Cavs Summer League (starts July 10)

[Evgeni]

Well, Harris is not going to play in the playoffs anyway (unless it's a total garbage time), so I don't know if it matters much how he plays. He is just a filler on the roster for the next few years. Even if he improves significantly I don't see him contributing in the playoffs.

 

[SkipHippo]

I don't hope Russell busts at all. I would never root for a 19 year old kid to fail, especially when it's an OSU guy. I still think he'll be a great player in this league, even though he's been a little rough in the SL so far.

I don't think he has the athleticism to be an elite wing player. Most of the franchise player wings are elite atheletes or have elite meaureables.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I think the reason the summer league exists in the first place is to allow coaches and GMs to judge how well their potential players play. So I think if professionals rely on it, we can too.

But what they're "looking for" may vary between players. It's a (necessarily) very flawed/limited process, but if you have to evaluate UDFA's, or choose between second-round picks when you're already at 15 on the roster, it's just a little bit more information than you had before. In some cases, it might make a difference. But many times, it won't.

For example, I don't think they were really "looking for" anything at all with Delly last SL. They had a good idea what he was after his rookie season, but he was a second-year guy so he filled out the SL roster. And in SL of his rookie year, he actually looked pretty bad. A lot of people (not @Randolphkeys, though) were saying he'd be a waste based on his performance in summer league. But quite clearly, the Cavs did not assign much weight to his performance that first summer league, and signed that UDFA to a two-year deal, which is pretty rare for a UDFA. And based on what I saw in summer league, I don't think that decision to sign him had much to do with his performance in the games.

I think the way it really works is that if they have a bunch of guys ranked very closely, SL may tip them in one direction or another. Or if some guy really blows up, it might lead them to consider signing him. But it seems pretty rare for SL performance to lead a team to cut (or not sign) a guy they otherwise like.

 

[Kbiz]

I don't think he has the athleticism to be an elite wing player. Most of the franchise player wings are elite atheletes or have elite meaureables.

Homerism aside, one thing that stuck out while watching Russell in college is that while he may not appear athletic in comparison to other players speed and agility, he is incredibly smooth while operating in the half court. He is deceptively athletic and is one of the best passers i've seen at Ohio State. Had he been surrounded with better talent, he would've looked even better.

He is hard to compare to other players but he possesses all the gifts you look for. It's just a matter of harnessing that talent and making the most out of it. Say what you want about Scott, he knows how to coach up guards. Him and Irving had an immediate bond so i hope he takes on a similar relationship with Russell. The tools are there (IQ, court vision, ball-handling) they just need fine tuned to the NBA game. Hopefully Bryant's ego won't hinder Russell's development because he has the potential to be something special.

 

[Cassity14]

I don't think he has the athleticism to be an elite wing player. Most of the franchise player wings are elite atheletes or have elite meaureables.

He's not a wing player. He's a point guard.

Curry, Kyrie, and Paul are living proof that you don't need to be an elite athlete to be a stud point guard.

 

[ajz20]

Just a reminder that today's game is on nbatv live at 4 pm. There was no game thread for game 2 and the one for 1 was barely used, so I would imagine we would bemusing this thread for today's game thread.

 

[Randolphkeys]

For example, I don't think they were really "looking for" anything at all with Delly last SL. They had a good idea what he was after his rookie season, but he was a second-year guy so he filled out the SL roster. And in SL of his rookie year, he actually looked pretty bad. A lot of people (not @Randolphkeys, though) were saying he'd be a waste based on his performance in summer league. But quite clearly, the Cavs did not assign much weight to his performance that first summer league, and signed that UDFA to a two-year deal, which is pretty rare for a UDFA. And based on what I saw in summer league, I don't think that decision to sign him had much to do with his performance in the games.

At the risk of sounding like I'm exceedingly pompous, you have to look at Summer League completely differently than preseason games. The intention of the coaches and players are completely different. In preseason, a player is likely showing their complete game. They want to make the roster or prove they can be in a rotation. SL is another animal, because some players are trying to get attention from European or opponents scouts. Other players are trying to work on specific weaknesses in game settings, because they have a good shot at making the team. In Delly's case, he showed some clear strengths that the team needed at the time: distributor first on offense, versatile perimeter defender. His shot needed to improve and he needed to get used to much faster athletes the WCC didn't have. But, I saw a willingness to do what the coaches asked, even if it wasnt a strength. That is the greatest indicator of future success in SL. It's something I never saw from Bennett.

Off topic slightly, Aaron Craft is indeed showing the same path as Delly in the past two SLs. He should have an NBA gig somewhere this year.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

At the risk of sounding like I'm exceedingly pompous,

I think that ship sailed a loooooong time ago....

 

[Randolphkeys]

I think that ship sailed a loooooong time ago....

It's been my status since 2005, and it seems to play well. But let's get back to how fucking right I am all the time...

 

[TitleTown]

Well, Harris is not going to play in the playoffs anyway (unless it's a total garbage time), so I don't know if it matters much how he plays. He is just a filler on the roster for the next few years. Even if he improves significantly I don't see him contributing in the playoffs.

People would have said the same thing about an undrafted Delly. Considering we haven't signed JR yet, and other depth holes in the roster, Harris definitely has a shot to earn some playing time.

 

[tocov]

Joe Harris is the Michael Jordan of getting blocked.

 

[Ryan Gladish]

Harris is awful

 

[tocov]

Sykes is ok, really. He makes smart decisions on offense and is really agile on D.
Everyone else is garbage.
Is Christmas even playing?

 

[ajz20]

Harris needs to earn his spot in camp

 

[Ryan Gladish]

Both haws and shurna have been the best players so far for our team. The name of the game is to put the ball in the basket. Theyve been the only ones doin it consistantley. Sykes looks very mediocre