The Big Easy may just be the right place and right time for the former BYU Basketball star.
It's said in New Orleans "laissez les bons temps rouler" or "let the good times roll". Good times are exactly what Jimmer Fredette needs after a lackluster start to his professional career in Sacramento and Chicago. And while some fans of the former BYU star are disappointed with the lack of interest Fredette garnered this off-season and the one-year deal he signed with the Pelicans at the league minimum, the fact is Fredette needed a place to play and he's got one in New Orleans. I caught up with Rohan Cruyff (@Rohan_Cruyff), managing editor at SB Nation's New Orleans Pelicans site, The Bird Writes to discuss how Fredette fits with the Pelicans and his potential future in NOLA. I've got a feeling BYU Basketball fans are going to like what he had to say.
Vanquish the Foe: How do you feel Jimmer Fredette will fit on the Pelicans' current roster? And what role do you see him playing?
The Bird Writes: Fredette will largely slide into the role vacated by the outgoing Anthony Morrow as an important shooting option off the bench. The Pelicans took fewer threes than all but one team in the NBA last season, something that will absolutely have to be corrected next year, especially because playmakers like Tyreke Evans desperately need teammates that can space the floor. He'll also likely be asked to serve as an emergency 3rd point guard in the event of any injuries.
VTF: One of Jimmer's biggest struggles during his career has been getting on the floor, what will he need to do well to earn those minutes on this team?
TBW: In a nutshell, just hit open threes. Monty Williams has often been (rightly) criticized for not having his team shoot enough threes, instead relying on inefficient long twos. However, the threes he does draw up he's been very clever and effective with. Over his tenure as Pelicans/Hornets head coach, he's fielded Marco Belinelli, Roger Mason Jr., Anthony Morrow, and Ryan Anderson, all of whom have enjoyed splending shooting years in New Orleans. Fredette steps into that same role now, and he'll be afforded every opportunity to prove he can be an important shooter.
VTF: Who will be Jimmer's main competition for those minutes?
TBW: If we're breaking it down just positionally, the Pelicans are relatively full at the guard position between Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Austin Rivers, and Russ Smith. But hearkening back to your last question, Jimmer brings catch-and-shoot ability that's unique and that is, importantly, a like-for-like replacement to something New Orleans had a year ago in Morrow and lost. So in terms of competition for his specific role, Jimmer has something pretty good going here.
VTF: What seems to be the general feeling from Pelicans' fans in regards to the Jimmer signing?
TBW: I'll be honest and say general ambivalence. The outgoing Morrow is one of the most underrated shooters in the league and frankly, by any metric, one of the great three point shooters in NBA history that people haven't appreciated. It was a definite blow to lose him. Kings' fans haven't had the most glowing reviews of Jimmer's time either, but it's important to note that he'll be asked to do very different things with New Orleans than he did in Sacramento. I think Pelicans fans will come around to that relatively quickly if he can keep knocking down shots.
VTF: Jimmer only signed a one-year deal with the Pelicans. At this point, do you see any potential that he could have a long-term future with New Orleans?
TBW: Oh, absolutely. One thing I'm personally disappointed with is that the Pelicans didn't include a second-year team option on the deal. Fredette's still young, can shoot, and he's joining a team that badly needs a great shooter it can rely on. Anthony Davis is about to enter his prime and take New Orleans into a few postseason runs, and shooting will be important. If Fredette can follow through with his shooting, perhaps add a couple wrinkles as a playmaker, and be a good cultural fit (which he should have no problem with), I wouldn't be surprised if this current 1-year deal extends into the future.
The Kings take on the Bulls, in what should be one of the more entertaining Summer League match-ups.
The Sacramento Kings continue their Summer League experience on Saturday as they take on the Chicago Bulls. Bulls rookie Doug McDermott has been impressive thus far in Summer League, and the Bulls should provide an entertaining match-up for the Kings.
What
Sacramento vs. Chicago (Summer League Quarterfinal)
When
5:00 PM Pacific, 8:00 PM Eastern
TV details
NBATV, or via the Summer League Live subscription
The Kings are a mere three victories away from the all-important Summer League Championship. We'll be watching for another strong showing from Ben McLemore and Nik Stauskas.
The Kings were in control throughout as the Bulls played without Doug McDermott.
The Sacramento Kings dominated the Chicago Bulls in Saturday's Las Vegas Summer League Quarterfinals, winning 80-61. The Kings jumped out to an early lead and never let up. The Bulls' efforts were hindered by the absence of Doug McDermott, who has led the Bulls throughout Summer League.
It was a well-rounded effort from the Kings, with five Kings scoring in double-figures. Ben McLemore finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists. His progress from a year ago is fantastic. He simply looks so much more comfortable on the floor.
MarShon Brooks added 11 points off the bench. Brooks definitely has shown that he still belongs in the league, but it remains unclear if he'll end up with the Kings this season. The Kings have McLemore and Nik Stauskas ahead of Brooks on the depth chart, and Jason Terry is currently taking a roster spot where Brooks might otherwise land.
Speaking of Stauskas, I'm having a ton of fun watching him. He shooting is as good as advertised, and he looks incredibly comfortable getting to his spots on the floor. He finished with nine points on five shots.
Eric Moreland had a great game, disrupting the Bulls on the defensive end throughout the contest. He finished with three blocks, but it felt like he had 10. He displayed great patience and control, and I was very impressed. I'm not sure if he can make the Kings' opening day roster, but I think he'll definitely be at training camp. I wouldn't be shocked if he made the team, especially since the Kings know they need a rim protector.
Jared Cunningham had 10 points, but just one assist. Ray McCallum had a quiet scoring night, finishing with five points, but also had five rebounds and four assists.
Sim Bhullar got a couple minutes in garbage time, and managed to score two points on a nice back-down move, kissing the ball off the glass. Despite his size, I just can't get excited about Bhullar. He's a little too slow and lumbering, and I'm not sure size alone is enough to overcome his faults. It says a lot that he didn't see the floor until garbage time in Summer League.
Overall, it was a fun game for Kings fans. The Kings will next play the winner of Saturday's match-up between the Washington Wizards and the San Antonio Spurs. The Semifinal game will take place Sunday, and will be on NBATV.
The Washington Wizards (5-0) will face the Sacramento Kings (4-1) on Sunday night in the Vegas Summer League Semifinals.
The Wizards are giving themselves good buzz during NBA Summer League. And after Glen Rice Jr.'s 36 point performance Saturday, his name trended on Twitter:
'Glen Rice Jr.' is trending worldwide. Good work, #WizardsTwitter.
Today, Washington will put its undefeated record on the line once again, as they face off against the Sacramento Kings in the Vegas League semifinals.
