10 Takeaways from NBA's 2016 Orlando Summer League
After seven days and 25 games, the 2016 NBA Orlando Summer League quietly came to a close Friday.
With a playing field light on familiar faces—only two first-rounders from this draft and three from last summer's—the event yielded a fitting champion. The Orlando Magic White team, which featured just a single former NBA draft pick (Kevin Murphy, the 47th selection in 2012), closed out its undefeated week with an 87-84 overtime win over the runner-up Detroit Pistons.
But that title won't produce many lasting memories, save for the T-shirts dispersed to the winners. The true value in these contests is seeing how some of the league's prospects fare against professional competition.
There was plenty of unsightly play but just as many encouraging signs of development. The following 10 players didn't all have dominant stats, but each revealed clues of what his short- and long-term future may entail.
10. Georges Niang Is as Smart as Any Rookie
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If the OSL players were pooled together and picked solely by appearance, the Indiana Pacers' Georges Niang would be one of the last names called. His physical profile fits somewhere between the two forward positions, as he lacks both the quickness of a 3 and length of a 4.
He's not an eye-test guy—until someone tosses the opening tip. Then, he draws from a deep skills and smarts reservoir, forming an arsenal strong enough for him to compare himself to uber-versatile bigs like Draymond Green, Paul Millsap and Boris Diaw.
Niang's athletic limitations raise valid questions about who he'll defend and how he'll create separation at the NBA level. But his OSL debut hinted he might have enough tricks up his sleeves to overcome—17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two steals. He left Orlando as the only player to average at least 10 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest (minimum two games).
"I study the game, and I try to come with a knowledge of how and when to be in the right spots and do whatever is necessary," Niang said, per NBA.com's Fran Blinebury. "Winning is not always about having the most athleticism. Sometimes it's just playing."
Niang can score from inside and out, play either part of the pick-and-roll, feed the slashers and snipers around him and make every hustle play there is. With the intelligence to know his role and ability to execute it, the 50th overall pick already looks like a steal.
9. Lorenzo Brown Is an NBA Floor General
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Lorenzo Brown has been on the cusp of catching on since going 52nd in the 2013 draft. He's cycled through 10-day contracts over the last two seasons, making the same number of Association appearances as he has in the NBA Development League (63).
His key to sticking at the highest level could be the non-guaranteed pact he inked with the Detroit Pistons late last season and subsequent OSL performance.
"He's played really, really well," Pistons president of basketball operations and head coach Stan Van Gundy said, per Rod Beard of the Detroit News. "... He's certainly making his case, no question about it."
Brown had every chance to force the issue. The presence of Stanley Johnson and Henry Ellenson—Detroit's last two first-round picks—limited his touches. He needed to balance the attack around those two while simultaneously serving as one of the team's top scorers and playmakers.
Outside of shooting the long ball—which he's never consistently done—Brown did everything asked of him. He maximized the shots that came his way (14.2 points per game on 53.1 percent shooting) and hounded opposing ball-handlers (3.6 steals).
If the Pistons don't see him as a third point guard now, another team almost certainly does.
8. Talent-Wise, Mitch McGary Looks Rotation-Ready
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Mitch McGary is raising the bar for wide-bodied bigs. The 6'10", 255-pound forward did everything offensively in Orlando. A soft shooter and savvy table-setter, he dazzled both on and off the ball.
"McGary's play has been encouraging this week, dripping with confidence," Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman wrote. "He's running fast breaks, throwing behind-the-back assists, battling for rebounds and finishing with touch."
It's hard to overlook McGary's combination of size and skill. When he's right, he blends blue-chip offensive talent with blue-collar effort. But minutes have always been hard to come by, and that could still be the case despite the Oklahoma City Thunder losing both Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant this offseason.
McGary has previously battled health, conditioning and consistency problems. The NBA announced Friday he's been suspended the first five games of 2016-17 for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Plus, the Thunder picked up veteran Ersan Ilyasova and rookie Domantas Sabonis this summer. Even if McGary's game is ready, he may not get the chance to show that during the regular season.
7. Stephen Zimmerman Could Make Execs Look Bad
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It's easy to see how Stephen Zimmerman was a high school All-American. He's a mobile 7-footer who can block shots and bury jumpers. Those two talents alone make him a unique hoops specimen.
