The summer league is finished. A few names impressed, some expected and some were a surprise. Gerald Green was our best summer league player and has raised a few eyebrows. Maybe he has figured some things out? But he wasn't the only one with a strong summer.
Reyshawn Terry and Shan Foster are expected to be in camp, but that was expected considering the expectations that this team had when they were drafted.
Charles Rhodes leads the "out of nowhere" camp. A 6-8, 248 lb. rookie power forward who averaged nearly 10 pts and 5 rebounds a game while shooting over 60 percent. However, Brandon Bass has been the anointed backup for Dirk so making the Mavericks squad would probably require Brandon or Dirk to be traded off the squad. I don't see either of those scenarios happening. Especially with the Ron Artest trade at a standoff.
The other notable was James Singleton. A spare off of the Clipper squad played solidly in the Vegas league but wasn't played often in Utah.
Overall, it was a good summer or promising summer as our squad might be a little more athletic next year.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Mavericks Summer League
Monday, July 14, 2008
The New (And Renewed) Mavericks
DeSagana Diop: The right move, even though it cost us our entire mid-level exception. Dampier will not be able to keep up consistently with the run and gun offense. Plus, Gana is by far a better defender than Dampier will ever be.
Gerald Green: If this kid ever figures it out, this will beat out the acquisitions of Brandon Bass and Gana Diop. He has the speed and athleticism this team desperately needs. And surprisingly he even has a three point shot to boot. It's everything else that Gerald has to figure out. It's a good thing he's the age he would have been if he came out of college.
Antoine Wright: Hoorah for this resigning. I liked what I saw in limited time last year. He could develop into a very good on the ball, wing defender. Plus he's some more of the athleticism this team has lost over the past five years.
James Singleton: Don't know too much about this guy except he's been nonexistent in the LA Clippers plans for the past several years. Although that's been the MO for players such as Gana and Bass. He's athletic and he's making some noise in the summer league thus far.
Keith McLeod: Seems to be a career 7th or 8th man off the bench. Averages of 5.5 pts, 2.7 assists and 1.3 rebounds. Not much to say except we're 5 for 5 on the athleticism front.
