2022 Summer League Open Thread (non-Kings games)

[Tetsujin]

I got the feeling from that interview that Dame has some serious issues with his work ethic and tried to be as nice about it as possible but just couldn't bring himself to give some positive generic canned answer about him.

Yeah, the thing about Sharpe is that he's got a great pull-up game but is incredibly raw aside from that. Obviously the potential is off the charts if he were actually able to do anything with the tools he has (smooth shooting stroke, great length, good athleticism) but that doesn't really help the Blazers win in the immediate future, even moreso now that Shaedon apparently screwed up his shoulder.

 

[Folsomkingsfan]

20/6/6 kid passes the eye test, and I’m sad again.

The kid was absolutely electric. Every time he was in the game you couldn't take your eyes off him. He definitely earned those Ja Morant comparisons this game.

That being said, Keegan Murray still had the 2nd best rookie Summer League debut after Chet.

Can't be too sad about that.

 

[Kingster]

All the top 5 picks showed enough in their first games - none of them look like busts. That + translatable skills are all I’m lookin for.

Keegan showed the abilities to shoot off movement (which is a rare thing for a 22-year-old 6’8” rookie), the ability to play perimeter defense (lots to improve, but most dudes this big are not that effective in their first summer league), his grab and go skills are impressive, and he scores on all three levels. Plus he looks like a great teammate that could play in a number of different lineups (flexibility).

That is the outline of a really good player that does not come off the floor during the playoffs.

Ivey showed his burst is next-level, that his 3 point shot might translate, that his passing will be legit for a combo guard, and that his defense needs a ton of work (like almost all rookie guards coming into the league). Detroit should be stoked to slot this dude next to Cade. The fit next to Fox would be really awkward (this season)!

I wanted Ivey because I saw more star potential than Murray. But I have loved what I have seen from Murray. His BBIQ is stellar. Monte is building an extremely high BBIQ team (Huerter, Murray, Davion, and Sabonis - that all have positional size or strength). That could turn into something worth watching.

Good analysis. I see the Kings building from his stength - catch and shoot. It's a very valuable commodity, and with Sabonis and Fox to get him the rock, he should do quite well in that area of the game his rookie year. I can see him running hard off screens without the ball and then immediately getting the pass, rising up and delivering. (The optimist in me says they will not just put him in the corner as an afterthought in the offensive scheme). Some semblance of the GS offense should benefit him quite a bit. Before Sabonis and Brown entered the picture I could see this talent being totally lost in with too many guys having to get offense on their own dribbling the ball. I feel fairly confident that Brown will aptly use his talent this coming season.

 

[Rain man]

The kid was absolutely electric. Every time he was in the game you couldn't take your eyes off him. He definitely earned those Ja Morant comparisons this game.

That being said, Keegan Murray still had the 2nd best rookie Summer League debut after Chet.

Can't be too sad about that.

Listen, I didn't see the first half. But I watched the whole second half, and he pretty much drifted for about 10 minutes of game time and barely touched the ball. Watch from mid third to mid fourth. Its Summer League, so I want put too much stock either way, but I tuned in to watch him specifically, was excited to see him based on all the hype, and was truly disappointed. Maybe he was electric in the first half, and maybe he will have an electric Ja-like career, but electric he was NOT in the second half.

 

[Kings49ers]

Listen, I didn't see the first half. But I watched the whole second half, and he pretty much drifted for about 10 minutes of game time and barely touched the ball. Watch from mid third to mid fourth. Its Summer League, so I want put too much stock either way, but I tuned in to watch him specifically, was excited to see him based on all the hype, and was truly disappointed. Maybe he was electric in the first half, and maybe he will have an electric Ja-like career, but electric he was NOT in the second half.

