Who has shone at Summer League so far?

Summary

Summary of "Who has Shone at Summer League So Far?" – The Athletic NBA Daily (July 14, 2025)

Hosted by Dave DeFore, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni

---

Introduction

In the July 14, 2025 episode of The Athletic NBA Daily, hosts Dave DeFore, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni delve into the standout performances and key narratives emerging from the ongoing NBA Summer League. Broadcasting live from Las Vegas, where DeFore and Baraheni are immersed in the action, the trio provides insightful analysis on player developments, team strategies, and the implications for the upcoming NBA season.

---

Setting the Scene: Live from Las Vegas (03:27)

Zena Keita opens the discussion by setting the stage in Las Vegas, highlighting the dynamic environment where first and second-round draft picks, along with fringe players, are showcasing their talents. She mentions the team's rigorous schedule:

Zena Keita [03:27]: "We're going to get into all of it on today's conversation."

---

Key Matchup Analysis: Cooper Flag vs. Dylan Harper (05:15 - 10:05)

A focal point of the episode is the intense matchup between Cooper Flag and Dylan Harper. Hosts provide a detailed breakdown of their performances and potential impacts.

Insights from Esfandiar Baraheni:

Esfandiar Baraheni [06:00]: "These guys think he's really going to shoot it. Cooper's confidence is evident, especially in his second game where he became extremely aggressive at taking shots off the dribble."

Baraheni shares his experience sitting with NBA scouts to gain deeper insights into Cooper Flag's development, emphasizing his improving shooting mechanics and confidence:

Baraheni [06:00]: "As soon as he figures that out, I think that's a shot that's going to consistently drop for him more often."

Dave DeFore on Dylan Harper:

Dave DeFore [07:15]: "Sometimes you can tell when a guy has more rhythm off the catch just because his base is a little bit better... he likes to have his feet really wide, and on a catch and shoot, it's much easier."

DeFore highlights Harper's versatility and defensive prowess, noting his ability to guard multiple positions and his potential as a multi-time All-Star:

DeFore [09:05]: "He has all of the physical tools and it's the defense for me that really drives the whole thing."

---

Standout Performances: Young Hansen and Carter Bryant (10:52 - 17:26)

The hosts shift focus to other notable players who have made significant impressions in the Summer League.

Young Hansen’s Emergence:

DeFore praises Young Hansen from the Portland Trailblazers for his playmaking and superstar potential:

DeFore [10:52]: "Young Hansen is now a superstar... his playmaking ability and his fun demeanor lend themselves to him being a superstar, especially in summer league settings."

Carter Bryant’s Defensive Excellence:

A significant portion is dedicated to Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs, lauding his defensive skills and maturity:

Esfandiar Baraheni [14:57]: "He's got an NBA body day one... his length and athleticism make him a formidable defender who can guard multiple positions."

Dave DeFore adds that Bryant fits seamlessly into the Spurs' defensive-oriented system and has the potential to evolve into an All-Defense player:

DeFore [16:21]: "He fits into the three and D mold and has the potential to be an all-defense level player once he gets better on the offensive end."

---

Underperformers and Concerns: Casperus Yakachonis and Khalil Ware (21:03 - 26:05)

The discussion takes a critical turn as the hosts address players who have struggled to meet expectations.

Casperus Yakachonis’ Inconsistency:

Zena Keita highlights Casperus Yakachonis’ fluctuating performances, questioning his consistency despite showing flashes of brilliance:

Keita [21:03]: "He had a 21-point performance over the weekend, but can he keep that up? Is this the end of his slump?"

Khalil Ware’s Professionalism Issues:

The conversation intensifies over Khalil Ware of the Miami Heat, whose performance has been under scrutiny following comments from Heat's coach Eric Spoelstra:

DeFore [22:37]: "Spoelstra criticized Ware's professionalism and consistency, which is concerning for a second-year player who should be proving he belongs in the NBA."

Baraheni underscores the rarity and severity of such public criticism:

Baraheni [24:11]: "Eric Spoelstra doesn't do that often... It's like your teacher calling your mom growing up. That's real bad."

---

Promising Second-Round Picks: Maxine Reynolds and Brooks Barnheiser (30:42 - 32:46)

The hosts shift focus to second-round picks who have shown potential to exceed their draft positions.

Maxine Reynolds’ Versatility:

DeFore advocates for Maxine Reynolds of the Sacramento Kings, emphasizing his ability to stretch the floor and defensive capabilities:

DeFore [30:52]: "Maxine Reynolds should have been a first-round pick. He can stretch the floor, defend multiple positions, and brings a unique skill set to the Kings."

Brooks Barnheiser’s Defensive Prowess:

Baraheni highlights Brooks Barnheiser’s impressive steal count:

Baraheni [32:27]: "Brooks Barnheiser has 13 steals in two summer league games, which is worth noting."

---

Fringe Players Deserving Attention: Cole Swider and Bronny James (32:46 - 37:48)

In the concluding segments, the hosts spotlight fringe and overlooked players who have the potential to secure NBA spots.

Cole Swider’s Solid Performance:

Baraheni endorses Cole Swider for his all-around game and adaptability:

Baraheni [33:19]: "Cole Swider is having a really good summer. I think he deserves a job and should get signed by somebody."

