Grading the 2009 NBA Summer League Rookies in Ten Words or Less

- The Season's Over -

Grading the 2009 NBA Summer League Rookies in Ten Words or Less

July 14, 2009

Blake Griffin's NBA Debut

The Orlando Pro Summer League completed its five-game schedule last week, and the official NBA Summer League got going on Friday. Many big-name rookies have played so far; some have provided hope to their franchises’ fans, some have created doubt. If you haven’t kept up on the games, here’s a letter grade and short comment about each player’s performance up to this point.

Rodrigue Beaubois, PG, Dallas Mavericks
Grade:A
Comment: Very quick, nightmare to defend (19ppg, 4.3apg, 9-19 3’s)

DeJuan Blair, PF, San Antonio Spurs
Grade: A
Comment: Intense motor lead to uber-efficient double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds, 22 minutes)

Jon Brockman PF, Sacramento Kings
Grade: B
Comment: As expected, banger who chases every ball (27 rebounds in 52 minutes)

Chase Budinger, F, Houston Rockets
Grade: B
Comment: As always, able to be a take-over scorer (47 points on 30 shots in 3 games)

DeMarre Carroll, F, Memphis Grizzlies
Grade: B
Comment: Lots of intensity, various scoring methods (4-6 FG, 1-1 triples, 2-2 FT’s)

Omri Casspi, F, Sacramento Kings
Grade: D
Comment: Hasn’t shown much, too many misses and turnovers (12 in 3 games)

Darren Collison, PG, New Orleans Hornets
Grade: B
Comment: Drives with authority, decent decisions (6-3 assists-TO in debut)

Dante Cunningham, F, Portland Trail Blazers
Grade: B
Comment: Looked like a gamer with a place in the league (21 and 9)

Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors
Grade: B
Comment: Gun slinger mentality, gun slinger results (23ppg, 39% 3’s, 31% 2’s)

Austin Daye, F, Detroit Pistons
Grade: C
Comment: Sporadic scoring, rebounding, fouling (8, 2, 1 one game – 11, 11, 8 another)

DeMar DeRozan, SF, Toronto Raptors
Grade: C
Comment: Putting up points, but on too many shots (45 points, 46 shots)

Wayne Ellington, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves
Grade: C
Comment: Will shoot no matter what (2-12 one game, 8-14 the next)

Tyreke Evans, G, Sacramento Kings
Grade: B
Comment: Scorer’s mentality, punishing driver (41 FTA in 3 games), good rebounder, careless TO’s

Breaking down Blake Griffin to Brandon Jennings to Hasheem Thabeet, after the jump…

Jonny Flynn, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves
Grade: B
Comment: Can pass the ball – to everyone (21 assists and 13 TO’s in 2 games)

Danny Green, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
Grade: C
Comment: Efficient scorer (27 points on 15 shots) who’s done very little else

Blake Griffin, PF, LA Clippers
Grade: A
Comment: As of right now, he is the best Clipper (27 points, 12 boards in debut)

Tyler Hansbrough, PF, Indiana Pacers
Grade: B
Comment: Good scoring (22ppg in first 4 games), gets to the line, has trouble rebounding

James Harden faces Jordan Hill James Harden, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: B
Comment: A lot of scoring, a lot of efficiency (53% FG, 40% 3FG, 78% FT) – until Las Vegas

Jrue Holiday, PG, Philadelphia 76ers
Grade: D
Comment: Can turn the ball over – a lot (17 TO’s to 15 assists), trouble scoring

Brandon Jennings, PG, Milwaukie Bucks
Grade: B
Comment: Good production overall, but shoots way too much junk (35% FG)

Eric Maynor, PG, Utah Jazz
Grade: C
Comment: Poor shooting, took care of the ball before Friday (5 TO’s in first 4 games)

Ben McCauley, F, LA Lakers
Grade: B
Comment: Laker fans pleasantly surprised by undrafted big man (13ppg, 8rpg)

