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I thought Leonard was pulled from the roster.
Summer league can be easily overlooked by the casual NBA fan but for the San Antonio Spurs, it’s an important time of year. On virtually an annual basis, the Spurs make some sort of discovery in summer league -- from locating an interesting prospect (See: Neal, Gary) to falling in love with a known prospect (See: Jackson, Stephen) to witnessing the placement of the last straw upon the camel's back (See: Butler, Jackie).
This year, the Spurs have a roster chock-full of intrigue and it’s sure to be an interesting week in Las Vegas. Beginning on July 15th, San Antonio plays five games in seven days. Here’s a look at the reported roster -- in order of the player most likely to make the Spurs opening day roster to the least likely.
Kawhi Leonard
Unless the Spurs come out of nowhere to win the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, Kawhi Leonard will be a Spur next season. Following an amazing rookie season in which Kawhi Leonard surpassed even the most demanding of expectations, the freshly 21-year-old will look to build upon his first year momentum. Since he’s capable in so many areas of the game, it’s difficult to pinpoint one area of needed improvement. However, the best way to utilize Leonard in this summer league is to try to turn him into a primary scoring option. To do that, he needs to work on his playmaking ability, his ballhandling in traffic and his passing off the dribble. When he’s on the court, the Spurs should consistently run their offense through Leonard, if for no other reason than to get a better idea of how much potential he has to handle a substantial offensive role once the real season begins.
Cory Joseph
While fellow rookie Leonard was shining, Cory Joseph was flatlining. In 266 NBA minutes, Joseph was bad. Really bad. His defense was poor, he couldn't hit a shot (22-for-70 from the field, 3-for-15 on three-pointers) and generally looked overwhelmed. Perhaps most damning was his lack of any discernible point guard skills; the rookie PG was an iffy ballhandler who couldn't make plays. Joseph also played 461 minutes with the Austin Toros, and though he flashed potential occasionally, he didn't dominate the way most legit NBA prospects do in the D-League. All that said, Joseph is still just 20 years old so it's too early to make any final determinations. But during these summer league games, the pressure will be on for him to prove that he has at least one NBA-level skill. Whether it be as a lockdown defender, reliable playmaker or perimeter sharpshooter, Joseph needs to show an area of strength to give a reason for the Spurs to pick up his third-year option -- a decision that will be need to be made by Oct. 31.
Marcus Denmon
The Spurs selected Marcus Denmon with the 59th selection of the 2012 NBA Draft and this will be their first chance to see whether they were able to strike second round gold again. Although Denmon put together an illustrious four-year career at Missouri, his shortcoming is, well, he's short. He measured just 6-foot-1.5 without shoes at the draft combine. For a shooting guard, that's elfin. Add the fact that he's not a superior athlete to the fact that he doesn't have exceptionally long arms and it's not a surprise that he dropped in the draft. But in college, Denmon was a very good shooter who was extremely efficient offensively. Although he didn't rack up a lot of assists, his turnover rate was microscopic. Defensively, Denmon was regarded as above average while at Missouri. To make the NBA, Denmon faces a difficult road. If he's going to make it as a shooting guard, he'll need to retain his offensive efficiency while being able to negate has lack of height by playing physical pressure defense. The other option is for Denmon to attempt to become a point guard. While his height would no longer be harmful to his chances of making it, he'd have an entirely new set of questions to answer. Can he handle the ball? Can he make plays? Does he have the needed mentality to run a show? Will he be able to move his feet quick enough to defend opposing point guards? After these summer league games, we'll have a much better idea where Denmon stands and which avenue will be best for him to try to make it.
