Every year pundits and fans alike salivate at the chance to watch their favorite team’s top draft picks perform in the vaunted NBA Summer League. First kicking off with the now-defunct Orlando Summer League in 2002, but now expanded to Las Vegas, Utah, and California, these games are used by teams to gauge each player’s effectiveness as a pro.

Summer League evaluations go beyond stats and the outlying (and underlying) attributes come to the forefront. The so-called intangibles: defensive intensity, leadership skills, body language and the ability to rise to the challenge-more commonly referred to as being ‘clutch.’

The Highly Anticipated Debut of Cooper Flagg

On Thursday, top overall draft pick Cooper Flagg made his Summer League debut with the Dallas Mavericks against the Los Angeles Lakers. In a match made in preseason heaven, the Mavs staff began experimenting with Flagg at point guard. Though NBA execs caution onlookers to not put too much stock in these games, the fans and the media threw that caution to the wind while cheering ferociously, as if it were the NBA Finals.

During the game, Bronny James’ defensive frustrated Flagg, causing a turnover and James was called for a questionable foul while intensely guarding the Mavs’ top pick. For his part, Flagg was not transcendent but looked rather regular. But we’d be remiss in not mentioning Bronny is a second year pro at this point, and is being tutored by his legendary father, LeBron James.  That’s gotta count for something. Defense is effort and Bronny showed plenty of that.

Flagg finished with 10 first half points, but put a donut in the second half on an atrocious 0-9 from the field. Horrible, by any measure, but, when considering Cooper is only 18 years old, playing a new position in his first game wearing an official NBA jersey.

However, Dallas Mavericks fans and the media as well are certainly hoping that Flagg will live up to all the hype he’s garned. And that hope trickles down to the rest of the draft, and expectations are tempered or heightened by those first, tantalizing glimpses. 

When Will We See Dylan Harper?

Dylan Harper, a 6’6 two-guard out of Rutgers University, joins a San Antonio Spurs team that has a ton of talent on the wings at shooting guard and small forward with Stephon Castle and veteran Harrison Barnes. Harper missed three Summer League games with a lingering groin injury, but it is believed he will play Friday in the Las Vegas Classic versus the Dallas Mavericks.  According to scouts, Harper possesses prototypical size for a pro shooting guard, with a lefty stroke that can get hot, but Harper may end up sliding to the frontcourt as Castle is coming off a breakout rookie season alongside Victor Wembenyama. 

VJ Edgecombe Has The Potential To Be An Elite Two-Way Player

Like the eventual fate of an individual wearing a waist-trainer that’s four sizes too small, Philadelphia 76ers rookie shooting guard VJ Edgecombe shocked everybody when he exploded onto the scene with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steals during his debut versus fourth overall pick SF Ace Bailey out of Rutgers. 

Edgecombe looked ready, ripped, explosive, and fearless as other rookies seemed to cower in his wake with each foray to the basket.  Edgecombe missed back-to-back games with a thumb contusion but is slated to play on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets.

The Hornets Have Big Hopes For Kon Knueppel

Small forward Kon Knueppel was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets out of Duke University with the fourth overall pick. Prior to the draft, there were questions about Knueppel’s athleticism and defense on the next level. 

Knueppel was used as a point forward by coach Jon Scheyer in many instances while at Duke University, but ball-handling questions against pressure still remain. Standing at 6’7 and weighing 210 pounds, who exactly is Knueppel expected to guard? Devin Booker? Yeah, right! But, hey, evaluation is what the Summer League is all about. Is he in a league of his own, or out of his league? We’ll soon see.

Knueppel is scheduled to make his debut on Friday, July 11, against the Utah Jazz.

Ace Bailey Is Out To Prove His Doubters Wrong

Ace Bailey, the small forward out of Rutgers got a lot of negative press during the pre-draft process. However, all signs currently indicate that the Utah Jazz are satisfied with his demeanor, his wingspan, and his effort.  They likely could give a blip about his Summer League scoring. While he scored 8 points on a very suspect 3-for-15 from the field, Bailey bounced back the following game, also against the Sixers, with 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on 7-for-14 shooting-including several eye-popping feats of ridiculously uncommon athleticism. 

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