Las Vegas Summer League 2015: Top 6 Takeaways from Friday's Action
Day 8 of the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League produced some unexpected heroes, head-turning plays and a surplus of intense competition.
It was "consolation day," as all the teams that were bounced from the playoff bracket squared off against one another. But even though the games didn't have title implications and several big-name prospects rested, there was no shortage of drama and entertainment.
Several 2015 lottery picks were in action, as were some rising undrafted players looking to crack a 2015-16 roster. The day also featured a 27-point comeback and overtime barn-burner, keeping the fans of Sin City on the edge of their seats.
What were the most head-turning moments and top takeaways from Friday's action?
JaKarr Sampson Explodes from Deep, Flashes Versatility
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Philadelphia 76ers sophomore JaKarr Sampson had churned out a woefully inefficient, uninspiring summer league effort for most of the week.
Friday's showdown with the Houston Rockets turned it around in a big way.
In a game that featured no Jahlil Okafor, T.J. McConnell or Jordan McRae, the Sixers turned to Sampson for some offense. He proceeded to enjoy his most brilliant summer league performance yet, scoring 24 points, including 4-of-7 from three-point range to help Philly upend the Rockets, 100-96.
Sampson left St. John's in 2014 as a hyper-athletic wing whose skills were raw. But if the outburst against Houston is any indication, he's made huge strides as an all-around player. Sampson attempted just 13 triples over two years in college, so his confidence and production Friday speak volumes about his development.
He also sprinkled in a few slashes to the rim, six rebounds and a couple of blocks. The 6'9" forward exhibited the kind of end-to-end versatility that could earn him substantial minutes in 2015-16.
If Sampson can transfer his inside-out exploits from Las Vegas to the regular season, he'll emerge as an underrated, undrafted steal.
Alan Williams and Montrezl Harrell Owned the Offensive Glass
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While Sampson buoyed the Philadelphia 76ers from deep, Alan Williams and Montrezl Harrell kept the Houston Rockets alive on the offensive glass, as the Rockets won that battle 28-15.
Each channeled his inner Dennis Rodman en route to a whopping 33 combined rebounds, including 22 offensive boards in the loss.
Both mixed in some potent offense, finishing many of their rebounds with strong putbacks and post-ups. Williams' aggression earned him eight free-throw attempts, while Harrell displayed confident shot-creating moves.
Williams finished with 22 points and 21 rebounds (12 offensive), while Harrell tallied 24 points and 12 caroms (10 offensive).
Williams' Friday dominance impressed Sam Vecenie of CBSSports.com, who stated: "The dude is a monster. Insatiable motor."
Harrell's energy was sky-high as well, but he's also shown glimpses of a polished skill set. If he can build on some of his mid-range shooting and back-to-the-basket coordination, he could become more than a peripheral blue-collar player.
There's No Quit in These Kings
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Don't tell the Sacramento Kings' summer squad to pack it in early.
After winning the 2014 Las Vegas crown, Sactown saw itself bounced from the 2015 Vegas playoff bracket by the Golden State Warriors. Then it faced a 27-point hole against the Miami Heat during its consolation game Friday.
Just when you thought they lacked a summer league pulse, the Kings tightened the screws on defense and clawed their way back.
A 25-0 run helped Sacramento reel in Josh Richardson and the Heat, as Deandre Liggins, David Stockton and Willie Cauley-Stein spearheaded a dominant third quarter. An evenly fought fourth quarter gave way to overtime, where a Julyan Stone triple helped the Kings clinch the 73-68 victory.
Cauley-Stein was active on both ends, notching 12 points, nine rebounds (including six offensive caroms) and three blocks to help Sacramento compete in the paint.
It was the Kentucky star's fourth multi-block game in Las Vegas, offering us a glimpse of his rim-protecting supremacy for the future. But it was also another opportunity for everyone to see that he can make a dent on offense as well.
To be fair, the Heat's summer league squad played without the likes of Shabazz Napier and Justise Winslow Friday. But the mid-game turnaround is nonetheless an impressive feat for the young Kings and a sore spot for Miami.
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Trey Lyles Has NBA 3-Point Range
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After Trey Lyles' mere four three-pointers from the college line last year at Kentucky, most prognosticators (including myself) thought it would take a while for him to find his stroke from NBA range.
We knew he'd be a solid, fluid mid-range shooter for the Utah Jazz, but Friday's deluge against the Los Angeles Lakers changes things. Lyles unleashed four triples to help fuel a 20-point performance in Utah's 84-78 triumph.
Fellow Wildcat lottery picks Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein often overshadowed the 6'10" one-and-done lottery prospect, but he might be the most versatile of the three right now.
Lyles has a smooth face-up game that allows him to drive with either hand, and his jumper looks pretty. He also has the length to compete on the glass and contest shots while he learns the finer points of NBA defense.
Will Lyles be dialing up a bushel of long-distance shots in 2015-16? Probably not. But coach Quin Snyder will keep in mind that it's a budding part of the youngster's arsenal, and we'll see him splash the sporadic long ball during pick-and-pop sequences.
D'Angelo Russell Finishes on a Promising Note
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D'Angelo Russell's up-and-down summer league ended with a high-scoring outing Friday in the Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Utah Jazz.
"Not good," Russell called his performance in Las Vegas, per Mike Trudell of Lakers.com.
He notched 21 points on an array of mid-range tosses, drives and transition buckets, giving L.A. fans a taste of his blindingly bright future. However, it took him 20 shots to get there, highlighting his youthful gunslinging ways and inability to consistently get to the free-throw line.
Russell also had one assist compared to three turnovers, which looks underwhelming on paper. But the uninspiring passing stats are partially due to his cold-shooting teammates; the Lakers shot just 40.5 percent from the field and a paltry 19.0 percent from three land, failing to convert several of Russell's drive-and-kicks and lobs.
"Assist opportunities is a better stat than assists," notes Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey. "Russell only has one assist in this game, but his passing has been far better than that."
Even in a loss, Russell closed out his first week of competitive NBA action with a promising display of his dual-threat potential.
As he gains more discipline and builds chemistry with the Lakers' core, he'll quickly blossom into one of the league's most dynamic young combo guards.
Lorenzo Brown Continues Strong Vegas Showing
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Minnesota Timberwolves reserve guard Lorenzo Brown has delivered a productive, efficient summer league thus far. He kept up the offensive fireworks Friday in a 78-73 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In summer league games where he played more than 15 minutes, Brown has scored at least 15 points and streamlined the Wolves offense. More importantly, he's maintained a field-goal percentage well north of 50 percent and earned copious trips to the charity stripe.
On Friday, his clean bucket-getting continued, as he poured in 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Brown also chipped in a couple of assists and three steals to keep Minny within striking distance of the Cavs.
Brown's pull-up jumper is looking much-improved from the past couple of years, and he's particularly effective coming off ball screens. Blogger Zachary Bennett thinks Brown's ability to initiate offense should help him stick in the league moving forward.
"Lorenzo Brown is a smart P&R [pick-and-roll] player," Bennett tweeted. "If the Wolves don't keep him, some other team will, or at least should."
Keep an eye on Brown's progress as he enters his third year in the NBA. Will the summer league brilliance propel him to a more established role in 2015-16?
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