleveland 113-112 on Wednesday night in Donovan Mitchell's first game with the Cavaliers.
Embiid had 12 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes before taking a seat after halftime. Harden played 19 minutes and scored nine points, going 3 of 9 from the field but adding five assists.
Tyrese Maxey, who had 20 points in Monday&rsquo;s win over the Nets, continued his good start to the preseason, leading Philadelphia with 21 points in the first half. He went 9 of 11, making all three of his 3-pointers. Harrell, who signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia during the offseason, scored 13 points.
Mitchell scored 16 points in his first game since being traded from Utah, while Darius Garland and Raul Neto each had 12. Dean Wade and Sharife Cooper finished with 11 points apiece.
Cleveland played without second-year big man Evan Mobley, who is expected to be out a couple of weeks with a right ankle sprain suffered this week.
The Cavaliers got an optimistic glimpse of the backcourt tandem of Mitchell with Garland in the first half. Mitchell was 6 of 9 for the game, including 3 of 4 from outside the arc to go with five assists. Garland, meanwhile, made 4 of 7 shots and handed out four assists.
Shake Milton had 12 points for Philadelphia, while De&rsquo;Anthony Melton, picked up from Memphis in a draft night trade, had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
DOC UNDER THE WEATHER
Doc Rivers was absent from the game with an undisclosed illness. Assistant coach Dave Joerger, who has head coaching experience with the Grizzlies and the Kings, ran the club.
PACERS 122; HORNETS 97
Aaron Nesmith scored 16 points, rookie Benedict Mathurin, the No. 6 pick in the draft from Arizona, added 15 and Indiana beat Charlotte. Isaiah Jackson finished with 13 points, while Myles Turner and Chris Duarte contributed 12 points apiece. Mathurin was 5 of 10 from the field, despite missing all four of his 3-pointers over 19 minutes.
Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 18 points and P.J. Washington finished with 13. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 11 points and nine rebounds, while LeMelo Ball scored 12 points and handed out seven assists.
RAPTORS 125; CELTICS 119, OT
Pascal Siakam and Precious Achiuwa scored 13 points apiece and Toronto used an early burst in overtime to beat Boston.
Josh Jackson also had 13 points for the Raptors. Siakam recorded six rebounds and Achiuwa seven boards as the Raptors improved to 2-0 in the preseason.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 23 points and Sam Hauser had 22, connecting on 8 of 12 shots, including 5 of 8 from outside the arc. Jayson Tatum finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, now 1-1 in the preseason.
Payton Pritchard scored 17 points and had five assists
The teams were tied at 110 at the end of regulation after Jeff Dowtin (10 points) converted a 9-footer for the Raptors. Pritchard&rsquo;s 18-footer was off the mark as time in regulation ran out, sending the game to the extra period.
The Raptors outscored the Celtics 11-4 to open overtime and never relinquished the lead.
MAVERICKS 98; THUNDER 96
Jaden Hardy scored 21 points, Christian Wood finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Dallas used a fourth-quarter rally to beat Oklahoma City.
Dwight Powell finished with 13 points and five rebounds for the Mavericks in their opening game of the preseason.
Josh Giddey led the Thunder with 13 points, shooting 6 for 10. Rookie Jalen Williams, the 12th overall pick out of Santa Clara, finished with 10 points.

The 76ers beat Cleveland 113-112 on Wednesday night in Donovan Mitchell's first game with the Cavaliers.

Embiid, Harden help 76ers top Cavs in Mitchell's debut

Nekias Duncan thoroughly breaks down all five teams in the Central Division ahead of the 2022-23 season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Central Division

The Atlanta Hawks have waived point guard Sharife Cooper, the team announced today.
Last year, the Hawks selected Cooper with the No. 48 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Cooper didn't play much during his rookie season in Atlanta, averaging just 3.0 minutes per game across 13 appearances. &nbsp;
However, he did play 22 games in the NBA G League last season, averaging 17.1 points, 6.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 threes and 1.0 steal, while shooting 43.1% from the field, 36.1% from three and 90.7% from the free-throw line.
Recently, Cooper struggled during NBA Summer League action in Las Vegas, which likely factored into the Hawks' decision. Across&nbsp;five Summer League games, Cooper averaged just 4.4 points, 4.2 assists, 1.2 rebounds, 0.4 steals and 0.4 threes, while shooting just 18.9% from the field, 18.2% from three and 66.7% from the free-throw line. This was a major step back from his Summer-League production as a rookie, when he averaged 14.8 points, 7.3 assists and 1.3 threes on .463/.333/.667 shooting splits.&nbsp;
Cooper is now an unrestricted free agent.&nbsp;

The Atlanta Hawks have waived point guard Sharife Cooper, the team announced today.

Hawks waive Sharife Cooper after Summer League struggles

It's been nearly one month since the NBA's free-agency period got underway, and most of the notable players have already been signed. However, there are still a handful of available players.
Here's a look at the remaining free agents:&nbsp;
COLLIN SEXTON, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Collin Sexton injured his left knee last November, and an MRI revealed a torn meniscus that required season-ending surgery. The market has dried up for Sexton, and his best bet may be re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers on the qualifying offer (worth $7.2 million) and then hitting unrestricted free agency next summer. During the 2020-21 season, Sexton averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists while shooting 47.5% from the floor, 37.5% from downtown and 81.5% from the free-throw line. However, he struggled defensively, and the Cavs registered a league-worst 60-159 record over the first three years of his career. With Sexton out of action last season, Darius Garland emerged as an All-Star and the 44-38 Cavs made the Play-In Tournament.
MILES BRIDGES, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Miles Bridges is coming off a breakout season, averaging a career-high 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 threes and 0.9 steals. It seemed like the forward was due for a massive pay raise and Charlotte Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak even said that the team was going to re-sign him. However, that was before Bridges was arrested for domestic violence on the eve of free agency. Bridges' wife, Mychelle Johnson, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1542723880619581440/photo/4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently spoke out</a> about Bridges' alleged abuse and documented her serious injuries. Not only has this situation understandably scared teams away, it's also very possible that the NBA will suspend Bridges.
MONTREZL HARRELL, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Montrezl Harrell just delivered another productive and efficient season as a reserve, averaging 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 23.1 minutes, while shooting 64.5% from the field. Harrell started the season with the Washington Wizards and then got traded to the Charlotte Hornets prior to the deadline. However, it's worth noting that the 28-year-old is facing felony drug charges after officers claimed to find three pounds of marijuana in his car during a traffic stop back in May. That's likely why the former Sixth Man of the Year is still available.
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DENNIS SCHRODER, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Last offseason, Dennis Schroder signed with the Boston Celtics at a significant discount. After struggling during the first half of the season, he was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Daniel Theis. He finished last season averaging 13.5 points, 4.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 threes per game, while shooting 43.1% from the field, 34.4% from three-point range and 85.3% from the free-throw line.
HASSAN WHITESIDE, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Hassan Whiteside is a solid backup center who protects the rim. Last season, while backing up Rudy Gobert on the Utah Jazz, he averaged 8.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 17.9 minutes per game. In eight starts, the 33-year-old averaged 11.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while shooting 63.5% from the field.
CARMELO ANTHONY, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Last season, 37-year-old put up 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 threes, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals in 26.0 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Lakers. In recent years, he has shot the ball much better from three-point range, knocking down 37.5% of his three-point attempts last year and 40.9% from deep the year before. Anthony has been working out with his son, Kiyan, at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas as he prepares for next season.
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Carmelo Anthony (<a href="https://twitter.com/carmeloanthony?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carmeloanthony</a>) working out at <a href="https://twitter.com/impactbball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@impactbball</a> in Las Vegas: <a href="https://t.co/Rnz8Bam7EO">pic.twitter.com/Rnz8Bam7EO</a>
&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1547693404414365702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2022</a></blockquote>

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DEMARCUS COUSINS, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Cousins became a key contributor after joining the Denver Nuggets in February, averaging 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per contest. He looked great at times during the playoffs too, scoring an efficient 19 points in 15 minutes during Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors. The 31-year-old can still help a team.
&ldquo;I belong in this league,&rdquo; Cousins said after Denver was eliminated. &ldquo;I was given the opportunity; I'm thankful for Mike Malone. I spoke with him before. A lot of doors closed for me. Mike looked out, gave me an opportunity. I just tried to take the best advantage of it as I could. That's what I did.&rdquo;
JEREMY LAMB, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Last season, the Indiana Pacers traded Lamb to the Sacramento Kings as part of the Domantas Sabonis deal. In 56 games, Lamb averaged 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 three in 16.7 minutes a night. The 30-year-old struggled with his shot, knocking down just 38.3% of his attempts from the field and 32.4% of his threes (after shooting 45.1% from the field and 40.6% from three the previous year).&nbsp;
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TRISTAN THOMPSON, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Last season, Thompson suited up for the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls, averaging 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game. At this stage of his career, the 31-year-old is a solid backup big man who can provide frontcourt depth.
ANDRE IGUODALA, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Last season, Iguodala rejoined the Golden State Warriors, averaging 4.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks in 19.5 minutes across 31 games. At this stage of his career, the 38-year-old is mainly a veteran leader and strong locker-room presence, but he can still produce in limited reserve minutes. Don't be surprised if he re-signs with Golden State.
HONORABLE MENTION: LaMarcus Aldridge (UFA), Wayne Ellington (UFA), Blake Griffin (UFA), Markieff Morris (UFA), Isaiah Thomas (UFA), DJ Augustin (UFA), Sharife Cooper (UFA), Dwight Howard (UFA), Rajon Rondo (UFA), Jordan Nwora (RFA), Lou Williams (UFA), Eric Bledsoe (UFA), Juan Hernangomez (UFA), Josh Jackson (UFA), Duane Washington Jr. (UFA), Paul Millsap (UFA), Eric Paschall (UFA), Moses Brown (UFA), Jarrett Culver (UFA), Rodney Hood (UFA), Avery Bradley (UFA), Kent Bazemore (UFA), Michael Carter-Williams (UFA), Brandon Goodwin (UFA), Tony Snell (UFA), Ben McLemore (UFA), Langston Galloway (UFA), Elfrid Payton (UFA)

Nearly one month into the NBA's free-agency period, which players are still available?