Here's a quick preview:
Where and when? Approximately 8 p.m. ET at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Is it on TV? NBA TV will have the game on nationally. Hopefully, it's also on locally, because it wasn't yesterday due to blackout restrictions. Otherwise, it's available online through NBA Summer League Live for a fee.
Which notable players are on the Kings' roster? The Kings have their first round draft pick, Nik Stauskas on the roster. Ben McLemore, Ray McCallum, and Quincy Acy played on the 2013-14 team. Derrick Williams also suited up and played in their first three games, but he has sat out since then.
In addition, MarShon Brooks has spent time on the Celtics, Warriors, and Lakers as well. In short, this roster has a number of players who spent time on NBA teams, so it should be a tough test for the Wizards, especially when Rice and Otto Porter are resting.
What's at stake? The winner goes to the Vegas Summer League Championship against the winner of the Charlotte Hornets and Houston Rockets game. That game is on at 6 p.m. ET, and also on NBA TV or NBA Summer League Live.
Did the Kings share common opponents with the Wizards during Summer League? The Kings faced off against the Spurs in their first game and lost 85-69. Since then, they have gotten better. In fact each of their last three victories have been by double digits.
Who wins? If the Wizards can play like they did since Sam Cassell's first timeout in the second quarter against the Spurs, we will see them play on Monday.
Yeah, after the Wizards went 5-0 in Summer League play, they lose 74 to 62 to the Sacramento Kings.
During the Vegas Summer League, we have seen Glen Rice Jr. show a lot of his best basketball, and his shot was falling more quickly than not. Today, he started off forcing his shots, and only went 1-of-6 from the field. Yes, he had a hot stretch in the third quarter where he scored 11 points to help turn around a 45-24 halftime deficit into a manageable 58-48 game heading into the fourth quarter. They even got the lead down to seven early after Jarell Eddie made a three. But the Kings scored six straight points from there, and the Wizards couldn't get the lead below double digits from that point on.
In this game in particular, we also Rice face adversity, and I didn't like what I saw. He was visibly frustrated at times when he wasn't getting fouled every time he attempted a shot. He also got tangled up with Eric Moreland and fortunately didn't get another at this moment in the fourth quarter after getting a technical foul earlier in the game:
Rice ultimately scored 24 points in the game. Otto Porter added 16 more, and they didn't get too much help from anyone else not named Eddie. The Kings on the other hand had four players score in double figures, with MarShon Brooks scoring all of his 14 points in a critical 27-13 second quarter run which made the deficit insurmountable for the Wizards.
So, this game certainly leaves us a bad taste in our mouths, given that they now are going home.
But let's also keep in mind that we came into Summer League, hoping and expecting that both Porter and Rice would be able to play at a high level, and contribute to the team's wins. They delivered on those metrics. And Mike's got some early grades for you to consider:
GRADES: Otto (A-), GRJR (A-), Birch (B), Orton (B-), Wilson (B+) @ImDavidDunn for #JuniorMafia nickname (A+)
Let's also keep in mind that the Kings have a roster with multiple players who will be on an NBA roster this fall. The Wizards don't, so their run was impressive in its own right.
In summary, it is a bummer to see that we won't be able to see our Wizards play again until this October. But at the same time, I leave NBA Summer League feeling pretty encouraged by what both Rice and Porter showed over these last six games. Hopefully we'll see them do this again on the regular once the games count in the standings.
The Rockets and Kings were victorious in the semifinals and will do battle in the championship game on Monday.
The 2014 Las Vegas Summer League championship game is now set after the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings won their semifinal tilts on Sunday. Let's take a look at the two games.
Isaiah Canaan had 24 points to lead the Rockets to a tight victory over the Hornets to reach the finals. Donatas Motiejunas notched a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Houston won despite shooting just 31.2 percent overall and 7-of-28 from long range. The game was close throughout, and Charlotte led by one point with just over a minute to play. Motiejunas put the Rockets ahead with 43.9 seconds left, and Hornets rookie Noah Vonleh turned it over on the other end. After Nick Johnson split a pair of free throws, Jerome Dyson missed a potential go-ahead three and Johnson iced the game at the line.
P.J. Hairston had 27 points in the loss, although he shot just 9-of-24 overall and 3-of-10 from deep. Josh Davis had 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Vonleh had nine points and 16 rebounds. The rookie struggled with his shot, going just 2-of-12 from the field.
The Kings jumped out to a huge first-half lead and withstood the Wizards' second-half charge to advance. MarShon Brooks had 14 points off the bench to lead Sacramento.
The Kings led by seven points after the first quarter, and that lead ballooned to 26 in the second quarter. The Wizards trimmed the massive deficit to seven at the outset of the fourth quarter, but they were never able to get any closer.
Glen Rice Jr. and Otto Porter were the only two Wizards to score in double figures. Rice led Washington with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Porter had 16 points. The two combined to shoot just 15-of-41 as the Wizards shot 35.2 percent overall and a woeful 3-of-29 from three.
The Rockets and Kings will do battle for Summer League supremacy.
The 2014 Las Vegas Summer League champion will be crowned on Monday night when the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets battle at the Thomas & Mack Center at 9 p.m. ET.
The Kings got to the finals by defeating the Washington Wizards in the semifinals on Sunday. MarShon Brooks had 14 points in the win. Nobody has really stood out for Sacramento in Vegas, as they've gotten balanced scoring throughout the summer. Second-year guard Ben McLemore leads the Kings in scoring with 13.2 points per game.
Derrick Williams is averaging 12.3 points this summer, while Quincy Acy is averaging 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds. Rookie Nik Stauskas is averaging 9.8 points and shooting 45 percent from three.
The Rockets advanced to the championship game by defeating the Charlotte Hornets in the semifinals. Isaiah Canaan had 24 points in the victory, and he leads Houston in scoring this summer with 17.3 points per game.
Donatas Motiejunas also had a strong game in the semifinals, notching 18 points and 13 rebounds. Motiejunas has been fantastic all summer, averaging 16.9 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 62 percent from the field. Rookie Nick Johnson is averaging 11.9 points in Vegas.
Detroit Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy reached out to forward Josh Smith to tell him that reports of the franchise engaging in substantive trade talks with Sacramento centered on Smith have been inaccurate and - barring an unexpected turn of events - Smith will be in training camp with the Pistons this fall, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Sacramento had made calls about Smith in June, but Detroit never heard an offer that remotely interested them and never seriously engaged in discussions, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Since his hiring in the spring, Van Gundy has had productive discussions with Smith and sources say that Smith has been enthusiastic about moving forward with Van Gundy as coach.
Van Gundy obviously does not subscribe to the DBB notion that trading Smith would be an addition by subtraction and may even help make a long-term deal more appealing to Greg Monroe. Unwilling to trade the ill-fitting forward for anything the Kings have supposedly offered, I guess it makes sense that Van Gundy wanted to clear the air with Smith; I just wish he hadn't, and one Pistons fan can only hope Van Gundy ventures down that unexpected turn.