Bronny James’ Defensive Improvement:

DeFore champions Bronny James for his defensive contributions and athleticism:

DeFore [35:34]: "Bronny James is now an NBA player. He's been a very good defender here in summer league and can guard effectively on the court."

Zena Keita adds enthusiasm for Naquan Tomlin of the Cleveland Cavaliers, praising his rebounding and scoring efficiency:

Keita [37:12]: "Naquan Tomlin has gone 21 of 28 field goal attempts and grabbed 18 rebounds over two games. He's a motor on the floor and deserves more attention."

---

Conclusion and Final Thoughts (37:48 - 38:16)

As the episode wraps up, Zena Keita expresses excitement for future content and commends the hosts for their insightful analysis from the Las Vegas arena.

Zena Keita [38:16]: "Looking forward to more conversations. Enjoy Vegas and continue bringing us all the insights and intel from out in the desert."

---

Closing Remarks

The hosts sign off with a sense of anticipation for the remainder of the Summer League, emphasizing the importance of these performances in shaping the upcoming NBA season. They encourage listeners to stay tuned for more detailed analyses and updates as more games unfold in Las Vegas.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Esfandiar Baraheni [06:00]: "As soon as he figures that out, I think that's a shot that's going to consistently drop for him more often."
• Dave DeFore [07:15]: "He likes to have his feet really wide, and on a catch and shoot, it's much easier."
• Dave DeFore [16:21]: "He has the potential to be an all-defense level player once he gets better on the offensive end."
• Zena Keita [25:58]: "Our standards aren't going to change. He's getting stronger, gaining weight and learning how to be a pro."

---

This comprehensive overview captures the essence of the episode, providing listeners with a detailed understanding of the key discussions, player evaluations, and expert insights shared by the hosts of The Athletic NBA Daily.

Transcript

[Ad]

Do you own a business that's ready to thrive? It's time to let Intuit QuickBooks take things like unpaid invoices and tracking expenses off your plate so that you can take things to the next level. Intuit QuickBooks is a powerful, AI driven all in one business solution that can help with day to day tasks like invoicing expenses and taxes. QuickBooks can help you unlock the growth of your business so that you can get back to enjoying your business. Manage and grow your business all in one place. Intuit QuickBooks your way to money get 90% off for 3 months limited time only. Terms and conditions apply. Money Movement Services are provided by Intuit Payments Incorporated, licensed as a MONEY Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services.

[BetMGM Announcer]

As you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM. This season we'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a 1500 dollar first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code TheAthletic. Make your first deposit of at least $10. Place your first bet on any game and claim your voucher for a one year subscription to the Athletic. See betmgm.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C. mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem call 1-800- gambler available in the U.S. call 877-8-HOPE NY or text hopeny467-369 In New York, call 1-800-next step in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 Massachusetts 1-800-bets off in Iowa, 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help in Michigan, 1-800-981-0023 in Puerto Rico first bet offer for new customers only in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a $1,500 first bet offer on your first wager.

[Ad]

As a salesperson, the search for the right buyer or buying groups can feel like you're endlessly sifting through leads and hoping they're ready to buy. Thankfully, LinkedIn Sales Navigator is more than just a tool, it's your strategic style. Sales partner LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a sales intelligence platform that helps professionals effectively prospect and engage high value customers, drive higher revenue and increase sales performance. Sales Navigator helps you target the right buyers, surface key signals such as job changes or which accounts you should prioritize and shows you hidden allies that you can find those buyers that are most likely to convert. Whether you're looking for new clients or strengthening relationships of current accounts, LinkedIn Sales Navigator has new AI features designed to help sellers find the right people and get right to the right conversations, all at scale. Fueled by LinkedIn's 1 billion-member platform, Sales Navigator gives you the most up to date first party data, enabling you to unlock conversations with the people that matter. Ready to get right to the right conversations? Try LinkedIn Sales Navigator now with a 60 day free trial at LinkedIn.com NBashow23 that's LinkedIn.com NBashow23 for a 60 day free trial. Terms and conditions apply.

[Xena Kada]

Good morning and welcome to the NBA Daily for July 14, 2025. I am holding down the fort in California, but my guys esperahenney and Dave DeFore are in Vegas burning up with all the first rounders and second rounders and fringe guys. We're going to get into all of it on today's convers. All right, Dave. S live from your hotel rooms in Vegas.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Xena Kada]

Tell me the vibes. Are they as nice as they always been?

[Esperahenney]

We, we've got to say that S on his first night, waking up the next day with no sunglasses. That's the vibes. S s got a good night's sleep in Las Vegas.

[Dave DeFore]

I did.

[Esperahenney]

Smart move.

[Dave DeFore]

We played basketball yesterday. Shout out to the folks that we set up a basketball run with and that helped me have a great night's rest afterwards. I slept like a baby. It was great.

[Esperahenney]

Yeah.

[Xena Kada]

Oh, I bet. I bet. I know you were putting in some work just as much as some of these other guys have been put on work out on the courts obviously. And you guys have been there watching it all. First and foremost though, tell me about this setup that you guys have because you sent me the pic of the stage like it is so legit. Who stopped by? Who can we look forward to hearing from in the next few episodes?

[Esperahenney]

Oh man, we, you know what, we had a really great weekend putting together shows for next week with a lot of Sam Versini. So if you're into the draft and rookies like, you know, summer league vibes. So we got A lot of San Versini and, and also just we, we mix it up a little bit. I did a show with Alex and Andrew. We did a little bit of like off season review. It's going to be a fun week of stuff that we were able to do in person. You know, very lucky to kind of have this excuse to get together.

