Las Vegas Summer League Preview: 10 Names to Watch

Las Vegas Summer League is almost upon us again. 23 NBA teams will convene in Vegas on Friday for the annual showcase of talent, which will feature a full tournament format once again this year. As always, you can find an interesting mix of players on each roster – picks from the 2016 NBA Draft, D-League alums and undrafted players from around the country, with a few international players and NBA veterans thrown in.

While this hodgepodge of talent (and a more lax view of personal fouls) often leads to a more “abstract” version of NBA basketball, good individual performances can lead to significant hype for the player, and eventually lead to a roster spot. Guys like Sean Kilpatrick and Jeremy Lin of the Brooklyn Nets and Matthew Dellavedova of the Milwaukee Bucks have gotten their foot in the door by playing well in Summer League.

This year, there are plenty of solid options for guys who could break through the wall and get their NBA shot based on their performance over the next week or two. They come from all over, from D-League veterans to end-of-bench journeymen to international success stories. Here are some of the names that could become the next Kilpatrick or Lin.

Nick Minnerath, F, New Orleans Pelicans

Minnerath is perhaps the safest bet to light up at LVSL. The 6’9″ Detroit Mercy grad will be playing for the Pelicans after spending the season with the Canton Charge, where he was perhaps the D-League’s best shooter, hitting 50.8 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from three, and 88.8 percent from the line en route to leading the Charge in scoring. Minnerath is also a decent rebounder (9th in defensive rebounds in the D-League), and could see success as a floor spacing stretch four in small-ball lineups at the next level.

Minnerath’s likely to star at Summer League for many reasons. He’s consistently hit around the 50/40/90 mark over three seasons in the D-League, France, and Spain, and he’s excellent at getting open on the perimeter for kick-out looks, something that’s a big part of the Alvin Gentry offense. He also gets to play next to Buddy Hield, which seems like a good combination, especially if they get to run some pick-and-pops together. Look for Minnerath to be a major player in Summer League, and for him to be on an NBA roster in October.

Zach Auguste, PF, Los Angeles Lakers

Auguste, who went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, looks poised to be a player that will be a successful D-League center, and has the athleticism to make the jump to the NBA with some refinement. He was the primary pick-and-roll partner for Boston Celtics point guard Demetrius Jackson at Notre Dame, posting 14.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game during the Fighting Irish’s Elite Eight run. He has excellent footwork and hands in the pick-and-roll, and he’s an impressive athlete, routinely dunking on anyone and everyone in the ACC.

For the Lakers, Auguste presents an athletic finisher who could excel next to D’Angelo Russell in the pick-and-roll and will provide some athleticism next to 2nd round pick Ivica Zubac. If he shows enough on this stage, he could be a solid choice for the Lakers to develop on the D-Fenders, where he can learn the finer points of NBA defense and begin working towards a functional jumper.

Jerrelle Benimon, PF, Brooklyn Nets

“Benimonster” is a guy who’s been on the fringes of the NBA for the last two years. After an impressive 19.8 point, 11.0 rebound, 4.4 assist per game debut for the Idaho Stampede in 2014-2015, Benimon got a late cup of tea on a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz. He landed on the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year’s summer league, then jumped to China, where he again posted gaudy stats of 25.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game for the Foshan Long Lions. He’ll try again to break through to the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets.

The biggest addition to Benimon’s game this time around is a functional three-point shot, as he shot 39.4 percent on 74 attempts in China last year. Benimon has always been held back by his stature as a 6’8″ power forward, and has needed to diversify his game by adding some sort of stretch element to his bruising rebounding and finishing inside. If he can hit outside shots for the Nets, that could strengthen the potential for him to land on a roster as an offense-first bench big.

Xavier Henry, SG, Golden State Warriors

Henry takes the roundabout path to Summer League, as the former lottery pick of the Memphis Grizzlies attempts to make a comeback to the NBA. Henry was last seen playing regularly in the NBA on the Lakers in 2013-2014, as he averaged 10.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in 43 contests. Unfortunately he tore his Achilles tendon nine games into the 2014-2015 campaign, and has spent most of the last year rehabilitating. He was picked up by the Santa Cruz Warriors after that, and was fantastic for them, scoring 15.6 points on 44.8 percent shooting in nine contests to end the year.

The journey back has been a difficult one for Henry, but he looks ready to attempt an NBA return, and he should be one of the better scoring options for the Warriors’ Summer League team. He’s still a solid shooter and all-around scorer, and while his defensive ability has always been a question, he’s a guy who could become a cheap replacement for some of the guys the Warriors have to replace at the end of the bench now that they have Kevin Durant.

Coty Clarke, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves

Clarke is another interesting power forward prospect who lands on the Timberwolves’ Summer League squad after a stint with the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws last year. The Arkansas product was a strong bench player for Maine last year, appearing in 44 contests and averaging 16.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Clarke brings a versatile offensive game to the table, with a workable high post game, 40.6 percent shooting from three, and a well-developed handle that he can use to attack off the dribble.

