What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas. Take the Las Vegas Summer League, for example. Players such as Klay Thompson and Derrick Williams are trying to parlay strong performances this summer into eventual NBA stardom with their teams. The Las Vegas Summer League is a golden opportunity for players to earn an increased role in the NBA. For young players, their summer performance can earn them a rotation spot. For players hooping overseas, the summer is a chance to show NBA
The NBA draft can make or break the future of a franchise. Using the third overall pick to select Adam Morrison ahead of Rudy Gay can set your franchise back for over a half a decade. Landing a gem such as Tony Parker with the 28th overall pick can put a team in position to be a title contender for years. With the increased luxury tax penalties of the new CBA set to be implemented in the 2013-2014 season, it has become
In the NBA draft, teams often default to selecting the “best player available.” They do that assuming the player will develop as projected and become an asset that allows for flexibility. However, sometimes those “best players” end up languishing behind an established veteran and never live up to expectations. It comes down to a simple truism: Players who land in the right situations often have the best chance to succeed. For example, the New York Knicks needed an explosive athlete who could defend
In last year’s draft there were only two legitimate shooting guard prospects that I counted taken in the first round, Klay Thompson of Washington State, who went to Golden State 11th overall, and Colorado’s Alec Burks, who went immediately after to Utah. With the rise in athletic ballhandling guards dominating drafts over the past decade, shooting has become a commodity. Guys who fight to work off screens the way Reggie Miller, Allan Houston and Richard Hamilton made a living on is