2022 NBA Free Agency: Which players are still available?

JD Davison had 28 points and 10 assists, Juhann Begarin added 19 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Memphis Grizzlies 108-91 on Thursday for their third straight victory in the NBA Summer League.
Davison, the 53rd pick in the draft, made 5 of 6 field goals in the first half and scored 19 points to help Boston (3-1) take a 51-39 lead. Davison finished 9 of 14 overall, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
Justin Jackson added 16 points, Brodric Thomas had 13, and Trevion Williams finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Ziaire Williams scored 21 points for Memphis (2-2). David Roddy and Kenny Lofton Jr. each had 16 points. The Grizzlies were just 3 of 20 from distance.
HAWKS 87, SPURS 86
Tyson Etienne scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half, including a <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1547700565617938437">go-ahead layup with 14.3 seconds left</a>, and Atlanta handed San Antonio its fourth straight loss.
Atlanta (2-2) scored 14 straight points to make it 85-81 with two minutes remaining.
Sharife Cooper added 15 points and Tyrese Martin scored 13 for Atlanta.
Blake Wesley scored 20 points for San Antonio (0-4).
CAVALIERS 82, PISTONS 79
Cameron Young scored 15 points, RJ Nembhard Jr. added 14 and Cleveland beat Detroit.
Stanley Umude made a layup with 58 seconds left to give Detroit its first lead, 77-76, since 7-5. Ochai Agbaji made two free throws at the other end as Cleveland retook the lead with 45.3 left. The Cavaliers made 6 of 6 free throws in the final minute and Young blocked a 3-point attempt in the final seconds.
Agbaji had 12 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland (2-2).
Jules Bernard scored 14 points for Detroit (2-2).
The Pistons missed their first 12 3-pointers until Braxton Key beat the halftime buzzer to cut Cleveland's lead to 45-26. The Pistons had 13 turnovers and just 10 field goals in the first half.
BULLS 89, HORNETS 73
Dalen Terry scored 20 points, Marko Simonovic had 17 points, 13 rebounds and four assists and Chicago eased past Charlotte.
Malcolm Hill and Makur Maker each scored 11 points for Chicago (3-1).
Bryce McGowens led Charlotte (2-2) with 15 points. Jalen Crutcher and JT Thor had 10 points apiece.
KNICKS 102, MAGIC 89
Miles McBride had 23 points and five assists, Quentin Grimes scored 22 with six rebounds and New York breezed past Orlando.
Jericho Sims, the only pick the Knicks (3-1) haven't traded away in the last two drafts, added 12 points and 10 rebounds. New York, which will have three protected first-round picks in next year's draft, chose Sims with the 58th selection (out of 60) in the 2021 draft.
Tommy Kuhse had 25 points and five steals to pace the Magic (2-2). Justin James scored 16 and Zavier Simpson added 10 points and nine assists.
Paolo Banchero, the top pick in this year's draft, was among eight Orlando players who did not play.
BUCKS 100, MAVERICKS 89
Lindell Wigginton scored 25 points, Sandro Mamukelashvili added 19 and Milwaukee eased past Dallas.
Milwaukee (3-1) first-rounder MarJon Beauchamp &mdash; 24th overall and the Bucks' only pick &mdash; finished with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Moses Wright led Dallas (0-4) with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Jerrick Harding added 16 points and five assists.
TRAIL BLAZERS 85, ROCKETS 77
Keon Johnson hit four 3-pointers and scored 25 to lead Portland over Houston.
Second-round pick Jabari Walker had nine points and nine rebounds for Blazers (3-1).
No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith Jr. had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Rockets. Tari Eason &mdash; the 17th pick &mdash; added 17 points and seven boards. Daishen Nix scored 15.
NETS 102, TIMBERWOLVES 83
Cam Thomas scored 26 points, Day'Ron Sharpe added 20 points and 10 rebounds and Brooklyn rolled to a win over Minnesota.
Thomas made four 3-pointers for the Nets (2-2). Sharpe sank 8 of 10 shots and grabbed four offensive boards. David Duke Jr. totaled 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Kessler Edwards scored 15 with nine rebounds.
Wendell Moore Jr. led the Timberwolves (1-3) with 16 points. Josh Minott had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Kevon Harris and Terrell Brown Jr. each scored 10.

JD Davison had 28 points and 10 assists in Boston's third straight win in Summer League.

JD Davison leads Celtics past Grizzlies in Summer League play

NBA Summer League is a showcase for some of the top young talent in basketball. It also gives those on the fringes of the league a chance to break out, and reveal inspirational journeys of perseverance in the process.
Boston Celtics swingman Matt Ryan canned a game-winner on Monday to cap a performance I'll highlight in this roundup. But perhaps the best part came in his postgame interview:
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🎥: <a href="https://twitter.com/ASherrodblakely?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ASherrodblakely</a> asked Matt Ryan about how it feels to see his hard work starting to pay off. He got choked up a bit while reflecting on the fact that a year ago he was driving for Door Dash and know he&rsquo;s on a Celtics roster <a href="https://t.co/GBRk9ya2rQ">pic.twitter.com/GBRk9ya2rQ</a>
&mdash; 𝕂𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕚 𝔸. 𝕃𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕤 (@KwaniALunis) <a href="https://twitter.com/KwaniALunis/status/1546689627628589057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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For Ryan and dozens of professional hopefuls, Summer League can help alter the course of their careers and lives. Performances like these are worth saluting.
Here's who stood out from what I saw on Monday:&nbsp;
STUDS
Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans
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Trey Murphy dropped a 30-piece in the <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PelicansNBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> win!<a href="https://twitter.com/treymurphy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@treymurphy</a> 30 PTS (10-18 FGM) | 6 REB <a href="https://t.co/QesZWbUZM0">pic.twitter.com/QesZWbUZM0</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1546649262146129922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
Box score stats: 30 points, 6 rebounds, 10/18 FG, 3/6 3PT
Murphy put on a full scoring display to open the afternoon. The second-year forward impressed me particularly with how he reached the rim off the dribble, changing speeds and using ball-screens to get downhill. He's a lot bigger and stronger than I've given him credit for; he finished hard through contact multiple times.
Of course, Murphy also knocked down a few long three-pointers, which has been his calling card since entering the league. He's been one of the most impressive scorers at Summer League to date, and hopefully it helps Murphy carve his niche in a deep Pelicans rotation.
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
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Tari Eason dropped BUCKETS for the <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HoustonRockets</a> in their <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> win!<a href="https://twitter.com/TAR13ASON?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TAR13ASON</a>: 22 PTS, 11 REB, 2 STL, 2 BLK <a href="https://t.co/V9cMKqdDd2">pic.twitter.com/V9cMKqdDd2</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1546681252379611137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 9/16 FG, 2/3 3PT
If you want to call Eason the rookie MVP of the summer, I'd hear you out. The No. 17 overall pick seems to get better every game, and against the San Antonio Spurs, Eason unleashed his most prolific two-way performance.
His defense remains top-notch for a young player. Eason punctuated his effort with an awesome defensive rotation and block in the third quarter. Then on offense, he was scoring buckets as a rolling lob threat, an off-dribble driver and a corner shooter. I've reached the stage with Eason where I'm constantly reminding myself not to overreact about his talent.
Matt Ryan, Boston Celtics
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MATT RYAN! BALL GAME! <a href="https://t.co/y97v9OGUBK">pic.twitter.com/y97v9OGUBK</a>
&mdash; Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorcsnow/status/1546679203650732034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
Box score stats: 23 points, 2 steals, 7/12 FG, 6/11 3PT
Ryan was the hero in Boston's 111-109 win over Milwaukee thanks to his buzzer-beating three-pointer that included a twisted ankle in the process. But he caught fire throughout the contest. Ryan is excellent at relocating, and specifically earned some open looks when he capitalized on the chaos of an offensive rebound or loose ball.
Ryan played a grand total of five minutes with Boston last season after coming from the Grant Rapids Gold. With so many open roster spots, the Celtics could easily bring him back or sign him to a two-way contract.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Milwaukee Bucks
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WHAT IS THIS SANDRO MAMUKELASHVILI <a href="https://t.co/BqPLOUyS1C">pic.twitter.com/BqPLOUyS1C</a>
&mdash; Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevejones20/status/1546676214890364929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 28 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 9/19 FG, 3/5 3PT
Though the Bucks lost their matchup against Boston, they had two outstanding individual performances. The first came from Mamukelashvili, the No. 54 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Mamukelashvili only had a pair of assists, but I thought they were two signifcant reads: a corner dart to an open MarJon Beauchamp three-pointer, and a dump-off from a drive to AJ Green. They complemented a versatile scoring performance, and he went toe-to-toe with Boston's Mfiondu Kabengele in a great battle that might have ended with the above posterization.
I liked some of Mamukelashvili's defensive moments too. He stuck to Juhann Begarin, an athletic driving wing, and picked up 2 blocks. It was a pretty great all-around effort for a player who could give Milwaukee some quality frontcourt depth.
Lindell Wigginton, Milwaukee Bucks
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Keeping Up With The Canadians 🇨🇦 Lindell Wigginton | vs. Boston 24 POINTS 3 THREE POINTERS 5 REBOUNDS 5 ASSISTS<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bucks</a> <a href="https://t.co/LZM7jXZ1zA">pic.twitter.com/LZM7jXZ1zA</a>
&mdash; NBA Canada (@NBACanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBACanada/status/1546849359483924482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 8/13 FG, 3/7 3PT
Wigginton was throwing dimes all over the court. His 6 turnovers don't do Wigginton justice, as 2 of those were great passes that Wigginton's teammates simply mishandled. Wigginton assisted Mamukelashvili on three of his makes and also pushed the Bucks forward on fast breaks.
As a scorer, the second-year guard used ball-screens to find a lane or force a switch, which he punished twice with pull-up twos. Defenders sometimes went under screens, and Wigginton responded by drilling some high-arcing threes. He balanced creativity with poise as a lead guard.
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
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I could watch Chet Holmgren block shots all day long. <a href="https://t.co/jnXHPjfffH">pic.twitter.com/jnXHPjfffH</a>
&mdash; Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThunderFilmRoom/status/1546672039179833344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 7/10 FG, 2/4 3PT
As the above Tweet implies, we will be lucky to see the No. 2 pick swatting shots for a long, long time. Holmgren's incredible instincts and timing aren't any new revelation, but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate them over and over again.
Orlando did not defend Holmgren as a roller particularly well in this one, and he found some easy finishes as a result. He also hit the defense with a sweet step-back three and positions himself well for dump-offs from passers like Josh Giddey. The only area I'd nitpick is that he sometimes tried to do too much as a ball-handler and coughed up some turnovers. But why not try to get creative in this setting?
Other notable performers: Daishen Nix (Rockets), Jabari Smith Jr. (Rockets), Josh Christopher (Rockets), Malaki Branham (Spurs), MarJon Beauchamp (Bucks), Mfiondu Kabengele (Celtics), Justin James (Magic), AJ Lawson (Mavericks), Quentin Grimes (Knicks), Jabari Walker (Trail Blazers)
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DUDS
Sharife Cooper, Atlanta Hawks
Box score stats: 0 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 turnovers, 0/8 FG
It's been a really rough week for Cooper as an offensive player. He's made 1 of his 14 field goal attempts through two games, and there isn't much to be optimistic about with his scoring flashes. Cooper really struggled to create easy looks at the rim. There were times where he'd even beat his defender on a drive and have them pinned on his hip, but he lacked the vertical explosion and strength to turn the advantages into quality chances. His perimeter shot looked inconsistent and timid. Hopefully, Cooper can turn things around, because we've seen so much more from him in the past year.
Leandro Bolmaro, Utah Jazz
Box score stats: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3/12 FG, 0/2 3PT
The Jazz eked out a win over the Dallas Mavericks despite some ghastly individual shooting nights. Bolmaro was determined to attack the Mavs off the dribble. The aggression was great, but it often came with a low-quality shot because he could not beat a defender, or he would drive into a crowd. I do want to credit Dallas because the team collectively played great defense against Bolmaro. The former Minnesota T-Wolves swingman also missed some must-have layups that I'm not concerned about in the future.
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Caleb Houstan, Orlando Magic
Box score stats: 4 points, 1 steal, 1 block, 2/10 FG, 0/6 3PT
This is another dud performance that I wouldn't be concerned about long-term. Houstan spaced the floor extremely well, was active as a cutter and even displayed some confidence attacking closeouts. He just missed shots that he should make. Now, if you're a skeptic of Houstan as a shooter based on his time at Michigan, then maybe this outing means more to you. I'm a firm believer in Houstan being one of the more talented pure movement threats in this draft class, so an off night isn't a harbinger for me.
Tre Mann, Oklahoma City Thunder
Box score stats: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3/14 FG, 1/6 3PT
In a similar vein, Mann has proven from his flashes in the regular season that he's going to be an NBA-caliber scorer. Though Mann's Monday effort won't mean much in the long run, I felt he made some odd decisions on when to attack vs. settle/pass.
Sometimes ,Mann would try and make too much happen off the bounce against a stout Magic defense. On one other play, he had what appeared to be an easy rim attack, but hesitated and shot a three that ended up letting a defender back in the picture to contest. These are probably microscopic miscues, but I definitely want to monitor how Mann works alongside primary playmakers in Giddey and Jalen Williams.

