In the summer league the Kings, and most other teams as well, will typically have 3 full teams (the Kings list 17 players on their VSL roster). Teams will likely run one team against another for several days of practice leading up to going to Las Vegas. The Kings typically have not had the same starting lineup in any two consecutive games in summer league.
Following are my views and some comments on players who should "make or break" their NBA season:
Hawes will see a lot of time at the 5 sharing with Darian Townes and possibly Thompson filling in to see how he fits. Darian is another 4-yr guy on this roster having played at Arkansas. Reports indicate good NBA size/strength/offense. Has smooth jumper and jump hook, big frame and long arms used for rebounding and shot blocking. BUT....not very intense, needs to get more physical and use his size.
Shelden and Jason are the two main PF withPalacios and maybe Noel Felix (a Fresno State guy who played in Israel last year) getting time. Its entirely possible that internally Shelden and Jason will be pitted head-to-head to see what develops there. Ewing is a "tweener" they say but he is a legit 6-8 and 240 (same as Lebron, incidentally) and could see PF time. Palacios has the pedigree as a 4-yr player at Louisville who plays tough and physical and has great passing instincts. BUT.....has had conditioning and weight issues and is not a great athlete.
At the SF its a real crapshoot with Justin Hawkins, the NM State guy who played for Theus, Patrick Sanders from UC Irvine, and Matt Walsh from Florida. Hawkins at NM State last year was their leading scorer and rebounder at 18.1 and 7.2 and played for Theus the year before.
The main guards will be Singletary and Douby with Zabian Dowdell, David Johnson, Darnell Jones, and Bo McCalebb seeing most of the time. Dowdell is yet another 4-yr player (from Virginia Tech) with a very high basketball IQ, amazing reach and good physical defender who works hard. BUT..... doesn't really excel in any one area, is a combo guard in college (but likely too small in NBA) and not a pure PG and is not particularly quick or explosive.
In the past 3 years, there are usually 2-3 players that are dropped from the summer league roster just before or after the first game and several more by the 3rd game. This is both a reality situation as well as insuring more playing time for the remaining 9-11 players to see their game in this, the next level.
My guess who will be around by Game 5 on the Kings summer league team (other than their draftees):
Dowdell, Townes and either Hawkins or Palacios. But what do I know at this point in time?
