Dylan Harper solely performed two video games of Summer season League. What impressed you and what do you suppose is one thing he has to work on earlier than the season?
Marilyn Dubinski: It’s onerous to take a lot from two video games, however he seemed fairly good for somebody who hadn’t performed a sport since March, so it provides intrigue to what he can do when he’s not rusty and utterly wholesome. I used to be impressed along with his fluidity and the way he drove to the basket with grace and ease. His bounce shot could possibly be extra constant, and whereas that was already recognized, it is also attributed to rust.
Mark Barrington: He seemed nice. His capacity to get to the ring is obvious, and he has good power and agility. His taking pictures began off just a little rusty, but it surely’s onerous to criticize that based mostly on such a small pattern dimension. He had nearly nearly as good of a summer season league as you could possibly count on, and I didn’t discover a lot to be sad about. He doesn’t want my recommendation, however engaged on his outdoors shot will make him mainly unguardable, as a result of if defenders are pressured to shut down on him on the perimeter, he’s going to go proper by them.
Devon Birdsong: Seeing that lateral and inside pace with NBA spacing had me in a time-traveling phone sales space, as a result of I haven’t watched a San Antonio guard transfer so rapidly and simply by way of the center of the half-court since a younger Tony Parker. Granted, it was Summer season League, however Harper strides by way of the paint like he’s gliding on butter. I favored the decide earlier than, but it surely’s actually one thing to witness how simple Dylan Harper makes it look. If he finds a strategy to shoot 38% or higher from three, he’ll be a 20 ppg participant with ease, and rapidly. The Spurs have traditionally been good at drafting guards, however the truth that they solely wanted two video games to know he didn’t want extra time on the courtroom says all the pieces.
Jeje Gomez: I used to be impressed by his angle as a lot as anything. He performed onerous and didn’t permit the unhealthy moments to disturb him. He additionally appeared to get pleasure from seeing his teammates do nicely as soon as he was shut down. Heading right into a rookie yr by which he won’t get as a lot enjoying time or touches as he would in a rebuilding group, it will likely be essential for his mindset to be proper, and it looks as if it’s. So far as what he must work on, studying the protection and making faster selections are two areas that he may enhance on, however he would possibly want expertise within the league to take action.
Carter Bryant received extra run than Harper throughout the summer season. Do you suppose he can crack the rotation, contemplating his strengths and weaknesses?
Dubinski: It’s onerous to say at this level. I’d have positively stated sure if the Spurs have been nonetheless in full rebuild mode, however with them being as deep as they’re at this level, it could rely on whether or not his outdoors shot comes round after a fairly horrific displaying on that finish in Summer season League. That being stated, his defensive talent, tenacity and consciousness on the perimeter is one thing we haven’t seen on this group since arguably Kawhi Leonard, and it’s the largest space the Spurs want to enhance to leap into the playoff tier of the standings. I’ve him within the third string to begin the season, however that would rapidly change.
Barrington: He seemed very uncooked in Summer season League, which is what you would possibly count on from a man who missed a while in his one-and-done yr in faculty. He’s received spectacular bodily items and performs with out concern. He virtually must decelerate a bit, however I didn’t thoughts him going full goblin mode in Sumer League. His shot was problematic for many of the week he was enjoying in Vegas, however his closing sport confirmed that he has the potential to be an excellent shooter and it’s going to return to him if he retains working. I don’t suppose his work ethic might be questioned, in order that’s virtually a foregone conclusion. He’s most likely going to want a yr or two to develop, so I feel he’s going to get restricted enjoying time at first of the season, however I wouldn’t be shocked to see him getting much more minutes after the calendar hits 2026. He most likely received’t be a starter this season, however he’ll be within the rotation by the tip of the season, and within the beginning lineup someday subsequent season.
Birdsong: I feel it’s very a lot an early Kawhi Leonard scenario in the case of Bryant. If he can hit threes, the Spurs are going to search out minutes for him, as a result of his uncooked expertise on the defensive finish already lends itself to high-end hypothesis. Much more than pure intuition, Bryant showcased actual tenacity and need on that aspect of the courtroom, and confirmed flashes of turning right into a headache in opposition to each guards and wings. The Spurs didn’t actually make a defensive pickup for the perimeter, so that they’ll be relying on inside enchancment from each coaches and gamers. I think it’ll take some accidents for Bryant to search out himself within the rotation persistently, and I wouldn’t be shocked if we see him Austin for part of the season. If he finally ends up getting 20+ minutes it’ll be as a result of the damage bug has bitten the Spurs but once more, or San Antonio brass made their finest late-lottery decide in over a decade.
