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By Dan SavageJuly 8, 2014
ORLANDO -- It’s an important 2014 Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League for Casper Ware and Hollis Thompson.
Both players finished last season on the Philadelphia 76ers roster. And both 23-year-olds are attempting to prove they deserve a spot on the squad next season.
If their performances in summer league thus far are any indication, their odds are looking pretty good.
Ware fired off a team-high 16 points and Thompson added 14 as the Sixers defeated the Houston Rockets 92-71 on Tuesday.
Thompson displayed his range, knocking down 4-of-7 attempts from 3-point range.
Ware once again did an admirable job running the point, dishing out four assists and only committing two turnovers, while creating a number of opportunities for his teammates.
“He’s been the leader of our team,” said Sixers Assistant Coach Lloyd Pierce, who is serving as the team's Summer League head coach. “All three games, he’s been the guy that’s gotten other guys involved and when we need a basket, he’s the guy that can create his own shot.”
After a breakout 19-point and four-steal performance against the Magic, the Sixers opted to rest prized 2013 NBA Draft selection Nerlens Noel in their matchup against the Thunder.
Noel again put together a quality outing, notching eight points and six rebounds.
“He was great,” Pierce said. “He was good in pick-and-roll, he had a nice steal early in the game which led to a dunk and very much active at the rim.”
The Sixers are clearly looking for him to be the anchor of their defense.
“We are asking a lot of him on the defensive end," Pierce explained. "I think that’s where he’ll make a name for our team and for himself and then he’ll continue to grow and develop offensively in certain areas."
K.J. McDaniels, a second round selection for Philadelphia (No. 32 overall), continued to improve, notching 15 points and five rebounds.
JaKarr Sampson made an impact tallying 13 points and eight boards, while Jerami Grant, the nephew of former NBA player Horace Grant, poured in 12 points off the pine.
Jahii Carson, an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State, led the way for the Rockets with 18 points, doing damage by knocking down 9-of-11 attempts from the charity stripe.
Another undrafted prospect, Jabari Brown, out of Mizzouri, scored 16 for Houston.
Philadelphia returns to action on Wednesday when they face the Brooklyn Nets at 5 p.m. ET. Houston will have a day off before battling the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 p.m. on Thursday.