Warney provides fireworks

Warney was the best Tuesday. 

The most efficient player (per-minute) on a winning team during Tuesday's play in the 2017 Orlando NBA Summer League was Jameel Warney. The Dallas BIG-man had 17 points (7-8 FG, 3-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocked shots in just 23 minutes. The Mavs beat the Pacers 94-79, keeping Dallas undefeated in Summer play. 

Joining Warney on our Hoop Obsession All-Summer League team for July 4th, 2017...

• Zach Auguste - Miami. 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 3-pt.), 12 rebounds, 4 steals in 26 minutes.
• RaShawn Thomas - OKC. 13 points (6-12 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 0-1 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 steals in 21 minutes. 
• Treveon Graham - Charlotte. 19 points (6-12 FG, 3-4 3-pt., 4-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 steals in 28 minutes. 
• Jarnell Stokes - Indiana. 15 points (5-6 FG, 5-6 FT), 7 rebounds, 4 blocked shots in 27 minutes. 
• Anthony Gill - Charlotte. 9 points (3-4 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 3-4 FT), 4 rebounds in 20 minutes. 
• Dwight Buycks - Dallas. 14 points (6-9 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 5 assists in 28 minutes. 
• Okaro White - Miami. 29 points (9-20 FG, 2-7 3-pt., 9-10 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocked shots in 37 minutes. 
• Dwayne Bacon - Charlotte. 17 points (6-12 FG, 1-4 3 pt., 4-4 FT), 3 steals in 28 minutes. 
• Kris Joseph - Charlotte. 12 points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3-pt., 4-5 FT), 4 rebounds in 21 minutes. 
• Luke Kennard - Detroit. 18 points (7-16 FG, 1-5 3-pt., 3-3 FT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals in 31 minutes. 
• Trey McKinney-Jones - 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-3 3-pt.), 6 rebounds in 26 minutes. 

2017 Summer League Day One belongs to Travis Leslie

As we have done in the past, Hoop Obsession will bring you a daily list of the players who ACTUALLY performed well in NBA Summer League games. It is important to understand that the mass media will show you highlights of the high draft picks and interesting storylines. They barely scratch the surface of what is really going on. 

So, please, come through this webspace each late night or early morning to see our daily All-Summer League teams. We are watching as many games as humanly possible, and then dissecting the boxscores. 

Leslie shot it well enough Saturday

The most efficient player (per-minute) on a winning team in the opening day of play in the Orlando NBA Summer League was Travis Leslie. The Indiana Pacers' two-guard came off the bench to provide 20 points (8-14 FG, 2-5 3-pt., 2-2 FT), and eight rebounds in 23 minutes. Leslie played for Fort Wayne of the D-League in 2015-16. ...The Pacers easily defeated the Orlando Magic 85-74. 

The Hoop Obsession All-Summer League Team for July 1, 2017: 

• Vince Hunter - OKC. 21 points (7-10 FG, 2-3 3-pt., 5-5 FT), 7 rebounds in 26 mins. 
• Eric Moreland - Detroit. 10 points (4-5 FG, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds, 4 blocks in 28 mins. 
• Dwight Buycks - Dallas. 16 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3-pt., 5-8 FT), 7 steals, 6 assists, 4 rebounds in 30 mins. 
• Luis Montero - Dallas. 8 points (3-5 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists in 21 mins. 
• Treveon Graham - Charlotte. 16 points (6-14 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 4-7 FT), 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals in 29 mins. 
• Markel Brown - OKC. 9 points (3-4 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 2-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 steals, in 23 mins. 
• Dakari Johnson - OKC. 18 points (6-13 FG, 6-10 FT), 10 rebounds in 28 mins. 
• Matt Costello - Orlando. 7 points (3-6 FG, 1-2 3-pt.), 5 rebounds, 4 assists in 21 minutes. 
• Pierre Jackson - Detroit. 13 points (4-9 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 4-4 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers in 24 minutes. 
• Chris Johnson (Dayton) - Indiana. 9 points (4-10 FG, 1-5 3-pt.), 12 rebounds in 28 mins. 
• Bam Adebayo - Miami. 14 points (6-14 FG, 2-3 FT), 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, in 33 mins. 

