Summer League watch: Orlando

At last we have NBA basketball, well kind of. But for me who is not a big fan of college ball, this is a good chance to get to know some of the rookies better and to see how some of the second or third year players have evolved. So lets get on with it.

Teams:

Orlando Magic 

Andrew Nicholson: Pick nr. 19 for the Magic averaged 12.6 pts and 6.8 rebs in 26 minutes in the summer league, there is a small possibility that minutes will open up for him when Dwight leaves, so I will keep an eye on him in very deep leagues. But the lack of fantasy gold means that he will only be worth attention if he gets 25+ minutes. 

Draft day decision: Watch list in deep leagues

Boston Celtics

Jared Sullinger:
The Celtics nr.21 pick in this years draft looked very comfortable scoring the ball and did a good job at rebounding averaging 13.8 pts and 8.3 rebs with 40% FG and an impressive 90% FT with 18-20 shooting. He is still a long shot to get any meaningful minutes for the Celtics as they already have Bass and Jeff green who will play the PF position and even JaJuan Johnson who will steal a minute or 2 in the rotation. Even if he does, he wont produce much besides pts and rebs. Draft day decision: Deep league watch list

Fab Melo:
Purely a defensive player for now, got very little minutes in the summer league. More of a long term project for the Cs, could produce some blocks if minutes open up in case of injuries.
Draft day decision:Deep league watch list

JaJuan Johnson:
The Celtics are looking to give the kid some more minutes, and he did ok in the summer league, but wont be worth drafting in any leagues, barring many injuries.

Dionte Christmas: 
Had a solid summer league averaged 12.2 pts. He had also one really good game and has a good chance in at least making the roster. But wont have any fantasy impact.

Draft day decision:Avoid in all leagues.

Philadelphia 76ers

Lavoy Allen:
Solid output in 2 games averaging 7pts, 5.5 reb, 4.5 ast, 1.5 steals, 1 block, 2 TO  in 30min, but only 33% FG.  The stat line looks impressive, but he is unlikely to come anywhere near that in the regular season, mainly because he is stuck on the bench behind Kwame Brown and Spencer Hawes. He is likely to see something in the range of 15 min per game as a backup PF unless anyone in front of him or Nikola Vucevic who is backing up the C spot gets injured.
Draft day decision:Avoid in all leagues.

Moe Harkless:
The nr. 15 pick in this years draft was sadly injured in the second game against the Utah Jazz. But in the first game against Utah he posted a solid stat line of: 9pts with 4-9 shooting and 1 three, 5reb, 1ast, 1 TO in 23 min. As far as fantasy value goes he needs to be avoided unless one of Andre Iguodala or Evan Turner gets injured.
Draft day decision:Avoid in all leagues.

Indiana Pacers

Lance Stephenson:
This guy played decently for a third year player averaging 19.8 points, with poor FT% and 3pt% though. This guy has talent but is behind 4 other players in the guard positions and I dont see that changing, especially considering 3 of those guys were just brought in or resigned with new contracts and the 4th one is Paul George.

G	GS	MPG	FG%	3pt%/3ptpg	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
4	4	31	53	29/1.25	58	0.8	1.8	2.5	4.8	0.5	0.5	3.5	4.0	19.8

 Draft day decision:Avoid outside of extremely deep leagues

Miles Plumlee:26th pick this season, looked good, but will be lucky to get any minutes in the rotation.Draft day decision:Avoid in all leagues.