The Sacramento Kings take on the Houston Rockets tonight at 6pm, to see who takes home the Las Vegas NBA Summer League Championship trophy. No really... theres a trophy. We preview the matchup and give you details on the FREE watch party at Sleep Train Arena.
The near 30 year drought is over. The Sacramento Kings are finally playing for a championship! The Kings, an 8 seed in the Vegas Summer League tournament, take on the 14th seeded cinderella-story Houston Rockets tonight at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Not a great shooting team at just 39.8%, the Rockets have been led by Donatas Motiejunas and Isaiah Canaan. Motiejunas in particular will be one to watch tonight. The big man is averaging 16.9 points, and 8.4 rebounds through six games and the Kings are pretty thin in the frontcourt. Rockets fans and media alike have been buzzing about Isaiah Canaan's summer league performance as well. The 6' tall 2nd year point guard out of Murray State has been filling it up! He's averaged 17.3 points to go along with a modest 2.9 assists. Rookie Nick Johnson hasn't been too bad either, chipping in 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals.
With four players in double figures, the Kings were ROLLING last night getting huge contributions from the bench. Shooting 48.1% from the field throughout Summer League, and almost five players averaging double digits in scoring, the Kings fast-paced offensive attack has been very potent and balanced. Tonight will be the last chance for these kids to show what they can do in the City of Sin.
There's been no shortage of subplots this summer for the Kings. Ben McLemore has struggled in a couple of games but his 13.2 points leads the team and he's shown he can score in a variety of ways. Rookie Nik Stauskas, averaging 9.8 points, has used his time in Vegas to show he can be a very efficient scorer and excellent decision maker/distributer with the ball in his hands. Quincy Acy, averaging 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds to go along with a shiny new jump shot, has emerged as a vocal presence and leader amongst this group of youngsters.
We like to joke about Summer League banners and championship parades, and it is a silly thing to get excited about, but hey... who doesn't like winning?! These are the kinds of games that help build confidence and camaraderie in young players, and we're all dying to see how our guys play tonight. So screw it... let's embrace the summer league madness! This is our time!!
Will Ben McLemore rebound from his poor performance in last night's game to close out Summer League with a bang? Will Nik Stauskas continue to claim the Thomas and Mack 3 point territory in the name of Canada? Will this be the last time we see Sactown Royalty favorite, Eric Moreland, play in a Kings uniform (please sweet baby Jesus say no!)? Will MarShon Brooks continue to impress? Will Quincy Acy continue to make me love him more than a backpack full of baby monkeys? STAY TUNED!!
The 6pm game will be televised on NBA TV so make sure to put some fresh batteries in your TV remote.
Also, if you're looking for some rowdy friends to watch the game with, the Sacramento Kings are hosting a FREE NBA Summer League Finals watch party at Sleep Train Arena tonight. Fans will get to watch the game from the stands on a 20'x11' projection screen.Make sure you get out there by 5:30 pm and enter off of Truxel Blvd at Toll Plaza 9. Admission and Parking are both free. A great plan for a Kings fan who doesn't have NBA TV.
Looks like they'll have a limited selection of snacks and beverages available for purchase. And fans in attendance, who become new season ticket holders tonight, will have the opportunity to shoot a half-court shot for a chance to win one free season ticket. Should be pretty fun.
Though Summer League play guarantees little for a player pursuing an NBA career, Nick Johnson might be able to at least get free drinks for throwing down this alley-oop dunk during the Summer League tournament final Monday night.
It was a back-and-forth battle between Houston and Sacramento, with the Kings having the best individual scoring performance against a more even offensive effort from the Rockets. But Sacramento's late push after a scoring drought held Houston in check and got them the victory with a 19-3 ending run.
But if the Summer League title was decided by the most exciting play (and shouldn't it be?!), Houston probably would have won.
Ray McCallum cut his way to the basket and hit some threes to help Sacramento to an early lead, which didn't last. McCallum's quickness and finishing ability were tough for Houston to defend, in spite of the relatively weak scoring complements around him.
Meanwhile, Houston hung with the Kings for much of the game before going on a strong run in the early stages of the fourth quarter, led by their Motiejunas-Nick Johnson-Isaiah Canaan trio. As Sacramento's offense struggled to regain its rhythm, Houston built a considerable lead.
But Sacramento rallied, with buckets by Nik Stauskas, McCallum and McLemore leading the way to a big 9-0 run to put them back up with a minute to go. McCallum's near-half-court shot at the shot-clock buzzer was a difference-maker, forcing the Rockets to take risks as they played from behind.
Though Motiejunas' late layup helped make up a little ground, they couldn't help but foul McCallum, whose free throws gave the Kings a 6-point lead with 34 seconds left.
Quincy Acy received MVP chants as he helped Sacramento get their first championship of the Vivek Ranadive era. And surely not the last.
Sure it's only Summer League, but it's still a testament to the hard work these young guys have put in these past two weeks. Facing a grueling 7 games in 11 day schedule, the Kings managed to go 6-1, with their sole loss being in their first game.
Sacramento trailed by as many as 8 points in the 4th quarter as nobody could buy a bucket. Ben McLemore started the game just 1-10 before finally finding a rhythm and hitting his next 3 shots, which got the team going again.
It was Ray McCallum that truly saved the day however. McCallum finished with a game-high 29 points and 9 rebounds in 30 minutes and 19 of his points came in the 2nd half. Ray Mac was a huge part of Sacramento's final run, including hitting this impressive buzzer beater to put the Kings up by 4.
As they have done all throughout Summer League, Sacramento's defense shone, and the Rockets only managed to shoot 32.0% for the game. Eric Moreland was again a beast on that end, finishing with 3 blocks and 10 rebounds.
Rookie Nik Stauskas scored a very efficient 10 points on 6 shots in 26 minutes and also had 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal. Overall it was a pretty solid summer league for the Kings' lottery pick, as he only really struggled in one game.
This was the last Kings basketball we'll be seeing for a while, so it was nice to see them end it on such a high note. Stauskas showed a lot of promise, and our other young guys like Ray, Ben and Quincy showcased some big improvements as well. There were even some bright moments from guys like Eric Moreland, Marshon Brooks and Jared Cunningham, all of whom might be invited to training camp this fall.
But right now, let's celebrate, because we don't get many opportunities to do so, even if it is just Summer League.
With reports that the NBA is working on a TV deal that may double the revenue of the current one, the league should seriously consider expansion.
Edited by Tiffany Villigan
If the NBA ever returns to Seattle, how will it happen?