Trey Murphy III poured in 30 points to lead Monday's top performances at NBA Summer League on Day 5.

10 studs and duds from Day 5 of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

Those who follow NBA Summer League embrace it for two reasons. Number one, it's a chance to revel in the next generation of basketball talent and establish a baseline for players as they develop. Secondly, it's just a wacky event.
We got sudden-death double overtime in Saturday's matchup between the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic, complete with a timeout call to run a set, an extended replay review and a chaotic final basket. The Thomas &amp; Mack Center turned into a playoff environment for a result roughly 2% of the attendees will remember a year from now.&nbsp;
But hey, le's enjoy the weird! Here are some of my standout picks from Day 3 action, including three players from the aformentioned Magic-Kings battle.
STUDS
Isaiah Joe, Philadelphia 76ers
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Isaiah Joe just went on a 9-0 run by himself. 🔥 (🎥: <a href="https://twitter.com/sixers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sixers</a>)<a href="https://t.co/e9UZJ8PAh4">pic.twitter.com/e9UZJ8PAh4</a>
&mdash; theScore (@theScore) <a href="https://twitter.com/theScore/status/1545874009996288000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 24 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 8/14 FG, 7/9 3PT
Joe unleashed an electric shot-making performance. He was constantly moving with and without the ball, flying around screens for three-pointers and slashing to the bucket as a cutter. But Joe also dazzled as a lead playmaker. He took Ron Harper Jr. off the dribble on one play and stopped on a dime for a pull-up from the left elbow.
We knew Joe was a scorer though. He further wowed me with how he defended, even forcing a jump ball when Toronto Raptors rookie center Christian Koloko tried to back him down on the low block. Joe entered the league at 165 pounds, and there's absolutely no way he's close to that now. The 2020 second-round pick looks and plays stronger than he did two years ago, and that might help him crack the 76ers' rotation.
Dalano Banton, Toronto Raptors
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Delano Banton beats the buzzer from 3 🎯 Watch Live on <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBATV</a> <a href="https://t.co/q77xfegBFc">pic.twitter.com/q77xfegBFc</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1545875403176296450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 6/11 FG, 2/3 3PT, 7/9 FT
Armoni Brooks led the Raptors in scoring and surged late in the game, but Banton impressed me most Saturday. Banton scored 14 points in the third quarter alone, as Toronto pulled away in a great game against the 76ers. The 6-foot-9 point guard had a couple of impressive takes to the basket and appeared more comfortable shooting beyond the arc after making just 25.5% of his threes in the regular season.
Banton also impressed me with his passing, and consistently applied pressure as the lead guard. On one possession, he drove into the paint, stopped, pivoted and hit Koloko on a wraparound bounce pass for an easy layup. He did have 7 turnovers, but Banton committed a few just because he was a bit too ambitious with his reads, which doesn't have to be a bad thing at Summer League.
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
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My favorite play from Paolo Banchero today. Cross court laser beam right on target <a href="https://t.co/cUkYpWUtX0">pic.twitter.com/cUkYpWUtX0</a>
&mdash; Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1545901796719075328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks, 6/15 FG
The No. 1 overall pick continues to turn heads. Banchero's passes, including the above video, were off the charts against the Kings. He kicked the ball out to the corners, made weak-side reads and threw a no-look dime to a backdoor-cutting Devin Cannady.&nbsp;
Banchero was also notably active defensively for a player with question-marks on that end during the pre-draft process. He picked up two monster help-defense blocks, one of which saved Orlando from a Kings dunk to end sudden-death overtime. It feels like Banchero gives Magic fans an element to get excited about every game.
Neemias Queta, Sacramento Kings
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Neemias Queta quick rotation to provide help and blocks the shot! <a href="https://t.co/LbP6NFWPR1">pic.twitter.com/LbP6NFWPR1</a>
&mdash; Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/AC__Hoops/status/1545865098476109831?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 8/12 FG, 1/1 3PT
The No. 39 pick from the 2021 NBA Draft made his case for a full contract after playing on a two-way deal as a rookie. At 7 feet tall and 245 pounds, Queta feasted against the smaller Magic frontcourt. He found success as a roll man and lob threat, and threw in a couple of putbacks. Queta attempted two threes all last season across the NBA and G League, so I understand the surprise when he canned a huge shot as part of Sacramento's miraculous comeback.&nbsp;
Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
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Mark Jones calling a Keegan Murray game-tying 3 like it&rsquo;s Game 7 of the finals: <a href="https://t.co/SajPPrL4OO">pic.twitter.com/SajPPrL4OO</a>
&mdash; Eli Hershkovich (@EliHershkovich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliHershkovich/status/1545894844756856837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 5/11 FG, 4/8 3PT
Murray is&nbsp;here as a shooter. His perimeter game looks so effortless, and he hit shots from a standstill and off movement over the contests of players like Banchero. Murray can square up to the basket so easily as he turns into a jump shot, and everything about his release is clean and consistent.
His other make came when he attacked a closeout and hit a pull-up from the free-throw line. I'd like to see if Murray can get to the rim more, but the Kings have used him mostly as a movement weapon, so he hasn't received many on-ball opportunities. Hopefully he gets some more reps as Summer League continues. Murray also had a pretty tough individual matchup against a bigger, stronger Banchero.
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
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From defense to offense, Jabari rips the ball from Chet which leads to a Tari Eason dunk 😮&zwj;💨 [F] <a href="https://t.co/xZo05Fnpsp">pic.twitter.com/xZo05Fnpsp</a>
&mdash; Courtside Fracas (@courtsidefracas) <a href="https://twitter.com/courtsidefracas/status/1545951348012769280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Box score stats: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 5/10 FG, 1/3 3PT
You could pick several Rockets players to highlight, including Josh Christopher and Daishen Nix. I want to spotlight Eason because he's been relentless on the glass, with double-digit boards in his last two games. The two steals and one block also understate how special of a defender he has been so far, both on the ball and in help.&nbsp;
On offense, we saw Eason thrive as a cutter and roller. He also knocked down a three-pointer, which is a major swing skill for his overall offensive impact. If Eason can hit threes at a manageable clip, he'll become an even more dangerous off-ball weapon.
Other notable performers: Armoni Brooks (Raptors), Jeff Dowtin Jr. (Raptors), Trendon Watford (Trail Blazers), Mychal Mulder (Heat), Marcus Garrett (Heat), Kenny Lofton Jr. (Grizzlies), Josh Christopher (Rockets), Daishen Nix (Rockets), Brandon Boston Jr. (Clippers), Isaiah Livers (Pistons), Jared Butler (Jazz), Jordan Schakel (Wizards), Trey Murphy III (Hornets)
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DUDS
Sam Hauser, Boston Celtics
Box score stats: 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2/12 FG, 1/9 3PT
Hauser signed a three-year deal with the Celtics after joining them on a two-way contract as an undrafted free agent last season. This wasn't an inspiring first effort under his new contract, as the second-year forward struggled against a Miami Heat defense that was prepared for his usage. Hauser couldn't consistently generate separation, and battled several strong contests.
I would chalk this up to successful Miami stoppage more than Hauser's own failures, but it's worth monitoring the looks he receives (and how he shoots them) moving forward.
Sharife Cooper, Atlanta Hawks
Box score stats: 3 points, 2 assists, 1/6 FG, 0/4 3PT
Cooper was a game-time decision for Saturday's contest and only played 18 minutes, so it's possible he was dealing with rust from an ailment. The 2021 second-round pick missed all of his three-point attempts. He showed improvement with a 35.9% clip in the G League last season, but Cooper isn't out of the woods on that shot being a valid concern.&nbsp;
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The point guard was also a non-threat at the rim, missing one shot badly and barely getting into the paint against a tough Utah Jazz defense. If there's an positive takeaway, Cooper put together some stronger defensive moments himself. But it was an underwhelming day for a young player with a real shot at claiming backup guard minutes this season.
Johnny Davis, Washington Wizards
Box score stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1/11 FG, 0/2 3PT
The No. 10 overall pick made his first shot, a tough fadeaway jumper through contact, and proceeded to miss his next 10. Most of them were just difficult, low-quality looks. Davis wasn't really a threat to pass, and settled for tough fadeaway jumpers, contested pull-ups and far-fetched rim attempts. I admired the physicality, but he just couldn't create anything easy for himself against a Detroit Pistons defense that guarded him tightly.&nbsp;
Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies
Box score stats: 4 points, 8 rebounds, 2/7 FG, 0/2 3PT
Memphis summer head coach David McClure had this to say about Aldama's performance on Saturday:
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David McClure on Santi Aldama: &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s in his head a little bit right now. He&rsquo;s at his best when he&rsquo;s just playing basketball. Maybe he&rsquo;s putting too much pressure on doing one thing or another. When he lets the game come to himself, that&rsquo;s when he&rsquo;s at his best.&rdquo;
&mdash; Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) <a href="https://twitter.com/DamichaelC/status/1545983746158891008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Aldama just looks like he's trying to fit too many roles on offense. His perimeter jumper was kind of a mess against the Los Angeles Clippers. Aldama seems best right now when he can cut and work as a connective passer instead of spacing the floor or running actions. It's just very difficult to envision what that role looks like with him, or how he can get those kinds of extended opportunities with Memphis. I'm still a believer in Aldama, but it's been a rocky road for one of the 2021 draft's most polarizing picks.&nbsp;

Isaiah Joe and Paolo Banchero highlighted the third day of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

10 studs and duds from Day 3 of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