Jodie Meeks, SG, Milwaukie Bucks
Grade: B
Comment: Looks to score, is usually successful (17ppg, 60% FG and 3FG)

Byron Mullens, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: D
Comment: Can score a little, can’t rebound or block shots (19 and 0 over 6 games)

DaJuan Summers, F, Detroit Pistons
Grade: B
Comment: Great scoring (17ppg) from a second rounder, OK rebounding

Connecticut Huskies center Hasheem Thabeet

Hasheem Thabeet Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Hasheem Thabeet, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Grade: D
Comment: Some scoring, no rebounding (2 in 20 minutes), foul trouble

Marcus Thornton, G, New Orleans Hornets
Grade: B
Comment: Can put the ball in the hoop and get after it (6 rebounds, 2 steals)

Terrence Williams, SG/SF, New Jersey Nets
Grade: C
Comment: A little of everything, only rebounding is above average though (6.6 boards)

Sam Young, SF, Memphis Grizzlies
Grade: B
Comment: Hustle plays, scorer’s mentality remains (game-high 14 points in debut)

Zachariah Blott is an English teacher in Portland, not an Amish Charles Dickens character.

7 Comments »Posted by ETB Contributor on Jul. 14, 2009 at 6:49 pm in NBA

7 Responses

Quick updates:

James Harden made up for his poor showing in his first Vegas game by going off for 23 pts (9-14, 2-5 3’s), 5 rebs, 5 assists, and 2 steals today.

Hasheem Thabeet continued his long road to making it on Biggest Busts lists in a few years. He had 6 and 6 in 24 minutes. I’ve watched a lot of Big East basketball the past few years, and I never understood what the hoopla was with this guy. You know who always looked better? His UConn teammate Jeff Adrien. Well he’s averaging 9 and 4 in 17 minutes on those Grizzlies so far, to Thabeet’s 7.5 and 4 in 22. At least Thabeet has more fouls: 6 to 1.

Posted by: Zachariah Blott on July 14th, 2009 at 10:30 pm

How can you say Demar Takes too many shots? Hes shooting 47% and avg. 16 ppg. If you accually watch the game he rarely takes a bad shot, get your shit togeather.

Posted by: :O on July 16th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

I stand corrected on DeMar taking too many shots. One thing, though – with his explosiveness, he should be taking way more free throws. There is no reason his PPS should be right around 1 in so many games.

Posted by: Zachariah Blott on July 16th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

Hasheem Thabeet’s 3 games so far:

Gm 1: 9 pts, 2 rebs, 4 fouls, 20 mins
Gm 2: 6 pts, 6 rebs, 2 fouls, 24 mins
Gm 3: 7 pts, 3 rebs, 7 fouls, 30 mins

Posted by: Zachariah Blott on July 17th, 2009 at 1:37 am

I love Blair’s performances thus far, and I can’t wait to see him competing in real games for the Spurs. He’s going to be a great backup for Duncan.

Posted by: Andrew on July 17th, 2009 at 9:49 am

[...] NBA Rookies in the 2009 Las Vegas Summer League | Empty the Bench [...]

Posted by: Linkage for Jul 16 8am to Jul 20 9am - Raptors Republic - Raptors Blog for the ESPN True Hoop Network on July 20th, 2009 at 10:01 am

thats funny about demarr, i read that and thot “dam, i guess i know nothing” i watched him live in vegas and barely noticed him shoot. he seems like a shawn marion type, cant create his own shot but somehow had 25 points off fast break finsihes, putback and all that. definately doesn not shoot too much. funny story, i walked into his game vs milwaukee and me and my friend made a friendly bet on who would dunk first. i said demarr, and it was easy money. not many people got to the rim off the drive so i guessed someone who rebounds and runs well. sure enough, i was in the money with a demarr flush off a high rebound.

Posted by: ryan kyle on August 4th, 2009 at 12:38 pm