With a roster highlighted by 2015 No. 2 overall draft pick D’Angelo Russell, 2014 No. 7 pick Julius Randle and a returning member of the All-Rookie First Team — Jordan Clarkson — the Lakers Summer League team has its sights set on a title in Las Vegas.
However, Summer League head coach Mark Madsen sees more to this tournament than just a trophy.
“The goal is to win the championship,” Madsen said, “but the main goal is to prepare these players, (like) D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle — whose season was cut drastically short last year because of that leg injury. To allow Tarik Black to expand his game. To work on post moves for him; to work on running the floor and finishing over taller defenders.”
This first taste of the NBA promises to be especially valuable for Russell and his fellow draft picks, Anthony Brown and Larry Nance, Jr. It also holds the same benefits for the roster’s other rookies — Will Davis II, Xavier Munford and Robert Upshaw — as they try to find a spot on a team for training camp.
“I remember coming in as a rookie,” Madsen said. “No matter how much conditioning you do (or) how prepared you think you are to come in and play Summer League, it’s always a shock to your system. And we’ve seen that with a couple guys. But the thing I’m happy about is when there is a really hard, exhausting drill (or) somebody cramping up, everybody deals with the adversity, and they get back there on the court ready to learn, play and carry out whatever Byron (Scott) has scheduled for the day.”
Among the leaders of this group have been Russell and Clarkson, who will split the ballhandling duties for L.A. In Madsen’s eyes, the duo has plenty to show off at Summer League.
“It’s looked like they have a nice synergy and a nice understanding of how to share the basketball and the point guard responsibilities (and) really how to find each other on the court,” he said. “(Tuesday), there were times when it was clear they were looking for each other to help get each other going.”
As for himself, being at the reigns of the Summer League squad gives Madsen the chance to show his talent as a game-managing coach. But he doesn’t see it that way.
“This is a job and a responsibility that Byron has entrusted with me,” he said. “This is all about the team. This is all about the organization. My goal is to do my very best. This game is always about players. And I’m saying from D’Angelo to Julius to the last man on the team; I want to put every one of these players in a position to succeed within a framework of one goal: to win every game.
“And so if we can do that, then it’s good for the players, it’s good for the organization, and ultimately it gives us momentum going into next season. This game is all team, and we have a great team of players, coaches and staff. Hopefully we’ll have some fun, and hopefully we’ll win some games.”
Madsen's Roster Breakdown
Tarik Black: “Tarik is a great leader. Tarik is vocal. Tarik is someone who, in the right way, challenges his teammates. In the right way, he challenges the staff. He asks excellent questions. He has a brilliant mind. He has the ability to be rugged on the inside and throw people around in the paint, and he can also run. When it’s time to be a tow truck, he can be a tow truck. When it’s time to be a Ferrari, he can be a Ferrari. And the biggest thing is he cleans up every rebound. Tarik’s outside shot continues to develop every day. He can shoot and make the jump hook with either hand.”
Anthony Brown: “Anthony Brown is an excellent spot-up shooter, very locked in and aware of exactly what is trying to be accomplished on offense and on defense. Anthony can finish at the rim. Anthony is a tremendous defender. I believe Anthony can defend twos, threes and some four-men.”
Jabari Brown: “Jabari Brown is a tremendous shooter. He’s a physically imposing player, and he’ s a guy who has the unique ability to drive so hard to the basket that the defense is forced to foul him. Jabari brings a level of toughness. Being from Oakland, there’s a level of work ethic. There’s a level of toughness. There’s a level of leadership that comes with that.”
Dwight Buycks: “Dwight has been gone for the Summer League thus far, but I know Dwight because he was on our team last year. Dwight is an explosive scorer. He can hit the open man. He has a very nice jump shot. Dwight went through a personal loss, and he’s been attending a funeral. So we grieve with him, we support him and we’re excited to get him back on the team.”
Jordan Clarkson: “The level of work that Jordan has put in over this last year is absolutely incredible, and it’s paying dividends. Monday after practice, he stayed late and would not leave the court until he finished his shooting progression. His legs were dead. That type of meticulous hunger to improve is something that has taken Jordan Clarkson to the level that he is right now.”
Will Davis II: “Will Davis is a smart player, a runner, someone who has a true go-to shot in his jump hook — and we saw that already in various practice sessions. When you teach Will something, he learns it the first time, and he is extremely coachable. Will battles inside in the paint. Will is vocal on defense, and yet he’s not a flamboyant person or player. He lets his play do the talking.”
Tony Mitchell: “Tony oozes confidence. Tony is someone who has excellent range on his shot. He can nail the 3. He can put the ball down. And he’s a worker. Anytime that you’ve spent time in the D-League or have become the MVP of a European league, there’s a presence there that’s a love and passion for the game to travel overseas.”
Xavier Munford: “A silent assassin. Xavier at the point guard can pull up and nail a 3 off the dribble. He can take the ball inside using the Eurostep and a variety of different finishes: high off the glass, spinning the ball different ways. Xavier is someone who can organize a team, lead a team and get everyone in the right position.”
Larry Nance, Jr.: “Larry Nance is always trying to get better. He’s always asking vocal questions to the staff and to Byron (Scott) to better understand how he can expand his game. He attacks the game with a ferocity and with an explosiveness. He’s a very capable shooter. If anything, I would like to see him expand and use his jump shot even more, because he’s an excellent shooter.”
Julius Randle: “Julius Randle has done a great job of being consistent over the summer. Last year at this time in the Summer League scenario, he wasn’t even practicing with the team, and that was because there was a contract situation that had not yet been finalized. Where Julius is right now today compared to last year is night and day. The fans are gonna be really excited to see how he has changed his body. He’s lost about 15 pounds.
"... And the thing that I also like that Julius has done a good job of is being an extension of Byron Scott on the court. So Julius is now telling guys where to go, helping guys with defensive rotations, because he’s a really smart player and has that ability to see what’s happening on the court and then communicate it to his teammate. Every player that plays the game of basketball is different. Some players are always communicating, but they’re communicating the wrong things or they may not know the defensive scheme. Or other players know it, but they don’t say it. So it’s nice that Julius knows it (and) he’s vocal enough to say it.”
D’Angelo Russell: “So far what I can tell people about D’Angelo Russell is that he has an unbelievable gift to pass the basketball. I think that, as he plays more and more in the Summer League and NBA level, that gift will continue to expand and grow and flourish. Every great point guard does it in a different way. Magic Johnson had the one-handed passes and the no-look passes going. D’Angelo sees angles. He sees where defenses are moving, and then he’s able to exploit the rotations. D’Angelo loves to get people wide-open layups, wide-open dunks and wide-open 3-point shots. We’ve seen that.
"His mid-range jumper is very good. He hits some 3’s. Anytime a college player comes up to the NBA, they have to adjust from a college 3-point line, which is a little closer than an NBA 3-point line, and he’s doing a nice job about that. I think the fans are going to be excited about D’Angelo. I think D’Angelo himself will be excited to get out there and start integrating himself at this level.”
Robert Upshaw: “Robert Upshaw is a defensive presence. Robert Upshaw has surprising touch in terms of the mid-range. He’s got a nice jump hook over his left shoulder. He has the ability to duck into the paint and score with either hand. Robert could impact and change a game without even taking a shot, (but) with his defensive prowess. I think Robert’s timing and his attention to detail in terms of defensive rotations allow him to do that.”