It’s a tradition like no other – to watch Summer League games and evaluate whether or not a player can continue in the NBA.
Truthfully, it’s a little silly, but at the same time it’s so much fun.
After clunker Victor Wimpanyama in his first game, NBA fans were convinced he was destined to be broke. A few days later, he was back to being a worthy first choice and ready for stardom again.
With that in mind, take all of these notes with a grain of salt. Here are five overreactions after two Celtics Summer League games:
Justin Champagne is a smooth operator.
Justin Champagne knows how to hem. He is cunning, unfazed by the moment and a natural leader.
Several times in Sunday’s game, he used the backboard as a buddy to throw the ball himself fairly wide, smashing it and scoring into the rim. He is a creative endgame player who can shoot at the NBA level.
Although he is unlikely to become part of the rotation this year, he definitely deserves a spot on the team.
JD Davison has the potential, but he has a long way to go.
JD Davison’s talent is evident. He has superior jumping ability, is great at transitioning, has above average vision and plays hard.
He was a logical choice, and there’s still a strong chance he’ll end up being a reliable point guard in the NBA.
That said, it’s very clear at this point that Davison still has plenty of room to grow. Making his decision in half of the court needs some work. The pace of summer league games feels a bit fast for him at times, which is concerning given that the pace of the NBA is much faster.
Davison sees things before they happen, but sometimes tries to force square pegs into round holes. Simpler passing is often better, and he has to learn that this year. As Brad Stevens said, “The singles hit.”
Jordan Walsh was a good choice.
It’s easy to see what Stevens and Co. likes. in Walsh.
He can play 2 to 4 without any difficulty and can even play 1 or 5 as needed. It’s tall, sporty, durable, and most of all, versatile.
Walsh sees the floor better than most beginners. He showed a feathery touch in the first game and excelled as a passer in the second. He has a chance of being a 10-5-3 boy in his prime.
It probably won’t be Grant Williams right away, but he could potentially fill Williams’ role in the years to come.
Jay Scropp, NBA player.
Jay Scrub’s story is great. Not many players go from college player of the year to player NBA Draft He chooses.
That in itself is impressive, but it’s quite clear that Scrubb believes he can do more. He has that classic lefty game, where you often know what move and shot is coming but it’s still hard to stop.
Scrubb has a great crosshair, silky touch and makes the game look easy. Whether it’s with Boston or elsewhere, there’s a home for him in the league.
Udoka Azubuike should be on the list.
Udoka Uzubuike is not a perfect player. It’s a bit slow, predictable, and robotic in paint.
But, he’s a legit 6’11, first-round talent and someone who could fill a role for this Celtics team. The Celtics should continue to explore their senior backup options, but Azubuike may end up as the fitter.
He shoots high percentage shots, effectively rebounding and changing shots on the rim with his length. Azubuike is functional at best and serviceable at worst. It’s worth a try.