Alexis Ajinca
Alexis Ajinca may be the most intriguing prospect of them all. The 20th overall selection of the 2008 draft stands 7-foot-2 and sports an pterodactylian 7-foot-8 wingspan. On top of that, he's a capable outside shooter. During the 2010-11 season, his last in the NBA, Ajinca knocked down 12 three-pointers and 21 other jumpers outside of 15 feet in only 340 minutes of action. However, the gift of his shooting touch is also a curse. Instead of imposing his gargantuan size on the rest of the basketball world, Ajinca is often content to float around on the perimeter while waiting to hoist his next jumper. Defensively, he's slow to react, shies away from contact and lacks natural instincts. He also has a reputation of not working hard. Considering his faults, it's not a surprise that he spent the 2012 season playing in his home country of France. While Ajinca has a lot of work to do to prove he belongs in the NBA, his size and shooting ability are tantalizing -- especially to the Spurs, who lack superior length and prefer their bigmen be threats from the perimeter. In this summer league, Ajinca is going to have to prove he's an actual basketball player instead of simply being a guy with a courageous pituitary gland. Above all, the Spurs will be looking for toughness, aggression, focus and a willingness to learn. If he shows all of that, the Spurs very well could roll the dice and take on Ajinca as a project bigman.
Eric Dawson
Could Eric Dawson be a capable NBA player hiding in plain sight? That might actually be the case. While he's been around the Toros for nearly five years, Dawson got healthy and got in the best shape of his life last season -- and the results were impressive. To say he dominated on the D-League level would be an understatement. Dawson's 28.2 PER not only led the league, it was the highest PER in the history of the D-League. On top of that, his win shares per 48 minutes of .297 was also the highest mark ever in the league. Looking at his stats, his domination was evident. In 29 minutes per game, he averaged 17.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 blocks while shooting 55.7% from the field and 78.2% from the line. While it's true the D-League was even weaker than usual last season, it's difficult to ignore what Dawson did. His time in the NBA did nothing to end the dream. In his 39 minutes with the Spurs last year, he continued to produce, tallying 15 points, ten rebounds and two blocks on 7-for-12 shooting from the floor. Dawson's main drawbacks are his age (28) and the fact that his athleticism is average at best. But if he goes out and crushes the summer league, can the Spurs and the rest of the NBA continue to overlook him? I'm not so sure. I could imagine Dawson carving out a role as a strong post defender who can block a few shots while using his reliable mid-range jumper to score most of his points. His absolute ceiling is probably what Kurt Thomas brought the Spurs in 2009, which -- while not exciting -- is a strong option as a fifth bigman.
JaMychal Green
Outside of Denmon, JaMychal Green is unquestionably the highest regarded rookie on the summer league roster. Green is a player who many thought should have been drafted. The power forward out of Alabama was ranked as the 43rd best prospect by DraftExpress, 37th by John Hollinger and 35th by HoopsAnalyst.com. In fact, during his sop re and junior seasons at Alabama, Green was thought to be a possible first round pick. However, after a very disappointing senior campaign, his stock plummeted. Having watched a lot of video on Green, he's a quality run-and-jump athlete who has good form and nice touch on his jumper. He can rebound and block shots, however he was often slow to help in college and wasn't a physical presence in the middle. Green's lateral mobility is a question mark and he's a subpar ballhandler, even for a power forward. Plus, his size (6-foot-7.75 with no shoes and 217 pounds) is about an inch and a few biscuits away from being optimal. While the Spurs could definitely use his athleticism, he not only needs to prove he's good enough on the court, he's going to need to show an improved level of maturity off the court as well. At Alabama, he was suspended three times -- including a four-game suspension as a senior.
James Anderson
Although James Anderson has completed two NBA seasons for the Spurs, this will be his first summer league experience. He missed his first opportunity due to an injury and the lockout wiped away last year's summer league. Oddly, while Anderson will be playing for the Spurs, it's not very likely that he ends up back in San Antonio next season. The Spurs declined to exercise their third-year option on him and indications point to the Spurs moving on. For Anderson, he needs to prove he's a capable offensive threat. That will begin with rediscovering his outside stroke, which has been missing in action since the beginning of his rookie campaign. If Anderson can knock down perimeter jumpers, show explosion going to the rim, illustrate a positive in-between game and not be a liability on defense, he may land somewhere -- perhaps even in San Antonio. If he doesn't, Anderson could be headed overseas to continue his professional career.
