NBA Summer League 2025

[Ariel]

Peak Chris Paul would dominate today. Not saying Jase is at that level - I’m saying I believe Jase has a ton of skill to show he’s an elite role player at the minimum. I don’t put too much stock in size when it comes to success. To me, that’s an easy way to dismiss good players for no reason at all.

It's not dismissing them for no reason at all, it's an observation based on reality. Yes, you have your CP3s and Traes, but those are the exception, not the norm. Even relatively successful guys like Sexton are bench guys who teams can get for a single second rounder, Jase is smart and can shoot so he has a chancce to hang, but I'd be very surprised if he ends close to top 5 in this class like you expect. If he ends up a career 6th/7th man that would be a pretty good outcome for him, as a 6 ft guy drafted 25th overall.

[Mr. Body]

Someone put together an analysis that undersize lotto picks (or close) have a far higher chance of hitting than those lanky 'good measurement, athletes.'

The reason is pretty clear once you break it down. Teams swing on size and athleticism but those guys almost every time suck out loud because they're only drafted because of their physical profile. While those undersize guards are drafted because, you know, they're actually good at playing the game they're intended to play.

Obviously there are busts on both sides, but when you remove freakish athleticism/profile, what you've got left is basketball ability. And that's what you want to bet on.

[Ariel]

A handful of the most badass guards in the NBA are Richardson's measurements. Not saying he's going to become Lillard or Mitc but those players you list are all going to crash completely out of this league really fast, every single one, except for hopefully Carter Bryant. Those guys always tank, because they suck.

Give me the basketball player.

Those guys are bad comparisons, they're bigger (height and wingspan), stronger, and better all around. Jase is smart so he has a chance of surviving, but I think he probably does so in a smaller role, say a smaller Podz. That's a useful player, but nowhere near a star.

[baseline bum]

Blown away by Tre Johnson right now.
I wonder where the Spurs ultimately had him on their boards...

I'm sure Kon K will ultimately be solid but Charlotte's FO would have to be a little antsy right now that they passed on this kid.

Utah too. I would have said a prayer thanking Joseph Smith and sprayed my temple garments when I saw Tre still on the board at 5 if I was the Jazz GM.

[Ariel]

Someone put together an analysis that undersize lotto picks (or close) have a far higher chance of hitting than those lanky 'good measurement, athletes.'

The reason is pretty clear once you break it down. Teams swing on size and athleticism but those guys almost every time suck out loud because they're only drafted because of their physical profile. While those undersize guards are drafted because, you know, they're actually good at playing the game they're intended to play.

Obviously there are busts on both sides, but when you remove freakish athleticism/profile, what you've got left is basketball ability. And that's what you want to bet on.

I'd like to see that analysis to comment, but I think you can count with one hand the number of guys his size drafted in the first round that have reached star level in the past 15/20 years, being 6 feet and under is almost a death sentence in today's NBA. Let's put it this way: Jase needs to hit 90th percentile, while those guys 6'6" and up with good athletic profile have much more margin for error. Just think about how many starters fit each profile currently and you have your answer.

[Mr. Body]

Those guys are bad comparisons, they're bigger (height and wingspan), stronger, and better all around. Jase is smart so he has a chance of surviving, but I think he probably does so in a smaller role, say a smaller Podz. That's a useful player, but nowhere near a star.

Jase Richardson is absolutely 100% in the mold of those players I listed. He has a far better chance of becoming a Mitc or a Lillard than any of the guys you listed have of becoming even close to stars.

[Mr. Body]

I'd like to see that analysis to comment, but I think you can count with one hand the number of guys his size drafted in the first round that have reached star level in the past 15/20 years, being 6 feet and under is almost a death sentence in today's NBA. Let's put it this way: Jase needs to hit 90th percentile, while those guys 6'6" and up with good athletic profile have much more margin for error. Just think about how many starters fit each profile currently and you have your answer.

Yet the modern NBA is littered with really good guards that size. Death sentence? Maybe just lay off the nonsense on r/nba_draft. This comes up all the freaking time. Average height in the NBA hasn't changed in 40 years. Average height for PGs has only slightly changed since 1960. Good players play.

[PhantomDashCam]

Utah too. I would have said a prayer thanking Joseph Smith and sprayed my temple garments when I saw Tre still on the board at 5 if I was the Jazz GM.

I sort of understand it from Utah's perspective if they rate Bailey as the second or third best prospect in the class. They also may like their proposed starting B/C in George and Collier.
Will be interesting to watch over time. But it does feel though, even in this limited of an environment, Cooper, Harper, VJ and Tre all look like legit NBA starters, long term, at worst.