What's harder to figure out is what's happened to his stock since. His one-and-done run at UNLV was choppy, resulting in forgettable per-game marks (10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) and a draft slide that dropped him to the 41st pick.
If Zimmerman never fills out his slight frame and the NBA proves too physical for him, that slot will make sense. But given his game and growth potential, he seems more likely to keep executives up at night fretting over the sweet-shooting big man who got away.
"Zimmerman is a legit 7-footer who can protect the rim and has a nice shooting touch," CBS Sports' James Herbert wrote after the draft. "... This is a low-risk, high-reward move, and there aren't always guys with this much upside available when you're picking at No. 41."
Zimmerman needs to mature in every aspect. Each productive moment in Orlando was sandwiched between disappearing acts. But the talent is clearly there (2.4 blocks per game overall, 53.6 percent shooting in his final three contests), and the Magic have time to wait for it to germinate given their frontcourt glut.
6. Patience Could Make Henry Ellenson Perfect for Pistons
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By the numbers, Ellenson spent his week looking like a long-shot roster hopeful, not 2016's highest-drafted player in the field. His volume wasn't elite (12.4 points, 7.4 rebounds per game), and his lack of efficiency was glaring (31 percent shooting from the field, 23.1 from distance).
But regardless of the stats, this was an encouraging run for Ellenson and the Pistons. There were enough brilliant moments for the 6'11" freshman to project as the floor-spacing, playmaking big who could lift Van Gundy's attack to another stratosphere.
"It's apparent that the teenager must work on becoming more efficient," Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press wrote. "But at nearly 7 feet and 240 pounds, Ellenson offers tantalizing skill in a large package."
Boil Ellenson's Orlando stay down to the good moments, and you're left with special ingredients. His jumper came and went, but he looked smooth and confident rising from the mid-range out to the perimeter. His handles looked better than advertised, as he was comfortable creating off the bounce or bringing his own boards up the court.
His Dirk Nowitzki-style fadeaway jumper packaged his potential into one highlight.
It'll take Ellenson time to figure everything out. His offense isn't close to where it needs to be, and it's a lot further along than his defense. But if this puzzle comes together, he could be a walking mismatch who's too big for smaller defenders and too quick for bigger ones.
5. Doc Rivers Will Find Brice Johnson a Spot
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Even if the Los Angeles Clippers remain Lob City, it takes more than highlight throwdowns to crack head coach Doc Rivers' rotation. That list of requirements grows for rookies, who have never been prominent pieces under the head coach.
In between a quiet debut and finale, Johnson showed he is far more than just a rim-rocker. He has a soft shooting touch that could eventually reach the arc, and his springs make him a constant presence on the glass. He averaged 15.4 points per game on 50 percent shooting and 6.8 rebounds over his five outings.
He may never be featured like this again. He's not oozing with upside, but the trade-off is the 22-year-old looks ready for opening night and rarely strays outside of his lane.
"Johnson's ceiling seems somewhat low, but his floor is high," Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman wrote. "His athleticism and motor are bound to translate to dunks, second-chance points, transition offense and rebounding. ... At the very least, Johnson should be able to carve out a career for himself as a finishing target, cleanup man and fast-break weapon."
The Clippers need reliable reserves, particularly young and cheap ones. Johnson already seems capable of filling that void.
4. Justise Winslow Is a Jumper Away from Terrifying
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Justise Winslow's maturity spawned most conversations about his rookie year with the Miami Heat, but his versatility was equally impressive. He played every role at both ends of the floor, from being a primary playmaker to starting at center during the postseason.
He arrived in Orlando having already defended opponents' best weapons during the regular season. All eyes were on the offensive end, where he displayed several areas of growth. He handled both aspects of the pick-and-roll game, initiated offense from the point and created shots for himself and teammates out of the post.
Fans were hoping to find progress in Winslow's shooting after he hit just 27.6 percent of his attempts from three and 30.7 percent of all jumpers as a rookie. His woeful OSL shooting percentages (29.8 from the field, 23.5 outside) suggest there was none to be found, but his tape told a different story.
