NBA Summer League Notes: Detroit Pistons Standouts Plus Expectations With LeBron In Philly

Now that the Summer League is complete, it is a pertinent time to comb through the five-game stretch to determine which performances are indicative of future success and playing time and which efforts did not reveal too much about a prospective player. 

For Pistons rookie point guard Ebuka Okorie, the former Stanford Cardinal performed admirably by averaging nearly 20 points per game and reaching the paint seemingly whenever he wanted to, but that display should not come as a massive surprise considering what he put on tape in college. While it’s true that Okorie looked quick, determined and aggressive as a scorer, he still needs time to adjust to the physicality of professional hoops, which made the Summer League a perfect venue for the newcomer. At times, Okorie struggled to shoot efficiently, but the situation he was placed in with some fringe NBA players is not too dissimilar from that which he experienced at Stanford, so it should not jump off the page as a major cause for concern for the confident, talented 19-year old. 

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As for Chaz Lanier and Isaac Jones, both players looked both comfortable and productive in the Las Vegas setting. Lanier showcased a quick, fluid release and hit three-pointers at over a 50% rate in multiple games, and Jones posted a double-double by scoring and cleaning the glass at an NBA level. While it’s unclear how much either athlete will play for the Pistons with so many established pieces ahead of them on the depth chart, it is apparent that Detroit can rely on either of them in a pinch if need be. 

“Chaz Lanier and Isaac Jones showed what veterans should do at Summer League by putting up good runs,” Spotrac’s Keith Smith wrote. “Lanier shot great, while Jones worked well on the glass and on defense. Maybe neither becomes a rotation guy, but Detroit hasn’t been afraid to go deep into their bench for minutes. Don’t be surprised if either player emerges at some point.”

NBA Summer League: Detroit Pistons’ Okorie, Onyenso Showcase Defensive QualityThe Detroit Pistons’ rookies both put their defensive tools on display during the five-game Summer League series out in Las Vegas

The purpose of the Summer League is for NBA teams to see what they have, and the trio of Okorie, Lanier and Jones look like quality players who can contribute when called upon for the Pistons in the upcoming regular season, but training camp and pre-season will provide an even better snapshot of where they’re at. 

LeBron Chooses The 76ers

Yesterday, the basketball world was abuzz with the news that the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, will be taking his talents to the City for Brotherly Love. Now with the Philadelphia 76ers, James will complete a starting lineup that can go toe-to-toe with any five-man group in the NBA. 

Now, there are a few questions that will need to be answered such as how he fits into a lineup with VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt, Jaylen Brown on the wing and Joel Embiid at the five, but James is the perfect player in the sense that he has the hoops know-how to improve any lineup. His physical ability would give Philly the option to use James at the four on a regular basis, and his playmaking ability should give the 76ers an extra dynamic layer in the frontcourt that other teams would struggle to replicate from a more traditional power forward. 

The Pistons will have a lot of competition in their pursuit of obtaining the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive year, and the 76ers are chiefly among the squads who could take that honor from Detroit with their superstar-infused lineup. 

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