Ryan Richards
The mystery man will be seen in the flesh during summer league. Since being selected by the Spurs with the 49th pick of the 2010 draft, British-born Ryan Richards has languished in the backwoods of the basketball world. During his stops at various low-level leagues, Richards produced pedestrian numbers. He has also dealt with injuries -- and his comments and actions make me think there may be a screw loose somewhere near the top of his 6-foot-11 frame. Despite his deficient resume, Richards, by all accounts, still has unique tools. He's a fluid, graceful athlete at 230 pounds can who run the court and shoot from the perimeter. And since he's only 21 years old, there's still plenty of time for growth. Preferably, the Spurs would like for him to play well enough in the summer league to catch the eye of a high-level European team. But with Richards' long-standing position that he wants to come to the United States, the Spurs may be swayed to add him to the end of their regular season roster if he plays well enough in summer league. (Another option is to sign him directly to the Toros, however that is more complicated than it sounds due to the D-League's rules concerning the dispersal of players.)
Tyler Wilkerson
On the last Spurs summer league team back in 2010, Tyler Wilkerson was one of the better players. He was undrafted coming out of Marshall but played well enough in summer league that he landed a guaranteed contract in Israel. In fact, the Spurs contemplated giving him a partially-guaranteed deal to keep him stateside. During that summer league, he averaged 11 points and 6.6 rebounds on 54% shooting from the field. He impressed with a relentless motor, deceptive athleticism and touch on his jumper. While overseas, Wilkerson played well but couldn't be classified as a standout. To make the Spurs, the now 24-year-old is going to have to play even better than he did in 2010. A 6-foot-8 power forward, he needs to prove he's enough of an athlete to compensate for his lack of height, while showing positive growth in his all-around skills since the last time he played in summer league. Since he's two years older and didn't shine in Europe, Wilkerson faces long odds to make the Spurs. But there's a chance, thanks largely to San Antonio's familiarity with him.
Moses Ehambe
Moses Ehambe has been on a circuitous basketball journey. In college, he didn't start at Oral Roberts until his senior season. Even then, Ehambe didn't shine -- shooting only 40% from the floor and averaging less than 12 points per game. He eventually ended up in the D-League where he's played for Austin, Iowa and Tulsa over the last four seasons. While in the D-League, he has shown one very promising trait: the ability to hit three-pointers. During those four years, the 6-foot-6 swingman has connected on 368-of-837 three-pointers -- for a sparkling percentage of .440. He doesn't rebound, make plays or do anything else especially well, but that type of shooting could lead an NBA team to take a chance on the 26-year-old. It should also be mentioned that he's regarded as being a very high character person -- another trait a team like the Spurs would like for an end of the bench specialist. During summer league, Ehambe will need to shoot the lights out, first and foremost, but also prove he can do enough else right to be an overall asset to an NBA team.
Derrick Byars
Prior to the 2007 NBA Draft, Derrick Byars was considered a likely first round pick. However, injury concerns popped up in the weeks leading to the draft and he slipped into the middle of the second round. He ended up bouncing around the globe before signing with the Spurs at the end of last season. When he played in the final two games of the regular season, those were the first two NBA games for the 28-year-old. In the two contests, Byars showed off his big, lively body that appears capable of being an asset on the defensive end of the court. Offensively, his skillset is rudimentary but could fit into a system thanks to his perimeter shooting. Additionally, he's another guy on this summer league team who is said to be a quality human being. Oh and technically he already has a contract for next season. Why don't I give him a better chance to make it? I think he's too old and doesn't have a high enough of a ceiling. Maybe he'll prove me wrong but I expect the Spurs to release him from his unguaranteed deal before the start of the regular season.
