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The Las Vegas Summer League has officially come to an end, with the Portland Trailblazers beating the Los Angeles Lakers, who reached a second consecutive final with the former lifting the trophy 91-73.
We are going to talk about the 7 standout players. This list is not all-inclusive by any means — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Grayson Allen, and Trae Young would get an honorable mention here — nor is it just a list of the best players I have seen.
Instead, this is a list of players that turned my head.
7. Jonathan Issac (Orlando Magic):
Orlando Magic had taken a risk by drafting Issac at #6 in the 2017 draft. A guy with a lot of potential but a project, then he missed most of his rookie season with injuries. Nobody seemed exactly sure what Orlando had. In the Las Vegas Summer League though, he turned a lot of heads, averaging 14.3 points and 7 boards a game.
He also looks a lot stronger and his shooting stroke is smooth. He has banged inside and held his own with Memphis’ Jackson, and has just been a better athlete than everyone he’s gone up against. Alongside the frontcourt duo of Bamba and the recently re-signed Aaron Gordon, the Magic might be an interesting team to watch out for, provided they can hopefully sort out their point guard.
6. Harry Giles (Sacramento Kings):
Harry Giles was considered to be one of the top prospects coming out of high school, a 5-star recruit. He had the build to bang it in the post and was also able to go to the perimeter and launch the occasional 3. But then the injuries started to pile up, an ACL, an MCL, a meniscus tear in his left knee and surgery on his right knee. He went #20 in the 2017 draft, picked up by the Kings.
In Vegas, he has been impressive and solid 12 points and 7 rebounds a game in Sin City. He looks like he could be a rotation NBA big man at least, the Kings think he can be more than that, someone Sacramento can count on, besides Marvin Bagley III.
5. Josh Hart (Los Angeles Lakers):
Josh Hart turned in a great performance at the summer league in Vegas, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to another final in the competition, their 2nd one in a row. He has been averaging 23.3 points per game and has been guarding the toughest assignment on defense, running the team like a pro. He showed he could do this with the Lakers last season, but asked to take on more of a scoring role in Vegas and boy did he step up.
He is averaging almost 23 PPG and has taken on the most important defensive assignment in every game the Lakers have played. The Lakers had not only won all their games up to the finals, but they've also only dropped three of their 20 quarters so far. Hart has been disruptive on defense while carrying the load on offense for the most dominant team.
4. Kevin Knox (New York Knicks):
Kevin Knox was booed, as every Knicks draft pick is when they picked him up in the 2018 draft. The summer league was his stage to show his critics what he has. He’s looked like a rookie at points, but he’s blown everyone’s doors off at others. The game against the Lakers is the perfect example: He started 0-of-6 from the floor and finished the night with 7 turnovers. However, he finished that Lakers game with 22 points and was 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.
He was averaging 21.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG in the summer league, he was routinely throwing down powerhouse dunks, and he used simple but effective dribble-drive moves to get into the heart of the defense.His athleticism was off the charts, and he looks like the prototypical positionless forward in today's NBA. The Knicks have managed to grab a potentially great player at #9 and he is only 18.
3. John Collins (Atlanta Hawks):
John Collins was always touted to be a great player, a stretch 4, who could also play at the 5 if need be. He made NBA All-Rookie second team and averaged 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds a game shooting 57.6% last season. However, after Las Vegas and Salt Lake, he has shown the potential to be a future star, his game is improving.
He was averaging 24 points and 8 boards a game in Vegas, playing good defense in the paint, but more importantly, he has shown improved three-point stroke and handles.
Collins was more of a rebounder and interior presence for the Hawks as a rookie, but in Vegas, he went after his offense aggressively and showed that he has the chops to score if called upon. He even knocked down 5 of 10 shots from beyond the arc. This ability could give him an entirely new dimension as a floor-spacer, changing the Hawks' look completely.
2. Wendell Carter Jr. (Chicago Bulls):
The Bulls center turned heads with his play in Las Vegas. He was considered a safe or high-floor selection, with the Bulls taking him at the #7 position in the 2018 draft. But he has outshined every other big man drafted ahead of him, and he looks like a steal at No. 7 overall.
Carter's ability to space the floor, beat a switch in the post, play out of short rolls, facilitate, rebound and protect the rim were all on display. Carter has gotten himself into outstanding shape, and he was far better switching onto the perimeter than expected. Carter showed the kind of NBA-ready skill set that his believers touted before the draft.
1. Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies):
The Grizzlies have finally had some luck with the draft, getting the big man Jackson Jr. at #4. From his first game at the Utah Summer league, he was on display, showing everyone why the Grizzlies were so high on him. He looks like the future of the NBA centers, he can drain threes, runs the court, is strong and physical inside, and can get up and block shots.
In Utah, he averaged 15.7 points per game and five boards a night. Interestingly, through much the summer games the Grizzlies tried to pair him with a true center, seemingly getting him used to playing the four next to Marc Gasol next season.
Jackson looked a little tired and struggled some in Las Vegas. But the Grizzlies have bagged someone special with a lot of potential.
Guess the Lakers players!