[Xena Kada]

Okay, I like it. I'm excited to hear. But first we actually have to get into the action because summer league actually happened this weekend. There are games going on. Every two seconds I look up. It's a random combination of teams going up against each other. But it's fun. Of course, the big matchup was Cooper flag. Dylan Harper facing off against each other. And I'll say shout out to the Cooper Flag fans that kept the faith. Anyone that kept the faith. Of course his first game, you know, lacked a little bit from the scoring department but he definitely made up for it in that second game. Dave, I'll start with you. I know you watch that game pretty closely. I want to hear both of you guys thoughts about that matchup specifically before we get into some of the awards we want to pass out for the first weekend.

[Esperahenney]

I, I actually was lucky. I sat with some NBA scouts to watch this game so I got a chance to pick their brains, you know, about Coop because you know, I'm catching up. I've seen lot of Cooper flag but not nearly enough as somebody like s that that heavily covers the draft. And so I get to look at this with fresh eyes. So I got some insight. I mean these guys think he's really going to shoot it. And I, I think that second game against the Spurs, I mean he was obviously very confident. I would even say the first game going 5 of 21, it wasn't like he went 2 of 7, right? Like 5 of 21 is a great sign. It means this guy's confident, makes he's making shots in practice. And then game two, it paid off. Right? Like you saw him be more comfortable, extremely aggressive at taking that shot off the dribble s And I was talking to again, I was talking to some NBA scouts and they think that that shot off the dribble is going to come for him. And right now, not to get too in the weeds on this, but right now he just doesn't cock his wrist enough on that pull up. As soon as he figures that out, I think that that's a shot that's going to consistently drop for him more often. Yeah, but he already, he looks great on catch and shoot. I was surprised by how, how good his shot.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, sometimes you can tell when a guy has more rhythm off the catch just because his base is a little bit better instead of when he's moving and he's on movement like in a.

[Esperahenney]

He likes to have his feet really wide.

[Dave DeFore]

Absolutely.

[Esperahenney]

And on, on a catch and shoot, it's much easier.

[Dave DeFore]

Totally. And I think to your point about the pick and roll situation, like the Mavs are going to put him in a lot of spots to be a ball handler. And we've seen that through the first two games. Yes, the first game was, was a little bit lackluster in the scoring department, but we saw his potential as this jumbo point forward type. I think we just saw that against San Antonio too. Even though he was facing a really aggressive defense with Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper, the ball pressure was relentless. And I thought the way that he contained himself in that moment was really impressive above all else.

[Esperahenney]

Gotta say, spurs summer league team crazy defensively is a problem.

[Ad]

Wow.

[Esperahenney]

They were incredible at their rotations. And again, that ball pressure, point of attack. I, I mean Dylan Harper, you saw bit of his length in that game. I thought Carter Bryant was incredible. Had that nice, you know, recovery block on Cooper fly.

[Dave DeFore]

Broke up the alley OOP too a little bit earlier in the game. So this is funny. You mentioned this a couple of years ago, the Rockets and you can't take too much away from summer league, but a couple of years ago it was Amen Thompson and Tari Eason in summer league with Jabari Smith Jr. And you're like, man, I can't wait to see this on an NBA court and how it will look defensively. You kind of think the same thing with the spurs right now too, with Carter Bronton and Dylan Harper. Just because those guys will be rotation players for the spurs eventually. How they factor into the defensive process and what San Antonio is trying to build. It looks special, especially just in the first couple games we've seen from them. Absolutely.

[Esperahenney]

Dylan Harper. Dylan Harper being able to guard like this and, and I would say being San Antonio's most natural point guard of the three guys, Stefan Castle, Darren Fox and Dylan Harper, I, I think that guy is gonna play big.

[Dave DeFore]

I mean, he was making some passes, man, the dimes that he was throwing.

[Esperahenney]

Threading the needle, finishing around the basket. He's incredible. He was incredibly impressive. I mean, the Cooper flag hype feels real. The Dylan Harper hype feels muted. I think that we should be much like hearing a lot more about this guy. I think he could be like a multi Time All Star. I mean, it's very funny to say that after watching a guy a little bit of tape and a little bit of summer league, but he has all of the physical tools and it's the defense for me that really drives the whole thing. If he can shoot it, he is going to be an amazing.

[Dave DeFore]

I think that's the swing skill. And honestly, if Cooper, if, if Cooper didn't reclassify. Sorry, Zena, but if Cooper didn't reclassify, he was the 100% favorite to be the number one pick in this draft. It just changed one once. Cooper was a possibility. And we as NBA fans are enamored with the wing types.

[Esperahenney]

Right.

[Dave DeFore]

But the, the size, the physicality that Dylan has point of attack, it's so evident even in a summer league setting.

[Esperahenney]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

All right.

[Xena Kada]

I think you guys broke down those two really well. Of course, the spurs ended up winning that game. 76, 69. I'm looking at Dylan Harper. He couldn't shoot his outside shot as well. He went over four from his three point line. But I like the shots he was taking. I think it was incredibly encouraging from a Cooper flag perspective to have a, a struggling night offensively and to bounce back. I think that was probably the most encouraging aspect to come out, shake that and then deliver a dominant performance. Now we, you also mentioned, you know, Carter Bryant, there were a few other first rounders in that game across the weekend. You know, looking across the board at the first round picks and the way that they performed this weekend. Who had the most encouraging performance to you guys?

