The NBA Summer League ended last night, with rookie Denzel Valentine hitting an off-balance buzzer-beater to seal it for the Bulls.
In case you missed it:
It's only the Summer League, but honestly, pretty dope. He had already hit a buzzer-beater to send it into overtime, so he definitely deserves some props. I like Valentine, and he was definitely due for some success after his Spartans, a popular pick to win the tournament, were trounced by 15 seed Middle Tennessee State in the first round.
Valentine had a strong summer, and so did most of the high first-round picks. Each of the top three picks (Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram and Jaylen Brown) met expectations and averaged upwards of 12 per game. But there were a handful of second rounders who also created some hype, each making a strong case for a permanent spot on an NBA roster:
1. Tyler Ulis (Kentucky)
John Calipari called Ulis the greatest floor general he's ever coached, and over the last month Ulis has shown us why. The 34th overall pick averaged 14.5 points for the Suns, compiling 38 assists, compared to just 11 turnovers. He dropped 20 pts with 8 assists against the Heat, and had an insane buzzer-beater that knocked the Nuggets out of the playoffs:
Ulis has a great opportunity to become the primary backup to Brandon Knight in Phoenix, and could earn substantial PT if he plays well in the early going. He's quick, smart, and if he limits his turnovers and plays D, he will have a nice career as a rotation-type guard.
2. Malcolm Brogdon (Virginia)
Brogdon quietly put together a nice summer for the Bucks, averaging over 10 points and 5 boards. He also somehow bettered Ulis' assist-to-turnover ratio by dishing 22 assists with just 3 turnovers. He struggled a bit shooting from deep, but played within his means, putting his trademark defensive skills on display. I can see Brogdon developing into a nice late game defensive specialist, and potentially even a starter.
3. Kay Felder (Oakland)
The guard out of Oakland University (in Michigan) called himself "The best player in the 2016 draft." Considering he's only 5'7, many thought his statement to be a bit ridiculous. But Felder defended his claim quite nicely for the Cavs, averaging 15.2 points and 4 assists while shooting an impressive 42% from the floor.
In the semifinals against the Bulls, Felder dropped 22 and blew by the likes of Jerian Grant and Rasheed Sulaimon with ease. He even managed to block the 6'9 Bobby Portis (check out 1:13):
Its always fun to see underdogs succeed, and hopefully each of these electric guards can find themselves a home in the NBA.