Cedric Jackson
You might remember Cedric Jackson for the three games he played for the Spurs during the 2009-10 season. The 6-foot-3 point guard has also played for the Cavaliers and Wizards. He split the 2010-11 season in Italy and the D-League. Last year, Jackson played for the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL, averaging 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and a league-best 6.5 assists. He led the Breakers to the championship and was in the running for the MVP. It sounds like a job well done ... but the NBL is a low level of basketball so it would be unwise to get too excited about anything he did over there. While I think the 26-year-old is a decent prospect who has an outside shot to make the NBA over the next couple of years, I doubt it will be with the Spurs. He's not an especially strong defender or shooter -- two areas the Spurs always need help. Jackson can play; it's just very unlikely to be in San Antonio.
L.D. Williams
A Wake Forest product, L.D. Williams is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard who is breathtakingly athlete. Though he didn't do much in college, he's found a good deal of success on the D-League level. He's been able to use his athleticism to score, rebound and get to the line at reasonably high rates. Unfortunately, I think the 24-year-old still needs quite a bit more seasoning to become a legit NBA prospect. He could get there one day but his outside shot isn't strong enough for an undersized player who is also a mediocre to bad ballhandler. A year or two in Europe would serve Williams well. In the meantime, prepare for some exciting dunks from the Demon Deacon in summer league action.
Darius Foster
Wow, talk about coming out of nowhere. Darius Foster is a 6-foot-3 guard who went to Wilberforce University, a small school in Ohio that is an NAIA Division II program. (Yes, you read that right. Not only NAIA but NAIA Division II.) I've scoured the internet trying to figure out how the Spurs found this guy and why they like him enough to invite him to summer league. Last season for Wilberforce, Foster wasn't even that good. He averaged 16.2 points but didn't shoot well (41.1% from the field), didn't pass (1.5 assists per game), didn't get many steals (less than one per game) and his team sucked (a record of 13-18). As far as I can tell, he's not related to anyone associated with the Spurs. He wasn't a highly recruited player out of high school. He doesn't have red hair. I'm at a loss of what exactly is happening here. After spending way too much time thinking about it, my guess is that a Spurs scout was at the game between Wilberforce and Tennessee Tech to watch Tennessee Tech's Kevin Murphy (who ended up getting drafted in the second round by the Jazz). In that game, Wilberforce almost pulled out a stunning upset of a NCAA Division 1 school, ultimately losing 84-83. Foster had the game of his life, scoring 31 points in the near upset. That was apparently enough to catch the scout's eye, which led to a workout after the season, which led to this summer league invite. Props to Darius Foster. I'm not sure how the you made it this far but congrats to you.
Kalin Lucas
After going undrafted out of Michigan State in 2011, Kalin Lucas was scooped up by Olympiakos. Following an underwhelming stint in Greece, he moved to Turkey and played a little bit better. But at this point, Lucas does not appear to be NBA bound anytime soon. He's a scoring point guard who didn't score very well in Europe, struggled to make plays and turned the ball over too much. Needless to say, that's not exactly a threesome of nuggets you want on your scouting report. On top of those negatives, he's small (6-foot-0.5 in shoes) and not a head-turning athlete. The 23-year-old could work on his game and become a useful backup on the NBA level -- but that's two or three years down the line.
Dwight Buycks
Dwight Buycks is another guy who had a middling college career that has blossomed a bit in the D-League. Buycks averaged 8.8 his senior year at Marquette and then the following season averaged 15.1 points in the D-League. At 6-foot-3, he's technically a point guard but he doesn't make many plays and prefers to work off the ball. So far as a professional, he's made great strides when it comes to finishing at the basket. But all in all, he remains an extreme longshot to ever sniff the NBA.
Alexis Wangmene
I can't even blame R.C. Buford. Alex Wangmeme, Buford's adopted son from Cameroon, never did much at Texas but he'll be given a little bit of a nepotistic kickstart to his professional career. Considering he never averaged five points or five rebounds in a season at Texas, I wouldn't expect much of anything in summer league. If he even plays, it'll probably be for a couple minutes at the end of blowouts. Perhaps he can show enough to make the end of the Toros bench or a league in some far-off land. Good luck.
