The Summer Of DeRozan: Grading The Raptors Summer League Experience

Now that the Raptors have completed their turn in the Summer League wanted to breakdown the strengths and weakness of the core players. Sorry I just didn’t think the world wanted to know about Carl English or Smush Parker.

DeMar DeRozan –Grade  B+

Positives: As I suspected DeRozan grew as the summer league progressed and it is understandable why some are anointing him the ‘next Vince Carter’. While DeRozan has some serious work to do before reaching that ‘lofty’ status his combination of athletic gifts, basketball IQ, and work ethic will serve him well as the season progresses.

Challenges: Much of my concerns stem when DeRozan is being defended by a lengthy player such as Austin Daye. While Daye is far from NBA-ready he and DaJuan Summers (Pistons 2nd Round Draft pick) gave DeRozan fits on the defensive end with their combination of length and strength. Another area of concern is DeRozan’s defense. It is far from uncommon for Rookies to struggle on the defensive end but Jodie Meeks, Austin Daye should not have had the huge scoring days they did on DeRozan. I am confident that DeRozan will develop that part of his game over time.

Roko Ukic –Grade C+

Positives: Ukic displayed a confidence that was missing last year. He showed glimpses of becoming a competent NBA point guard. Ukic’s shooting and shot selection has greatly improved from last year. Ukic sometimes became passive in the offense as the summer league went on but that is something that can be address with experience (and not consistently playing with Quincy Douby)

Negatives: Ukic has leaps and bounds to make as a defender as D-Leaguers, and marginal prospects were getting by him with ease. With his length and wingspan Ukic can become a distrupter on defense and a floor and a facilitator on offense simply Ukic needs more exposure, NBA experience, and to hit the weight room.

Quincy Douby – C

Positives: Douby came into the summer league looking to set the world on fire. This was the reason he was graded a 'C'. Without a doubt he accomplished that with little difficulty, Douby was able to score at will and get to the charity stripe where he made the majority of his free throws. Douby shows great confidence on the offensive end.

Challenges: With the offer sheet given to Jarrett Jack, Douby was clearly playing for a roster spot somewhere in the NBA. Douby did not display an ability to get his teammates involved, or a willingness to look for others. When his shot was not working (the PHO game for example) Douby became largely ineffective. Douby also was not able to hold on to the ball with several costly turnovers during games. I certainly can understand playing for your career and a spot on somebody’s roster but there are more ways that just scoring to carve out a niche as a player. Douby’s game lacks maturity and I personally think of his as one of the many players that aren’t quite good enough to play in the NBA. Perhaps he should try making it in Europe.  

Patrick O’Bryant – D-

Positives: O’Bryant has a deft touch around the basket, and actually isn’t a horrible passer, and he’s a seven-footer.

Challenges: O’Bryant has no NBA game to speak of, other than garbage points. In fact I am surprised that he still is officially on the Raptors roster at this point is mind boggling. O’Bryant should have dominated the opposing centers for every game he played yet he was wildly inconsistent, and simply was able to get points because it was summer league and for no other reason. (At least that’s what I think) O’Bryant despite being In the league for three years still lacks experience and the NBA is a terrible place to get on-the-game-training. I believe that once the Raptors acquire another Center then O’Bryant will regulated to the D-League…where he belongs

Team Grade C-

Conclusion: These four players I decided to focus on all have various strengths and weakness. I have to give credit to the coaching staff for realizing that DeRozan was being over whelmed by opposing small forwards with more experience and moving him to the

shooting guard spot. I’m not entirely sure long-term where DeRozan can fit but I can assuredly state that he should become a reasonably good player. Other than Ukic the other two players have no long term future in Toronto. To sum up the Raptors summer league season: It was about DeRozan and not much else.