NBA Summer League 2016: Top Takeaways from July 6 in Orlando
The early portion of 2016 NBA Orlando Summer League's Day 5 lacked recent prized draft picks, which opened the door for lesser-known prospects to grab some radar placement. The day closed with its most recognizable player driving, dishing and three-point banking his way into the spotlight, reminding us all that stars—even the summer-league versions—make everything better.
As an added bonus, two of the outings were decided by a total of eight points.
All in all, it was an exciting, eventful, informative day of summer-league hoops.
Progressing Through Growing Paynes
Cameron Payne looks a step above most of his summer-league peers, as he should. Few players can match his pedigree. There were no 2016 lottery picks in action and only two other players who were, like Payne, lottery selections last summer—Miami's Justise Winslow and Detroit's Stanley Johnson.
There are some numbers that make you wonder how much Payne needed to be here. He's one of only two players averaging at least 20 points per game (along with New York's Chasson Randle), and Payne has attempted 18 free throws over his last two appearances. His handles and quickness create a combination that few OSL defenders can handle.
And while he's doing far more scoring than distributing, he's still showcased some 20/20 court vision.
His stat line easily stole the show during the Oklahoma City Thunder's 89-71 win over the Indiana Pacers: 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting (2-of-4 from three), six assists, three steals and three rebounds. Those look like the marks of a player who's already battled big league defenses and logged meaningful playoff minutes.
But Payne carried that same experience into Sunday's tilt, promptly shooting a miserable 5-of-16 with more turnovers (three) than assists (two).
Why the disparity? Well, his aggressiveness has gotten the best of him at times, which can be said for a lot of players on this stage. Plus, he's using this experience to expand his skill set and experiment with new roles and responsibilities.
"Getting to the paint. Being athletic," Payne said, per NBA.com's Fran Blinebury. "I feel like I do a pretty good job getting my teammates involved. I need to do better just seeing the floor."
Payne's summer run is more about process than production. He just happened to excel in both areas this time out.
Brandon Paul's Stock Is Rising
It's been a while since Brandon Paul handled both the backcourt scoring and outside shooting duties for the Fighting Illini. But three seasons removed from his collegiate career, the 6'4" guard remains an ignitable point producer from inside and out.
His three-point stroke had been his biggest weapon in Orlando, as he buried 42.1 percent from deep over his first three outings. He couldn't get it going during the Charlotte Hornets' 84-81 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but he was still one of the most lethal scorers.
Paul leveraged his three-point threat to pull defenders out beyond the arc and then blew by them off the dribble. Despite shooting just 6-of-14, he led the Hornets with 17 points, scoring six at the rim and four from the free-throw line. He also corralled nine rebounds, giving him 20 over his last two contests.
Diversifying his output has been a big piece of getting his summer on track. He's not a good enough scorer or shooter to land an NBA gig. While he averaged 13.2 points in just 23.2 minutes in Spain last season, he shot 38.7 percent from the field and 35.3 percent outside.
Those aren't specialist-caliber stats—not even close—but Paul's recent play shows he can bring more to the table. He defended well in space Wednesday, hounding ball-handlers, crowding passing lanes and even stepping up to draw a charge. He flashed good enough handles to get around hard-charging defenders and obviously had success on the glass.
Glenn Robinson III Could Be a Pacers Regular
It's no surprise that Glenn Robinson III aces the eye test. He's the son of former No. 1 pick Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson, who scored more than 14,000 points over an 11-year NBA career.
Physically, the younger Robinson has it all. His 6'7", 222-pound frame seems built for the big leagues, and his 6'10" wingspan adds another weapon to his natural arsenal. Add speed, quickness and explosive hops to the mix, and the 22-year-old oozes appeal.
But two years into his NBA career, he's still putting everything together. His contract isn't guaranteed yet, and the Pacers need to see more before setting aside a rotation spot for him.
"This is a big summer for him," Pacers coach Nate McMillan told NBA TV. "He needs to send a message to [Pacers president] Larry [Bird], [Pacers general manger] Kevin [Pritchard] and myself that he wants to be a rotational player come next year. This summer league is really important for him to do so."
So far, Robinson is doing his part. After Wednesday's 12-point, six-rebound effort, he's now averaging 16.0 points and 6.3 boards. His 33.3 three-point percentage needs to rise, but his 48.1 field-goal percentage shows he's finding ways to score without the long-distance threat.
Indiana has made several win-now moves this summer, so it's hard to imagine Robinson finding many developmental minutes available. But if he keeps showing he has skill to match his physical strengths, he could see regular action as a steady contributor.
Darius Adams Shows Floor-General Tendencies
Darius Adams is a typical summer-league reserve—well-traveled in the hoops world and off the grid for both casual and diehard NBA fans. He split his collegiate career between Lincoln College and the University of Indianapolis, and his professional itinerary includes stops in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Germany, France and Spain.
He's an anonymous face among a field of many, and his first two outings did little to change that. He totaled just 15 points on 19 shots and 10 assists against seven turnovers.
But Adams pounced on his third opportunity Wednesday, helping the Mavs grab their first win in three tries. The 6'2" point guard stabilized his squad at both ends, posting game highs in points (25), threes (four), assists (six with no turnovers) and steals (three). His plus-11 point differential helped him log more than twice as many minutes as starting point guard and former first-round pick Marquis Teague.
"My college coach called me last night, and he just put a bug in my ear like, 'You're trying to put too much pressure on yourself. Just go out there and play how you know how to play,'" Adams told NBA TV after the game. "... That's what I did today."
It's impossible to tell what this outing will prove to be. Maybe it's a springboard to something greater or the first and last time his name resonates in NBA circles. He's 27 years old, so if his big break is ever coming, he needs it to happen sooner than later.
But his effort is valuable. Some scout—NBA or otherwise—likely appreciated his on-target passes, rhythm jumpers, three-point range and pesky defense. At the very least, Adams made himself a player worth watching the rest of the week.
Orlando's "B" Team Is on Training Camp Radars
The Magic White are supposed to be the forgotten faces in this crowd. All of Orlando's marquee-ish talent goes to the Blue squad, while the White team assembles its roster from a global scrap heap. It has just a single former NBA draft pick in its ranks—Kevin Murphy, the 17th selection in 2012.
And yet, after Wednesday's 95-90 defeat of the New York Knicks, Orlando White stands as one of three undefeated teams in the tournament. That the others are anchored by prominent players—Winslow and Josh Richardson for Miami; Johnson and Henry Ellenson for Detroit—speaks to the unique chemistry formed on Orlando's patchwork roster.
"We don't have any superstars on the team, all these guys are trying to grind, trying to make it to the NBA," White assistant Anthony Goldwire said, per Orlando Pinstriped Post. "They know they won't be stars or starters."
But a few could be NBA players and/or training camp invitees. Arinze Onuaku has been a steady presence in the middle and just delivered a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double. Murphy and Justin Dentmon have shared backcourt scoring duties. Treveon Graham and Patricio Garino have dented all parts of the stat sheet. Michael Frazier is a three-point gunner and apparently a chase-down artist.
The White squad is balanced enough that no one will ever steal the show, but that also allows each player to show his comfort within a system and a capability of playing team basketball. Most are already experienced in professional hoops—Dentmon, Onuaku and Murphy have all made brief NBA stops—so they should seamlessly transition to a training camp if given the opportunity.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
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