Luke Zeller
Other than being the older brother to two future NBA playing Zellers, I'm not exactly sure why Luke Zeller is kept around. He's a perimeter shooting bigman who can't shoot. He looks like he should be able to play but it's just not happening. Zeller was one of the last cuts in training camp this past season and spent the year playing in Austin. He stats in D-League weren't horrible (9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds) but there's no indication that he'll ever become anything close to a NBA player. (Maybe the Spurs are trying to score points with the Zeller family for when Tyler or Cody become free agents in the future. Now that I think about it, it's not the worst idea ever. Well played, front office, well played.)
I thought Leonard was pulled from the roster.
As recently as today, Buford is talking like Leonard is going to play. I guess we'll see on the 15th.
Thanks for the write up.
I'll be paying close attention to Denmon, Ajinca, Dawson, and Green.
So many guards....
Nice writeup timvp.
If the bigmen with upside (Green and Ajinca) don't play well, I think that Eric Dawson has a really strong chance of getting a contract. Spurs seems to really like his at ude and his personality. In today's interview, RC specifically talked about him in nice terms: http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/120713_buford
It would be a signing in the Sean marks mold. Instead of going with a slightly better player for an end of the bench bigman, Spurs would go with a player they appreciate.
Dwight Buycks played this year the Orlando summer league with OKC and he did quite well: http://www.nba.com/summer-league/201...cks/index.html
It might not be enough for him to get a contract but he should at least get some some SL minutes.
Very eager to see Marcus Denmon and how aggressive he plays. I really liked him in college.
Alex Ajinca - a surprise shot-blocker would be nice to find but one can only dream. Ajinca is probably always going to be brought into a team based on potential. Interesting pipe dream, none-the-less.
Derrick Byars - slightly taller Melvin Sanders
Cedric Jackson - One of those guys more likely to thrive overseas, never making it past a 10-dayer in the NBA.
L.D. Williams - This summer's pogo stick
R. Richards - that's how he'll be remembered. As a box score name
Wagemene was basically effective as a defensive player at UT.
Last edited by Solid D; 07-13-2012 at 10:57 PM.
Ajinca's physical tools are tantalizing. He's the most intriguing guy to me, though his reported lack of motor is disturbing. Thabeet 2.0 at this point in his career.
Just read this and it sounds good.
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...n-vs-team-usa/
“I want to show the coaches I can make plays,” Leonard said. “Whether it’s dribbling the ball when I’m on the ball, just dribbling and coming off pick and rolls or in isolations, I want to show them that I can score the basketball and I don’t need help. I want to show them I don’t need to be just sitting in the corner, standing out there looking for somebody to play off me and give me a wide-open shot.”
“We’re wild with anticipation,” Popovich said. “We can’t wait to see what he’s going to be like next season.”
Last edited by Ice009; 07-13-2012 at 11:55 PM.
Summer league can be easily overlooked by the casual NBA fan but for the San Antonio Spurs, it’s an important time of year... the last straw upon the camel's back (See: Butler, Jackie).
Whatever happened with this guy? What did the spurs saw in him? His story?
Marcus Denmon
I think few can shoot like Gary Neal or other sharpshooters in the NBA. One can hope he is Neal 2.0 and a better defender but like you said 99% chances he won't pan out
Alexis Ajinca
Pipedream but I really REALLY hope he burns the SL and lands a spot in the roster. One can only we thimself if he proves to shoot from outside AND block shots. Perhaps he is motivated that the spurs kept and eye on him.
Eric Dawson
Behind Ajinca, I hope he can land a spot in the roster. I liked his stint with the Spurs. Do you think he can become a solid defender?