He looked explosive in the 1st half but at times it was almost to his detriment. Would blow by defenders with no real plan and either run straight into the help defender or attempt a shaky outlet pass at the last second, which led to some of his early turnovers. His shooting motion also needed to be slowed way down for him to be anywhere close to accurate from the perimeter. When he did put up a shot off movement it was rough. Defense was almost nonexistent for him, didn’t really show a ton of effort there. These things are all correctable with repetition and minutes on the court but as unbiased as I can be Murray’s game 1 was a lot more well rounded. It feels like I’m hating on Ivey and I want to clarify that I’m not by any means rooting against him, that’s just weird and cringy if people are. His athleticism was always his calling card and once/if he learns how use it while in control he’s gonna be fun to watch.

 

[SacTownKid]

I love this board. Keegan goes 24/9 in his debut, and the reaction is a stifled yawn. “Bare minimum.” “This is summer league, he should be dominating.” “He is too passive.” We pick every bit of his game and try to find all the ways he can disappoint us.

And then Ja (sorry, Jaden) goes out and gets 20/6/6, with a lot of sloppiness and a really passive second half, and it’s like “damn, eye test man. Dude is legit. We messed up passing on him.”

Not sure why we always have to go out of our way to knock our own guys and act like every other guy is an all star.

The NBA eye test says stars are usually made with what you saw out of Ivey, or Banchero, or Chet already. That doesn't mean Keegan might not even have as good a career as someone like that, or that Keegan doesn't help Fox from day 1 better than the other options, but age, skill, athletic ability, position, and creation on all 3 levels pretty much says a possible pick and roll guard is going to beat a scoring and rebounding PF/SF in a contest of potential. Ivey is a bit raw in terms of his PG skills but if he develops those it's to the moon for someone like him.

 

[Kings49ers]

The NBA eye test says stars are usually made with what you saw out of Ivey, or Banchero, or Chet already. That doesn't mean Keegan might not even have as good a career as someone like that, or that Keegan doesn't help Fox from day 1 better than the other options, but age, skill, athletic ability, position, and creation on all 3 levels pretty much says a possible pick and roll guard is going to beat a scoring and rebounding PF/SF in a contest of potential. Ivey is a bit raw in terms of his PG skills but if he develops those it's to the moon for someone like him.

Did the eye test really say star in the making for Ivey though?

 

[SacTownKid]

Did the eye test really say star in the making for Ivey though?

Yes, it already did, that's why according to most people Ivey was BPA. This one game means nothing obviously, even if he put up 50 points. Summer league is even a lot different than the NBA season in terms of how it's called. From what I saw they let Ivey have his "test it out" game as a PG early with mixed results. Keegans test game was game two where they pushed him to the corners and put him in the middle more and it was rough as well.

 

[Kings49ers]

Hardy showing well from the box score for the Mavs right now.

 

[Kings49ers]

Yes, it already did, that's why according to most people Ivey was BPA. This one game means nothing obviously, even if he put up 50 points. Summer league is even a lot different than the NBA season in terms of how it's called. From what I saw they let Ivey have his "test it out" game as a PG early with mixed results. Keegans test game was game two where they pushed him to the corners and put him in the middle more and it was rough as well.

For Ivey is that much different than the role he played at Purdue though?

 

[serbiangoat]

Paolo looks and plays like a cross of Fox and Ben Simmons

 

[SacTownKid]

For Ivey is that much different than the role he played at Purdue though?

Yeah, and that's why he wasn't a lock for number 1 probably.

 

[TaxMan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1545525579964989442

...sigh...

 

[SacTownKid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1545525579964989442

...sigh...

He's not doing that on Keon Ellis though, so there's that. haha.

 

[Kings49ers]

Chris Duarte and Bennedict Manthurin up next. I’m ready to be hurt.

 

[The Effort Police]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1545525579964989442

...sigh...

The second round this year was a straight up Vlade move.

Jaden Hardy is first-round talent. You don't kick the can down the road (again) on that if you have the opportunity to get him at 37. What a waste of assets.

Could be Gary Trent Jr. all over again.

 

[Kings49ers]

Hardy and EJ Lidell could have gone late 1st and no one would have batted an eye.