WHAT SEATTLE PREFERS
If you did a poll of Sonics fans everywhere, which I am doing at the bottom of this article, I believe a large majority would prefer expansion over relocation to acquire an NBA franchise. The same likely holds true for bringing the NHL to Seattle.
The reasons are simple: we wouldn't take part in breaking the hearts of another fan base, the question of history and records would be easier to resolve, and we don't want to inherit another team's salary cap headaches. There are likely other reasons, as well.
As we all know, however, we don't always get what we want and usually haven't for the last several years. The truth is we are not guaranteed to obtain a team by any means, let alone acquiring one in a manner that we prefer. Let's assume for this article, however, that the NBA truly does want to return to Seattle before I'm wearing special underpants.
WOULD THE NBA CONSIDER EXPANSION?
For the moment, the answer is no. Adam Silver has made that clear, stating that there are several struggling franchises whose ships must be righted before expansion would even be considered.
What if the NBA succeeds in stabilizing those franchises? What if Milwaukee finds a way to build an NBA-quality arena? What if Sacramento is able to get one done for the Kings, which looks inevitable at this point?
We've debated this endlessly around here. Some feel the NBA won't expand because of the potential dilution of talent. Some feel that the owners won't want to split up the revenue pie, even if it means an exorbitant expansion fee in their pockets. Some feel that the NBA will warm to the idea after the TV deal is signed.
I THINK THEY SHOULD
I won't try to argue the talent dilution point. Like many of you, I haven't watched the league enough in the last several years to have an informed opinion.
From a revenue point of view, however, I strongly believe that expansion would be firmly in the NBA's best interest. I am certainly not a financial expert, but I will play one in the following table that I created. It is based on two assumptions: first, the table assumes that the NBA agrees to a new 8-year TV deal that is twice the value of the current one; it then assumes that two $1 billion expansion fees are generated.
Current NBA TV Deal (Millions)
Total annual revenue
$ 930.0
Split between the current 30 teams
$ 31.0
Split between 32 teams with expansion
$ 29.1
Revenue decrease per team from expansion
$ 1.9
Potential TV Deal (Millions)
Total annual revenue
$ 1,860.0
Split between the current 30 teams
$ 62.0
Split between 32 teams with expansion
$ 58.1
Revenue decrease per team from expansion
$ 3.9
Per Team Cost of Expansion (Millions)
Per team Increase from TV deal without expansion
$ 31.0
Per team Increase from TV deal with expansion
$ 27.1
Per team cost of expansion per year
$ 3.9
Per team cost of expansion for life of new 8-year contract
$ 31.0
Per Team Revenue From Expansion Fees (Millions)
Expansion fee for two teams at $1 Billion Each
$ 2,000.0
Money in existing teams' pockets from expansion fees
$ 66.7
Minus per team cost of expansion
$ (31.0)
Net INCREASE from expansion fees for existing owners
$ 35.7
If I were an owner, there's no way I would agree to expansion under the current TV deal because I would lose nearly $2 million a year. That's a lot of cheddar.
Doubling the current deal, however, would cause the greedy little angel on my shoulder to whisper expansion in my ear. If two expansion teams paid a one-time fee of $1 billion each, that would put nearly $67 million in my bank account. That increase would be reduced to $35.7 million after you deduct the $31 million in TV revenue that I would lose over eight years to the expansion teams.
That's still nearly $36 million in my pockets right now, assuming the bare minimum expansion fee that most would expect. That's a lot of cheddar to gain.
Am I oversimplifying this through my green and gold sunglasses? Of course I am. I don't have all the details at my disposal that tell me just how much trouble some of the teams are in. Nevertheless, I believe the next TV deal will fix many of those problems.
This is why I continue to believe that expansion is the best way to make Seattle whole after the next revenue deal is signed. I just hope that the NBA agrees.
Former KU guard Naadir Tharpe decided to leave Kansas University and pursue a pro career in the D-League instead. It's time to see what his game is about and what he has to prove next season.
When former Kansas guard Naadir Tharpe announced he would forego his senior season at Kansas to play in the D-League, it was a small step forward for the minor league of The Association. Tharpe's main reason for leaving Kansas was to be closer to his daughter Amara, who is 2-years-old. The D-League presented an unique opportunity to make a living playing basketball while being able to take care of his daughter, even though Tharpe was 22 credits away from graduating.
Regardless of the reasons, Tharpe's next stop is the D-League and it's time to see what he can bring to the table. He's hoping to follow in the footsteps of players like P.J. Hairston and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who made the successful jump from the D-League to being selected in the NBA Draft.
At Kansas, Tharpe was often overshadowed by stars. He was responsible for feeding the ball to Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid last season, two of the three picks in the 2014 NBA Draft. The season before that, it was Ben McLemore, who turned into a lottery selection by the Sacramento Kings. These players have ascended into the NBA as top flight rookies while Tharpe has been left at the crossroads.
The 170 pound guard had modest production at KU, with his minutes and production increasing as he grew older. In his sophomore season, Tharpe averaged 19.4 minutes per game while scoring 5.5 points and dishing out 3.1 assists. Last season, Tharpe saw his minutes bumped up to 29.4 minutes per game. The increase in minutes increased his production, and he averaged 8.5 points and 5.0 assists per game. More important, Tharpe started to shoot the ball better, increasing his field goal percentage from 34% to 44% from his junior to senior seasons.
His production increased as he grew older. In his sophomore season, Tharpe averaged 19.4 minutes per game while scoring 5.5 points and dishing out 3.1 assists. Last season, Tharpe saw his minutes bumped up to 29.4 minutes per game. The increase in minutes increased his production, and he averaged 8.5 points and 5.0 assists per game. More important, Tharpe started to shoot the ball better, increasing his field goal percentage from 34% to 44% from his junior to senior seasons.
But, this isn't to say that Tharpe didn't suffer from adversity along the way. Just last season, Tharpe lost his starting job to freshman Frank Mason in December, before gaining it back with productive spurts.
The next step for Tharpe is the D-League. Andrew Wiggins won't be present to throw lobs too, but this opportunity gives Tharpe something he didn't experience as a Jayhawk: the keys to a team. There was always someone above him at Kansas and the D-League can provide the opening to be the starring attraction.
He may be the smallest man on the court at all times, but Tharpe plays the point guard position well. Though the sample size was small, Tharpe had a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio his junior year and a 2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. Besides his distributing skills, playing a Division I basketball schedule proves that Tharpe can successfully run a team at a high level, which should bode well for his D-League career.
This season in the D-League will give Tharpe the opportunity to pen his own revenge story. After a rocky, up-and-down stint at KU, the odds are stacked against him. Though, Tharpe still has a chance to put together a full season as a lead player and prove his worth.
