Summer League is highlighted by rookies, it is also a chance for second-year players to take the next step going into their sophomore campaign. There are higher-profile sophomore players like Keegan Murray, Jalen Williams, Jaden Ivey, and several others that will not be on this list. Those guys played heavy minutes in their first year and while I respect them playing and trying to improve, they are already rotational pieces for their respective teams.
Those sophomores are too awesome and it would be unfair to other prospects to cover them in this article. Outside of the first name on this list, the other four players were sparingly used. Throughout the summer league, these guys have shown how much their game has grown and are looking to crack their teams’ rotation next year. These are by no means the only guys who improved or looked good over the weekend, but just a few that stood out a little more than others.
Jabari Smith Jr – Houston Rockets
This is a lottery pick that I chose to highlight who fit a similar role to the aforementioned players. Jabari had an up-and-down year offensively but really took strides defensively which will keep him in good grace with the new coaching staff. Jabari finished the season strong and earned 2nd team All-Rookie in the process. The summer league for sophomores of Jabari’s caliber is to showcase that you are indeed head and shoulders above everyone else. Despite not shooting it well from deep (6/18), he has scored 30+ points in both games.
In both games, he showed something that we did not see in the regular season which was his burst. Detroit has an NBA-heavy summer league roster and Jabari was dominant against multiple defenders including James Wiseman and Jalen Duren. He scored 36 points on an efficient 13-25 shooting while scoring at every level. His aggression and shot creation are two weaknesses in his game that he has put an emphasis on improving this summer. The ball handling also looks more fluid which in part is helping improve those other two weaknesses.
It’s clear that Jabrari is the alpha on a young team which is something Ime Udoka wanted him to focus on this summer. Basketball has a lot to do with your mental and although it is just summer league, you can tell that Jabari is more comfortable and focused. All of these positives can be translated into next season which is what Jabari stated he wanted to accomplish. I’m expecting to see this level of dominance for the next few days from him, and more importantly looking forward to seeing him translate these wins into next season.
Max Christie – Los Angeles Lakers
Somehow, someway I think Max Christie will crack the rotation this year. In an interview during a Lakers game, Rob Pelinka had high praise for Christie. He stated that Christie had a good shot to crack the rotation which has to be music to Christie’s ears with how deep the Lakers roster is. In a recent interview, Max was confident he could have contributed to the Lakers in their run to the Western Conference Finals. After his play through the weekend and last week in Sacramento, the confidence is even higher for him.
He has put on some weight to be able to absorb contact in the lane as well as become a better on-ball defender. In his most recent outing, he did not shoot the ball well (3/11) but was still impactful with 4 assists and 6 rebounds. Aside from the counting stats, he was active defensively and got his teammates involved consistently. His way into the rotation will be by knocking down shots and being able to play defense at a high level. So far he’s averaging 19 points on an efficient 48.8% shooting from the field.
He also is shooting 60% (Yes, 60) from behind the arc. The sample size is small but it shows that he is not just forcing shots and is being smart with his attempts. Defensively he still has work to do but he has been solid against other second-year players (Jovic, Branaham) in his process to improve on that end. These reps will help him when camp starts, and that along with his shot-making is what will ultimately help him crack the Lakers rotation.
F/C. Orlando Robinson – Miami Heat
Steph Curry had something to do with the extinction of the traditional big man, but this Center we are highlighting has made tremendous strides this summer. Robinson appeared in 31 games but was not very productive in his stint. In the finals, the size of Miami was a big issue the Nuggets took advantage of. Unless some of their players hit growth spurts over the summer, they will remain a small team which is where Robinson can contribute and be a factor.
Robinson is a 7 footer who has added some range to his game this summer. Small sample size but he is 5/8 from deep and has been excelling in pick-and-roll sets that summer league coach Caron Butler has been emphasizing. He’s had a block in two of the three games along with countless shot-altering contests and deflected balls. I think Robinson’s play thus far has shown he can make shots, rebound and more importantly defend the paint.
He is averaging 18.6 points and 8 rebounds in an efficient manner. His touch around the rim is second to none along with his ability to pop or roll in pick-and-roll sets. He has faced multiple looks defensively and adjusted his game. Against the Lakers and Kings, he was tasked to defend and battle with two traditional big men. In those two games, he managed to show off an array of moves from within the post area out to the three-point line. Against Boston who has a smaller team, he punished them in the paint with 36 points and 11 rebounds. Don’t be surprised to see Orlando contributing to Miami next year, especially if the Dame trade happens.
F. Jake LaRavia – Memphis Grizzles
Dillion Brooks has exited, Ja is out for 25 games and Brandon Clarke is coming off a serious injury. Add all of this up and there is an opproutinity for the younger core of Memphis, especially a 6’8 forward who can shoot the ball like LaRavia. Memphis was bottom eight in the league in three-point% and LaRavia can absolutely help in that category. I would love to see him not rely on the three-ball as much and use his mid-range to his advantage as he did at Wake Forest. Over half of his attempts (63%) in the summer league have been from deep which in this setting is okay but going into the season I think that should be a little more balanced.
LaRavia also showed some improvement on the defensive end and the ability to battle on the inside for rebounds. He is only averaging a little over three rebounds but his activity in the paint could not be overlooked. The playmaking also still needs some work but it has improved since year one even with not being the primary or secondary ball handler. He is averaging 17 points thus far and has had two games where he combined to shoot 5/25 from the field. This is a credit to his aggression and ability to not let his poor shooting affect other aspects of his game. Look out for his continued improvement at all three levels this summer which will lift him up in that rotation this year.
G/F. Blake Wesley – San Antonio Spurs
Blake played in 37 games for the Spurs this year but missed significant time due to a knee injury. That injury limited Blake from more NBA minutes with the younger core which would have benefited his development. While the main attraction is their current number-one pick, Wesley has flown under the radar with his play on both sides. He has guarded multiple positions in every game while also still being able to be efficient in scoring the ball despite not attempting a high volume of threes.
The Spurs have shown extreme patience with young prospects and have developed them well. Wesley has the ability to contribute on both ends and fill the stat sheet with assists and rebounds. The defensive versatility mixed with being able to impact the game without scoring is rare in players of his age. I would love to see him attempt a few more threes and allow defenses to play the guessing game when defending him. The Spurs ranked 26th in three-point% so being able to knock down threes raises his floor as a prospect.
The Spurs roster is littered with forwards but it is unclear as to what direction the team will put around Victor. Blake has regained his athleticism from Notre Dame and continues to rebound and be a playmaker at a high level. He’s averaging 13 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds on 46% shooting. That type of balance is what he can bring to this Spurs team on top of being a B+ defender. Let’s not forget, he is coming off a tough rookie year due to that injury. He is just scratching the surface of what he can become on this roster and his play in summer league thus far confirms that.