The Atlanta Hawks had to face the burden of expectations in 2021-22.&nbsp;
Fresh off a surprise trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, Atlanta entered the season as a picturesque franchise with a mixture of realized star power and unrealized potential. Unfortunately, not every young team progresses linearly.&nbsp;
On Jan. 14, the Hawks were seven games under .500. As late as Jan. 27, they were 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. And despite a spectacular rally to 43-39 and a successful Play-In Tournament run, Atlanta still looked hopeless for most of its first-round series against the Miami Heat.
And yet, the Hawks still finished with the second-best Offensive Rating in basketball, per Cleaning the Glass. Trae Young took the next step as a bona fide superstar. Onyeka Okongwu arrived after an injury-plagued rookie year. Even though Atlanta did underachieve, they still have several talented young players with room to grow. So how can the franchise get back on the right track?
Hawks principal owner <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/hawks-owner-ressler-says-team-wont-stand-pat-this-offseason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tony Ressler has hinted at a possible offseason overhaul</a>.
&ldquo;I think if you asked our front office they would say that we thought based on last season&rsquo;s visit to the Eastern Conference finals, that we could bring back predominantly the same team and get better and expect it to be better,&rdquo; Ressler said. "I don&rsquo;t think that worked out the way we thought.
"So yes, I think we should have tried to get better rather than bring back what we had. That won&rsquo;t happen again, by the way. It was a mistake, in my opinion."
Atlanta first has to answer The John Collins Question.&nbsp;
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The Hawks signed Collins to a massive five-year, $125 million contract extension last summer, essentially locking him in as Young's partner in crime. His first year under the new deal went woefully off-script.
The 24-year-old appeared in just 54 games this past season, and just four after the All-Star break, due to injuries. He posted the worst True Shooting percentage of his career (still a pretty nice 61.0%) and saw his lowest usage rate in four seasons. In January, Collins went on record voicing his displeasure about his role, and as of that moment, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/stats-notebook-has-john-collins-role-with-the-hawks-really-changed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he had statistical evidence to back him up.</a>
Collins possesses undeniable on-court synergy with Young, but is that enough for him to want him to stay, and for the front office to keep faith?
Ressler also made two other notable comments that could pertain to Collins. One is that he's not afraid of spending into the luxury tax to make the Hawks a championship contender. Perhaps this means Atlanta values Collins regardless of his salary and wants to fortify other areas. But Ressler also added:&nbsp;"I think every team in the NBA should add a superstar whenever they can, and I promise you we&rsquo;re no exception.&rdquo;
Collins would surely help Atlanta chase a superstar if he were included in a trade. We'll see if he's on the table for Atlanta.
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The Hawks don't have many major in-house free agency questions to address. Their most notable upcoming free agent is probably Delon Wright, who assumed duties as a backup point guard as the season went on and provided solid play on low usage. Other free agents who did not lock down a rotation spot include: Lou Williams, Kevin Knox, Gorgui Dieng, Skylar Mays and Sharife Cooper.
Cooper should expectedly be re-signed. The rookie point guard was one of the surprise fallers of the 2021 NBA Draft and showed promise in the G League, averaging 16.3 points and 6.7 assists per game with the College Park Skyhawks.
The relative roster security does mean, however, that Atlanta is strapped for cap space. Spotrac estimates that the franchise won't even come close to achieving any sort of practical cap space for the summer with Young, Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic each making more than $18 million next season. The best they'll have to work with is the taxpayer mid-level exception, valued at about $6.3 million. Any significant addition will have to be via trade.
Atlanta will also have just its own draft picks at Nos. 16 and 44. These are quality chances for the Hawks to beef up their bench or add a defense-first piece, and as they know from last year with Cooper, there's always a chance to grab a steal in the second round.
Our Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock projects the Hawks to select Ohio State wing Malaki Branham with the 16th pick in his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest NBA Mock Draft</a>. Branham is a dynamic scorer already as a freshman and could pack a punch off the bench with his ability to pull up and get to the rim. At No. 44, Atlanta is projected to select Wake Forest's Jake LaRavia, who has been a recent draft riser (at least in the podcasts I listen to!).
Whatever moves the Hawks decide to make, they need to positively impact the defense. Atlanta ranked 26th in Defensive Rating this season and was abjectly awful for most of the year. De'Andre Hunter only appeared in 53 games due to injuries, but his presence can't be the sole supporting beam for the perimeter defense.&nbsp;
With an owner itching to make trades and a roster still full of optimism and question marks, the Hawks should be a must-watch team as the offseason approaches.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
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The Hawks underachieved in 2021-22, setting the stage for some major potential offseason moves.

2022 NBA offseason preview: What's next for the Atlanta Hawks?

ATLANTA (AP) &mdash; When Trae Young hit a hot scoring stretch in the third period, the Washington Wizards knew they were in trouble.
Young scored 16 of his 30 points in the third period to help Atlanta stretch its lead and the Hawks beat the Wizards 118-103 on Wednesday night.
&ldquo;Trae Young got it going and so they pulled away,&rdquo; Washington's Corey Kispert said.
Kristaps Porzingis led Washington with 26 points and 18 rebounds.
The Hawks are ninth in the Eastern Conference, thanks to Brooklyn's tiebreaker edge for eighth. Atlanta is bound for the play-in tournament with two games remaining in the regular season &mdash; both on the road.
The Hawks finished 27-14 at home, including a 19-3 mark since Jan. 17. Their goal is to have another home game in the postseason.
&ldquo;I think we all kind of know what the deal is,&rdquo; Young said. &ldquo;We know what we need to do to take care of business.&rdquo;
Danilo Gallinari had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Atlanta.
Atlanta led 76-70 with about six minutes remaining in the third quarter before Young unleashed a scoring spree that extended the lead. He scored 16 of Atlanta's final 18 points in the period, stretching the advantage to 95-83.
&ldquo;He kind of spearheaded that run in the third,&rdquo; Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said &ldquo;That&rsquo;s kind of where the game got away from us a bit.&rdquo;
Young hit two 3-pointers and made all six of his free throws during the hot stretch.
&ldquo;I just wanted to be more aggressive,&rdquo; Young said. &ldquo;I saw that Kristaps was more in drop coverage. I told our big men to set the screen. ... I knew I was going to be able to hit that 3. I hit a couple of them.&rdquo;
Gallinari made his first start since March 25. He missed a 118-108 loss at Toronto on Tuesday night with left knee inflammation and came off the bench in his most recent games.
Bogdan Bogdanovic had 18 points for Atlanta on a season-high six 3s.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Despite shooting 57.1% (28 of 49) from the field in the first half, Washington trailed 67-65 at halftime. A key was turnovers. Atlanta committed only six turnovers; Washington had 14 that led to 16 points for the Hawks. ... F Kyle Kuzma (right knee) missed his 10th straight game.
Hawks: Coach Nate McMillan used restrained terms to describe progress by F John Collins (right foot strain, finger sprain). Collins is &ldquo;doing a little running, a little jogging, some shooting&rdquo; this week, according to McMillan. He said &ldquo;there hasn't been any setback&rdquo; following Collins' first time running since tests last month revealed a plantar fascia tear in the foot. ... Two-way G Sharife Cooper was transferred from the G League College Park Skyhawks.
PLAYING BIG
Washington backup center Daniel Gafford was the hot topic before the game after setting season highs with 24 points and 12 rebounds off the bench in a 132-114 win at Minnesota on Tuesday night. Most notably, Gafford played with Porzingis, the starting center, in a big lineup.
Unseld said before Wednesday night&rsquo;s game &ldquo;we&rsquo;ll definitely go to it again at some point&rdquo; in the team&rsquo;s final three games. He didn&rsquo;t wait long, bringing Gafford off the bench midway through the opening period while Porzingis remained on the floor.
Gafford scored the Wizards&rsquo; next basket and had six points in the period and 12 in the game.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR YOUNG
Young added 11 assists. He posted his 20th game this season with at least 30 points and 10 assists, the most in the NBA.
UP NEXT
Wizards: Return home to play the New York Knicks on Friday.
Hawks: Close the regular season with games at Miami on Friday and Houston on Sunday. Atlanta is 15-24 on the road.
&nbsp;

Trae Young scored 16 of his 30 points in the third period to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Washington Wizards 118-103.

Young's 30 points help Hawks pull away from Wizards, 118-103

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Anfernee Simons had a career-high 43 points and the Portland Trail Blazers overcame an NBA season-best 56 points by Atlanta's Trae Young, snapping a four-game losing streak in a 136-131 win over the Hawks on Monday night.
Young shot 17 for 26 from the field, 7 for 12 from 3-point distance and 15 for 15 from the line for his career-high scoring total, and added 14 assists. His 56-point game eclipsed Kevin Durant's 51-point performance for the Nets at Detroit on Dec. 12. Golden State's Stephen Curry and Boston's Jaylen Brown have had 50-point games this season.
Young became the first player with 50-plus points and 14-plus assists in a game since James Harden with the Houston Rockets on Dec. 31, 2016. 
Simons had a career-high nine 3-pointers, the most for a Portland player this season. After missing Portland's last game, Simons started in place of All-Star Damian Lillard, who was out because of injury management. 
Portland trailed at the start of the final quarter, but took a 112-107 lead after Ben McLemore's layup and Nassir Little's 3-pointer with 7:43 left. Simons' floater extended the lead to 118-111, but the persistent Hawks kept it close down the stretch. 
Young came down hard on the court after an attempted layup with less than a minute left, but recovered to make a pair of free throws that closed the gap to 127-125. 
Jusuf Nukic made a layup and added a free throw to make it 130-125 and Portland held on for the win. 
Atlanta coach Nate McMillan entered the league's health and safety protocol on Saturday. But six Hawks players were available to return from protocols for the game against the Blazers, including Sharife Cooper, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Onyeka Okongwu and Delon Wright. 
Five Hawks, including Bogdan Bogdanovic, remain in the protocol. At one point, Atlanta was without a league-high 12 players. 
Joe Prunty took over in McMillan's absence. The Hawks were coming off a 121-118 win in Cleveland on Friday that snapped a three-game losing streak. 
The Blazers were without Lillard because of abdominal tendinopathy, which has bothered him since the Olympics. The team was also still missing backcourt teammate CJ McCollum because of a collapsed lung. 
But Nurkic, the starting center, returned from the protocols for the game against the Hawks, <a href="https://twitter.com/bosnianbeast27/status/1478141321630023683">announcing his availability personally via Twitter. </a> He finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. 
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups also was back on the sideline after missing three games. 
Portland jumped out to a 18-7 lead midway through the opening quarter. Atlanta perked up after its sluggish start, taking a 37-36 lead on Delon Wright's 3-pointer. 
The Blazers reclaimed the lead and went up 58-46 on Nassir Little's 3-pointer. Portland led 70-65 at the break. 
Young had 29 points and nine assists in the first half. He has scored 29 or more points in 16 straight games to tie Dominique Wilkins’ team record, set between December 1985 and January 1986. 
The Hawks took a 91-90 lead on Huerter's layup and held on for a 105-100 lead going into the final quarter. 
TIP INS
Hawks: Atlanta is in the midst of a season-long six-game road trip. ... Young's streak of games with 25 or more points is the longest in the NBA this season. ... Young is the first NBA player to reach 29 points and nine assists in the first half of a game this season. 
Trail Blazers: Portland's Dec. 23 game against the Brooklyn Nets that was postponed has been rescheduled for Jan. 10 at the Moda Center. 
UP NEXT
Hawks: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night. 
Trail Blazers: Host the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. 
___

Trae Young scored 56 points, but the Atlanta Hawks fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, 131-136.