Two players that really struggled on opening day were Zak Irvin and Jake Odum. Both posted HoopObsession.com Efficiency Ratings at or below "zero". What does a "zero-line" look like? Irvin played 29 minutes but only scored four points (2-8 FG, 0-6 3-pt.). He had one assist but he also had two turnovers, and he only grabbed three rebounds. 

Anderson stars on Fourth of July

Slo-Mo wins again. 

San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson was the star of play in the NBA Summer League on the Fourth of July. His San Antonio Spurs summer team whipped the host Utah Jazz 90-69. Anderson, the 30th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, had 25 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 26 minutes. 

Each day we list the players that performed the best. Our Hoop Obsession / BasslineSpin All-Summer League team should be considered a badge of honor for these players battling to get an elite NBA job. Joining Kyle Anderson...

Vincent Poirier - Orlando Blue. 10 points (5-9 FG), 11 rebs. in 20 mins. ...Poirier is a 6'11", 235 lb. Center. He is 22 years-old. Poirier went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. He played last season in France. Orlando's Blue team lost to Detroit 73-68

Brandon Paul - Charlotte. 17 pts (6-11 FG, 4-8 3-pt., 1-3 FT), 12 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocked shots in 28 mins. The Hornets beat Oklahoma City 78-74. 

Mike Tobey - Charlotte. 14 points (7-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt.), 6 rebounds, 3 blocked shots in 26 minutes.

Treveon Graham - Orlando White. 14 points (6-10 FG, 2-4 3-pt.), 4 rebounds, 3 assists in 19 mins. Orlando's White team beat Dallas 92-85. 

Tyler Honeycutt - Dallas. 13 points (5-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt., 3-4 FT), 7 rebounds in 23 minutes. 

Okaro White - Orlando Blue. 8 points (3-5 FG, 0-2 3-pt., 2-3 FT), 7 rebounds in 18 mins. 

Kwame Vaughn - Philadelphia. 7 points (2-3 FG, 1-2 3-pt., 2-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists in 17 mins. ...Vaughn is a 26 year-old point guard that went undrafted in 2013. He played for the USF Dons, and then transferred to Cal-State Fullerton. He has played overseas the last three seasons. Philadelphia lost to Boston 102-94. 

Kalib Tarczewski - Detroit. 9 points (2-4 FG, 5-6 FT), 6 rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Ben Simmons - Philadelphia. 10 points (2-9 FG, 6-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 5 assists in 24 minutes. 

Malcolm Miller - Boston. 14 points (6-8 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 1-2 FT), 4 rebounds in 24 minutes. 

Semaj Christon - Oklahoma City. 23 points (4-15 FG, 1-3 3-pt., 14-18 FT), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals in 38 minutes.

Shooting Guards to watch in the NCAA Tournament

Annually we examine the prospects in the NCAA Tournament that NBA teams should be paying the most attention to. Specifically, we analyze a player's production per minute, and ability to defend. ...They say good guards will lead you to the winner's circle. Here are the best all-around Shooting Guards as we view it...

Graham = underrated

Treveon Graham - VCU 6'5" 215 Junior. ...Graham projects as a utility type pro that is not afraid to mix it up. He averages 15 points and seven rebounds per game this season. Graham's basketball hero is Paul Pierce and he tries to do Pierce-like things on the court. Graham is a career 34% three-point shooter. He has improved his assist-to-turnover ratio each season, getting into positive territory this year. He is a top-tier defender.

Casey Prather - Florida 6'6" 212 Senior. ...Scottie Wilbekin gets the notiriety but for our money the most important Gator is Casey Prather. Prather is an NBA athlete that has developed from a scrawny inefficient 165 lb. freshman into a skilled 216 lb. Senior. He averages 14 points and five rebounds per game. He projects as more of a TWO in the NBA than the forward position he presently employs at Florida. The most amazing part of his game is his field goal percentage. Prather is shooting 61% FG this season. He shot 62% last season. Defensively, he is excellent, ranking in the top half-dozen of all SG's in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. 