 

[King Baller]

I hope Ivey drops 40 just for the reactions.

That said, everyone has a built in excuse of “THIS GAME IS AT 9 OCLOCK FOR SOME REASON” why it’s inevitably a clunker though. Lol

I’m honestly more curious about Sharpe. Such intrigue.

Hey, Donte Greene dropped 40 in SL

 

[King Baller]

The second round this year was a straight up Vlade move.

Jaden Hardy is first-round talent. You don't kick the can down the road (again) on that if you have the opportunity to get him at 37. What a waste of assets.

Could be Gary Trent Jr. all over again.

Is GTJ with the team that drafted him?

 

[Kings49ers]

Bryce McGowens looks good as well, another 2nd round guy.

 

[sactowndog]

The second round this year was a straight up Vlade move.

Jaden Hardy is first-round talent. You don't kick the can down the road (again) on that if you have the opportunity to get him at 37. What a waste of assets.

Could be Gary Trent Jr. all over again.

Gary Trent or Xavier Tillman or Jaden Hardy. Want a 2nd Round Starter. Make a trade with the Kings!

 

[Folsomkingsfan]

Hardy and EJ Lidell could have gone late 1st and no one would have batted an eye.

I actually expected Hardy to rise on draft day. Surprised he fell to the 2nd and flabbergasted when we passed on him for no reason. Very questionable decision making there.

 

[joemama]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1545554773696552961

 

[Kings49ers]

I actually expected Hardy to rise on draft day. Surprised he fell to the 2nd and flabbergasted when we passed on him for no reason. Very questionable decision making there.

I wanted Kendall Brown, Bryce McGowen or EJ Lidell from who was left. Caleb Houstan, Christian Braun, Jake LaRavia, Wendell Moore were long shot targets of mine.

 

[funkykingston]

I wanted Kendall Brown, Bryce McGowen or EJ Lidell from who was left. Caleb Houstan, Christian Braun, Jake LaRavia, Wendell Moore were long shot targets of mine.

I won't pretend Hardy would have been my first choice at #37 (EJ Liddell and Kendall Brown were my top choices and then either Kennedy Chandler or Hardy) but for a talent poor team like the Kings to not even take a swing is pretty inexcusable.

 

[joemama]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1545558375701721088

Def worth ultra-late second round picks

 

[kb02]

I won't pretend Hardy would have been my first choice at #37 (EJ Liddell and Kendall Brown were my top choices and then either Kennedy Chandler or Hardy) but for a talent poor team like the Kings to not even take a swing is pretty inexcusable.

I'm 99.99% confident that as long as Monte is the GM, the Kings will never take this kind of swing. As Jerry Reynolds said on a recent Kings Herald Podcast, Monte likes singles.

 

[The_Jamal]

Yeah, really just no defensible position there. Even if we didn't know the Huerter deal was coming before the draft where we sent 2 for 1, you're allowed to carry 20 guys on your roster during the summer. If worst came to worst, you cut Harkless or Len. Good teams don't sweat eating that $4mil if it means improving your youth and team upside.

I don't care about the result either, if Hardy or any other guy we had a shot at is good. It's just bad process from the start; something this team can't miss on in the long-term.

 

[Kings49ers]

I'm 99.99% confident that as long as Monte is the GM, the Kings will never take this kind of swing. As Jerry Reynolds said on a recent Kings Herald Podcast, Monte likes singles.

And honestly I’m ok with that, as long as you’re still stepping into the box and swinging for this baseball terminology. EJ Lidell isn’t a home run, but he’s a solid single with an off the bench NBA forward game who is going to kill you anywhere. So far Monte’s 1sts have been good to really good players, obviously there’s still a lot of time left for them to either go up or down from there, but if someone wants to call them singles, HRs or HBPs I don’t care, as long as it impacts the Kings play in a positive manner.

 

[Kings49ers]

Benne, Duarte and McGowen all looked like the best players on the court, bitter sweet.