Trae Young scores NBA season-best 56 points, Hawks fall to Blazers

At 17 years old, Scoot Henderson is making history. Spencer Davies spoke with the prodigy and those close to him to find out how.

NBA G League star Scoot Henderson's aspirations far exceed the hype

Once Nate McMillan moved over to the head coach&rsquo;s chair in place of Lloyd Pierce, who was fired after a 14-20 start, the Atlanta Hawks soared the rest of the season, finishing 27-11.
With an immense amount of youthful talent spearheaded by superstar point guard Trae Young, who continues to take leaps every year of his career, Atlanta finally saw everything click together for a magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
There was urgency within the Hawks&rsquo; front office to have the 2020-21 season see real improvements, which included making offseason splashes with Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari, and acquiring Clint Capela at the trade deadline beforehand. With the perfect blend of win-now veterans, ascending young prospects and a head coach providing accountability and structure, Atlanta&rsquo;s expectations for this season are sky-high.
Although the East saw vast improvements across the board, Atlanta nestles in nicely within the middle tier. Atlanta won&rsquo;t be challenging the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks or star-studded Brooklyn Nets, but there&rsquo;s some potential for them to push division-rival Miami Heat to the brink for the No. 3 seed.
The Hawks are now ahead of schedule in their rebuild, and a lot of it is due to how they have built splendidly around their point guard. Young is already one of the best pure players for his position in the Association, dicing up defenses as a scorer and facilitator. The soon-to-be fourth-year lead guard has always showcased his special talents &mdash; he broke out in 2019-20, averaging 29.6 points per game &mdash; however, the wins weren&rsquo;t stacking up before. It was a totally different story once the coaching change occurred. Atlanta rattled off wins thanks to its depth and starpower encompassed from Young.
Over the last two seasons, Young has emerged to true elite status in the NBA. He's averaged 27.5 points, 9.4 assists, 9.1 free throw attempts and 4.1 assists on an outstanding 59.2% True Shooting percentage. Only five players over that span joined Young, who amassed at least 27 points per game on a a 59+ TS%: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard. That&rsquo;s an All-NBA, MVP-contender realm Young has thrusted himself into this early in his career. Now entering his age-24 season, Young could soon become a dark-horse contender to become an MVP, especially if the Hawks continue their sudden rise as a legitimate contender.
Outside of Young, Atlanta has done a fantastic job insulating their star&rsquo;s biggest strengths on top of fielding a well-balanced rotation. Since beginning their rebuild attempt around Young, Atlanta has added all of the following players via the draft: Kevin Huerter, De&rsquo;Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, Onyeka Okungwu, Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper. There&rsquo;s not been one miss (yet) on that list. Obviously, we need to see Johnson and Cooper on the floor, which might not happen early on with Atlanta&rsquo;s depth, but Huerter and Hunter (and Reddish) have already proven themselves. On top of that, the Hawks have Okungwu, who figures to be an integral piece to the Hawks&rsquo; long-term puzzle once he recovers from labrum surgery.
Continuing to stockpile ample perimeter shooting and defensive versatility, Atlanta has the ideal archetype in place to continue realizing its upward trajectory. Young can carry a team on his own, which has been proven over the last two seasons, but how general manager Travis Schlenk has gone about building everything else around his star guard has been nothing short of fantastic.
When an organization presses all the right buttons via every acquisition avenue, success will soon follow. That&rsquo;s exactly what happened with Atlanta, who now has the pillars in place to build a sustainable winner upon.
Now with a budding superstar, high-upside prospects, proven veteran pieces, a capable head coach &mdash; plus a front office willing to take risks when necessary &mdash; the Hawks aren&rsquo;t going anywhere. How do they stack up for the 2021-22 campaign, though? Let&rsquo;s take a peek at their projected rotation:
Starters: Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De&rsquo;Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela
Second Unit: Delon Wright, Lou Williams, Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish, Danilo Gallinari, Gorgui Dieng
After McMillan took over, incredibly enough, the Hawks&rsquo; starters played zero minutes together until their deep playoff run. Even then, they only played five games together, spanning 98 total minutes due to Hunter&rsquo;s meniscus tear. Looking ahead to a full 82-game slate, the results look outstanding (health permitting) because Atlanta outscored its opponents by nearly 16 points per 100 possessions with that five-man unit (113.9 ORTG, 98.0 DRTG).
The bench is loaded to the gills with proven pieces as well, which doesn&rsquo;t even include Okungwu&rsquo;s looming return and two first-round rookies (Johnson and Cooper), plus veteran wing Solomon Hill. Atlanta&rsquo;s roster is capable of allowing every player to log minutes, which shows how well the team has done at building up their rotation. You will be hard-pressed to find many teams around the NBA who have a deeper roster than Atlanta&rsquo;s, which forecasts a rosy outlook for this upcoming season.
Will the Hawks be able to build off their shocking rise, or fall back down to Earth with disappointing results? I&rsquo;m betting on the former, because how the roster is built gives them ample leeway to survive the rigors of a full regular season.
The Hawks have a team capable of finishing, once again, with a top-five seed in the East. Now, with an offseason where they lost no key contributors elsewhere, all the ingredients are in place for a potential 50-win campaign.
Buy stock on the Hawks while you can &mdash; this is just the beginning for this organization returning to the ranks of contender status.

After a quick rise last season, the Hawks have the building blocks in place to realize their new status as a sustainable contender.

Hawks' well-balanced roster forecasts a real contender

With NBA training camps open for business, teams are getting back in the swing of things. Since Sunday afternoon, the preseason has been in full swing, meaning the 2021-22 campaign is right around the corner.
Building a team is not an easy task without a dash of draft luck and a pinch of good chemistry. Once you find the combination that sticks, there's no telling how high your squad's ceiling can get. While we've seen a handful of organizations struggle with their inexperience year-after-year, we've also seen others soar and show that they'll be around for quite some time.
In our latest Roundtable, we asked our BasketballNews.com writers the following question:
Which NBA team has the best young core?
Alex Kennedy: This is tough. The New Orleans Pelicans&rsquo; young core has the most upside, with two potential superstars in Zion Williamson (21) and Brandon Ingram (24), plus talented prospects like Nickeil Alexander-Walker (23), Trey Murphy III (21), Kira Lewis Jr. (20) and Jaxson Hayes (21) among others. However, if we&rsquo;re talking about the &ldquo;best young core,&rdquo; I have to go with the Atlanta Hawks after what they showed during their Eastern Conference Finals run. Trae Young (23), John Collins (24), De'Andre Hunter (23), Kevin Huerter (23), Cam Reddish (22) and Onyeka Okongwu (20) is a very talented young nucleus that&rsquo;s already succeeding in the postseason. In a few years, this team could be a juggernaut.
Nekias Duncan: Trae Young, John Collins, De&rsquo;Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongwu, Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter and Jalen Johnson are all 24 or younger. All but Johnson were contributors on a team that made the conference finals last season. I don&rsquo;t think I need to say much else.
Spencer Davies: There are a number of teams that intrigue me around the NBA as far as a youth movement is concerned. If we're talking about a young core that contends for a championship &mdash; let's call 26-and-under the cutoff &mdash; I like the Denver Nuggets a lot. Nikola Jokic has already won the league MVP and continues to only get better. Jamal Murray, when healthy, is as electrifying as any guard in the NBA. Michael Porter Jr. just earned himself a maximum rookie contract extension due to his outstanding scoring capabilities and potential to expand his game. Aaron Gordon's athleticism and defensive abilities make him the ideal complement to all three. That's a fantastic four to build around for a number of years to come, and ultimately, compete for a title in the process. Throw Monte Morris and P.J. Dozier in there with rookie Bones Hyland and mystery-box Bol Bol, and that's just about the perfect mixture of youth and experience.
Ethan Fuller: It's the Oklahoma City Thunder for me by a significant margin. Oklahoma City has the youngest roster in the NBA per RealGM, and those players are a mix of high-upside swings and crystal-clear NBA fits. The team has guys like Lu Dort, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Darius Bazley and Theo Maledon, who are safe bets to be solid rotation players or elite specialists. Then, they have the potential game-changers like 7-foot wing Aleksej Pokusevksi and 2021 No. 6 pick Josh Giddey. Of course, OKC already has a rising star as well in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. There's just so much to like across the board.
Drew Maresca: Easily the Hawks. Atlanta advanced to Game 6 in the East Finals last season, way before anyone expected them to be competitive. And they did so without two key youngsters (Cam Reddish and Onyeka Okongwu). They&rsquo;ll only go as far as Trae Young takes them, but Young proved that putting him in any kind of a box is a fool&rsquo;s errand. The Hawks are going to struggle with expectations in 2021-22, but that doesn&rsquo;t change the fact that they&rsquo;ve arrived way ahead of schedule, and they&rsquo;ve done so with three starters who are 23 or younger.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Ja gotta chill it&rsquo;s PRESEASON 🤣 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBAonTNT</a>)<a href="https://t.co/VdSPG66MvE">pic.twitter.com/VdSPG66MvE</a>
&mdash; Overtime (@overtime) <a href="https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1445547212516192259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Moke Hamilton: If I had to choose one, I&rsquo;d probably say Memphis. For a 22-year-old, Ja Morant is damn good, and the Grizzlies seem to be further along in their development than other contenders for this label such as New Orleans. Ditto for Minnesota. Now that I think about it... Who else is even a credible contender for this title?
Jesse Blancarte: The Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker rose to a new level last season and led his talented team to the NBA Finals. With Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Landry Shamet and other young, talented players on the roster, the Suns are well-positioned to compete at the highest levels &mdash; this season and beyond.
Jackson Frank: Young core is such an ambiguous term to define because everyone cuts off the &ldquo;young&rdquo; moniker at different thresholds. But I&rsquo;ll make 25 the high-end here and go with the Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young is a superstar. John Collins is a marvelous pick-and-roll/pop big, and tenable defender. When healthy last season, De&rsquo;Andre Hunter looked the part of a mighty fine two-way wing. Kevin Huerter took a leap last season as a 2-point scorer and defender. Onyeka Okongwu dazzled at times in the playoffs with his defense and finishing. Cam Reddish continues to hint at enticing on-ball defense and pull-up shooting; consistency and health are the vital pillars. Jalen Johnson and Sharife Cooper probably won&rsquo;t play much next season, but you saw their allure at NBA Summer League. Skylar Mays is even a useful combo guard. I hope I didn&rsquo;t miss any member of the Hawks&rsquo; young core, which is both deep and very good. There's a bright present and future for this team.
Alexander Cohen: Best young core is always a tricky question unless it&rsquo;s quantified. Based on sheer young talent, it&rsquo;s the Dallas Mavericks alone for simply having Luka Doncic. But if we&rsquo;re focusing on true young core of players that have a chance to grow together, I&rsquo;ll take the San Antonio Spurs for Devin Vassell, Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker IV, Keldon Johnson and even Tre Jones. There&rsquo;s not one player there that I would anticipate becoming an All-Star, but I&rsquo;d be shocked if any didn&rsquo;t turn into at least high-level role players.

Which NBA team has the best young core? BasketballNews.com's writers shared their thoughts.

NBA Roundtable: Which team has the best young core?

Nekias Duncan previews the Southeast Division for the 2021-22 NBA season.