[Dave DeFore]

Man, I, I kind of want to cheat on this and make multiple choices because there's so many options that we could do. But I feel like Dave is going to want to talk about Carter Bryant, so I'm, I'll let him cook on Carter Bryant. How about Young Hansen? Man, the Portland look Chinese Yic. Let's lean into the fact that he is now a superstar. He has been the talk of the town here in Vegas. Everybody is talking about, hey, did you see Young Hansen? Did you see the playmaking ability? Did you see him pop even some of the post game quotes where he's like, hey, what are you doing after this? I'm going to sleep, I'm eating food and then I'll play my PS5? You know, he, he has this fun demeanor to him that I think lends itself to him being a superstar, especially in summer league settings. And also he can play, man, he's very crafty.

[Esperahenney]

He can really incredible feel for the.

[Dave DeFore]

Game finishes around the Basket. Well, the passes that he made in both of his games so far were really impressive. I'm all in on Chinese Jokic. Why not?

[Esperahenney]

I will say this. There's stuff that you pick up, right, being in the arena and seeing these guys. And for him, it was his communication skills. Number one call, he comes out of the gate, he. He gets his own opening tip, right? So he tips the ball back, gets. Gets his own rebound on that. And then first offensive possession, he's pointing to the guys to go where they need to go on the court. And he calls a pin down screen for himself to go into a DHO series. The guy finishes the game with five assists. When was the last time a center had five assists in summer league? And then he had six fouls, which is a great sign to me that he's going to compete inside. Yeah, I. There was not a single negative that I could take away from his game. Nothing. He was directing traffic on both ends, defense and offense. I think when you communicate like that, you clearly understand the game at a different level. He's got feel and he's got touch. Donovan Kling is going to be his backup. That's. Wow. I'm just saying, like, wow. Donovan Clingan is going to wind up his backup. He's too good. You have to play him to see what you got.

[Dave DeFore]

I agree with.

[Esperahenney]

I just think he has to feel is there.

[Dave DeFore]

I agree that he has to. To play.

[Esperahenney]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Xena Kada]

He's. He's a really good offensive hub for the Portland Trailblazers in ways that Donovan Cleveland is not. Interestingly enough, they have a similar height. But again, as you mentioned, he had five assists against Golden State. I think he had three assists against Memphis. Like, this is his element of his game that I think Donovan Clingan doesn't quite have. Donovan is a great screener. He's a great person to have as a body in the, you know, handoff series.

[Dave DeFore]

Great rim protector, too.

[Xena Kada]

He's not someone. He's a great rim protector offensively. I mean, like, he's. He's great to have in those positions in which he can be an asset to the guards. But Hanson definitely felt as if he was someone that was. He could be an. Like, people could be assets to him. Right. He could set up situations in which he could be assets to others and people could be assets to him. And that makes him dangerous offensively because you don't know in those situations, you don't know how to guard that. Right. Who do we prioritize in this situation? And so I think that's what makes him very uniquely positioned to. To, you know, what Dave was saying. I actually thought that too. When I watched him against Golden State. I was like, I could see this guy starting and you know, to remind everyone he was the 16th pick, everyone thought people, you know, the Portland Trailblazers were wild. They laughed at him for choosing him so early. Yeah, they laughed at them. And now clearly the scouts did their job, you know, in Portland and they're making. They're making them look like they're geniuses up in Portland. So I like that pick. Very encouraging one. I do want to get to Carter Bryant though, too, because I loved. It was like Greg Popovich's spirit was just exuding through the entire spurs bench, spurs players, but specifically through Carter Bryant. The maturity, the communication, the tenacity, everything about him felt so much more elevated than the typical rookie coming in these days. What did you like about him, Dave?

[Esperahenney]

I mean, I'll start with the athleticism. I think that that's the first thing you see. Number one. He's got an NBA body day one.

[Xena Kada]

Yeah.

[Esperahenney]

And that's huge. Like, he is ready to go now. I don't think that offensively he's where he needs to be to be a rotation piece day one, but the defense is going to get him on the court and get him opportunities. His length is, I mean, you can look at him in physically, you can see, okay, this guy has length, he has size, he's. I mean, he looks like an athlete. You know, he looks like a, like an NFL tight end almost. And some of the stuff that he was able to do defensively. I mentioned the recovery block that he had on Cooper flag. I think this guy is going to be able to guard maybe 1 through 4 in the NBA and also provide some rim protection. That's really unique. And so if, you know, again, this is a team that's building toward the future, but there's a world in which they need to stop and they go to a lineup that's got Carter Bryant in it. I think that, like, he is that level of defender already and he's joining a team that values defense. So he's going to get a shot if, if his three from the corner can just drop right. If he can get those shots up and. And he can hit 35% game changer. And that guy, I mean, the spurs defense is going to be scary anyway. You throw that guy in the mix, we're talking. This is going to maybe be top three defense. I mean, the Thunder are going to have a lot of pressure to be the best defense in the league.