[Mnky]

It's not dismissing them for no reason at all, it's an observation based on reality. Yes, you have your CP3s and Traes, but those are the exception, not the norm. Even relatively successful guys like Sexton are bench guys who teams can get for a single second rounder, Jase is smart and can shoot so he has a chancce to hang, but I'd be very surprised if he ends close to top 5 in this class like you expect. If he ends up a career 6th/7th man that would be a pretty good outcome for him, as a 6 ft guy drafted 25th overall.

Cp3 was also a defensive menace at his size which makes him even more of a rarity. He would openly request the hardest defensive assignments. Not a lot of 6 ft guys historically able to play like CP3 could, let alone guys today.

[scott]

I hope they learned from the Sochan experiment not to overwhelm Bryant with more than he can handle, they need to make sure he develops a minimal skill set to contribute as soon as possible and, once he does that and is able to play without hurting the team, incrementally build from there. In his case, just have him take as many catch and shoot 3s as possible, that's really all that is needed for him to be a very successful role player, passing would be nice and ball handling a luxury, but shooting is a must and needs to happen as soon as possible.

Agreed. On the offensive end it should be all C&S threes and some backcuts. Then on defense just keep doing what he's doing now, and learning how to adjust to the pro game. He's going to pick up a lot of fouls early, but that will teach him what he can and can't do in the NBA.

[TheDoctor]

I was at the game and had good line of sight on Mitch/Matt/Sean/Corliss (RC was there too for a bit) in their baseline seats. I could see them cringing during each fall Harper had right near them, 3 in total (the block on Nembhard, the dunk attempt he got fouled on, and a missed foul call a bit later). I wouldn’t be surprised if yesterday was his lone summer league action lol.

Ran into RC in the concourse during halftime as well, very pleasant quick interaction but he was understandably in a hurry. Dylan looked every bit as composed as I hoped he would, I actually think he can be a positive contributor in year 1 which is quite rare for guards (even for top prospects).

This reminded me of an old thread

R.C. Buford Sighting

[Biggems]

Charles Bassey had himself a game for the Celtics....22 pts, 13 reb, 3 blk

I was quite surprised to see him in the SL, and with the Celts as well.

[ginobilized]

Rasheer Fleming, who I was high on for a while, has racked up 2 DNP's so far. Maybe he's injured?
On another note, DeMarre Carroll, is the PHX coach. Yet another bit of fodder for hating that team.

Summer League is definitely a time when it's easy to project our hopes and fears onto our teams and these young players. That said, there's a LOT to like about the Spurs going forward.

[baseline bum]

Rasheer Fleming, who I was high on for a while, has racked up 2 DNP's so far. Maybe he's injured?
On another note, DeMarre Carroll, is the PHX coach. Yet another bit of fodder for hating that team.

Summer League is definitely a time when it's easy to project our hopes and fears onto our teams and these young players. That said, there's a LOT to like about the Spurs going forward.

Definitely wanted Fleming and was wanting to trade down and get another first to pick him in the late 20s until Bryant slipped to 14. At that point I thought Fleming, get this man who we didn't think was gonna be there.

[rascal]

If I was SA I would shut Harper down and not risk it but I hope they try to win and leave him in some.

I figure SA looks at SL as merely evaluation and someone of Harper's caliber is not long for that world but it's a new age Spurs now and they are playing compe ively so maybe they want to shoot for the bracket.

Yes shut him down.

He had a nasty spill on the block shot at the rim. You don't want to lose him in these meaningless games.

He's going to be good, no need for him to prove anything in the Summer league. He's made the team.

[ginobilized]

Utah too. I would have said a prayer thanking Joseph Smith and sprayed my temple garments when I saw Tre still on the board at 5 if I was the Jazz GM.

Low key quote of the year. Hilarious sacrilege there. Well done.

[Mr. Body]

The Joseph Smith who died leaping from a building trying to escape justice for raping an underage girl? Wait... that sounds familiar...

[spurraider21]

I don’t really fault Utah for taking Ace but i think Kon at 4 was awful.

[ace3g]

What a dunk from Furphy!!!

[mystargtr34]

That was filthy by Furphy.

[ace3g]

[exstatic]

I don’t really fault Utah for taking Ace but i think Kon at 4 was awful.

He was the only top player who would visit Charlotte.

[spurraider21]

He was the only top player who would visit Charlotte.

doesnt matter. take the player. trade them later if you must.

[RC_Drunkford]

WTF. He couldn't shoot for with the Spurs. His shot looked horrendous here. It actually looked decent in those clips. Maybe Pop wasn't being facetious when he was praising Cidy.

nah his shot was coming along while he was on the Spurs. He was hitting some in garbage time and the G-League. Made clear improvements, but I‘m not mad at losing him in a trade for Fox.

[ace3g]