JaMychal Green
I liked what you wrote up until the personality problems. Signs of inmaturity won't get you into the program. It will be interesting though if he shows to be an above average athlete who can block shots at a respectable rate.
James Anderson
I wish him the best of luck with whichever direction his carreer takes.
As for the rest of the writeup, thanks for putting some time into it.
Now I am ready to move on from the past season.
That is some Bunk-level detective workDarius Foster
Wow, talk about coming out of nowhere. Darius Foster is a 6-foot-3 guard who went to Wilberforce University, a small school in Ohio that is an NAIA Division II program. (Yes, you read that right. Not only NAIA but NAIA Division II.) I've scoured the internet trying to figure out how the Spurs found this guy and why they like him enough to invite him to summer league. Last season for Wilberforce, Foster wasn't even that good. He averaged 16.2 points but didn't shoot well (41.1% from the field), didn't pass (1.5 assists per game), didn't get many steals (less than one per game) and his team sucked (a record of 13-18). As far as I can tell, he's not related to anyone associated with the Spurs. He wasn't a highly recruited player out of high school. He doesn't have red hair. I'm at a loss of what exactly is happening here. After spending way too much time thinking about it, my guess is that a Spurs scout was at the game between Wilberforce and Tennessee Tech to watch Tennessee Tech's Kevin Murphy (who ended up getting drafted in the second round by the Jazz). In that game, Wilberforce almost pulled out a stunning upset of a NCAA Division 1 school, ultimately losing 84-83. Foster had the game of his life, scoring 31 points in the near upset. That was apparently enough to catch the scout's eye, which led to a workout after the season, which led to this summer league invite. Props to Darius Foster. I'm not sure how the you made it this far but congrats to you.
That kid looks like a future star.
BTW, MKG beasted in Summer League today. Will Kawhi/MKG be the next SF duel?
Good article.
Seem like Pop think Kawhi has higher potential than Tony and Manu.
Great write-up.
Ajinca is that heart-breaker: a huge guy who hates physical contact.
I didn't realize Derrick Byars had never played a single, solitary NBA game until this past year. Really surprising.
Ajinça holds the most promise of any player not already on the roster. A tall, athletic shot-blocker with range on his jumpshot checks pretty much every needed box. Obviously there are reasons he's fighting to get on an NBA roster, but he's got a real chance to show something and earn a contract.
Awesome read. Thanks.
I like his mentality, his drive for the game. No nonsense, just does his job, and looks to improve in all areas.
I'm happy to see him getting the recognition he deserves. I certainly look forward to his SL play and what he does next.
wow, ajinca is intriguing, i completely forgot about him. i remember one game where.he was burning the spurs as a mav. maybe he could be like mahinmi in the fact that mavs didnt really play him and we discover that hes not too bad.....i can only hope
Thanks timvp
Alexis Ajinca
Haven't been this excited about a player in a looooooong time.
at the photo choice for Luke Zeller.
Thanks you,,,,,,when is the first game??
Great writeup
Green, Ajinca, Denmon and Leonard are the players I will be watching closely. Personally, I hope an athletic PF candidate will emerge from this SL team.
Excited for Kawhi.
Hoping Cory Joseph shows a glimmer of hope.
Denmon seems like a legit player but he's gonna have to play PG to make it. (Did he really say he didn't like Argentinians?)
Ajinca is an intriguing prospect (or pipedream) but guys with no motor just don't pan out.
If the Spurs don't get anyone in FA, I'd be cool to see Dawson back.
JaMychal Green, I've heard about this guy before... because of suspensions.Mature or get out tbh.
As for the others, well, you made it this far... good luck.
Incredible work. Thanks, LJ.
I'm on the Ryan Richards bandwagon. Yeah, there's something wrong with his brain, but his physical tools are impressive (per hoopsfix: I think he's close to 7'1" in shoes now) and his shooting stroke is very technical and fluid. He can shoot from anywhere. I'm hoping he can catch fire, a la Gary Neal, and earn a contract.
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