[Dave DeFore]

I'll just say one more thing about Carter Bryant. He was my favorite, maybe second favorite prospect in this draft just because of how, how much he fits into the three and D mold and like the defense really like he has the potential to be an all defense level player eventually once he physically gets better on the offensive end. I actually really believe in the offense too. He needs to be set up more and that's why summer league isn't necessarily the best infrastructure for him. Those type of guys don't necessarily thrive off the ball. Yeah, there's some examples of that that we can point to, but Carter's right now in a position where he's probably more of a catch and shoot guy. Can attack closeouts eventually, but the defense is going to get a minutes to Dave's point. And if you're doing that for San Antonio, who, who truthfully needs some wing defenders around their guards and their center, big time, massive win from them from the draft.

[Xena Kada]

Yeah, I feel like he's a little bit more of a developed and coordinated Jeremy Sohan and I, I just, I don't know. That's what I feel about it. That's why I look at it.

[Esperahenney]

Shots fired at Jeremy Sohan.

[Xena Kada]

I mean, I love Jeremy Sohan. He's so, he is so athletic. But I just feel like sometimes you don't know what's happening out there on the floor. And that's why I was like, I.

[Esperahenney]

Can see he's a wild card.

[Xena Kada]

Yeah, he can be a wild card sometimes. And so I can see Carter Bryant being a little bit more of a rigid kind of, we know what we're expecting out there and the spurs probably tapping him a little bit sooner than we might expect. All right, let's take a break. Not everyone had the best summer league experiences. Let's talk about that right after this.

[Ad]

Are you a business owner looking to grow your business? You did what most dream of doing, start your own business. And now you're faced with the reality of how to make your small business run smoothly. Intuit QuickBooks can help. QuickBooks is a powerful, AI driven, all in one business solution. That means those day to day tasks, invoicing, expenses, taxes, can be done effortlessly. But here's where it gets really good. You don't need to hire a team of analysts to find growth opportunities hiding in your business data. QuickBooks can help with cash flow optimization, profit and loss analysis. It helps you see how your business is doing and uncover new ways to be more profitable QuickBooks can help you unlock the growth of your business so that you can get back to enjoying your business. Manage and grow your business all in one place. Intuit QuickBooks your way to money. Get 90% off for 3 months. Limited time only. Terms and conditions apply. Money movement services are provided by Intuit Payments Incorporated, licensed as a money transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services Services.

[Gab Announcer]

The youth mental health crisis is growing and social media is a major driver. Kids are spending up to nine hours a day on screens, often unsupervised. And studies show a direct link to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. That's where GAB comes in. GAB offers safe phones and watches with no Internet or social media. Just the right tech at the right time. From smart watches for young kids to advanced parent managed phones for teens. Gab keeps kids connected safely. Gab.com getgab and use code getgab for a special offer. That's G A B-B.com getgab Gab tech in steps. Independence for them, Peace of mind for parents.

[Esperahenney]

This is car tracks with Turtle Wax. Your car says a lot about you. So if we asked your car what it would say about you, what would it say? Listen, you dropped one of those tiny cheeseburgers under the seat like last week and now we're both dry heaving at the stench. Do us a favor, grab some Turtle Wax and let's get to work. This has been car tracks with Turtle Wax. You are how you car.

[Xena Kada]

While S has found his sunglasses, there are some players that have not quite found their rhythm at summer league just yet. And you know, Jesse Raphael sunglasses, they're great. I like the gradient. Okay, for those of you that cannot see this, the shapes of these sunglasses are purple hue. There's a nice little purple hue gradient there. Okay. Very circa early 2000s. And I like it and I'm not mad about it.

[Dave DeFore]

Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

[Xena Kada]

Let's get into some of the Claires, guys. Focus up, focus up. That's good. Dave. Let's get back into the players that, you know, have struggled a little bit. I watched a lot of the California Classic. Of course, I was able to do some analysis on that. And there was one player that stood out to me and that was Casperus Yakachonis really struggled throughout the California Classic, but then popped during his game in the summer league. And you could see there's. That was a little bit of a concern in terms of his consistency. He struggled to shoot from outside and that was kind of like his bread and Butter. As a draft prospect, he still pushed the ball. I like the way that he was aggressive in transition. I like the way he was aggressive on defense. But right now I think a lot of people are having concerns about, okay, he had a 21 point performance, I believe over the weekend and it's like, all right, can he keep that up? Is this the slump? Is the slump over? Can he keep that up? I am of the mind that yes, he, he can, I think. But that was the one that kind of was glaring for me of like, okay, what's going to happen with this young man? But I feel like there were some others throughout the weekend that you guys may have had an eye on in terms of first round picks that were a little bit discouraging from their performance.

[Dave DeFore]

I'm going to cheat here and list a second year player because.

[Xena Kada]

Sure.

[Dave DeFore]

And I'm going to actually, because I think you, you brought up the Miami Heat and I want to bring this guy, please. It's very interesting to me because of the.

[Esperahenney]

He's on my list.

[Dave DeFore]

Okay, cool. Because yeah, he is worried about Khalil, where's unprofessionalism or he said that he needs to work on his professionalism. He had 10 points and six rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks in his summer league game. Didn't play in the California Classic for the Heat. And I think it's worth noting how good Khalil Ware was in his rookie year. We talked about it ad nauseam of like how dominant he looked, how perfect he is in the front court for Bam Adebayo as a guy who can stretch the floor, good rim protector, etc. Etc. Eric Spol Soldier basically said like he has all the talent in the world. How can he harness that talent? And to me what's discouraging about this is if you're a second year player who was near the top of your rookie class in your rookie year, you need to come out and show that you do not belong in summer league anymore. You need to dominate and that there's no point in you playing your second game or your third game. So that's why just the whole weekend for Khalel was kind of discouraging for me.