If Tharpe deserves to be on an NBA roster, he will thrive in the D-League. If he runs on the court and turns out an unsuccessful season, then the dreams of playing in the League are over. What Naadir Tharpe will show up this season? The player that showed up small during Kansas' biggest game of the season, or the guard who dropped 23 points, four assists and six rebounds on ninth ranked Iowa State, then 21 points and six assists on eight ranked Oklahoma State?
The Kings got good performances out of their roster players in the Summer League. Let's take a look at what we saw from Nik Stauskas, Ben McLemore, Ray McCallum, Quincy Acy and Derrick Williams.
The Sacramento Kings are the 2014 NBA Summer League champions, and what a road to victory it was!
OK, it was seven games and they played well, for the most part, in six of them. Championship trophies and commemorative hats aside, what was fairly evident in this tournament was that the Kings had the most complete team. They had scorers, a point guard and some guys who were physical under the basket, grabbed rebounds and played defense.
That being said, no one on the Kings squad really wowed individually, and that is why there were no All-NBA Summer League first or second team selections on the team. What really mattered though is all of the Kings roster guys had good showings.
Let's take a look at how each of them did.
Nik Stauskas (9.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2 assists, FG% 43 (23/53), 3P% 47 percent (11/23), 1.8 turnovers) - Stauksas showed he belongs in the NBA by illustrating his basketball IQ and being efficient. He plays within himself and can knock down shots. Every game seemed to feature a couple of passes from Stauskas that opened your eyes. One particular example came in the second quarter of Monday's championship game. Ray McCallum grabbed an offensive rebound and passed it to Stauskas at the top of the three-point stripe. Stauskas pump faked his defender, dribbled around him, drawing McCallum's defender toward him in the process. As the defender collapsed on him, Stauskas dished out to McCallum for an open three that went in.
The extra pass. These are the little things Stauskas put on display consistently in Summer League.
When he puts the ball on the floor and takes it to the rack, Stauskas is able to disrupt the defense and create. Though he began the Summer League by taking it to the basket frequently, he seemed to lose some of that in the later games. In the first two games, for example, he took a total of 13 free throws. In the remaining five games, he only had five free throw attempts. For whatever reason, (and he may have been trying to simply fit in to the offense) he gradually got less aggressive in that area of his game.
A lack of aggressiveness is something Rudy Gay mentioned after watching Stauskas in Vegas. With DeMarcus Cousins and Gay on the floor with him in the regular season, he won't need to dominate the ball too much and can just hang out on the wings, but getting to the free throw line is something the Kings could use out of their rookie. Stauskas seems like a kid who knows when to pick his spots, so his timing will probably come with experience. Regardless, even when he wasn't shooting a ton or driving into the lane, he was making good basketball decisions and that is definitely a plus, and he showed glimpses of decent defense as well, especially on a few transition breaks against the Rockets on Monday.
Ben McLemore (12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, FG% 44 (30/67), 3P% 30 7/23, 3.8 turnovers) - McLemore was much more aggressive and confident than what we saw out of him for the majority of last year. He led this Kings squad in scoring. Not only that, his ball handling and defense has seemed to improve, along with his jump shot. His confidence and dribbling were on display on this dunk in the fourth quarter Monday.
He shot 44 percent from the field and 30 percent from three in the seven Summer League games. By comparison, he shot 33 percent from the field and a dismal 19 percent from three in last year's Summer League campaign.
McLemore seems to be figuring out how to slow down and let the game come to him and he will be the first one to say this is something he needs to continue to work on. The amount of floor time he got last season, combined with his work this summer seem to be paying off. He still isn't quite where he needs to be though. His turnovers came back to bite him again - he averaged 3.8 in Summer League after only 1.2 during last year's regular season. And although the instances were less frequent, he still did disappear on offense on occasion. His defense has gotten a little better, but he still needs to improve there as well because he gets lost sometimes (as shown in the play from Monday's game below. Yep, that is Ben's man on the left).
If he can be a reliable defender moving forward, he may be able to keep his starting position away from Stauskas going into next season, but that could end up being a tough task. McLemore still has plenty of room to grow and his progression in the Summer League may be an indication that he can continue to make steps toward the player many thought he could become going into last year's draft.
Ray McCallum (12 points, 5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, FG% 50 (30/60), 3P% 38 (5/13), 2.1 turnovers) - McCallum was named the MVP of the championship game (29 points will do that), but he may have been the MVP of the entire Summer League for the Kings. If for nothing else, he was the only consistent facilitator the Kings had on the roster. And facilitate is what he did. He ran the offense, played under control and led the Kings to six victories.
He shot the ball well also. Outside of his 9/15 shooting display on Monday, he was 50 percent overall from the field - up from 38 percent in last year's Summer League campaign. McCallum continues to be reliable and someone who provides good stability at the backup point guard position. You wonder if he has the athleticism to take that next step and become someone who folks are clamoring to get in the starting position. What he displayed against the Rockets Monday would certainly suggest he has the talent and capability of rising to that next level. He is a decent defender on the perimeter as well.
Plus, you have to love the passion he had in the championship game. McCallum wanted that game and he didn't stop until it was his. The kid that was raised by a coach has the IQ that you want on a basketball team and he will continue to be useful for the Kings moving forward.
Quincy Acy (11.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, FG% 53 (28/52), 1.4 turnovers) - Acy is going to be in the NBA for a long time. Just like his beard brother Reggie Evans, he brings things to the table teams in this league want: rebounding, toughness and defense. In the Kings' seven games, he showed all of that and a little offense as well. Acy was one of the team's leading scorers. We saw a jump shot, power moves under the basket and more. Head coach Michael Malone made it clear early on that these Summer League Kings didn't need him to be a shooter though (they don't need him to be Dirk Nowitzki is actually how he put it). But hey, adding a legitimate offensive game could be a good way for Acy to separate himself in the power forward logjam the Kings have.
As far as the power forward position goes, Malone told me he wants guys who can compliment DeMarcus Cousins, rebound, be an anchor of the defense and be a facilitator on offense. And he prefaced that with a comment about how it all depends on what happens with the roster throughout the rest of the summer. Where Acy fits into that equation is anyone's guess. It is no secret that solidifying the power forward position is a top priority for the Kings. According to Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee, Acy expects to know by Friday if the Kings are going to pick up the option on his contract next season.
Like McLemore, Acy showed that he can still enhance his game and he puts in the work to make it happen. If the Kings walk onto the floor in October with the same 48 power forwards, Acy deserves to be one of those forwards who gets some of the minutes.
Derrick Williams (12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, FG% 42, 3P% 40, 1.3 turnovers) - Williams only played in three games because the Kings only planned to use him for three games, apparently. His best game was his third and final game, where he scored 17 points on 6-10 shooting. It is clear that Williams can make things happen when he puts his mind to it and plays aggressively, something Malone has been pushing him on. What continues to haunt him and probably drives Malone crazy is his defense. In his last game on July 14, he was beat on defense on multiple possessions in a row. He just doesn't seem to have the same focus on defense that he does on offense and it shows.