2021-22 NBA Season Preview: Southeast Division

After a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/for-a-change-a-successful-free-agency-period-propels-knicks-forward-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">successful free-agency period</a>, the Knicks contingent headed out West with the players they selected in the 2021 NBA Draft, as well as a few familiar faces from last season. And now that Las Vegas Summer League has wrapped up, let's take a look back at how each of the newest Knicks handled themselves under the glare of the Nevada heat.&nbsp;
Quentin Grimes
After entering last month's draft with the No. 19 and No. 21 overall selections, New York had added only Grimes, the 25th overall pick, by the time the first round concluded. This drew the ire of some fans, as Grimes was projected to land somewhere in the second round, according to most mocks. However, one thing has become clear about the Knicks approach to draft day under Leon Rose and company &mdash; New York locks in on specific targets even if they are not necessarily regarded as elite prospects by pundits and prognosticators. Remember, the Knicks were heavily criticized after "reaching" for Immanuel Quickley with the same number pick last year.
Grimes didn't do much to quell concerns early, as he stumbled out of the gate. Over the Knicks' first three games, Grimes shot a combined 8-of-30 (26.6%) from the floor. However, Grimes located his stroke in Game 4, when he scored 15 points on 10 field goal attempts, and he closed out the summer session by showcasing the skills that earned him AAC Player of the Year honors as a junior at the University of Houston. Over New York's final two contests, Grimes averaged 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 6.0 made three-pointers.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
No. 25 pick Quentin Grimes (<a href="https://twitter.com/qdotgrimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@qdotgrimes</a>) cooks up 28 PTS and 6 triples in the <a href="https://twitter.com/nyknicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nyknicks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> win 👌 <a href="https://t.co/29yYRzfcEL">pic.twitter.com/29yYRzfcEL</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1426727845032873986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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And even in the early games in which his shot wasn't falling, Grimes didn't let his offensive struggles negatively impact his effort on the other end of the floor. He showed impressive defensive versatility, checking both shifty point guards and stocky small forwards. Grimes also finished second on the team in total rebounds, behind only Obi Toppin, and led all players in Vegas with a total of 22 made three-pointers (NY played a league-high six games). In a league that values 3-and-D wings, it appears Grimes can establish himself as a contributor sooner rather than later. &nbsp;
Miles McBride
In his two years under Bob Huggins at West Virginia, Deuce McBride, whom the Knicks scooped him up with the No. 36 overall pick, earned a reputation as a feared perimeter defender. Those defensive instincts &mdash; along with his quick-twitch athleticism &mdash; were indeed on display in Vegas, where he hounded opposing guards all over the floor. McBride's relentless 94-feet-of-pressure defense undoubtedly brought a smile to even the typically-grumpy Tom Thibodeau, who was said to have fallen in love with Deuce during the pre-draft process and pushed hard for the Knicks to select the youngster out of WVU. &nbsp;
And, like Grimes, McBride was surprisingly impactful on both ends of the court. After two solid games to start, he caught fire in the second half of New York's third contest, when he poured in 20 points and was a perfect 6-of-6 from three-point range. Through three full games, McBride shot 62.5% from the floor, 61.5% from downtown and 87.5% from the FT line. In the Knicks' final contest, a blowout victory over Atlanta, not only did he put the clamps on highly-touted Hawks rookie Sharife Cooper (who had just six points on 3-of-11 shooting), McBride scored 19 points of his own on 7-of-10 shooting, including five made treys. &nbsp;
Over the six games New York played in Vegas, Deuce averaged 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 made triples. He disrupted opponents' flow with his defensive intensity while also scoring efficiently on the other end.&nbsp;
"That's how I get my offense going," McBride said of his defense after Monday's victory. "It's really coming in, stopping guys and giving energy to the team and that gives me offensive opportunities." 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Still thinking about this defensive possession. <a href="https://t.co/zUOOh58LI0">pic.twitter.com/zUOOh58LI0</a>
&mdash; NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1425878558065315847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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When asked if he was satisfied with his performance in Vegas, McBride replied, "I thought I played well, but [I'm] never satisfied because that's when your opponents catch up. I had a pretty solid summer league, coming in to learn a whole new system. I did well in that, but there are a lot of things to improve on."
Yes, the Knicks suddenly have impressive depth in their backcourt, but if McBride can knock down long-range shots at a consistent clip, it will be very difficult for Thibs to keep him off the floor. Consider this: Of the 78 players who attempted at least 18 three-pointers at the 2021 Las Vegas Summer League, only three shot 50% or better from deep: No.1 pick Cade Cunningham, No. 2 pick Jalen Green and No. 36 pick Miles McBride.&nbsp;
Looking at the big picture, it's clear the Knicks' summer league coaching staff instructed their players to hunt three-point shots in Las Vegas. Among all the 30 teams in Vegas, New York ranked first in average three-point makes per game (14.2), first in three-point percentage (38%), and third in three-point attempts per game (37.2).
Obi Toppin
After playing limited minutes and struggling through most of his rookie campaign, Toppin encouragingly closed the 2020-21 season on a high note, providing New York with a much-needed spark in the team's first-round matchup with the Hawks. He built on that momentum in Vegas, excelling as a focal point of the Knicks' offensive attack.&nbsp;
Toppin was a force right from the start of their Vegas trip, scoring a game-high 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting to go along with 8 rebounds in his first contest. As a rookie last season, Obi was often relegated to standing in the corner or dunker's spot. However, in Las Vegas, Toppin had plenty of transition opportunities and was actively involved in pick-and-rolls, alley-oops, pick-and-pops, dribble hand-offs, etc. This was similar to how the Dayton Flyers deployed Obi during his sophomore season, when he led the country in dunks, averaged 20 points per game while shooting over 63% from the floor and was named the National Player of the Year.
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Obi Toppin, stoppin' &amp; poppin', <a href="https://t.co/rjX7ifxCna">pic.twitter.com/rjX7ifxCna</a>
&mdash; NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1425647930271145985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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In Vegas, Toppin led all summer league participants in minutes played, logging over 35 minutes per game, while averaging 21.0 points (on 44.5% shooting), 8.3 boards, 1.3 assists, 2.0 made treys and 1.3 steals. The only player in Vegas to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/chicago-bulls-evolved-patrick-williams-offensive-game-at-nba-summer-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average more than 20 points and more than 8 rebounds was Chicago's Patrick Williams</a>, last year's No. 4 overall pick. Toppin became the first Knick to ever average 21-plus points in summer league action.&nbsp;
The question for Obi moving forward is how much playing time he'll see next season. Will Thibs look to reduce Julius Randle's workload after Randle led the NBA minutes played a season ago, or will Toppin get some time as a stretch 5 alongside Randle?&nbsp;
Immanuel Quickley
After a solid showing (15 points and 8 dimes) in his first contest, Quickley put on a show in Game 2, racking up a game-high 32 points (11-of-21 shooting) and dishing out a game-high 8 assists (vs. just one turnover). IQ scored 25 more points in the third game and averaged 24 points through New York's first three contests.
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Immanuel Quickley was balling today 👀 <a href="https://t.co/szpTZvRHZ1">pic.twitter.com/szpTZvRHZ1</a>
&mdash; Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1424829362789040133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Yet, Quickley missed the Knicks' fifth game due to a sore groin and was woefully inefficient offensively over his final two appearances, shooting 7-of-36 from the floor. All told, IQ averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.4 three-pointers in Vegas. Although the shooting numbers were disappointing (33.7% from the floor and 24% from downtown), Quickley showed he might very well possess the patience and skills necessary to develop into an NBA point guard, which was a pleasant surprise. Time and time again, IQ successfully read ball screens, facilitated the offense and found open shooters, all while taking care of the basketball (averaging less than 2.5 turnovers per game).&nbsp;
It had been over a decade since a player averaged more than 20 points and 7 assists in the Las Vegas Summer League. (That player was John Wall for the Wizards in 2010.)&nbsp;
Jericho Sims
When the Knicks selected Sims with the third-last pick in July's draft, it was assumed the 6-foot-10 Texas product would spend the vast majority of the 2021-22 campaign toiling in the G League. Yet, after watching him in Vegas and getting an up-close look at his mind-boggling combination of size and athleticism, it seems possible Sims may earn some time with the big club in 2021-22.
His two best games came in his first and final summer league contests. In the opener, Sims was a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor (including this incredible alley-oop) for 12 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. In the finale, he ripped down 13 boards.&nbsp;
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Go up and get it, Jericho Sims! ✈️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> on NBA TV <a href="https://t.co/XrySfm1yXM">pic.twitter.com/XrySfm1yXM</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1427407237799157762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Over his five appearances, Sims converted 81% of his FG attempts while averaging 8.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 28.0 minutes. (The last rookie to attempt more than 20 total shots and shoot over 70% from the floor in Las Vegas was Rudy Gobert for the Jazz.)
Sims also exhibited an impressive basketball IQ and solid feel for the game, continually setting solid screens and staying on his feet defensively, smartly refusing to chase blocks.&nbsp;
If New York's center triumvirate of Mitchell Robinson, Nerlens Noel and Taj Gibson all remain healthy, it will be difficult for Sims to find minutes. Still, he's an excellent insurance policy. And one with some tantalizing upside.&nbsp;
Rokas Jokubaitis
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Really nice two-way sequence from Rokas Jokubaitis. Rokas relocates to the corner and hits the 3, then snags the steal from behind following some good D, and then takes it the other way for the lay in transition. <a href="https://t.co/SoAm5MftEU">pic.twitter.com/SoAm5MftEU</a>
&mdash; Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/AC__Hoops/status/1425649402706862083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Jokubaitis, the lefty from Lithuania whom the Knicks nabbed with the 34th overall pick, appeared in only three games. He played sloppily in his Knicks debut, understandably looking a bit overwhelmed, but seemed far more comfortable in his final two appearances.
He warped up his Vegas experience scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, to go along with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 treys and 4 steals in 29 minutes. Jokubaitis will spend next season getting extra seasoning overseas, suiting up for Barcelona in the ultra-competitive Spanish ACB League.&nbsp;
Luca Vildoza
After struggling for Argentina in the Tokyo Olympics, Vildoza looked outclassed in Vegas. He went scoreless, missing all four of his FG attempts in his first two games before sitting out the rest of summer league with a sore foot.&nbsp;
Leon Rose signed Vildoza to a four-year, $13.6 million contract back in May, but the pact is non-guaranteed. The Knicks have until October 21, the day after the season opener, to release Vildoza, which would open up a roster spot and clear his $3.3 million salary off their cap sheet. Considering their backcourt depth, New York may opt to part ways with Vildoza and bring in a wing.
It was reported last week that the <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/08/09/knicks-dwayne-bacon-agree-to-terms-in-guard-depth-addition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Knicks had agreed to terms on Dwayne Bacon</a> after the Magic had waived him.

Tommy Beer goes in-depth on the Knicks' impressive summer league performance as a team and highlights who stood out.

