NBA Summer League 2016: Top Takeaways from July 3 in Orlando

NBA Summer League 2016: Top Takeaways from July 3 in Orlando

Day 2 of the 2016 NBA Orlando Summer League came and went without a dramatic finish on its three-game docket.

But the best summer-circuit info isn't gleaned from the final score. Rather, it's tied to individual performances, particularly those with rotation roles in hand or roster spots in reach.

Sunday's games featured notable names who flashed potential and frustrated with rocky performances. Throw in another abysmal effort by a big-market club that looks extremely undermanned, and the day delivered its fair share of talking points.

Brice Johnson Is Back to Being Brice Johnson

As one of two first-rounders from this summer's draft in action Saturday, Brice Johnson couldn't escape the spotlight. Frankly, he couldn't do much of anything. The 25th pick lacked both focus and energy, twice getting a quick hook from coaches and receiving a lecture on his way to the bench. He finished his day with only six points on six shots—hardly the type of evidence suggesting he can help with the Los Angeles Clippers' need for depth.

Sunday was a different story. Johnson again held the most attention, only this time for the right reasons and over recent first-round picks Cameron Payne, Mitch McGary and Josh Huestis of the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC grabbed an 81-72 victory, but Johnson took the contest's biggest prize with a reassuring and often electric 23-point, six-rebound, two-block performance.

He looked comfortable with his jumper—which, if properly developed, could immensely increase his value—but was at his best above the rim. Since he's just 210 pounds soaking wet, he must utilize his explosive athleticism and energy to impact the game. That's what happened Sunday, and the result was a steady stream of highlight finishes, including an alley-oop and a put-back stuff.

Despite spending four years at North Carolina, Johnson is a work in progress. He needs more size and strength to battle underneath, and his perimeter skills aren't quite there yet.

But this game highlighted how he can help the Clippers right now. He won't need to create when surrounded by Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford, so there should be simple ways for Johnson to use his natural gifts—running after rebounds, moving without the basketball, flying to the glass. His athleticism and activity punched his NBA ticket, so it was reassuring to see them surface after a quiet start in Orlando.

Miami Heat Uncovered Another Hidden Gem

The coolest thing that happened for the Miami Heat on Sunday wasJuwan Howard, Jr. erupting for 17 points and three triples in front of his father and Heat summer league coach, Juwan Howard Sr. But the most important development during Miami's 74-48 rout of the New York Knicks involved a player who had just six points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Briante Weber, who signed a partially guaranteed three-year deal with Miami in April, had the stage to himself, as Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson had the day off. And though Weber didn't show well in the scoring department, the defensive-minded point guard appeared a capable head of the snake at both ends.

His defense was predictably pesky, though New York's wretched offense (more on that later) made everyone seem like a stone-wall stopper. More encouraging was the comfort and creativity Weber showed on the basketball. He broke down defenders off the dribble, delivered an on-target corner kick with one hand and confidently stroked a show-and-go pull-up jumper just inside the arc.

Defense is Weber's calling card and what put him on Miami's radar. He left college with the third-most steals in NCAA history (374) and won three consecutive Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year awards. NBA TV's Greg Anthony called Weber "probably the best on-ball defender" in Orlando during Sunday's broadcast, and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has previously praised Weber's work at that end.

"Typically, when you have somebody who's so dynamic as a ball thief, sometimes that can translate to excess gambling," Spoelstra said in April, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "But...he has the tough balance of being able to be a bulldog, pesky defender, but also to be extremely disruptive and to force turnovers."

Weber's defense could earn him a rotation spot for 2016-17, given the perimeter holes opened on the Heat during free agency. That's why it's important he finds some offensive comfort zones he can utilize later on.

Opportunity Knocking for Aaron Harrison

Looking at the Charlotte Hornets' summer league roster, Aaron Harrison's name jumps out like it's bold, highlighted and underlined twice. He's not just a former top-10 recruit, per ESPN.com, he's the club's only player who suited up for the Hornets last season.

It's little surprise, then, that through two games he leads the Hornets in minutes (69), shots (29), free-throw attempts (14), assists (eight) and turnovers (seven). He has the biggest role in his hand and spotlight on his back. That's what made his abysmal 2-of-13 debut so deflating, though he promised to do better the next time out.

"I've got to help the team out a lot more," Harrison said after Saturday's shaky outing, per Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. "...I think I'll finish better as the week goes on. And I'll shoot it better as the week goes on."

Harrison lived up to those words on Sunday. Sort of. After suffering through a four-point, 1-of-8 shooting first half, he finally saw everything click in the third quarter of Charlotte's 80-70 win over the Indiana Pacers. He tallied 11 points in the period, hitting 5-of-6 from the field, including several impressive jumpers.

But he lost it as quickly as he found it. In the fourth quarter, he had zero points, two turnovers, reckless drives that went nowhere and a couple of long-range clanks.

This can't be the start the 6'6", 210-pound swingman envisioned, but there's still a great chance in front of him if he can seize it. The Hornets need cheap perimeter help after losing Jeremy Lin and Courtney Lee in free agency and paying major money to retain Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams. Harrison could yet get that chance, but he must use his remaining time in Orlando to prove he deserves it.

Knicks Need an Early Flight Home

No one expects—or should expect, at least—summer league games to be brilliant displays of offensive efficiency. But even with properly lowered expectations, the Knicks have still been a disaster.
Their best quarter on Saturday—a 15-point first period—would have been the worst for six of the 10 teams in action. It took New York until the fourth quarter of Sunday's blowout loss to surpass that number. The Knicks closed out their second straight miserable performance with 18 points in the fourth quarter, the same number they scored during the first and third combined.
It looks like the Knicks are using their JV squad against everyone else's varsity outfits.
No one else has scored fewer than 66 points in a game; New York's point totals have been 49 and 48, respectively. No one else has produced a single-digit quarter score; the Knicks had their second and third nine-point periods Sunday. Through two games, the Knicks have putrid shooting percentages across the board—31.7 from the field, 14.7 outside, 53.3 at the line—and 46 turnovers against just 18 assists.
Former second-round pick Cleanthony Early has yet to play (hamstring), but his career 4.3-points-per-game scoring average suggests he wouldn't provide a massive lift. Even if he did, the lack of competent talent on the roster is troubling. The Knicks have constructed a talented, but expensive, aging and risky starting five this summer. The need for cheap young talent is glaring and unlikely to be relieved at all by this roster.

Georges Niang Is NBA Roster-Ready

Georges Niang made his statistical splash on Saturday. In his professional debut, the 50th overall pick paced all players with a plus-24, while tallying 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Numerically speaking, Niang's sequel disappointed. He had more fouls (seven) than points (six) and more turnovers (four) than assists (two). But while his statistics underwhelmed, the subtleties to his game dazzled again. His rapid, on-target passes powered the Pacers' ball movement, and his savvy off-ball cuts caught several Hornets defenders napping.
Niang, who spent four seasons at Iowa State, plays with composure and control seldom seen in big league rookies. His footwork is advanced enough to take quicker players off the dribble or slip around bigger defenders in the post. His defense is limited by subpar physical tools, but he helps in every other area.
"He can bring the ball up the court, he can rebound, set screens," Joe Young said, per Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star. "He's a great player. It's a good pickup for us. ... He reminds me of Draymond Green, just a different type of animal."
Niang's versatile offensive game aligns well with Pacers president Larry Bird's vision of a run-and-gun attack. That should help him at least secure a big league pact, if not carve out a small role on a reshaped Pacers frontcourt.

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