Jordan Adams - UCLA 6'5" 220 Sophomore. ...A major reason that UCLA is winning again is due to the play of Jordan Adams. He is an NBA athlete that averages 17.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He has a "feel" for the game, and boasts a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, which is always nice to see in a "scorer". ...Adams hits 84% of his free throws. We put him into the shooting guard group but it is conceivable Adams can play Point Guard too. 

Denzel Valentine - Michigan St. Sophomore. ...Valentine is a vital part of the Michigan St. team that many see as a virtual lock for the Final Four. Valentine gets eight points, six rebounds, and four assists per game. I like Valentine's 6'5" size as it projects to the next level. He is one of those players that is "all over the court". He has improved his three point shooting this season, hitting at a 36% clip. 

Melvin Ejim - Iowa State 6'6" 230 Senior. ...Ejim was the 2013-14 Big 12 Player of the Year, posting averages of 18 points and eight rebounds per game. He is a smart, hustling, active player that, in college, plays forward. In the NBA, if he makes the cut, we see Ejim as a TWO. He has improved to 34% as a three-point shooter. He rebounds exceptionally well for his 6'6" size, and he hits 73% of his free throws. ...Ejim is from Toronto. 

Smith is a pest... in a good way.

Russ Smith - Louisville 6'0" 160 Senior. ...Smith is a whirl of energy that puts extreme pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to score. He shoots 35% 3-pt. (career), and 76% FT (career). ...Despite his 6'0" frame, Smith is a good defender too. He has the best Defensive Rating of any SG in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Smith has made strides at running a team from the Point Guard position but his nature is reflected in his 1.21-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. That is not PG worthy. 

Tyler Haws - BYU 6'5" 200 Junior. ...Haws is as skilled a wing scorer as there is in the college game. He moves without the ball like a seasoned veteran and his jumper is accurate and reliable. He is an 86% free throw shooter that hits 38% of his long balls. His defensive rating is not good but his offensive ability puts him on the map. 

Josh Hart - Villanova 6'5" 202 Freshman. ...Hart is coming off of an 18 point, eight rebound performance in Villanova's most recent game. He is widely considered one of the top-50 freshman in the country. He is shooting 50% FG, and in a small sample size of minutes, he owns an impressive 1.8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Royce O'Neale - Baylor 6'6" 220 Junior. ...You don't hear much hype about Royce O'Neale but he is a player that has compiled some impressive numbers in his three-season NCAA career (he played his first two seasons at Denver). He is shooting 53% FG, and he owns a 1.37-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He shoots 38% from three-point range (career). He is worth keeping an eye on. 

Kyle Casey - Harvard 6'7" 225 Senior. ...Casey is an NBA athlete that averages 10.6 points, and 5.6 rebounds per game. He is a grown man at 24 years of age. For his position, he is an excellent defensive rebounder. For his career he shoots 50% FG, and 75% FT. Casey is an aggressive defender that can get himself into foul trouble. ...Casey sat out a year at Harvard after being involved in a school-wide cheating scandal. 

Michael Frazier II - Florida 6'4" 200 Sophomore. ...Frazier is a accurate shooting wing that hits an amazing 46% of his three point attempts (career). At the line, he further proves his great shooting touch at 86%. He led the SEC in True Shooting Percentage this season. ...Frazier averages 12.9 points, and 3.5 rebounds per game. Frazier exploded for 37 points in early March in a rout at South Carolina. 

Sean Kilpatrick - Cincinnati 6'4" 215 Senior. ...Kilpatrick scores 20.7 points, and grabs 4.4 rebounds per game. He has a 1.2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. …34% 3-pt. (career), 78% FT (career). He led the AAC in free throw attempts this season. …Kilpatrick has a three year old daughter. 

LaDontae Henton - Providence 6'6" 215 Junior. ...Henton plays forward but we project him as a TWO if he cracks the next level. He averages 13.9 points, and 7.8 rebounds per game. Henton is really good on the defensive glass. …Henton was arrested in May 2013 on a domestic dispute charge.