The 2015 NBA Summer Leagues won’t kick in to high gear until they head to Las Vegas later this week but after getting a sneak preview of what to expect, we can already look ahead to some of the most intriguing storylines to keep a close eye on. Here are four of the best to keep an eye on for fantasy players.
Clippers Banking On Wilcox
The Los Angeles Clippers have been one of the headliners this offseason as they’ve gone from potentially losing DeAndre Jordan and taking a major step back in their quest for contending to somehow finding a way to keep him and possibly making the final steps necessary to win a title. First, they brought in Lance Stephenson. Then they picked up Paul Pierce. However, they still need more depth and it looks like they might have some on the way.
Former first-round pick C.J. Wilcox has been a bright spot in the opening days of summer league action as he scored double-digit point totals in each of the first three games, including 22 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Clippers would get a huge boost from the 28th overall pick if he is able to contribute. He was mostly glued to the bench as a rookie but as we saw in the playoffs, the Clippers need more from their bench.
Gordon Progressing Favorably For Magic
The fourth overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft has registered a couple of dominant performances for the Orlando Magic’s summer league team already with three 20-point games. His ability to dominate on the boards is a major asset that the team is looking forward to unleashing.
Gordon told reporters that he feels a lot more comfortable in his second summer league stint and, considering both his work ethic and determination, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the former Arizona star plays a much bigger role with the Magic this season after being held to 47 appearances in his rookie season. He’s played so well in Summer League that they shut him down after he averaged 21.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 threes, 1.7 blocks, 1.3 steals while shooting a healthy 50%. Many people assumed he was a bust after averaging just 17 minutes per game last season but the Magic should give him a much bigger role if he can carry this over.
The Future Is Now For Hood, Jazz
The Utah Jazz have retooled the difficult way and while it’s never easy playing out of a small market in the Western Conference, they have to be happy about what last year’s first-round pick Rodney Hood brings to the table. One night after he exploded for 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals in a win over the Boston Celtics, Hood scored a team-high 18 points in a 72-70 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Salt Lake City. He ended the season strong, averaging 16.7 points per game along with 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 threes in the month of April and he’s carried over the momentum into Summer League. The Jazz are banking on that Hood can be a key player for them this coming season and so far, it looks like he’s ready to do that.
Hornets Banking On Daniels’ 3-Point Sting
The Charlotte Hornets struggled mightily from beyond the arc last season but they are high on the former VCU product Troy Daniels as a potential sharpshooter for them down the line. Daniels started the summer league action with a miserable 1-of-5 three-point shooting performance in the Hornets’ summer league opener but he bounced back with a 6-of-9 performance the following game. He is exactly the type of pure scorer Charlotte needs. Daniels produced in an extended look for the Hornets late last season – including a career-high 24-point performance with seven threes in the final game of the year against the Toronto Raptors. If he can improve his sharpshooting ability this summer, he will more than likely get a bigger role next season.