To his credit, Williams appears to be working hard and is dedicated to getting better, on the offensive end. Williams said he has been working on pick and pop threes this summer. With the Kings lacking a ton of tradable pieces, however, it would make sense that Williams is at the top of the list of guys who they are looking to move. He was reportedly part of the offer the Kings made for Josh Smith, so he has already been put out there.
***
In the end, the guys mentioned above and reserves like Eric Moreland and MarShon Brooks helped propel this young squad to a Summer League title on balance, defense and effort. The front office made it clear on the sidelines that their intent was to use this championship as a step toward building a winning culture, and it has certainly moved the ball in the right direction.
Ray McCallum and company are bringing home the hardware for the first time since 1951.
Editorial Note: All Court Jester pieces are satire. Except for this one.
"Yo Vivek! We did it!", Kings sophomore Ray McCallum screamed after the Kings secured the championship game of the Vegas Summer League. The Vegas Summer League is an exclusive tournament that the NBA spends the months of October through June preparing for. While many teams have NBA Championship rings, only two teams have NBA VSL Championship trophies. Kings' owner Vivek Ranadive knows how special this moment is for the city of Sacramento.
"This moment is the reason that I bought this team. To hold that trophy was the very reason I came into the NBA. This is Sacramento's team!" said the owner of the championship team.
"Kobe, Lebron, Michael, Magic. All these guys never had a chance to experience the VSL championship. It's just great to be able to accomplish something that none of those guys ever even came close to sniffing.", big man Sim Bhullar said in the midst of a champagne shower. "And with that, I would like to announce my retirement from professional basketball."
"Honestly, I have to put this right up to there at the top of my life's accomplishments." Kings' starting pitcher Trey D'Exception, the much sought after player that was acquired in the Isaiah Thomas swap said following the championship run. "Despite not playing a minute, I feel I really contributed to the mental toughness that we had. I am something of a glue guy."
A parade is planned to celebrate this historic occasion. Summer league legends such as Donte Greene and Jeremy Lin are rumored to be keynote speakers at the championship parade, which will go through every street in Sacramento, and last 2 weeks. Kings fans are expected to show up by the millions and follow the team as it makes its way around Sacramento, eventually culminating in the site of the new Downtown Entertainment Complex where Mayor Kevin Johnson will reportedly give Finals MVP Ray McCallum the keys to the city, the new arena, and Chando's Tacos.
This recent cause for celebration also brings in news from the basketball front. In a shocking but expected move, Pete D'Alessandro has announced that he plans to cut all non-VSL members of the Sacramento Kings in order to make room for the Summer League roster.
"They have proven that they are winners. We won 28 games last year. This group had no time to practice, and a lot of them still barely know each others, and they put it all aside to become the Vegas Summer League Champions of the World! It only makes sense to keep this core together."
This could not have come at a better time for the Sacramento Kings, and the city of Sacramento. Just a few days ago, the city was rocked by the news that the team would not be bringing back their starting point guard, fan-favorite Isaiah Thomas. This news was met with much resistance as the fans took to the street and turned parts of Sacramento into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, although members of an organization named STOP called it "a big improvement". Through the fire and smoke, though, there rose a new leader in Ray McCallum and the same people that were burning down the city now have started the process of rebuilding it. Fans from all sides weighed in:
"It's kind of poetic. Sure, I may have gotten a little violent, started a few fires, shot a few bullets, and flipped a few cars when we heard the Isaiah news, but this championship gets rid of all that pent up anger." said local fan Kevin Fippin. "Some may try to boohoo and discredit this championship, but I don't care! I love it!"
"People said I was ridiculous to get this Sacramento Kings 2014 Vegas Summer League Champions face tattoo back in 2012. Well, who looks ridiculous now, haters? YOLO!" said Bryant West, another long-time Kings fan.
"2002 always was that monkey that just would not get off my back. I was afraid that after that, I would be that depressed old hack that only had these terrible war stories for my grandkids, like that fateful summer back in 2002. I was a mess. I never recovered. I was in a near vegetative state for the better part of 12 years. But, now? Now, I can tell my grandparents that I was there! I witnessed history! I saw it live! If I die tomorrow, at least I know that I died happy!" said an ecstatic Bradley Geiser.
"It's crazy. After a lifelong struggle of being a Kings fan, it feels great to finally make it over that hump. All those years of struggling. From the days of Mitch Webber, to the days of Tyshawn Evans. I was there with them. Long live the Kings! Rochester represent!" said self-proclaimed successful rapper and supposed long time Kings fan, Aubrey "Drake" Graham.
Mayor Kevin Johnson released a statement shortly after Sacramento's victory declaring June 21st a "holiday in perpetuity" for the citizens of Sacramento.
"This is a great day for our city, our community and our team. When I went to the NBA headquarters in 2011, I told the NBA how much this team means to Sacramento, and how with proper guidance and ownership, the Kings could be great once again. I'm glad to say that day has come. Long live your 2014 Summer League Champions, the Sacramento Kings!"
Goodbye to three Jazzmen, hello to the amazingly named Carrick Felix. Also: Gordon Hayward gets back to blogging, Trevor Booker likes cereal, and your FanPosts.
Dennis Lindsey seems hell-bent on keeping this offseason interesting for Jazz fans.
So, cool! Another new Jazzman! Although it does mean saying goodbye to John Lucas III, Erik Murphy, and Malcolm Thomas, all of whom were on non-guaranteed contracts and will possibly be used as salary fodder in a Cavs move for not-quite-disgruntled (semi-gruntled? just gruntled?) Timberwolves star Kevin Love. None of the three figured to play major roles for the Jazz this season, so good luck and farewell to them all.
So, Carrick Felix! Wait. First of all. Guys. Can we acknowledge something? The name Carrick Felix is AMAZING. I mean, he's gotta be at the top of the list of NBA Players Whose Names Sound Like Dungeons & Dragons Characters, right? Or, like, an as-yet undiscovered Jedi Master from Episode VII? Or a James Bond villain? Or a minor-league pro wrestler?
He loves skateboarding,still has friends who are into it (though his NBA status prohibits him from partaking) and his favorite pros are street legends Eric Koston and Kareem Campbell (get that flashy vert mess outta here). He got into basketball when it got too hot to skateboard in Arizona.
Before he transferred to Arizona State, he played at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, where he was also the team...barber.
His first points in high school were scored for the other team.
He did an internship with Fox Sports, producing a podcast and blog following his team's progress.
Okay. Seriously. Carrick Felix is The Most Interesting Man In The NBA. I love this guy already.