"Winslow's form appears much more fluid these days," Heat.com's Couper Moorhead wrote. "A year ago at this time, Winslow had a hitch at the top of his jumper, his hand would shoot from the side of the ball and his feet were inconsistent and off balance. Now, he's bouncing into shots and shooting in one motion, all with consistent follow-through."
Winslow looked confident in his stroke and didn't hesitate to launch. The results were a bit disheartening, but summer hoops is more about process than production. He's taking steps toward solving his biggest weakness; considering how many strengths he already has, that's a scary thought.
3. Consistent, Bigger Role Coming for Cameron Payne
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For an NBA lottery pick, Cameron Payne's rookie campaign was about as tricky as they come.
By landing with the Thunder, he found himself behind a top-five talent in Russell Westbrook and on a team with zero margin for error. Between Kevin Durant's impending free agency and head coach Billy Donovan's debut, Oklahoma City needed everything to go right—and it almost did—which made it nearly impossible for a freshman to log regular minutes.
Payne's sophomore season will be dramatically different. He should have expected more playing time even before Durant's departure and now could find a sizable increase with the perimeter rotation in flux. If the Thunder feel the need to move Westbrook before his own venture into free agency, Payne could even have a shot at starting.
No matter the particulars, his summer-league run suggests he's better equipped to handle it this time around. He was OKC's offensive focal point and provided both quantity and quality. No one averaged more than his 18.8 points per game, he posted a top-10 assist rate (4.0 per game) and he hit 52 percent of his field goals over his final two outings.
"He looks bigger, and he's definitely playing with more physical rigor," Thunder summer-league head coach Mark Daigneault said, per Blinebury. "It's also a confidence level. You play stronger when you have more confidence."
2. Josh Richardson Looks Like an NBA Starter
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Josh Richardson proved last season he can make the most of an opportunity. Pressed into duty by injuries, the 6'6" combo guard emerged as a lethal long-range sniper (46.1 percent from three) and one of Miami's most tenacious defenders.
The Heat need a lot more from him this time around. Free agency ripped apart their perimeter rotation, with Joe Johnson and Luol Deng already out the door and Dwyane Wade's move to Chicago likely to be confirmed soon. Tyler Johnson is also possibly making his own exit, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
Miami's current backcourt rotation features only Richardson, Goran Dragic and fellow summer-leaguer Briante Weber.
Luckily for the Heat, Richardson looks ready for his new gig. He couldn't get his three ball going in Orlando (3 of 11) yet still averaged 16.7 points per game on 47.2 percent shooting. His focus was improving as a playmaker, and he totaled 14 assists against only five turnovers in three games.
"It's slowed down a lot for me," Richardson said, per Blinebury. "I'm seeing things now that would have been a blur to me last year. So it's getting a little bit easier."
Richardson already seems like the biggest steal of the 2015 draft, and he'll cement that status this coming season. He can cycle through any perimeter assignment on defense, and his offensive arsenal includes monster dunks, fiery three-point shooting and a developing set of lead-guard skills. If Miami gives him a chance to start, he won't waste the opportunity.
1. Stanley Johnson Likely to Launch in 2016-17
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Don't be fooled by the stat sheet—Johnson just had the summer-league experience everyone hopes for.
He arrived in Orlando with goals of improving as a shooter, playmaker and off-hand dribbler, and each area showed development as the week went on. His first few outings were tough to stomach, as he coughed up four turnovers in each of his first two games and shot a miserable 27.3 percent (17.6 outside) over the first three, but he was not deterred.
"At the end of the day, it's not really about being successful here; it's about me getting better," Johnson said, per Beard. "What I'm doing now is going to pay dividends in the longevity of things, so I'm going to stick with it."
Johnson didn't need to wait long to see results: He bumped his assists (2.7 per game) and almost eliminated his turnovers (1.0) over his last three outings. He closed the event with his best two shooting and scoring efforts, averaging 20.5 points per game on 46.9 percent shooting (38.5 from deep).
Johnson played more than 23 minutes a night as a rookie thanks to his NBA-ready defense and unwavering confidence. If his offensive advancements hold up, he could jump into the 30-minute range this year—and see similar spikes in his volume and efficiency.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
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