Summer League is set to kick off for the Jazz tonight when they face the Atlanta Hawks. What, and who should Jazz fans be taking note of?
How Much Will Darryn Peterson Play?
This is clearly the most obvious and important storyline to keep an eye on, how will the second overall pick fare when going against NBA competition? This is what all Jazz fans will be most interested in seeing over the course of Summer League. Another question to consider is just how much will he actually play. It’s no secret that Peterson has injury concerns, these concerns however were not enough to dissuade the Jazz from selecting him 2nd overall, and Peterson himself has said that he has put his cramping issues behind him. Still it is something worth monitoring over the course of the Jazz’s Summer League games.
How Will Peterson Fare Against the Other Top Picks?
Peterson is set to face off against AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer in this year’s Summer League. The biggest questions will be: did the Jazz make a mistake by not trading up for Dybantsa, (no) and did the Jazz make a mistake by not selecting Cameron Boozer 2nd overall? (also no) Even if these questions are stupid, it will be very interesting to see how Peterson will stack up against the first and third overall picks.
A Preview of Year 2 Ace
Ace looked fantastic during his rookie season, where he averaged 13.8 points, and shot 34% from deep. At times, he was the sole reason most were tuning in to watch. There are some questions as to whether or not Bailey will come off the bench next season, and this Summer League will be a perfect opportunity for him to show that he is talented enough to start on a team that will be competing for a playoff spot. Even if he ends up coming off the bench next season he will still get plenty of minutes, and should be even more dangerous now that he has a year of experience under his belt.
Cody Williams
Cody will be the only player from the Jazz’s 2024 draft class who will be suiting up for this year’s Summer League. On the one hand this can be seen as somewhat of a disappointment, especially considering he was drafted 10th overall. On the other hand this will be a great opportunity for Cody to refine his game on offense, late last season he really seemed to be favoring longer twos over threes. The analytics may say this is a poor shot to take, but any production on offense from him is welcome. He could also be more important to the team than previously expected due to the departure of Walker Kessler. In my view he is the Jazz’s 7th most important player (shoutout to Jaylen Brown).
How Will Bez Mbeng Perform?
Now for the storylines only the true sickos will be dedicating their precious time to ponder. Bez Mbeng was an intriguing piece that the Jazz added towards the end of last season. It came as no surprise that the 3 time Ivy League Defense Player of the Year was a solid defender, averaging 2.3 steals per game, but can he show enough on offense to stick around as an end of the bench guy? He had his moments on offense, scoring 26, and 27 against the Pelicans and Grizzlies last season, but those were against G-League level opponents since it was so late in the season and neither team was really trying to win. Personally I believe that Mbeng could be a younger, cheaper replacement for Elijah Harkless should the Jazz elect to move off of his contract this offseason. At the very least I think that Mbeng has shown enough to be kept on the Jazz’s G-League roster to develop further.
Of the Lesser Known Players Who Will Impress?
Recently the Jazz signed Tamar Bates to a two-way contract. He was put up impressive numbers in the G-League, but can he show enough to stick around? He averaged an impressive 19.6 points per game in the G-League, and shot 44% from deep in his 12 games played.
Blake Hinson is also finds himself on a two-way contract. In his 14 games played last year he showed that he is a legit NBA shooter, shooting 46.8% from three. While he is on the older side at 26, he’s still an intriguing piece to keep an eye on. Also he will be wearing a new number this season, switching from #2 to #11.
Other names to keep in mind are centers; Micah Handlogten, Jonas Aidoo, and Mohamed Wague. Even after signing Jaxon Hayes, and resigning Nurkić, the Jazz might still be wise to look to add a developmental center behind the two. Micah Handlogten might be the best bet between the three, as he is the youngest and tallest. Additionally he also averaged the most rebounds in college, which is a skill the Jazz are in dire need of.
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