Detroit Pistons

Andre Drummond:

G	GS	MPG	FG%	3pt%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
5	5	24.2	500	0	25	1.2	4.2	5.4	0.4	1.2	2	0.6	4	7.4

This is the guy I was most excited to take a look at, and he was mostly what I expected. Very raw offensively, but a very good shot blocker. Reminds me a bit of Deandre Jordan, but with a bigger body and more strength and he is even worse of a FT shooter. He is currently projected as the starting C for the Pistons with Greg Monroe moving to PF and is very likely to see at least 20 minutes. He is someone who I would target in the last rounds of my deep league draft somewhere around pick # 150-180, but as he was a high pick he may be gone way earlier. But that would not worry me, as he will probably have a big learnig curve and he wont impress immediately. That means he will be in the FA or a perfect target for trade offers in the middle of the season, especially if Pistons have little chance of making the Playoffs. That would give the young guys as many minutes as they can handle, as an example take a look at Bismack Biyombo last season.  I would project similar stats for him in his rookie season.
Draft day decision: pick # 150-180, if you feel he will get it right away go get him earlier, but not before #80-90

Austin Daye:
This guy is a dream player for fantasy managers, if he could only get minutes in Detroit. Top 50 pick with 36 min per game. And probably will remain a dream for this year, as the Pistons have a logjam at SF, and probably the best chance for him to get minutes this year will be as a backup SG, unless he really manages to surprise everyone at training camp which I doubt.
Draft day decision: avoid outside of extremely deep leagues.

G	GS	MPG	FG%	3pt%/3ptPG	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
5	5	26.2	51	35/1.2	91	2	5.4	7.4	1.4	1.6	2	2.6	2.8	15.8

Utah Jazz

Alec Burks:
This guy looks like he belongs in the NBA, dominated in the Summer league and made things look easy. And will probably get more minutes for the Jazz this season, I would not even be surprised to see him creating a timeshare with Hayward at the SG position. But fantasy wise all he brings is points, and that means he is not worth owning unless he starts to get plus 30 min.

Draft day decision:Avoid outside very deep leagues

G	GS	MPG	FG%	3pt%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
5	5	26.8	45	14	89	0.6	2.8	3.4	2	0.6	0	2.2	2.8	17.2

Jeremy Evans:
Some nice games with some dunking highlights, but wont see meaningful minutes barring many injuries.
Draft day decision:Avoid in all leagues.

Enes Kanter:
 Looked decent with good scoring and rebounding, but wont be worth any attention barring injuries or trades opening up minutes for him.
Draft day decision:Watchlist for deep leagues.

Brooklyn Nets

Marshon Brooks:
Dominated the summer league competition, but if he stays in Brooklyn than he will be someone I will try to avoid in fantasy leagues. He will probably be the first player off the bench but there wont be many minutes left playing behind Joe Johnson.
Draft day decision:Avoid, unless he falls past #150, or gets traded.

G	GS	MPG	FG%	3pt%3ptpg	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
4	4	31	39	25/0.75	68	0.5	2	2.5	4.3	1.2	0	2	3.8	17

Adam Morrisson:
Failed to impress, I doubt he will get invited to the training camp.

Tyshawn Taylor:

Impressed me in the summer league, dominated the opposition scoring wise and looked very good. Probably got himself a spot in training camp, but wont be worth a pick in any leagues in fantasy, as the Nets just brought in C J Watson to play backup PG.

G	GS	MPG	FG%	3pt%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
4	4	29.8	44	36	70	0.5	2.0	2.5	2.5	1.2	0.2	4	3.2	15.5

Jeff Foote:
Is a nice 7 footer and probably earned himself an invite to training camp with some nice game, Nothing to talk about here in terms of fantasy dough.

Tornike Shengelia:

G	GS	MPG	FG%	3pt%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
5	1	21.2	53	13	825	1.4	2.2	3.6	0.8	1	1	3.2	3.8	10.2

Biggest surprise of the summer league so far for me. This guy looked really good and can do it all. Handles the ball well for a 6-9 ft player, has good frame to add some muscle, decent jump shot, and good motor. Unlikely to be worth any fantasy attention this season, but will be a guy whos career I am waiting to follow.

OKC Thunder

Perry Jones III:
This guy looked good in the first game he played in scoring 16 pts with 8 rebounds and 1 three. But sadly sprained his ankle in the second so the sample size is small here.  He did look good in the first game, but is unlikely to be worth attention in any fantasy leagues as he is behind KD and probably Daequan Cook in the pegging order.
Draft day decision:avoid in all leagues.

Next up Las Vegas