Wiggins, Bennett have shown NBA promise over the five-game Summer League.
The Cavaliers ended the summer league slate in Las Vegas with a win over Miami that pushed their record to 4-1. Despite the four wins, Houston knocked the Cavs out of bracket stage. Many of the prospects David Blatt put onto the floor showed promise and ability that will translate directly to regular season NBA action. Who were the players?
Andrew Wiggins
Summer League Stats: 15.5 pts, 3.5 reb, 0.3 ast, 1.3 stl, 1.5 blk, 40.5% FG, 15.4% 3-pt
Wiggins played in four of the five games for the Cavs and flashed potential to become a superstar. The former Kansas wing was the best defender on the court, showing the ability to block shots, get his hands in passing lanes and successfully shadow the opponent’s top player. His defense alone is incredibly intriguing, and it’s exactly what LeBron James needs next to him.
Offensively, Wiggins was somewhat of a mixed bag. When playing aggressively, he showed a tremendous ability to slash to the rim and finish or draw fouls. Against Houston, Wiggins got to the line for 20 attempts. Yes, you read that correctly. He has consistently proven he can be a successful mid-range shooter, knocking down a plethora of step-back jump shots in Las Vegas. He is able to create an absurd amount of space to open up his step-back shot. His 3-point shooting was inconsistent at best, but will likely improve some playing next to Kyrie Irving and James. If Wiggins can continue to improve his outside shooting, there is not much holding him back from NBA greatness.
Anthony Bennett
Summer League Stats: 13.3 pts, 7.8 reb, 0.8 ast, 0.8 stl, 0 blk, 42.6% FG, 25% 3-pt
It is safe to say Bennett’s rookie year was a colossal disappointment. A surprise top overall pick last year, expectations were high, and Bennett was unable to get into the groove of the season. Entering Las Vegas, Bennett looks to be in much better shape and showed he can be a successful offensive option at the NBA level. A stretch four, Bennett showed the ability to score from inside and outside, particularly in the first half of each game. His energy level seemed to wane as the game progressed, perhaps indicating his conditioning level is still not where it should be. Defensively, Bennett still looks slow laterally, but showed he can be physical in the post. He struggled defending taller and longer opponents, such as Donatas Motiejunas and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Improving his initial positioning should help aid that weakness in his defense. Weaknesses aside, Bennett looks like a player who can successfully backup Tristan Thompson and play 15 minutes per night.
Matthew Dellavedova
Summer League Stats: 11.7 pts, 4.7 reb, 4.7 ast, 1.0 stl, 0 blk, 43.5% FG, 27.3% 3-pt
Dellavedova will enter Cleveland’s training camp in a battle to win the backup point guard position. Given Jarrett Jack’s departure, he is in a good position to win the spot. Unfortunately for Dellavedova, Cleveland has a high number of players outside of the point guard position that handle the ball. In order for Dellavedova to see regular rotation minutes, he needs to be turnover free and shoot the ball well from the perimeter. In summer league, Dellavedova was streaky (at best) from beyond the 3-point arc. He also averaged four turnovers per game. His court vision remains one of his strengths, and his turnover numbers should decrease playing with better players. Defensively, he is average at best, but good enough for the backup PG spot in Cleveland. He could eventually carve out a career similar to Steve Blake.
Carrick Felix
Summer League Stats: 4.4 pts, 3.0 reb, 0.6 ast, 0.8 stl, 0.2 blk, 47.1% FG, 44.4% 3-pt
Felix was inconsistent in Las Vegas. He proved he can be an athletic defender and an average rebounder from the wing, though he is not ready offensively to contribute in the NBA. While he shot 44% from 3-point range (4-9), he banked in an ugly knuckler that increased his percentage by 11 points. Felix has a guaranteed contract for next season, but needs to show more in training camp and in the regular season to justify keeping him around. His performance in Las Vegas was far from persuasive.
Joe Harris
Summer League Stats: 7.8 pts, 1.5 reb, 1.5 ast, 0.5 stl, 0.3 blk, 39.1% FG, 40% 3-pt
Harris was drafted as a 6-6 wing who can spot up from 3-point range and defend opposing shooting guards. His performance was not flashy, but he did exactly what was expected of him. Harris went 4-10 from beyond the arc and shot 9-11 from the free-throw line, continuing to prove he can successfully shoot at the next level. Concerns begin to mount surrounding his ball handling ability and scoring in the paint, though it is unlikely his role will involve much ball handling at the next level. He was a good defender in Las Vegas, but occasionally struggled against athletic wings with a quick first step, such as Nick Johnson.
Dwight Powell
Summer League Stats: 5.0 pts, 3.7 reb, 0.7 ast, 0.3 stl, 0.3 blk, 50% FG, 0% 3-pt
Powell arrived late to Sin City due to his presence in a trade that could not be finalized until after July 10. When he did arrive, he was a capable and efficient role player. Powell has a good midrange game and can score inside, but he has not yet extended his range to the NBA 3-point line. If he can successfully expand his range, Powell could be a stretch 4 option off the bench. In limited minutes, Powell did not hurt his team defensively, and he showed he can rebound against other similar players. He has yet to ink a contract with the Cavs and will have to impress in training camp to come to the NBA right away. Given the team’s salary cap status, he could make sense as a minimum-contract player.
Other players who played major minutes for the Cavs included former Montana guard Will Cherry (12.8 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast in Las Vegas), former Notre Dame forward Jack Cooley (7.4 pts, 4.4 reb) and former New Mexico center Alex Kirk (5.2 pts, 3.4 reb). Each of the three could potentially earn a training camp invite, though all are immense long shots to make the final roster.
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