Gomez: There are too many wings on the roster for Bryant to get constant minutes to begin the season. I can see him getting on the courtroom if there are accidents or a commerce that thins down the depth on the ahead spots, but when everybody’s wholesome and the Spurs don’t make any huge strikes early, he’ll most likely have to attend.
Are there any free brokers from the Summer season League group that the Spurs ought to carry on an everyday deal or a two-way deal?
Dubinski: I’m certain this will probably be everybody’s reply, however David Jones-Garcia couldn’t have carried out extra to show himself. He was their main scorer, and each shot he took felt prefer it was moving into. Even when the Spurs are already deep at guard, you may’t have too many shooters. It could come down as to if different groups can assure him a spot of their rotation — one thing the Spurs can’t promise. I additionally wouldn’t have a difficulty with re-signing Minix to both a two-way or assured deal, and I’ll let the Texas A&M Aggie in me come out and inform the Spurs to offer Dexter Dennis a two-way. He flew underneath the radar of the Spurs’ rookies and DJG’s breakout, however he was continually stable on each ends and hit his threes extra persistently than anybody. (Come on, Spurs. You didn’t pay attention once I stated Alex Caruso was Manu-lite popping out of faculty, so hear me now.)
Barrington: I feel that Minix and Ingram are most likely again as two-way gamers, regardless that Ingram wasn’t precisely spectacular in Summer season League. He might be trusted to know the system and never make errors, which must be sufficient for him to fill a job as a ‘In Case of Emergency: Break Glass’ sort of deep backup that may play restricted minutes if the group is shorthanded on account of gamers not being out there.
Everybody may see that David Jones-Garcia seemed nice in Summer season League, however I haven’t but boarded the practice the place I feel the Spurs ought to provide him a long-term assured contract. Dominating one week in Summer season League isn’t the identical as enjoying in an 82-game NBA season. I feel he’s positively earned some assured cash, however I wouldn’t need to go a lot above the league minimal and a one-year contract provide if I have been Brian Wright. Perhaps a second yr with a partial assure. I count on he’ll get a greater provide than that from one other group that has a much less deep guard rotation, and which may work out higher for him anyway, since he wouldn’t get numerous run with the Spurs’ guard-heavy roster. However then once more, he’s fairly versatile and also can play wing, so perhaps that’s some extent in his favor for the Spurs giving him a shot.
Like Marilyn, I assumed that Dexter Dennis additionally had a formidable outing in Vegas, and is likely to be a candidate for the third two-way slot in the event that they don’t carry David Duke Jr. again. For certain, Dennis goes to be in somebody’s coaching camp this season, and hopefully it will likely be in San Antonio.
Birdsong: There at all times appears to be somebody each couple of seasons who grinds their approach by way of the Spurs pipeline and into momentary usefulness, however I simply actually didn’t see something that leapt out at me. This roster is already deep with high-level position gamers, so I simply don’t see them actually having the room until one thing goes actually, actually improper. The Spurs want one other huge man behind Wemby and Kornet, however the Summer season League roster was actually gentle on that, so I’m guessing they’re positive with Olynyk as their third heart. David-Jones Garcia deserves his flowers (and perhaps a two-way), however I don’t see it occurring. Dexter Dennis might need a greater shot, and I don’t suppose he’s getting one both. Till this roster begins actually needing low cost depth, I don’t count on to listen to a lot from the Summer season League/Austin Spurs pipeline.
Gomez: I feel bringing Minix and Ingram again on two-way offers is smart. I additionally wouldn’t thoughts the Spurs including David Jones-Garcia to their important roster on a barely-guaranteed Champagnie-like contract, however contemplating he turned down a suggestion from a European powerhouse for greater than the minimal, he might need a greater deal than the one San Antonio would possibly provide already lined up. The remainder of the roster was largely comprised of older guys, and nobody actually stood out, however Dennis and Osifo could possibly be respectable coaching camp our bodies.