So what does his presence mean for the Jazz? Possibly not very much. Amar gave you an initial reaction yesterday, and so did David Locke. The upshot: Felix is coming off a knee injury, but his size gives him the potential to be a 3-and-D swingman. (I'm told Amar is, as we speak, working on more such content, so I'll link to that later.) [ED. Link is here] But he's behind Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks and Rodney Hood (and Dante Exum, depending on the lineup) on the wing depth chart. Even Quin Snyder's new-wave, Dutch-soccer-esque, positionless Total Basketball scheme might not have room for Felix. He's a bench insurance policy.
So we'll enjoy him for his fantastic name and personality in the meantime. Also, his daughter is adorable.
Welcome aboard, Master Felix. May the Force be with you, and always roll natural 20s, or whatever.
Away from the court, what I really like about the fans in Utah is that they're really respectful of my time and privacy, and me as a person.
I actually had my yearly camp in Utah right in the middle of contract negotiations, and going into the camp, I had just signed the offer sheet with Charlotte. A lot of fans don't necessarily understand how the contract situations work. I thought it would be kind of awkward to have kids and fans be there, and that maybe some people would want to leave, or be rude toward me.
But right when I got to Utah, I had somebody come up to me at the airport and say, "Hey, just wanted to let you know congratulations on the contract offer. Whether or not you stay, I'm just so happy for you."
Not one person came up to me and said something bad.
Now, it's hard to tell how much of this kind of content is really, authentically written by the player in question. (I mean, how much of that LeBron letter published in Sports Illustrated was actually LeBron? Who knows.) But it's certainly a nice sentiment, and I'm glad that Gordon, for his part, is either unaware of or choosing not to dwell on some of the shade thrown his way during the is-he-or-isn't-he-worth-max-money discussions in Jazz internet circles over the past few weeks.
(Although, again, this could just be a PR angle, taking the high road after hitting the jackpot, if I may mix my metaphors. When speaking directly to fans, it's a good idea to tell them exactly what they want to hear.)
Anyway, it seems like Hayward is happy, and that makes me happy.
Why is this good? Well all these comps are Hall of Famers! Duh!
Why is this terribly bad? Well, all these comps are Hall of Famers! If his only comps are hall of famers then his chances of busting are really really really high. However, if he doesn't bust then he's likely a hall of famer himself (the good news part).
The Jazz are a young team with players still trying to establish identities and it is easy to intimidate a youngster in that role. A veteran presence willing to take the role of someone willing to do the garbage work and take a bump or bruise for the team is essential in helping these young guys grow comfortably. That is where Booker will come in. I admit that he isn't exactly an old veteran (an issue that seems to have been bantered about on this site), but it isn't exactly an issue for the role he is supposed to fill. Booker is aware of his ceiling. He isn't gonna complain about his playing time. He isn't gonna ask for more minutes. He isn't gonna ask for more touches. He knows his role. He knows Favors and Kanter are the future for the team... not him. He's gonna go out and do the dirty work and offer a physical presence to respond to any opponent's attempts to bully his teammates. But what attracted Jazz brass to him is that he goes about his business in a professional manner, someone who isn't going to embarrass the organization.
Thanks for the FanPosts, folks!
Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote many, many words on Tuesday about the Sacramento Kings and their rebuilding strategy. Some of their thinking sounds eerily similar, and as a fellow small-market team that struggles with free-agent acquisition, it might be instructive to know our proverbial enemies. Thus:
Playing fast is part of Ranadivé's vision for "positionless basketball." The Kings want to run with guys who can fill multiple positions and execute lots of things from lots of different spots on the floor.
Gay can slide to power forward in small-ball lineups and shooting guard in ultra-big groups, and he can lead the break if he snares a rebound. Cousins loves to bring the ball up, and he can do damage in the half court passing from the elbow or smashing into dudes at the rim. Stauskas can handle the ball, and McLemore, should he improve, can play either wing position.
It sounds wonderful: keep your young guys and draft picks, work the trade market for the right veterans, and run-and-dunk your way to 45 wins in two years. Sacramento fans would be fired up about that, and even the "old guys" leading the way in this scenario - Gay and Smith, or some similar veteran - are still in their primes.
It's not precisely analogous, but some of the points -- positionless offense, trading for good veterans even if they have bad contracts, zealously acquiring draft picks and young talent -- sound awfully familiar.
The good news is that the Jazz's timetable isn't as urgent as Sacramento's. Instead of trading for veterans with bad contracts and hoping to win, the Jazz have used their cap space to take on mediocre veterans in exchange for draft picks. Consequently, the Kings might be better than the Jazz this year, as they were last year...but the Jazz will have more assets and more flexibility moving forward.
Anyway. I think there are some lessons to be pulled from Lowe's analysis. It's worth reading.
Booker retweeted that himself. So he's not shy about it. And his favorite cereal is Cinnamon Toast Crunch, so you can't criticize the man's taste. Go forth, young Trevor, and enjoy your toasted-grains-and-milk concoctions.
The Sacramento Kings could be bringing back a familiar face in the near future. Sources have told Sactown Royalty that the Kings are considering bringing back Omri Casspi, who the Kings drafted back in 2009 and then subsequently traded to Cleveland for J.J. Hickson.
Ailene Voisin had a column interviewing the former King today, in which he confirmed that the Kings have had interest:
"My agent (Dan Fegan) is talking with a number of teams," he said, "and the Kings are one of them. Couldn't they use a stretch forward who can hit a three and loves to run? I think I could help, and it would be fun to play with Rudy (Gay), DeMarcus (Cousins), J.T. I still have a lot of friends there. I would love to come back and fulfill my path.
Casspi was recently traded to New Orleans as part of the Omer Asik trade, but it is expected that he will be waived soon as his contract for next season only becomes guaranteed if he's not waived by August (Ailene says August 1st, ShamSports has it at August 5th).
To expand on that report by Voisin though, Sactown Royalty has learned that bringing back Casspi would probably mean the Kings waiving big man Quincy Acy, coming off a strong summer league. Acy came to the Kings last year as part of the Rudy Gay trade, and his salary becomes guaranteed if he isn't waived by this Saturday, July 25th. The Kings are dangerously close to the luxury tax already and currently have 13 players under contract (if you include Acy). Sacramento also has a bunch of existing Power Forwards ahead of Acy in the rotation, especially if Carl Landry comes back healthy.
Casspi would potentially be able to play either the 4 or the 3, but as we learned last time and have seen since he left, he's not a great defender of either position. He does fit in with a team that potentially likes to run and space the floor, a theme that the Kings front office has seemed to embrace this summer.
It should be said that nothing is imminent with either Casspi or Acy, especially as Casspi likely will have multiple choices on destinations, but we will find out in the next couple of days whether Acy will stay with the team or not.
