DALLAS SUMMER LEAGUE

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

DALLAS SUMMER LEAGUE PROSPECTS:

Derrick Alston Jr - SF/PF - A solid G-League prospect that averaged close to 20 PPG and some potential as a stretch shooter from the 4-spot. He is an above average passer and a good free throw shooter. From the eye test he does not appear to be an explosive athlete but he's a hard finisher and is often relied on to defend multiple positions. He could be useful down the line, but I don't see him being able to get minutes on a competing team. Grade: C-

Marcus Bingham Jr - C/PF - Outside of Hardy, he might be the crowned jewel of this group. He's a true 7-footer, came from a solid college program, and showed improvement every year at Michigan State. His defense is much further along than his offense, but his efficiency has improved over time and he's added a 3-ball to his game. Foul trouble will be a major concern, but I think he could be a bench big within a year or two. His block rate is outstanding and I think if he is able to join the big club with a veteran like JaVale McGee, it'll drastically help his development. GRADE: B+

Isaiah Brown - SF - He projects as a 3-and-D wing with some major hops. Playing for the Texas Legends he has yet to really find himself in a significant role. His steals per-minute is impressive and his 3-point shooting is not bad. The Mavs need wing help, but I think his timeline is too far away to be of immediate help. His dunks are fun to watch but I'm not sure if he's ready to compete on a playoff-bound team quite yet. GRADE: D+

David Collins - SG/PG - A bouncy guard that can shoot the 3-ball and defend. He doesn't blow you away with talent but he's a strong guard with a workable 3. His free throw percentage is a problem and he had a flagrant foul ejection at Clemson, so there might be some maturity issues to overcome. The Mavs need another playmaker with the departure of Brunson, but I don't think he will stand out enough to fill any sort of role. He will continue to develop and we'll have to check back in a year. GRADE: C-

Justin Gorham - SF/PF - Another 3-star recruit that played an entire college career. What stands out most about his game is his ability to chase down rebounds, something he does do quite well. His advanced defensive stats seem like they could translate at the pro-level, but he has offensive limitations and his 3-point shot needs some work. His body is sort of a prototype combo forward, but he does not do enough to really warrant development at the pro level quite yet. GRADE: C-

Haowen Guo - SF/SG - He has good size for a wing and is solid at cutting and in the mid-range. His outside shot is inconsistent and despite okay numbers in Shanghai, they were not strong enough considering the skill level of the league compared to the NBA. His per-36 scoring is somewhat impressive, but his playoff numbers are somewhat sub-par by comparison. One interesting note, and it could be due to the Chinese League rules, is that he does get to the line quite a bit and hits them fairly regularly. It's possible he puts it all together, but I think he'll find things much more difficult against higher skill competition. GRADE: C

Jerrick Harding - PG - An interesting prospect. He was a standout at Weber State before continuing his success in the Czech League. He is a bit undersized at only 6-1, but he's slick ball handler, has a quick release, and active hands. Despite his creativity in ISO, he is not a complete player. He could play a nice role as a spark plug bench guy. One strong aspect of his game is his free throw shooting and if he can put things together he could put together a JJ Barea type career. GRADE: B-

Jaden Hardy - SG/PG - He is definitely the one player that the Mavs fans are actively watching. With the departure of Brunson, Hardy will likely be thrust into some sort of immediate role. The Summer League will be the first time many will have seen him and he should thrive with arguably tougher competition in the current G-League. He was once considered a top-5 prospect in this class, but a slow start to his G-League career and the ascension of other players that got more TV time in the tournament usurped him. Hardy has All-Star potential and should be a significant bench player his rookie year. What happens beyond that will be on him. GRADE: A

AJ Lawson - SG/SF - He is an okay 3-and-D wing prospect that had a 3-year career at South Carolina. In his Junior year, he 1.5 steals, but his assist numbers dropped each season. For his position, he is pretty average as far as shooting and free throws. His advanced defensive stats don't reflect his high steals rate, so it will be interesting to see if he's developed more on that end. He had an okay year in the G-League last year, but his free throw rate was low and inefficient, he only shot 30% from beyond the arc, and his assist and defensive stats were low. He's an electric dunker, so it will be interesting to see if he can shine that way. GRADE: C-

Jalen Lecque - PG - It is interesting that his career never took off. He was a 4-star recruit coming out of High School, but ended up entering the draft due to eligibility issues. He was signed to a 4-year NBA deal with Phoenix, but bounced around after being included in the Chris Paul trade. He's gotten better through the G-League and has good size for a point guard. His vertical is insane and he's got several highlight reels of his dunks. He has an opportunity to get a 2-way contract and I expect him to shine in the Summer League. GRADE: B

Miye Oni - SG/SF - Oni is a very intelligent player. A Yale grad, he was a standout in the Ivy League in college and has played a handful of games for the Jazz - including some playoff minutes. While his pro stats leave much to be desired, you can look at his college and G-League stats and see that passing wing with an okay outside shot. His advanced defensive ratings show there is definitely room for improvement, but between his intangibles and his combination of size and athleticism, he's worth watching. I don't see an immediate role for him on this Dallas team, but should there be a consolidation of assets, he could be a guy to consider later in the year. GRADE: C

Alessandro Pajola - PG - An Italian guard that is known for his defense, he was EuroCup Champion, won Italian SuperCup MVP in 2021, and has been playing professionally in Italy for 7 years. His game is far from complete, but he will likely be playing hard for an NBA contract. Despite being well decorated as an Italian ball player, he lacks elite athleticism, shooting, and slow release could make him a liability against tougher competition. He does have good size and his per-minute steals numbers are impressive, so he could win people over in the Summer League. GRADE: C-

Moses Wright - PF/SF - Wright is one of the players on the short list for actually getting a deal by the end of Summer League. He was incredible at Georgia Tech and already has some experience on this Mavs roster. His ability to be active on both ends of the floor add to his strong upside. With Marquese Chriss gone, he very well could fill that role. He played 12 games for the Texas Legends last season, averaging 10.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.8 3-pointers with 53/39/64 splits and 22.4 points per game. He's ready for the next level. GRADE: B+

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2022]