New York Knicks' youngsters exceed expectations in Las Vegas

Welcome to a special NBA-Summer-League-Edition of Roaming The Baseline. This will serve more like a notebook, with observations around the league from this year's summer-league experience. Players that stood out, players that disappointed, randomness from the stands -- you'll get it all here.
With that, let's roam the baseline.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE PROBLEMS
I mean this in a positive sense. You don't want to make sweeping conclusions before, during or after summer league ball. I mean, it's summer league ball, duh. But I do feel a little bit better about the Houston Rockets' draft after watching them in Vegas.
The morning after the draft, I <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1421129799716769794?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared my concerns</a> on Twitter. To sum it up: I liked the picks individually, but wasn't quite sure how or if the developmental reps would be spread around in an effective manner.&nbsp;
Some of those questions still persist, but I'm more comfortable because of how everyone looked.
Jalen Green (20-4-2 with a 51/53/93 slash line) flourished, blessing a masked audience with shot/space creation flashes and pick-and-roll poise beyond his years. I'm still losing my mind over this pass.
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Alperen Sengun (15-11-3-1-3, 43/38/61) was Houston's most productive rookie, showcasing real scoring and passing chops out of the post, as well as holding his own as a positional defender. I'm curious to see how his skill set translates against actual NBAers, but his feel was apparent even on this stage.
Watching Josh Christopher (17-4-4, 39/18/78) was an experience and a half, man. You were just as likely to see him clamp up a primary initiator (he had some reps&nbsp;against Cade Cunningham) as you were to see him take an ill-advised, early clock pull-up triple for... no real reason, to be frank with you.&nbsp;
But the energy was infectious. He got to the rim almost whenever he wanted and generated free throws at a solid clip. And speaking of infectious energy &mdash; watching Rockets-Pistons live was even more fun because I was seated near either friends or family of Christopher. And they were loud and proud,&nbsp;let me tell ya.
Usman Garuba (4-8-3-2-1, 33/0/40) came to Vegas late due to Olympic obligations, but immediately gave his fans and critics plenty of ammo.
On the high end, he absolutely wrecked the Portland Trail Blazers on defense. He did the "boring" stuff, rotating and boxing out and ending possessions with defensive rebounds. But the event creation was there: five steals and a block is nothing to sneeze at.
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Offensively, well, there wasn't much offensively. There was the occasional instance of quick processing as a passer, but you'd be hard-pressed to find really high-level reads. The finishing wasn't there; Garuba converted well-under 50% of his looks at the rim, per InStat tracking. He missed both of his three-point attempts, and the free-throw percentage wasn't great with a limited sample.
THE KINGS MAY HAVE SOMETHING IN DAVION MITCHELL
It's not too often that the Sacramento Kings win things, so it's only fair to highlight them when they do.
On a serious note: What a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/kings-offense-mitchells-defense-leads-sacramento-to-title" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summer league run for them</a>. 5-0 with a title to boot, all behind a devastating defense. The points allowed: 70 (Charlotte), 75 (Washington), 75 (Memphis), 70 (Dallas), 67 (Boston).
It started with No. 9 overall pick Davion Mitchell (11-1-6-1, 42/47/29), whose on-ball defense was on full display across multiple positions. This isn't the time to have "point of attack defense vs. rim protection" discourse, but Mitchell showcased the value of strong point of attack defense. The stretches he had against fellow lottery pick James Bouknight were downright filthy.
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He provided value offensively as well, shooting the leather off the ball, puncturing the paint consistently and making timely reads in pick-and-roll. To nearly rack up a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in summer league is not an easy thing to do, considering the, uh...[waves arms wildly]... nature of summer league basketball.
Mitchell seems ready &mdash; well, as comfortably as you can make that proclamation after Vegas games. Finding playing time for him should be interesting. I would imagine we'll see plenty of three-guard looks from the Kings this year. If Mitchell is genuinely able to defend up a position, that alignment should be fine.
CADE CUNNINGHAM'S ROLE
After watching him operate in a phone booth in college, with teammates that didn't consistently generate open looks for him, I was excited to watch Cade Cunningham (19-6-2, 43/50/50) in a summer league setting.
He wouldn't be surrounded with Team USA or anything, but just about anything would be better than the context he had worked with in college. So it was a bit surprising to see Cade work off the ball as much as he did.
It makes sense, zooming out. You don't want to overwhelm your number one, even one as poised and as talented as Cade. Though he's mature beyond his years, you don't want to give complete control and run the risk of bad habits being established.
Also: Cade isn't the only guy the Pistons wanted to give reps to. Killian Hayes entered the summer coming off an underwhelming, and later injury-shortened, rookie campaign. It was worth exploring what Saddiq Bey could do with the rock. Heck, Saben Lee intrigued during the second half of the season with his adventurous forays to the basket.
So the Pistons did spread the wealth, often sliding Cade off the ball. Luckily for Detroit, Cade is 1) very smart, and 2) a darn good shooter, a development that should scare folks.&nbsp;
He got busy off movement, relocated well and cashed home spot-up shots to the tune of a 50% clip on nearly nine attempts per game. Oh, and he was able to do it like this, too.
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There were some warts to Cade's stint in Vegas. The passing was good, not great. There were some wayward skips and forced dimes, though nothing to be super concerned about long-term.
Something to watch: Cade took two free throws in three games. Him not having elite burst has been on the scouting report for a while, but someone with his size and skill level should be able to get to the line more than that on accident.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO "HMMMM"
<ul>
<li>With the obvious caveat of not being, like, <a href="https://twitter.com/abovethebreak3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PD Web</a>-level draft person, I did not understand the Spurs taking Josh Primo in the lottery. He did raise my brow some with his ball-screen savvy and the ease in which he flowed into pull-ups in Vegas. His 31.3% clip on threes (8.0 attempts) doesn't tell the full story, but there were some ugly misses in there too. I gotta see more.</li>
<li>Know who I don't need to see more of? Payton Pritchard (17-6-9), Tyrese Maxey (26-6-5), Immanuel Quickley (20-4-8) and Obi Toppin (21 &amp; 8), for starters. Desmond Bane (24-4-4) also fits the bill. It's always a good sign when Year 2 guys look like they have no business being there, and they all looked thoroughly out of place.</li>
<li>Y'all really let Jalen Johnson (19-10-2) fall out of the lottery, and Sharife Cooper (14 &amp; 7) fall to the middle of the second round, huh?</li>
<li>Following the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade, the Heat have to hit on the margins to fill out the roster. Omer Yurtseven (20-10-2-1-3) seems to have real potential as a rotational big, and I have my eye on ball-hawking guard Marcus Garrett to potentially land a two-way deal.</li>
<li>The Portland Trail Blazers. That's the thing that makes me go "hmmmm." Because what was the direction &mdash; what was the point, really &mdash; of their roster? It was a who's-who of former lottery flameouts (Michael Beasley, Emmanuel Mudiay), Kenneth Faried for some reason and then... Greg Brown III, who gave us this when we truly didn't deserve it.</li>
</ul>
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STRAY THOUGHTS
<ul>
<li>It felt weird being in Vegas, to be completely honest with you. It wasn't as hot as it was when I went in 2019, and it was nice to see some of my (media) pals that I either hadn't seen in a while or hadn't met yet. But man, it would've been nice to have more access, more freedom, a little more fun. Not sure if things will be "normal" for quite some time, but summer league didn't truly feel like summer league this year.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Back to actual basketball &mdash; I came away impressed with Scottie Barnes (16-7-3-1-2). It's simple, it's cliche, but the dude knows how to play basketball. He's always moving, flowing from the dunker spot to the corner, then lifting to the wing if necessary. He's unselfish, sometimes to a fault. Though shooting concerns persist, it's encouraging that he wasn't gun-shy. The defense is pretty much there already, and he was tasked with multiple positional assignments, as well as different schemes. Fun dude to track.</li>
<li>Won't go deep into Evan Mobley since I wrote about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/early-returns-thoughts-on-evan-mobleys-summer-league-debut" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his debut</a>, but I'll just say that young man is gonna be&nbsp;good.</li>
<li>I wasn't a fan of how the Charlotte Hornets put their team together at all. Bouknight and Grant Riller can't be your only trusted ball-handlers, especially with neither of them being natural playmakers. Expecting your offense to flow, or for your more raw talents (Kai Jones, JT Thor) to flourish within this context was a fool's errand.</li>
<li>Shout out LiAngelo Ball!</li>
<li>The Pacers have something in Chris Duarte, who both shot and defended well. That man was&nbsp;everywhere&nbsp;the few times I watched him.</li>
<li>The shooting splits may not show it, but Jonathan Kuminga looks further along than I expected him to be. There were plenty of on-ball flashes to be excited about. Also... don't call him that.</li>
<li>Nets rookie Cam Thomas was regarded as arguably the best shot creator in this year's class. Leading summer leaguers in scoring (27.0 points, 42/36/85) is an <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/did-the-nets-get-a-steal-in-no-27-overall-pick-cam-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">easy way to back up that claim</a>. I'm even more impressed with Brooklyn's offseason now.</li>
</ul>

Nekias Duncan gives his closing thoughts and observations on this year's Summer League.

