Predicting Breakout Stars from 2015 NBA Summer League
Every year, the NBA Summer League produces a handful of breakout stars.
These standouts come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes, it's a rookie making a high-impact debut. Other times, it's a second-year player finally emerging or an NBA D-League stud lighting it up.
However, as Bleacher Report's Bryan Toporek has warned: "Breakout performances at the NBA Summer League can either be a harbinger of things to come or fool's gold."
The nominees include top 2015 draft picks who are well-armed to make an immediate impact based on collegiate skills and production. They also include returnees who have not yet produced substantially but show signs of imminent growth. Lastly, we focused on players whose progress in the D-League or Europe indicates fast-approaching NBA success.
Which intriguing prospects are best equipped to make a big impression in the coming weeks?
Note: Players are sorted alphabetically.
Seth Curry, New Orleans Pelicans G
1 of 10
Vitals: 24 years old, 6'1", 180 lbs
Summer League: Las Vegas
Seth Curry isn't his brother—nor will he ever be. Stephen is simply otherworldly as a playmaker and scorer.
However, Seth is still primed to have a robust 2015 summer league and give a strong audition for the 2015-16 season.
He played sparing minutes in the big leagues over the past couple of years, but he showed noticeable improvement as a shooter and overall scorer in the D-League in 2014-15.
During his magnificent campaign with the Erie BayHawks, Curry bumped his field-goal percentage from 43.7 to 48.4 percent and his three-point accuracy from 37.2 to 46.7 percent. His ability to score off the catch or the bounce empowered him to rack up 23.8 points and 4.2 assists per game.
Curry isn't a prolific ball-handler, but Joshua Riddell of BBallBreakdown.com notes his progress toward NBA-caliber creativity:
"At times, he shows potential to draw defenders toward him and find the open man cutting into the open spots on the floor or spotting up on the weak side. Ball screens have been his most used offensive possession in the D-League, so he seemingly has used the minor league time to try to show he is capable of replicating this at the next level.
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A nice balance of long-distance missiles and facilitating could make for a stellar summer.
Brady Heslip, Minnesota Timberwolves SG
2 of 10
Vitals: 25 years old, 6'2", 180 lbs
Summer League: Las Vegas
During the 2014 summer league, the Minnesota Timberwolves employed Brady Heslip for just 13.2 minutes per game.
After cutting him in October, Minny watched Heslip explode for the D-League's Reno Bighorns and then win the 2015 Bosnian Cup Grand Final MVP with Igokea. His knack for finding and burying three-point buckets helped him rack up 24.5 points per game for the Bighorns and 20.1 points for Igokea.
If the Wolves are smart, they'll give Heslip a closer look this summer.
NBA teams are increasingly favoring a fast-pace style that values spacing and three-point shooting. Minnesota needs to catch up after attempting the fewest triples per game in 2014-15, and Heslip is the perfect weapon to add to its arsenal.
Heslip doesn't project to be a versatile star in the NBA, but he could go bonkers in Las Vegas against inevitably shaky summer league defenses.
Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte Hornets PF/C
3 of 10
Vitals: 22 years old, 7'1", 242 lbs
Summer League: Orlando
While big men like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor have higher ceilings, no 2015 frontcourt draftee is more skilled right now than Frank Kaminsky. He's ready to make a strong entrance into the NBA.
The Charlotte Hornets' No. 9 pick can light it up from deep and take opponents to school in the post. His footwork, ball-handling finesse and scoring touch are well-polished after four years at Big Ten powerhouse Wisconsin.
By the end of his prolific collegiate career, Kaminsky displayed brutal efficiency from all three levels despite being the focal point of most defenses. According to Hoop-Math.com, he shot 70.0 percent at the rim, 45.5 percent on two-point jumpers and 41.6 percent from three-land in 2014-15.
During the regular season, he'll defer many of his touches to Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller, but he'll likely be Charlotte's go-to-guy in the Orlando Summer League.
Kaminsky's jump to the NBA won't be a total cakewalk. He's a below-average athlete and will have to adjust to the speed of the game, especially on the defensive side. Fortunately, that won't stop him from getting playing time this summer and posting hefty offensive numbers.
