For the first time in the history of the event, all 30 NBA teams will gather in Las Vegas for Summer League beginning on July 6. There are other Summer League events in Salt Lake City and Sacramento to wet the collective appetite for “Sin City” but the headline event features virtually all of the top prospects from the incoming rookie class and a few sophomores (and even third-year players) for good measure.
Naturally, most of the hype and attention will be on the lottery picks from 2018, headlined by Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton, Sacramento’s Marvin Bagley, Atlanta’s Trae Young and many others. However, Summer League is as much about prospects jockeying for position on NBA rosters as anything and that leads us to a handful of 2018 second round picks that should be interesting to monitor in this space.
The list features a few guys almost assured of playing time (and a roster spot) in the near future, while others have a lot more to prove in this setting after mixed college production. Regardless, here are a few names to keep in mind along the way, coming to you in alphabetical order.
Hamidou Diallo, SG Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have been very busy, locking up Paul George for the foreseeable future, re-signing Jerami Grant and even adding Nerlens Noel to the mix. Oklahoma City’s pending luxury tax bill is a different conversation for a different day but, with that said, this is a team that could have some auxiliary minutes available in the near future, particularly if they have to make harsh cuts for financial purposes.
Enter Diallo, who is an intriguing, yet extremely raw, prospect out of Kentucky. The Thunder acquired Diallo’s rights on draft night in a deal with the Charlotte Hornets, and he takes up a position as one of the more intriguing youngsters on the roster. The hyper-athletic guard measured at 6’6 with a 6’11 wingspan at the NBA combine and there is no question that he possesses the tools to succeed in the league. However, Diallo is definitely a “project” after what was an up-and-down season in college and he has plenty to prove, beginning in Las Vegas.
There will likely be flashes of brilliance but the more important aspect of the evaluation is whether Diallo displays the basketball IQ and overall skill set, headlined by shooting, to succeed in the NBA.
Melvin Frazier, SF Orlando Magic
Frazier fits Orlando’s ethos perfectly as a 6’6 forward with a 7’2 wingspan and elite-level athleticism. Beyond that, he takes the Magic connections even further with a jump shot that is an open question and Frazier also took a while to mature during his college career at Tulane.
There are certainly minutes available for consumption in Orlando, even with Aaron Gordon returning on a lucrative contract alongside Jonathan Isaac. It will be interesting to see just how NBA-ready Frazier proves to be, though, and he can go a long way toward proving that (particularly as a catch-and-shoot threat) with a strong showing in Vegas.
Oh, and he’s probably good for a few thunderous, crowd-pleasing dunks in the process.
De’Anthony Melton, PG/SG Houston Rockets
Almost two weeks have passed since the draft and no one seems to know how Melton fell to No. 46 overall. The former USC standout was a favorite of advanced numbers and, even after a season away from the court as a result of the bizarre NCAA/FBI scandal, Rockets GM Daryl Morey told reporters that the team evaluated as a top-20 pick in the class.
With that as the backdrop, Melton’s slide was Houston’s gain and it will be important for Melton to showcase his skill set in this setting. Because he didn’t play in game action, more attention will be paid here and, even with the Rockets possessing a ton of high-end talent, depth is a real issue in Houston. It might be aggressive to project Melton as a player that could break into the rotation of a legitimate title contender but, with the way he projects to defend, it might not be crazy.
Much like Frazier and Diallo, Melton’s biggest question is with his jump shot but, if he knocks down perimeter offerings, look out.
Elie Okobo, PG Phoenix Suns
Okobo slipping to No. 31 overall was manna from heaven for the Suns, especially given the team’s current point guard rotation. If the buzz is true that Phoenix intends to move into “win now” mode (after signing Trevor Ariza), Okobo probably isn’t the best fit for a current starting point guard but the investment is clear and he has the tools to be a future starter.
As with most international prospects, Summer League will be the first “showcase” spot for Okobo and the entire league will take notice. There are certainly minutes available alongside Devin Booker in Phoenix’s backcourt and, if Okobo plays well here, it could theoretically influence just how aggressively the Suns pursue veteran help at the position. Those are high stakes but Okobo has competed at an impressive level in Europe and should be ready for the challenge.
Mitchell Robinson, C New York Knicks
Robinson, along with Anfernee Simons, entered the draft having never competed in a college basketball game and that inherently brings questions about his NBA readiness. Beyond that, the uber-talented big man had a (very) bizarre trip to Western Kentucky during his freshman season and, even with his considerable talent, there are at least theoretical concerns about Robinson’s makeup at this juncture.
On the floor, he is a lights-out prospect from an upside perspective, as he brings hyper athleticism to the table along with legitimate center size. Pre-draft rumblings included the fact that Robinson might be too focused on the perimeter, eschewing what could be a dynamic pick-and-roll game in the NBA in favor of a reliance on an intriguing, yet unspectacular, jump shot. That could come to the surface in Summer League but, more than anything, this is a chance for the league to see what Robinson is capable of in a setting that actually plays to his strengths.
Robinson is exactly the type of player that should “pop” in Las Vegas, given that he is a tremendously gifted athlete. If he doesn’t, that probably isn’t the best sign but, as only a second round investment, the upside can really shine.