UPDATE 9:00 AM:
Sam Amick is confirming Casspi interest in Sacramento
Omri Casspi is hopeful that (once waived by NO) he can re-sign w/ Kings. He could make a lot more overseas but won't give up his NBA dream.
The Kings can either claim him off the waiver wire or wait to sign him to a new deal should he clear waivers. Because Casspi is on a minimum contract, any team can potentially claim him off the waiver wire. The team that claims him would assume his contract for this season, which is a 1 year deal at the veteran minimum.
UPDATE 2:35 PM:
Omri Casspi has already publicly expressed interest in returning to Kings and word is Sacramento is planning to put in a waiver claim on him
Former NBA D-Leaguer Ray McCallum had a lot to prove when he suited up for the Kings in the Las Vegas Summer League. Seven games and a championship win later, has McCallum proved that he deserves to remain in the NBA?
For the majority of his rookie season, former second-round pick Ray McCallum was buried on the bench in Sacramento behind Isaiah Thomas and Greivis Vasquez (before the latter was traded). He still managed to hop off the bench 19.4 minutes per game in 45 contests, while dropping 6.2 points and connecting on 37% of his shots from three. Though with limited minutes, McCallum wasn't able to truly show his polished shooting touch.
The 6-foot-3 guard made a few appearances with the Reno Bighorns this season and proved why he should be playing real minutes in the NBA. In seven games with Reno, McCallum scored 20.0 points, along with 4.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds. His 20.0 points per game came on percentages of 46% from the field and 39% from three. The Detroit Mercy University product -- a school with barely over 5,000 enrolled -- showed an adept shooting touch from everywhere on the floor. The ball glided off his fingers and ripped through the net as his hand landed in the cookie jar.
Seven appearances may not seem like a lot, but McCallum was able to play 250 minutes in the contests, averaging 35.7 per game. McCallum only racked up 897 minutes in 45 games with the Kings, meaning he would have matched his minute mark from the NBA in close to 30 games in the D-League. Not to mention, McCallum attempted 119 shots in his seven games with Reno. In those 45 games in the NBA, McCallum only shot the ball 300 times. McCallum was able to control a team and show off his shooting prowess in the D-League. His stint with the Reno Bighorns was small, but he showed promise in that short amount of time.
Enter the 2014 Las Vegas Summer League and McCallum had a lot of pressure to perform. With Isaiah Thomas signed to the Phoenix Suns and Greivis Vasquez traded mid-season, there are minutes to be allocated in Sacramento. McCallum looked as if he might be up to the task after all.
In his first game with the Summer Kings against the Spurs, McCallum looked rocky at times. He tallied 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting and missed two attempts from three. The Kings would wind up losing that game, which would be their only loss for the remainder of the Las Vegas Summer League.
After another lackluster performance in his second appearance, McCallum started to ball out in his third game against the D-League Select squad. The second year guard dropped 10 points and 12 assists, leading his team to victory. He performed moderately for the remainder of his time in Las Vegas, but had some big shoes to fill as he took the floor for the Las Vegas Summer League championship game against the Houston Rockets. His performance had been nothing spectacular to this point, he didn't separate himself from the crowd. This would all change when the clock started on Monday night.
McCallum was spectacular in the championship game and finally showed the poise and leadership he displayed during his short time in the D-League. Against the Rockets, McCallum dropped 29 points and nine rebounds, including scoring nine points in the final frame, including a streak of seven straight points. When the Kings were down and struggling, McCallum rose up and came through.
His performance to win the championship boosted his Las Vegas Summer League averages to 12.0 points, 4.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 27.7 minutes per game. His status on the Kings might have been a question mark before Las Vegas, but his performance turned that question mark into an exclamation point in the form of 29 points and nine rebounds.
If the Sacramento Kings had any questions about Ray McCallum before Summer League, he's definitely answered all of them with his play on the court. With Darren Collison looking to man the point in Sactown, McCallum should be etched in as the backup point guard. However, if he starts to heat up like he did against the Rockets, McCallum and Collison could find themselves entrenched in an interesting point guard battle. For now, McCallum has solidified himself as a player deserving of NBA minutes which look to be coming his way this season.
Today we roll out our final NBA Summer League post of the year, a recap of former Hokie Jarell Eddie, who played for the Washington Wizards in the Las Vegas Summer League. Unlike in years' past, there were no former Virginia Tech players who surprised everyone by randomly showing up and playing in the event (which was strange considering the amount of mutual flirtation between the Houston Rockets and Malcolm Delaney in the last couple of months), unless you count Jarell Eddie's inclusion on the Wizards' Summer League roster a surprise. For more on Eddie and Erick Green, keep reading below.
Eddie's Wizards ended up in the Semifinal round, losing to the Summer League Champion Sacremento Kings. While he spent most of his time in Las Vegas backing up two of the tournament's best players, Summer League MVP Glen Rice Jr. and last year's 1st round draft pick, Otto Porter, he still managed to play in all six games, averaging a decent 11.5 minutes per game. In the last game, Jarell saw a tournament-high 21 minutes, scoring 8 points with 4 rebounds and an assist on 3-7 shooting, 2-6 from behind the arc.
For the competition, Eddie averaged 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.3 steals and 0.2 assists, while shooting a .32/.25/.60 line. While that won't be enough to get him on Washington's roster in 2014-2015, nor any other NBA team (presumably, though unlike Erick Green with the Nuggets, Eddie is free to sign with anyone as he wasn't drafted by the Wizards), it was a solid showing for him that at least warrants another Summer League look next year once he's done with a season in Europe. For more Washington Wizards (or Bullets) tidbits, be sure to follow SB Nation's Washington Wizards site, Bullets Forever.
As for Erick Green, our friends at SB Nation's Denver Nuggets blog, Denver Stiffs, wrote a piece yesterday about what the Nuggets roster might look like and who would be left out of the rotation for playing time. Green was one of the five projected third unit players who was chosen as out of the rotation at point guard, but at least he was on their projected roster, right? Also, here's what friend of the site Nate Timmons said about Green's roster chances on Monday (something we also outlined on Monday):
"The Nuggets are still in the market for a third point guard, but no targets have appeared yet. Denver could enter the season with an open roster spot if they don't sign any other free agents and that could allow them to pick somebody up during the season as insurance for injury, but the team doesn't sound too concerned about having a full roster if somebody impresses and is available. Erick Green will continue to get a long look from the club."
We hoped you enjoyed our coverage of the 2014 NBA Summer League. Keep checking back with us for any updates on Green, Eddie, Delaney and other former Hokies trying to crack the top basketball league in the world, right here, only on Gobbler Country.
Dennis Lindsey seems hell-bent on keeping this offseason interesting for Jazz fans.
Speaking of 
FanPosts! Just a pair for you this week. First, thatdoolinkid has 
So, 