Roaming the Baseline: NBA Summer League Edition

Over half of the NBA played its final summer league contest on Monday.
Though many games were missing top prospects as franchises prioritized risk management, viewers who tuned in still witnessed some exciting matchups. In many cases, perceived NBA longshots got their chances to break out and many made the most of the opportunity.
With just one more afternoon remaining on the schedule, here are my observations from Day 9:
STUDS
Brandon Boston Jr., guard/forward, Los Angeles Clippers
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Brandon Boston showing off the range 👀 <a href="https://t.co/EcLfIOajEk">pic.twitter.com/EcLfIOajEk</a>
&mdash; Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly/status/1427457865107742754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks, 8-for-14 FG, 2-for-4 3PT
Boston Jr. thoroughly impressed me with his second half. The former five-star high school recruit attacked the basket with strength well beyond his wiry frame. Boston Jr. was unafraid of contact and didn't hesitate to fire away from deep &ndash; both areas of emphasis for him as a prospect. He took over in the later stages and helped the Clippers keep a high-scoring game competitive.
Toss in some promising defensive possessions as well, and you have a tantalizing effort from a player with one of the highest upsides among second-round picks. It's a good way to end a promising summer league showing all-around by Boston Jr.&nbsp;
Luka Garza, center, Detroit Pistons
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Luka Garza showed out tonight in the Summer League 🔥 + 21 points + 15 rebounds + 8/16 FG In case you were wondering, his ROY odds are 150-1 👀 <a href="https://t.co/uMWEKea9ea">pic.twitter.com/uMWEKea9ea</a>
&mdash; NBABet (@nbabet) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbabet/status/1427458783576563719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 21 points, 15 rebounds, 8-for-16 FG, 2-for-6 3PT
Detroit signed Garza to a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pistons-sign-luka-garza-to-twoway-contract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two-way contract today</a>. The Naismith Player of the Year is certainly earning that opportunity with his summer-league showcase. Garza went to work on the interior, corralling four offensive rebounds and finishing strong at the rim. He also canned two three-pointers, flashed a mid-range stepback, and made smart passes out of the high post. Garza was clearly gassed by the fourth quarter and his mobility is still a major question mark. But he did show a few bankable skills in this outing.
Kyle Alexander, forward, Phoenix Suns
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🇨🇦🍁Kyle Alexander with the chase down swat. 🛑 Cleveland <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavaliers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cavaliers</a> | Phoenix <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Suns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Suns</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummerLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummerLeague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheValley?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheValley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeTheFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeTheFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/S6yDKN461C">pic.twitter.com/S6yDKN461C</a>
&mdash; BasketballBuzz.ca 🇨🇦🏀🍁 (@basketballbuzz) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketballbuzz/status/1427413244721893379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 18 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 8-for-12 FG
What a phenomenal game from Alexander, who joins the Suns' summer league squad after spending the 2020-21 season overseas in the Spanish ACB league. The 24-year-old center was a menace as a roller, outmuscling a physical opponent in Mfiondu Kabengele.
Alexander registered a killer chasedown block (shown above) and was an active presence throughout the close game. Phoenix is assessing its options for reserve bigs behind Deandre Ayton, and while Alexander is likely low on the totem pole, this effort surely opened some eyes.
Isaiah Jackson, center, Indiana Pacers
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Isaiah Jackson... wow. Blocks a 3, runs out for a dunk, then switches on to Corey Kispert and blocks his attack. Wonderful defense from the 22nd overall pick all summer league long: <a href="https://t.co/tuclmlTFIi">pic.twitter.com/tuclmlTFIi</a>
&mdash; Tony East (@TEastNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TEastNBA/status/1427361645131702275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 7 blocks, 2 steals, 4-for-14 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Jackson tied the summer-league record for blocked shots in a single game, and he did so in just under 21 minutes of action. The athletic big man was a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive end. He guarded on the perimeter and swatted attempts from Corey Kispert, and then battled inside and neutralized screen actions.
Offensively, Jackson didn't have his shot falling today. But he got open consistently on the perimeter and as a roll man. The No. 22 pick made quality passes out of the high post to corner shooters as well.
Quentin Grimes, guard, New York Knicks
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Quentin Grimes (<a href="https://twitter.com/qdotgrimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@qdotgrimes</a>) heats up for 26 points &amp; 6 threes in the <a href="https://twitter.com/nyknicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nyknicks</a> win! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> <a href="https://t.co/xUz8N11OVx">pic.twitter.com/xUz8N11OVx</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1427433692629278725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 10-for-17 FG, 6-for-12 3PT
The No. 25 overall pick appeared to teleport all around the half-court for the Knicks in their 105-94 rout of Atlanta. Grimes knocked in three-pointers off the catch and off pull-ups, and he did a better job attacking as a cutter as well. Those three assists don't accurately state his impact as a passer, either. Grimes is more than a connector for New York; he can operate as a playmaker off the dribble in short spurts. This was a really fun offensive game overall.
Other notable performers: D'Mitrik Trice (Bucks), Sandro Mamukelashvili (Bucks), Bones Hyland (Nuggets), Miles McBride (Knicks), Javin DeLaurier (Hawks), Rob Edwards (Thunder), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Thunder), Hassani Gravett (Magic), Saben Lee (Pistons), Olivier Sarr (Grizzlies)
DUDS
Corey Kispert, forward, Washington Wizards
Box Score Stats: 3 points, 4 rebounds, 1-for-7 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Washington went a blizzard-like 7-for-34 from beyond the arc in Monday's loss to the Pacers. But Kispert specifically struggled because he could not gain enough separation for open looks. The first-round pick had multiple shots blocked and had to get his attempts up through some significant contests. In fairness to Kispert, having to play creator without a lead scorer to draw defenses isn't his strength and won't be his role in the NBA. It's hard to run complex plays for Kispert off the ball with limited time in Las Vegas.
Mfiondu Kabengele, center, Cleveland Cavaliers
Box Score Stats: 11 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block, 2-for-7 FG, 0-for-1 3PT
Kabengele was the opposing force against Kyle Alexander's breakout game, and while he certainly battled, he ultimately came out on the wrong end. He struggled to beat Alexander inside and settled for tough face-ups in the latter stages. Alexander also destroyed in the pick-and-roll, although that was partially due to a lack of weak-side help. Kabengele still played with good physicality, had a double-double and made six of seven free throws.
Immanuel Quickley, guard, New York Knicks
Box Score Stats: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 3-for-18 FG, 3-for-14 3PT
This was a "dud" performance incarnate. Quickley just couldn't buy a bucket for most of the afternoon, though he did settle for a few too many long perimeter heaves. But the second-year star continued to demonstrate improvement as a passer with <a href="been%20with%20the%20team%20since%20it%20selected%20him%20sixth%20overall%20in%20the%202014%20NBA%20Draft." target="_blank" rel="noopener">dishes such as this</a>. There's no reason to draw any meaningful takeaway from this game &ndash; it was just a sour ending to an otherwise dominant summer league.
Sharife Cooper, guard, Atlanta Hawks
Box Score Stats: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3-for-11 FG, 0-for-2 3PT
Cooper had a tough time handling the constant pressure from Miles McBride and the rest of the Knicks defense. The rookie point guard also did not have his lob mate in Jalen Johnson, who was held out of the final contest. Cooper continues to show a somewhat awkward step-back that didn't fall on Monday, and he also was challenged frequently on his way to the rim. Without consistent rolling rim pressure, the second-round selection had fewer chances to highlight his passing wizardry.

As summer league winds down, some more NBA hopefuls delivered breakout performances and tried to make a strong impression.

Studs and duds from the ninth day of NBA Summer League

Seven days into NBA Summer League, we continue to see young talents and NBA hopefuls make names for themselves in Las Vegas.&nbsp;
More and more teams are shutting down their top prospects due to rest or minor injuries. That means others are getting the chance to shine in featured roles. Only one or two games remain on the schedule for each team, so players have just a few more opportunities to make an impression before training camp.
As always, here are my individual observations from Saturday's slate.&nbsp;
STUDS
Bones Hyland, guard, Denver Nuggets
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BONES BUCKETS 🦴 No. 26 pick Nah'Shon Hyland drops 28 PTS (5 3PM) to lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/nuggets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nuggets</a> to their first win of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a>! <a href="https://t.co/Sh9Gd6bU8T">pic.twitter.com/Sh9Gd6bU8T</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1426657381795045378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 9-for-17 FG, 5-for-8 3PT
The No. 26 overall pick had his breakout summer-league game in an 89-85 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Hyland is an absolute microwave, with a solid handle and an ability to get into his shot form quickly. Though he struggled finishing at the rim early, Hyland showed he could get defenders on his hip, get low and blow by them, and use his length to get to the backboard. When he gets hot, his confidence is extremely fun to watch.
Skylar Mays, guard, Atlanta Hawks
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Skylar Mays: Smooth. 📺 ESPN <a href="https://t.co/Og8f8lGMcW">pic.twitter.com/Og8f8lGMcW</a>
&mdash; LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/LSUBasketball/status/1426658762434166788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 7-for-17 FG, 2-for-6 3PT
Mays relentlessly attacked the basket and made his 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame feel like a freight train. The 23-year-old helped the Hawks get back into the game in the second quarter and led them to a 94-90 victory. In the absence of Sharife Cooper, he served as the floor general and had an excellent rapport with Jalen Johnson. Mays also did a great job of getting into passing lanes and pressuring the ball as a defender.&nbsp;
Jalen Johnson, guard, Atlanta Hawks
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Jalen Johnson corner 3 then shows the on ball defense, forcing the miss from Okpala <a href="https://t.co/aNnQx5vHW1">pic.twitter.com/aNnQx5vHW1</a>
&mdash; Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/AC__Hoops/status/1426661390538919938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 9-for-15 FG, 3-for-6 FG
Johnson looked smooth as silk in this contest, splashing face-up attempts and catch-and-shoot threes. He facilitated a really neat play to end the half for Atlanta; Johnson held the ball at the top of the key as Skylar Mays ran behind him, drawing defenders, and then Johnson hit Admiral Schofield off a flare screen for a three-pointer. Of course, the No. 20 overall selection also served as a highlight-reel lob threat.
Scottie Barnes, forward, Toronto Raptors
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Scottie Barnes showed out with 23 PTS against the Hornets ♨️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBASummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBASummer</a> <a href="https://t.co/6NQ5VGTpL9">pic.twitter.com/6NQ5VGTpL9</a>
&mdash; NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1426718576719798278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 10-for-18 FG, 1-for-3 3PT
Barnes' defense was awesome. He legitimately guarded 1-through-5 with success, clamping opponents from James Bouknight to Kai Jones. On offense, the fourth overall pick detonated in transition to propel him to those 23 points. But Barnes also took guys off the dribble and finished acrobatically at the rim. He still needs to find a rhythm mid-range shot, but Barnes already contributes in so many areas for Toronto.
Miles McBride, guard, New York Knicks
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Miles McBride : 23 points (9-14 shooting &amp; 5-8 from 3), 4 rebounds, 5 assists &amp; 2 steals in 33 minutes <a href="https://t.co/BSXvgofksL">pic.twitter.com/BSXvgofksL</a>
&mdash; Lee Harvey (@AyeThatsLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/AyeThatsLee/status/1426772246459211776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Box Score Stats: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 9-for-14 FG, 5-for-8 3PT
Quentin Grimes led the team with 28 points, but I thought McBride was the best and most impressive player on the court in New York's 103-94 victory over Cleveland. The second-round guard took on more of a lead role with Immanuel Quickley out. Though he gave up four turnovers, McBride was fearless as a passer and creator. He frequently pulled up for long two-pointers and threes, which is a critical area to watch for him as a scoring guard. And McBride's hounding defense was present as always.
Other notable performers: Saben Lee (Pistons), Luka Garza (Pistons), Max Strus (Heat), Nate Hinton (Mavericks), Chris Duarte (Pacers), Quentin Grimes (Knicks), Obi Toppin (Knicks), Lamar Stevens (Cavaliers)
DUDS
Jaden Springer, guard, Philadelphia 76ers
Box Score Stats: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3-for-11 FG, 0-for-2 3PT
Thursday's 100-80 loss to the Celtics was partially frustrating because the Sixers, despite sitting Tyrese Maxey, scarcely gave Springer time on the ball. They instead went with Isaiah Joe and Frank Mason as the lead guards. Springer had to do most of his work off movement and off the catch, and was unsuccessful. He also continues to struggle with gaining separation, though he has been adept at finding pockets in the defense.
Theo Maledon, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder
Box Score Stats: 0 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 0-for-7 FG, 0-for-4 3PT
Like Springer, Maledon was held back due to a cold touch and lack of burst. He still facilitated well as the point guard for OKC, but missed a few attempts at the rim as well as all of his three-point attempts. The 20-year-old is 7-for-25 from deep in summer league, but five of those makes came in a single game. He canned 33.5% of his long-range looks as a rookie.
Nick Richards, center, Charlotte Hornets
Box Score Stats: 3 points, 8 rebounds, 1-for-5 FG, 0-for-1 3PT
Richards came in for Vernon Carey Jr. and played 24 minutes for Charlotte. But the seven-footer was ineffective as an interior presence. He missed some easy buckets inside and was lost when Toronto pushed the pace late in the game. It was a strange fit with fellow paint finisher Kai Jones, and the two did not mesh particularly well.&nbsp;

Two Atlanta Hawks players showed out on the seventh day of NBA Summer League.