[Esperahenney]

I mean, Eric Spoelstra doesn't do this a lot.

[Xena Kada]

I do want to say that he did play in one game at the California Classic. He didn't play in the last game that I analyzed. But. But yeah, so. And we never got clarity as to why. We figured maybe he was shut down in preparation for summer league and you know you're right and you're right and you shutting him down and then he comes out and has kind of average performance for a second year player. That was, you know, I can see your point in terms of like, that's definitely not what you want to expect out of a second player on top of other elements of his game off the court. Sorry.

[Esperahenney]

Right.

[Dave DeFore]

It only gets heightened because of what Spo said. I would have, it would have maybe gone under, swept under the rug. But because of that comment, you're like, hm, okay, what's going on here then?

[Esperahenney]

Eric SP doesn't do that often.

[Xena Kada]

Exactly.

[Esperahenney]

Think about how long it took for him to criticize Jimmy Butler when all of that stuff was happening. And part of that is you got to keep the peace. And Khalil Ware is not Jimmy Butler. And you can criticize him all you want, you know, but it was, it was striking to me that Sposra went out of his way. It was like he was waiting to talk about him.

[Dave DeFore]

Absolutely.

[Esperahenney]

That is bad. I mean, that is like, you know, when your, your teacher calls your mom growing up and that's real bad. Like, we've gotten to a point where you're being publicly called out at summer league. Yeah.

[Xena Kada]

Yeah.

[Esperahenney]

I'm starting to think, is Khalil Ware in the rotation when we get to training camp and preseason now they're going to probably have to do it because of just talent.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, he's a talented player, but I.

[Esperahenney]

Don'T, I don't think there's a guarantee that he's going to start. And I think that if the season was starting now, he definitely isn't. They don't have to start him. Norm Powell changed it for him.

[Xena Kada]

That's a good point. The exact quote was, the professionalism and consistency has to improve and it is. Our standards aren't going to change. He's getting stronger, gaining weight and learning how to be a pro, but he's got to take ownership of it and the other stuff will come along with that. I think that's a very fair point to call out cl where, especially when you look at, alongside him, Pel? Larsson, who's had a great summer league so far and showcasing his growth. And that's what you want to see in your second year players. Every single one of these players that are playing in summer league right now, you're not there to actually go to the chip. You're not there to actually get a summer league title for your organization. You are there to show that you are on track, that you do not.

[Dave DeFore]

Belong in summer league anymore. Like that I'm not supposed to be here anymore. That's the point. And it is concerning.

[Esperahenney]

The Hornets are 2 0, right? Culture change, guys. It starts at summer league. We are high on the Hornets, right? Like, they don't tell them not to win summer league. It's important they get rings for this.

[Xena Kada]

I like the, the cheat here, though, as I like the cheat from, you know, players that aren't performing the way they. We can do first rounders, we could do second rounders, or we could do second year guys. Because I do think if you're really going to assess anything at summer league, you absolutely can look at, you know, the recent draft picks and say, oh, okay, we'll see, et cetera. That's cool. Whatever they're doing right now, they're going to develop, they're going to get in the weight room, they're going to get reps, all the above. It's really the second year guys that you're looking at and saying, what have you been doing this off season? What have you learned in the first year in your NBA career? And, you know, where are you at, Dave? I'm gonna, I'm gonna open up to you any second year guys that you're like, okay, you are on the right track and. Or you're a player that's making you go. You might be fighting for some minutes on the bench this year.

[Esperahenney]

You know, I think I'll jump into a guy who disappointed a little bit last year. Part of his opportunity, right? The Rockets really deep. But, man, Reed shepherd had a great game the other day, put up 28, had eight rebounds, which is kind of incredible for a guy his size tells me that, yes, some of that physicality, that, that was maybe a little bit too much for him last year. Looks like he's been in the weight room a little bit, doing some stuff. Had four steals. The shooting, though, that's the stuff that we were looking to see last season. You know, he had that one really great G league game that I think we all watched at least the highlights of. And it. This is what he looked like in that. I mean, I thought he looked like the best player on the court. And it was more in line with what I anticipated seeing in spurts last season. You know, again, opportunity, right? He's out here, he's got the ball in his hands. They're telling him to run things. Yeah, but it's, it's a pretty encouraging sign that he, he looked so dominant actually in that game. I mean, because, you know, it's not like these guys don't know who he is. You know, they're out there trying to shut him down. And I think the put, put up those kind of numbers. This, that says something there.

[Dave DeFore]

There also seems to be a kind of emphasis from the Rockets front office that hey, this guy's going to get playing time this year. Like Rafael Stone has mentioned that email. Doka has mentioned that. Like we're going to rely on this guy to be a backup point guard for us. He needs to be able to play and play well. And so I think that pressure, it, it just doubles in terms of what the importance is for Reed in summer league. One guy who's been playing kind of impressive. Also another point guard, Devin Carter for the Sacramento Kings. So the Kings have been looking for a point guard. They obviously signed Dennis Schroeder and you know, they're going through the motions of figuring out how to work this team around Sabonis and we'll, we'll see what happens with the, you know, Zach Levine and DeMar DeRozan situation. But Devin Carter didn't get a long run in a rookie season. He got hurt. So he came in late. He was awesome. Against the Bulls, 30 points, eight rebounds, three assists, knock down five threes. The three point shooting was massive for him and I think if he can be that type of player for them, maybe they found their solution at the point guard spot with Devin Carter.

