I personally wish Summer League wasn't seen as just a thing for rookies and scrubs. There's just such a negative stigma to it if you're not a rookie.
I think it could be a great place for guys coming off injuries (like Hayward, Irving) to work off some of their rust against "real competition" (assuming they're fully cleared of course, which I don't think either are).
Or for a guys to work on new things, Smart and Baynes on their 3 point shot, Brown and Tatum on their ball handling and distributing, etc. Or for when guys switch positions (Harden going from SG to PG).
Also just a great way to stay in shape. It's not like these guys aren't playing basketball at all during the summer, might as well do it in a structured environment with better competition then their local pro-ams.
Now I'm not saying all guys should be participating, or that they should play in every game. But it would be cool if legit vets dropped by and were sprinkled in throughout summer league. Hayward plays 4 games for Boston to help get into shape, Brown drops in for 2 games to play PG to work on his handle/distributing. Embiid plays a couple of games for Philly just for the exercise. Tyreke Evans and Wilson Chandler play a few games to get familiar with their new coaching staffs. Manu Ginobili plays every game because he thinks it's a great way to keep his body in shape, etc.
Also that way it wouldn't be such an ego bruise for guys like Fultz who could use it.
It used to happen that way! Artest did it in 2006, but it was a lot more common in the '80s.Artest logged 25 minutes in his debut and finished with a quiet 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting. Yet he insists that these games are a useful means to get an early start on preseason conditioning and learning Musselman's system. Musselman doesn't coach the Kings' summer team but takes an active role in its practices, which already has Artest convinced that he'll have to be in better-than-ever shape because of "the way he runs and presses."
"There's some good players here," Artest said. "I play pickup ball every day and the talent is not as good as this talent. So what better place to play pick-up ball than Vegas?
"It's not like a walk in the park for me. These guys can play. This is game situations. [So] it gives me a chance to work on my defense. I'm pretty sure, because of the [defensive] reputation I have, [that] guys want to come at me."
Truth is, Artest should be applauded for making the trek to the Vegas Summer League. It's the truth even though he didn't fly into town until Thursday night, forcing Artest to miss Sacramento's opener here, and even if no one has any idea how long he'll stay.
In the glory days of summer league in the 1980s, big-name veterans making cameos were commonplace. I still remember my first trip to the L.A. Summer League in 1989: Dominique Wilkins and Karl Malone were among the future Hall of Famers who dropped in unannounced for a good run.
Topic: Should fultz play summer league? (Read 4264 times)