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Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers C
4 of 10
Vitals: 19 years old, 6'11", 270 lbs
Summer League: Utah and Las Vegas
Speaking of skilled big men, Philadelphia 76ers draftee Jahlil Okafor is also poised to assert his dominance right out of the gate.
NBA opponents will soon learn why the Duke big fella tormented college foes so easily. His 6'11", 270-pound frame and advanced footwork are equipped to carve out space. And his massive, dexterous hands are ready to score the rock from all angles. He averaged 23.0 points per 40 minutes as a freshman, shooting 66.4 percent from the field despite copious double-teams.
Sixers coach Brett Brown knows that Okafor is an elite talent, and he intends to utilize him early and often.
"The program is going to realize very quickly how special he is," Brown told Bob Cooney of Philly.com. "We are going to play through Jahlil."
Brown also explained that he plans to use Okafor as more than a post-up player in half-court scenarios. He views the young center as someone who's mobile and agile enough to run the floor and operate the pick-and-roll.
If they give Okafor plenty of touches in Utah and Vegas, he won't disappoint.
Bobby Portis, Chicago Bulls PF
5 of 10
Vitals: 20 years old, 6'11", 242 lbs
Summer League: Las Vegas
It won't take long for Bobby Portis to prove that he was one of the biggest steals in the 2015 NBA draft.
The 6'11" Arkansas power forward fell to No. 22, where the Chicago Bulls gladly scooped him up. He'll supplement Chi-Town's front line superbly in the regular season. But in the meantime, Portis will feast as a featured cog during summer league.
The 2015 SEC Player of the Year offers a potent mix of blue-collar work and rapidly expanding skills. He's not a completely polished product, but he can post up, shoot from the outside and crash the boards tenaciously.
New Bulls skipper Fred Hoiberg discussed Portis' end-to-end energy and versatility with CSN Chicago. "The thing I'm most impressed with is how he runs the floor," Hoiberg said. "He can make shots, shoots at a very high rate, very good going to the glass. He just does so many things."
With his ability to battle for position, collaborate with teammates and score from several spots, Portis is a threat to rack up a few double-doubles in Las Vegas.
Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers PF
6 of 10
Vitals: 20 years old, 6'9", 250 lbs
Summer League: Las Vegas
Los Angeles Lakers power forward Julius Randle had a solid summer league in 2014 that included some flashes of electricity. But this year is his time to truly shine.
Last week, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News reported some good tidings on Randle's recovery from a fractured tibia. He seems to be in the final stages of returning from the injury suffered in October.
"There's increased optimism Julius Randle will play in Summer League," Medina tweeted. "He has been cleared for full-court 5-on-5 drills."
If Randle's leg doesn't bother him, he'll play the same aggressive, versatile brand of hoops we saw at Kentucky and during preseason last year—only faster. His predraft foot issues should also not be a problem since he's had a year off. Randle talked about how he lost weight and feels spry entering the summer.
"With the weight loss and stuff I feel like I'm able to move better," he told Mike Trudell of Lakers.com. "Get off my feet quicker. Just feel quicker, feel lighter. Recovering faster when I get tired."
After a year of rehabbing and fine-tuning his skills, he's ready to carry the Lakers' frontcourt in Vegas and remind everyone why he was the No. 7 overall pick last season.
D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers PG
7 of 10
Vitals: 19 years old, 6'5", 180 lbs
Summer League: Las Vegas
Last year, Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson turned some heads during summer league and then really impressed us during his late-winter surge in the regular season.
Now it's D'Angelo Russell's turn to enjoy his breakout moment, albeit a less surprising one.
Ohio State's one-and-done stud rose up the draft charts because he's a gifted playmaker and a dangerous perimeter scorer. He'll unleash both of those qualities in Las Vegas, as the Lakers staff will be eager to test-drive its shiny new vehicle.
In both high school and college, Russell has shown he's poised beyond his years and is adept at manipulating defenses. The transition to the NBA will be his biggest test thus far, but he should be able to quickly find his comfort zone during summer league.
