Utah Summer League 2018: Schedule of Dates, Times, Points System and Format
If you want a distraction from refreshing your Twitter feed in search of free-agent news, the first of three NBA summer leagues begins play Monday.
The Utah Summer League features four franchises who will use their trio of contests at Vivint Smart Home Arena as preparation for the Las Vegas Summer League, at which all 30 teams take to the court.
The Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies open up the six-game slate, which is set to be played over four days, while the San Antonio Spurs square off with the Utah Jazz in Monday's nightcap.
While the Utah Summer League won't generate as much buzz as Las Vegas because of the volume of teams participating there, a few first-year players are worth watching, including a trio of intriguing first-round selections.
Utah Summer League Schedule
Monday, July 2
Atlanta vs. Memphis (7 p.m., NBATV)
San Antonio vs. Utah (9 p.m., NBATV)
Tuesday, July 3
San Antonio vs. Atlanta (7 p.m., NBATV)
Memphis vs. Utah (9 p.m., NBATV)
Thursday, July 5
Memphis vs. San Antonio (7 p.m., NBATV)
Atlanta vs. Utah (9 p.m., NBATV)
All Times ET.
Format
Each of the four teams will play three games in Utah before moving on to the Las Vegas Summer League, which gets underway on July 6.
The team with the best record of the four teams after the collection of games will be the champion.
Unlike past summer formats, there's no unique point system being utilized in the Utah Summer League.
Lottery Picks Square Off in Utah Opener
The most intriguing matchup of the Utah Summer League is the first.
Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks take on Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday in a showcase of lottery selections.
Young is already under the spotlight because he was traded on draft night to the Hawks from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic.
Although he can't be judged until the NBA regular season begins, Young could give us a look into what he brings to the Hawks, with his ball-handling and three-point skills under the microscope.
As for Jackson, he's under a little less pressure because he landed in Memphis and because he doesn't have an incredible supporting cast around him.
Jackson is the highest-profile player on the Grizzlies summer roster, but he will have plenty of competition during practice down low alongside Ivan Rabb, Anas Mahmoud and Deyonta Davis, who also went to Michigan State.
While they won't go head-to-head on every possession since they play different positions, Young and Jackson should be the focal points of their respective offenses, which will inevitably lead to comparisons given their stature.
Allen Gets Chance to Shine in Front of Home Fans
Grayson Allen left Duke as a controversial figure because of the on-court antics that occurred in his four collegiate seasons.
None of that matters now, as Allen is a member of the Utah Jazz and must win over the home fans and the Jazz coaching staff with his play on the court.
The No. 21 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft should be able to develop a level of comfort in three games on his home court, and it helps Allen that he's the marquee name on the team's summer-league roster.
Former collegiate stars Isaac Haas and Georges Niang will play for the Jazz in the summer, but they prefer to do their damage in the paint.
That leaves Allen with the opportunity to develop into a summer-league star with his three-point shooting, which could give the shooting guard confidence entering the regular season.
If Allen is able to thrive throughout the summer, it could set him up for immediate success alongside Donovan Mitchell in Utah's backcourt when the regular season begins in October.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
