RADIO
Now that the 2023 NBA summer league action has wrapped up, we can review some winners and losers from this summer. The guard position is typically one of the most complex positions to excel at because of how many different aspects of the game you have to master. The guard position is also ridiculously stacked with ultra-talented young players and savvy veterans. The position has so many players that are good at everything and the rise of the big guard is becoming more prominent in modern times.
Today we are going to look at some winners and losers from the summer league. The criteria for the "winners" are simply guys that looked to have gained something from this summer league experience. They could've gained confidence, playing time, a contract, or just something overall positive. The criteria for the "losers" are guys who appeared to have lost something or didn't prove what they set out to do. The losers could've potentially lost playing time, trust from the organization, or simply played poorly.
This list is going to include a multitude of guys, ranging from early draft picks to undrafted players who could've potentially gained a contract. Without further ado, let's hop straight into the list. You can also contact me on Twitter at @danieldleonard7 if you have any questions or concerns.
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NBA Summer League Winners
1. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
The Jazz were praised for selecting guard Keyonte George in numerous post-draft winners lists. This was primarily due to his untapped potential on the offensive end. In this summer league, he definitely displayed the traits that made him a first-round pick. After a little bit of a rocky start to his summer league tenure in Utah, Keyonte flipped a switch and took over in Vegas every time he stepped onto the floor. In six games, he averaged 18 points, three rebounds, and five assists. He shot 45% from the floor, 38% from three, and 75% from the free throw line.
Keyonte was a five-star prospect coming out of high school, so the talent was always there, it just had to be used in the correct way. After a little bit of a shaky freshman season at Baylor, many people questioned his NBA fit, but he is obviously thriving now. I think he showed enough tools to be a lead guard off the bench for the Jazz; his playmaking ability really came as a surprise. I've always thought Keyonte's scoring ability would immediately translate because he truly is a three-level scorer with deep range. If Keyonte continues this amazing play, he could solidify himself into a regular rotational role early in the regular season.
2. Sam Merrill, Cleveland Cavaliers
After being selected with the last pick in the 2020 NBA draft by the Pelicans, Sam Merrill has bounced around the league on multiple teams. Even with some strong G League performances, he just hasn't been able to stick to consistently stick on a roster. But after the show he put on in Vegas this summer, he should have no problem getting a shot on a team this season. Merrill averaged 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists per contest across five games. He also put up those numbers on ridiculous shooting splits. He shot 45% from the floor, 44% from three, and 88% from the free throw line.
Merrill's shooting ability has always been his calling card and he truly put that on display this summer. The Cavs severely lacked a scoring punch off the bench last season, especially in the playoffs against the Knicks. The Cavs have done a superb job of adding defense and shooting in free agency, but you can never have enough shooters on your roster. Merrill could be the perfect backup to Max Strus while also having the same shooting ability in limited minutes. If the Cavs do not give Merrill a chance, I'm fairly confident he will get a shot somewhere else.
3. Armoni Brooks, Brooklyn Nets
In a similar situation to Sam Merrill, Brooks has produced good flashes but has never been given a true opportunity anywhere. Brooks has bounced around multiple teams in recent years and entered this summer league having to prove himself once again. He averaged 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists during his summer league tenure with the Nets. He was also very efficient, shooting 50% from the field and 47% from three.
Brooks has always been known for his deep range and efficient shooting ability. It's been rather confusing as to why teams haven't taken a legitimate chance on him. Brooks played well enough to earn a two-way contract from the Nets, so he has a real shot to contribute to them this year. Brooks has the ability to stretch the floor at an elite level while also giving great effort on the defensive end.
Summer League Losers
1. Nick Smith Jr., Charlotte Hornets
Coming out of high school, Nick Smith Jr. was a five-star prospect and was highly touted by many scouts. After a very uneventful freshman season at Arkansas, which was filled with injuries and inconsistent play, Smith Jr. declared for the draft. Even though he didn't have the best freshman year in terms of stats, he was still selected in the first round due to his overwhelming talent. Unfortunately, he did not have a good summer league at all, looking lost and ineffective in multiple games.
The Hornets, in general, as a team did not look good so not all of his struggles are on him. But Smith Jr. just did not shoot the ball efficiently. At the next level, he will be asked to take on lead guard duties, but his playmaking does not seem up to par just yet. Smith Jr. is certainly not a bad player just because of a bad set of summer league games. However, he will likely need to spend some time in the G League to develop for most of the season.
2. Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors
After an unsatisfying freshman year at Illinois in 2021-2022, Brandin Podziemski transferred to Santa Clara for the 2022-2023 season and had an amazing sophomore year. Podziemski's draft hype started to become apparent very late in the draft process. He started to hear his name buzz after a strong combine performance. He was eventually selected in the first round by Golden State with the hopes of him being another dynamic combo guard in the Warriors' unique system. So far, it seems that we will have to wait on that because Podziemski just needs a little time to grow before he can contribute to a winning team.
The 20-year-old guard shot an awful 32% from the field during the summer league. He simply could not get anything to go down from anywhere on the floor. He did still play some good defense and involved his teammates consistently, but he just couldn't find a rhythm. The Warriors most likely felt that Podziemski could contribute right away this season. However, it now appears that they will lean more towards his summer league teammate, Lester Quinones off the bench this year.
3. Malaki Branham, San Antonio Spurs
After a very impressive rookie year where Branham averaged over 10 points a game, he stepped into the summer league with very high hopes. Branham did not live up to those standards at all as he was very inefficient and sometimes erratic on the floor. His main calling card during his rookie season was his efficiency and steadiness, but it was the opposite for him during this summer league tenure.
Branham shot under 37% from the field over his five games, including a game where he went 1-for-17. I'm definitely not going to give up hope on Branham, but it was disappointing to see him struggle as badly as he did. He still has a great chance to be an integral part of the Spurs rotation next season, he just needs more opportunities.
That wraps up the list of my winners and losers, the guard edition. I tried to give some logical explanations for why certain players should have played better and why they were "losers" in my book. The goal wasn't to simply focus on younger players for either list. With that said, if you're a player that already has NBA experience, you should definitely be held to a higher standard than a rookie. The "winners" list was compiled of players who exceeded expectations, showed improvement, and appear ready to contribute to a team.
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