Zach Harper of CBS Sports notes the dual-threat value Russell will instantly bring to the Purple and Gold: "Russell's presence not only gives them a three-point threat in the thing they do the most [pick-and-roll], but he opens up the floor for everybody by being a magnetic scorer the defense can't stay away from."
Expect him to thrive coming off ball screens throughout July and into next season.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves PF/C
8 of 10
Vitals: 19 years old, 7'0", 250 lbs
Summer League: Las Vegas
Minnesota Timberwolves prize Karl-Anthony Towns won't likely churn out the same level of polish and production as Jahlil Okafor or Frank Kaminsky during summer league. He just doesn't possess their command and diverse repertoires yet.
Nevertheless, the No. 1 pick's NBA arrival should be a fun bash.
Towns is rawer offensively than his aforementioned peers, but that doesn't mean he lacks some effective, NBA-ready moves. He can turn over either shoulder and score with either hand, and his jump-shooting talent will quickly keep defenses honest.
"He has more ball skills than I let him show," Kentucky coach John Calipari told Derek Bodner of USA Today. "You're going to have to guard him in pick-and-pops or if he's trailing on the break."
The Wolves will not only run their offense through him successfully in Las Vegas, but they'll also rely on his outstanding rebounding and defensive instincts. In addition to a 250-pound frame and 7'3 ½" wingspan, Towns has a readily apparent desire to control the glass and protect the paint.
We've seen what Towns can do in a modest role as part of a platoon system at Kentucky. Just imagine what he can do as the anchor of Minnesota's summer league squad. Expect a regular diet of double-doubles July 10-20 in Vegas.
Noah Vonleh, Portland Trail Blazers PF
9 of 10
Vitals: 19 years old, 6'10", 240 lbs
Summer League: Las Vegas
Noah Vonleh suffered a wildly inefficient 2014 summer league and an injury-riddled 2014-15 campaign for the Charlotte Hornets. The rookie's inexperience and early-season sports hernia injury significantly hampered his development.
It's finally time for the former top-10 pick to make a splash.
The Portland Trail Blazers snagged him as part of the trade that sent Nicolas Batum to Charlotte, so they must have seen the potential that he showcased toward the end of the regular season. When Vonleh finally got some playing time, he posted a couple of 12-rebound performances, including a double-double against the Detroit Pistons.
Vonleh isn't a naturally gifted defender positionally, but he shows tremendous promise in terms of mobility in the open floor, recovery from the weak side and rim protection.
Offensively, he's also raw and still learning. Fortunately, it looks like Vonleh has the wherewithal to become a legitimate inside-out asset. Vonleh uses his length to score on the offensive glass and in transition, and he can also step behind the arc. In Charlotte's final five games, he shot 4-of-8 from three-point range.
This summer is Vonleh's chance to show Portland that he can contribute in its rotation. Don't expect him to be as dominant as the other players on this list, but he'll take a huge step from last year and look the part of a rising prospect.
James Young, Boston Celtics SG/SF
10 of 10
Vitals: 19 years old, 6'7", 213 lbs
Summer League: Utah and Las Vegas
James Young played just 31 games for the Boston Celtics last year, registering 10.7 minutes and 3.4 points per game as a rookie. Without a chance to get in a rhythm, his shooting was underwhelming.
But when he wasn't busy riding the pine in Beantown, he was torching the D-League.
In 17 games for the Maine Red Claws, Young showed off his lethal southpaw shooting touch and end-to-end athleticism. He shot 44.2 percent from three-range en route to 21.5 points per contest.
Young's shot-creating skills aren't incredibly intricate, but he's effective on straight-line slashes due to his length and nose for the rim. Now that he's acquired a good feel for the NBA arc, he's a dark-horse candidate to break out.
"The organization has been struck by Young's instincts at that end [on offense]," said Jay King of MassLive.com last season. "He makes quick decisions, knows when to cut, routinely delivers the extra pass. ... It's the other end where Young most needs to improve, bulk up, become more aware."
If he displays two-way progress, don't sleep on his ability to put up some gaudy stats in Utah and Las Vegas.
Dan O'Brien covers the NBA and NBA draft for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter: @DanielO_BR
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