[Xena Kada]

Ooh, I actually really like that pick as well. Shout out to point guards and undersized point guards being able to showcase that they're still valuable. I feel like that there's a conversation that was floating around social media. I believe that was on mind the game around size of point guards and if you can make an impact. I feel like the point guards heard that and took it personally, especially at summer league. I think that for me, in terms of second round player that I was, excuse me, second year player that I was kind of expecting a little bit more out of Cody Williams from the Utah Jazz. And I really was looking at that game, obviously looking for Ace Bailey, but I'm looking at him and I'm just kind of like even though he is scoring, like scoring is happening, I feel like he's not impacting the game as much as he possibly could be, especially at his size. I don't know, I just feel like with what the Utah Jazz need and this is supposed to be kind of like their version of the two timeline, they are fully on that new timeline and Cody Williams is supposed to be a Part of that trajectory up. I've just been kind of like meh about him. That was definitely my takeaway there. And then in terms of a second round pick, I want to ask you guys, any second round picks that you thought should have been first round picks. And as I think we're on the same page here, mine's around the Phoenix Suns. Are you on the same page as me?

[Dave DeFore]

Oh no, my. Mine was not going to be a Phoenix sun. But. But go for it. I'm curious because I have another Sacramento King for this Maxime Reyno.

[Xena Kada]

I. I thought he probably had the opportunity.

[Dave DeFore]

So like he was, he was near the top of the second round so rightfully could have fallen into the first round if someone was really interested in him. But I think he's shown that he can stretch the floor which is important for a big next two Sabonis if he eventually plays 16 and 6 versus Orlando. Had 17, 5 and 2 against Chicago. Good defensive player from what I've seen. Crafty. Another guy who has a high feel for the game. If he can play for them next year, I think he brings kind of a unique skill set that the Kings just don't have from their front court spot. So Maxine Reynolds, that's my guy. Should have been a first round.

[Xena Kada]

Okay. I should have, I should have maybe known that or at least maybe thought of him coming from State.

[Dave DeFore]

Who's your, who's your Phoenix Suns guy?

[Xena Kada]

Kobe bra, number 41, Kobe Braya. In that like first sons game. I first and foremost, like super efficient from the floor. Love the spots that he was taking, taking and he kept hitting big shots throughout the game. Like he kept hitting shots at the end of the buzzers or late in the shot clocks when they needed a score. I thought he had great poise. I thought he shot well. And I don't know, I'm looking right now and I'm looking at what Phoenix needs in terms of shooting and I'm like, all right, let's go Kobe. I actually think that he probably could have been a late first rounder. I don't know who I would push out of the space to, you know, replace him with, but after seeing what he was doing in that first, first outing, I'm pretty impressed. Dave, any second round picks that you thought could have been in the first.

[Esperahenney]

I don't know about that, but Brooks Barnheiser has 13 steals in two summer league games. I feel like that's at least worth noting. I didn't see a single one of them to be fair. Yeah, but he's got 13 and two games, so I think that that's worth at least keeping an eye on.

[Xena Kada]

Okay. All right, well, let's close this out. It is summer league. It's summer league, and let's close this out because we always got to give some love to folks that, you know, maybe the spotlight isn't shining on them as much. Who is a fringe player that you believe deserves a shot in the NBA? Not a. Doesn't have to be a recent draft pick. Doesn't have to be a. A former NBA player. It can be someone that's just spent a lot of time in the G League or just kind of shown up on the radar. Who is someone that you think deserves some time.

[Esperahenney]

How about your guy, Cole Swider? He's had, I was thinking, really nice summer so far. I know I picked on you a little bit when you brought up Cole Swider, and I actually now am like, you know what? Xena's right. I think Cole Swider, I think he deserves a job.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Esperahenney]

You know, I think he's having a really good summer. I'd like to see him get signed by somebody out of this. You know, I think that that's my guy.

[Dave DeFore]

This guy. I mean, I agree with Cole Swatter.

[Esperahenney]

I.

[Dave DeFore]

It was funny. We were kind of joking about it with Xena, but he actually can really.

[Esperahenney]

But he's been really. He can really hoop.

[Xena Kada]

He's been really good. He's 6, 8, could score the ball wherever he can shoot outside. He could break. He can lead your break. I mean, he's just a little slower. That's all. That's. You know, I'm. I'm happy you guys are validating me on that one. Another person that I saw at the Classic that I'm also. And I'm still seeing show up, and he was showing up against. In the. In the Dylan Harper Cooper flag matchup. David Jones, Garcia, man.

[Dave DeFore]

Oh, yeah.

[Xena Kada]

I like that guy. He is so athletic. And he's got a crazy. He's got a crazy ability to control a game and not in a way that it swallows. Like, it's just him by himself. He can get his teammates involved, but in the case that they need a bucket in a case that they need a score, he can be that person to put the ball on the deck and go. He can get to the foul line, but he can also facilitate from that. He's a good defender. I believe there is a job for him. There is a comfy seat somewhere on someone's roster.