Clarke is a guy who should catch the eye of the front office that picked him for his team. Chris Reichert described Clarke’s tenacity on and off the floor in April, and he’s the type of guy who is not afraid to jump in and contribute as a bench player, whether that’s on the floor as an attacking offensive player or off the floor in huddles or the locker room. Look for him to be a fiery leader alongside Kris Dunn for what should be a solid, athletic T’Wolves unit.

Raphiael Putney, C, Cleveland Cavaliers

The list of Rio Grande Valley Vipers who have made successful transitions to the NBA is ever-growing. From Robert Covington, to Patrick Beverley, to Chris Johnson, the Vipers have been a great development system for years now. Putney, the 6’10” center from UMass, may be the next one to make the NBA leap. Putney, like other bigs mentioned here, has a strong offensive skill set marked by good pick-and-roll play and 36 percent shooting from three on 7.1 attempts per game. He also displayed defensive potential, blocking 2.6 shots per 36 minutes and showing good spring at the helm of RGV’s defense.

It’ll be interesting to see how Putney fairs playing with the Cavs, who have been one of the slower paced teams in the league, even at LVSL . A lot of Putney’s numbers come on the break as a factor of RGV’s blistering pace, and he needs to show that he can still be as effective in the halfcourt on both ends. If he can, he may have a spot in the NBA, because athletic shot-blockers are always at a premium.

Xavier Munford, SG, Los Angeles Lakers

Xavier was one of the 28-man band for the Memphis Grizzlies last season, getting picked up after Mike Conley’s injury and looking decent as a spot-up shooter for Memphis during their ill-fated playoff run. In 14 games of NBA action Munford hit 39.1 percent from three, and demonstrated decent skill handling the ball. It was a crossover from his D-League performances with the Bakersfield Jam, where he was one of the league’s most athletic point guards and delivered 20/4/6 averages.

In Summer League, he will be joining Auguste on what should be a stacked Lakers squad alongside Russell, Brandon Ingram, Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown. He should get opportunities to display his talents, though, as he’s likely the best shooter among the guards on the roster. Another good showing should go a long way towards getting Munford a permanent landing spot.

Olivier Hanlan, SG, Utah Jazz San Antonio Spurs

Hanlan’s on this list despite finding a new home on Monday, as he was involved in the Utah Jazz’s trade to acquire Boris Diaw from the Spurs. If Hanlan plays for the Spurs LVSL team, as is assumed, it will be his first action in the U.S. in a year, as he spent last season as a bench scorer for Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania. There, the Canadian averaged 7.6 points per game and shot 37 percent from three off the bench for one of Europe’s better clubs.

Hanlan is likely to remain in Europe for next season, which likely precipitated his involvement in the Diaw deal. The combo guard still needs to work on his playmaking ability, and continued improvement in his shot would also be good to see. Hanlan’s definitely a talented scorer, and is a guy who fits the mold of the Patty Mills and Cory Joseph-esque guards the Spurs have had so much success developing. How he takes to the Spurs on a fast learning curve could decide whether they maintain an interest in bringing him over long term.

Rodney McGruder, SG, Miami Heat

McGruder was a shoe-in to make this list, as he was the best player on the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the best D-League team in history. McGruder was also one of the most improved players in the D-League this year, making a leap from defensive stopper to a potentially effective two-way role player. McGruder pulled off the impressive feat of scoring 15.8 points per game while boasting a small 16.9 percent usage rate, and he also led the D-League in defensive win shares, hinting at his potential as a stopper. He’s one of the best one-on-one defenders in the D-League, and now he’s added enough slashing ability and three-point shooting to perhaps be a stable rotation player.

The Heat have had immense success with their development system, having seen Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson both make significant leaps under their eye in the last two years. It’ll be interesting to see if McGruder approaches Summer League by attempting to showcase his scoring ability, or if he attempts to show how well he could fit as a role player for the Heat. It’s the latter where I think he could make more of an impression, as McGruder’s shooting and defensive acumen would fit well in Erik Spoelstra’s complex systems on both ends.

Kyle Kuric, SG, Phoenix Suns

Kuric’s not here to speculate for his NBA future; he’s on this list to celebrate that he made it here in the present. Kuric, a 6’4″ shooting guard from Louisville, was playing in Spain for Gran Canaria. After three years of being a rotation player, Kuric only played 13 games this season – because he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which took three surgeries to remove. Kuric amazingly returned to the court just five months after the ordeal, and buried three triples in a loss to Valencia:

Kuric might be too small for the NBA, and he doesn’t offer much from a skills perspective outside of being a 41 percent shooter for his European career. But it’s also nearly a miracle that he’s here at all, and that’s reason enough to get excited about watching him play.