What Summer League showed us about the Grizzlies’ guard corps
Summer League finally ended for the Grizzlies earlier this week after a 10-game schedule that was longer than any in recent memory. The Grizzlies participated in both the Utah Jazz Summer League and the NBA’s leaguewide Las Vegas Summer League, leading to the extra summer action. Over that much time, fans and coaches alike can start to get a feel for a player’s development.
The team ended up with a 6-4 record, showcasing the peaks and valleys you’d expect from a team filled with young and inexperienced players. The Grizzlies reached the semifinals in Las Vegas before falling to the eventual champion Portland Trail Blazers, and fourth-overall pick Jaren Jackson Jr. was named to the Second Team of the All-NBA Summer League team. Last year, Wayne Selden was similarly honored.
But Summer League is more of a “proof of concept” environment, a place where you see glimpses and trial runs of skills that players have in their arsenal. Winning is nice, but utterly inessential. What is essential, what is vital, is to see progress and to see those flashes and examples of things on which the team can build. Every player has a ceiling, but often Summer League can show you his floor.
With that in mind, let’s look closer at what Summer League revealed for the young players on the Grizzlies’ roster, starting with the point guards and wings.
Jevon Carter
Carter officially signed his two-year minimum contract with the Grizzlies
at the end of the Summer League, making his spot on the 15-man roster secure. It was an up-and-down Summer League for Carter, with average performances bookending two spectacular ones.
In two games against the Thunder and the Jazz, Carter averaged 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game on 18-of-39 shooting (46 percent) from the field. He looked assertive and dominant, and he was able to get his shot when he wanted. He also got to the foul line 10 times in those two games.
But in the other five games in Vegas, Carter averaged seven points, three rebounds and three assists on 14-of-52 shooting (27 percent) from the field. He took too many ill-advised mid-range shots, struggled to get others involved consistently and took only two free throws.
Fluctuations are certainly normal among rookies, and Carter’s performance isn’t cause for major alarm. His defense was often as disruptive as advertised. Carter also was very verbal on and off the court, showing good body language and positivity throughout the games, a big point of emphasis for the team.
Wayne Selden
Selden didn’t have much, if anything, to prove in Summer League. So many of the questions around Selden are simply about his health, and those won’t be answered until the regular season. He played in only four games, showcasing the smooth stroke and physical dominance he displayed last Summer League.
Selden’s contract was guaranteed earlier this month, a formality that ensured he’s going to be part of the Grizzlies squad, not that his status was in doubt. With the acquisition of Garrett Temple, the question for Selden now is simply about whether he, Temple or Dillon Brooks will start at shooting guard.
Kobi Simmons
Simmons is not shy. He had no problem finding his shot and taking it early and often, scoring in bunches and helping win games. He looked extremely quick throughout the summer, with more than one broadcaster unable to resist commenting on how fast Simmons could get up and down the floor.
Simmons drove the ball to the basket time and time again, and while his finishing was inconsistent, the fact he could blow by defenders is a real feather in his cap. He didn’t take a bunch of 3pointers, or make a bunch, which is an area of concern for guards in today’s NBA. Nonetheless, Simmons was a bright spot.
He’s got one more year remaining on his two-way contract; expect to see him spend the majority of his time playing for the G-League Memphis Hustle next year.
Brandon Goodwin
Dogged determination. That’s what Goodwin showed on a continual basis, fighting and clawing for everything. The Florida Gulf Coast product is undersized at 6-foot-2, but he showed a solid ability to get to the basket and occasions of streaky scoring, tabbing 13 points in the fourth quarter alone of the Grizzlies’ quarterfinal Vegas win over the Sixers. He scored 48 points combined in the quarterfinals and semifinals in Vegas.
Goodwin probably has earned himself at least a training camp invitation, and maybe more should he continue to impress. It’s hard not to love watching him play.
Markel Crawford
Crawford was a pleasant surprise for the Grizzlies, with three big scoring games showing his ability to shoot it, especially from deep. He was also a solid, physical defensive presence. While the Grizzlies often give extra attention to local players, Crawford showed his spot was fully deserved. It would be a surprise not to see him in Grizzlies’ training camp, trying to further his NBA career.