[Dave DeFore]

Zena, your. Your experience in The G League H has given you a trained eye in this situation. You know, you can recognize the talent.

[Esperahenney]

Hey, I just want to, I just want to say he was infuriating for me because why are you dribbling that many times?

[Xena Kada]

It's the, you don't do fair.

[Esperahenney]

You don't do between your legs six times at the top of the key. It's not, it's, you know, and, and you play for the Spurs. That's not my expectation. But you to your point, Xena, I thought his athleticism, like it's pretty obvious he's an NBA athlete.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, for sure.

[Esperahenney]

Defensively he was getting to the basket, but man, we got to cut 0.5 decision making. That's, that's the notebook I need him to write right now. Like he needs to be working on that. But yeah, yeah. Great athlete though.

[Dave DeFore]

I'm going to give one shout to a guy who, because you opened this up by saying someone who doesn't have the spotlight, this player absolute has the spotlight. But a lot of people have said that, you know, including Jaylen Brown has said that they don't think he might be an NBA player. Bronnie James.

[Esperahenney]

Yes.

[Dave DeFore]

Oh yeah, is an NBA player.

[Esperahenney]

Yes, he is.

[Dave DeFore]

He's been a very good defender here in summer league. Did a great job against Cooper Flag. Offensively looks more adept, can get to a spot. I mean, obviously he's not going to be asked to create at the NBA level, but is able to do things offensively on the court that's effective for you. Really solid defender at the point of attack. Bronny James is now an NBA player.

[Esperahenney]

The athleticism is there.

[Dave DeFore]

Yes.

[Esperahenney]

And in a way that it wasn't a year ago. And again, I, I, I probably am, am bad about this too, but it's very easy to forget that this kid had, you know, at heart issue in, in college and he's only like two years removed from that. Yeah, he looks really healthy right now. He had that dunk, you know, in the early summer league game. I think it was it in Salt Lake City, but he had that dunk where he at the Classic.

[Xena Kada]

It was crazy.

[Esperahenney]

Okay, so it was at the Classic. Took, took off from the circle. The guy's 6162 at best. And I mean he really just pops now when you watch him jump and, and move around the way he held up when Cooper Flag was trying, trying to back him down and actually by the way, I think that was a bad foul call. I, I think that that was a clean pick. I agree. You got to let the, the guards compete there. But yeah, I think that's got. He, he's going to get minutes for the Lakers. He's going to play, play. He can really guard.

[Xena Kada]

I feel like there's like a LeBron through line here because my last one that I want to give just a little bit of love to Naquan Tomlin for the Cleveland Cavaliers has gone 21 of 28 field goal attempts. But I don't, don't get me wrong, it's summer league, so scoring is not it. But I love the fact that he's also gotten 18 rebounds over two games.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, he's good.

[Xena Kada]

He can hoop sort of motor. He can hoop. He's got a motor on him. I just, I'm hoping scouts listen to this and they can just be like, you know what, let me, let me pencil in the Cavs as well. Hey, maybe we're giving them an opportunity here.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, you never know.

[Esperahenney]

They're gonna steal your ideas.

[Xena Kada]

I heard they do. I heard they do. Okay, guys, I, we're about to close it out. There's games going on right now. I just got a notification that Kobe Braya just did something else. So shout out to my guy. I don't know what he did, but I'm going to be catching up with them. Looking forward to more conversations.

[Esperahenney]

Thompson, who's also having a great summer.

[Xena Kada]

And Donovan Mitchell who just got engaged. Right? That's an act too.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Xena Kada]

Okay, yeah, Mitchell just got engaged. Klay Thompson just hard launched. You know that is not the business that we're in here, folks. But shout out to shooters shooting. All right, that's enough for the NBA Daily. I am excited for all the content that is to come. Guys, enjoy Vegas. Continue to bring us all the insights, site and intel from out in the desert. On behalf of best bear Henny, Dave Defour and the Athletic, I'm Xena Kada. Appreciate you guys listening. Have a great one.

[Esperahenney]

If you're alignment in charge of keeping the lights on, Grainger understands that you go to great lengths and sometimes heights to ensure the power is always flowing. Which is why you can count on Grainger for professional grade project products and next day delivery. So you have everything you need to get the job done. Call 1-800-granger clickgranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.

[Gab Announcer]

If you're an experienced pet owner, you already know that having a pet is 25 belly rubs, 25% yelling drop it. And 50% groaning at the bill from every vet visit. It which is why Lemonade Pet Insurance is tailor made for your pet and can save you up to 90% on vet bills. It can help cover checkups, emergencies, diagnostics, basically all the stuff that makes your bank account nervous. Claims are filed super easily through the Lemonade app and half get settled instantly. Get a'@lemonade.com pet and they'll help cover the vet bill for whatever your pet swallowed after you yelled drop it.

[Xena Kada]

Skincare routines felt overwhelming until I found Panoxyl. With breakout fighting tools like the best selling foaming wash with 10% benzoyl peroxide, pimple patches and Acne Fighting Body Spray, Panoxyl makes a difference I can see and feel. Dermatologists recommended and trusted for over 50 years, it's clear why Penoxyl is the acne authority. Find your clear skin [e-mail] or on Amazon.