Aggressive double-teams by the defense. Heck, even triple-teams. His name at the top of every rival’s scouting report.
En route to leading Oklahoma to the Final Four in 2015-16 and garnering multiple national Player of the Year awards, Buddy Hield was a constant center of attention for opponents. Despite the non-stop focus, Hield averaged 25.0 points per game – second-best in Division I – and shot a scorching 45.7 percent from three-point range.
In a way, New Orleans’ lottery pick could experience something similar July 8-18 in Las Vegas, when the Pelicans compete in NBA Summer League. Aside from perhaps Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons and the Lakers’ Brandon Ingram, there may be no more well-known name playing in the annual event.
“With Buddy, I told him you’re going to have a target on your back as soon as you step into summer league,” said David Booth, the Pelicans’ director of player personnel. “You’re the sixth pick – people are going to want to try you, and see what you have. I think he’s seen it already, so I don’t think it will be a big surprise to him, to have a target on his back.”
For fellow Pelicans rookie Cheick Diallo, the 33rd overall pick in the June 23 draft, Vegas is a long-awaited chance to play in organized, five-on-five competition. Due to NCAA clearance issues, Diallo got a late start to his one season at Kansas and then played sparingly, averaging just 7.5 minutes.
“We think that because he didn’t play a lot last season, this is a great opportunity for him to continue his learning curve,” Booth said of the 19-year-old. “It’s a great chance to get reps under his belt. It’s important for him to get playing time and just be on the floor. His upside is tremendous, but for it to be recognized, he has to get game reps in. So summer league is a big step in that. It’s going to be really important in his growth and development.”
Hield, Diallo will be joined on New Orleans’ roster primarily by players who are trying to prove themselves and get a foot in the door in the NBA. The Pelicans are expected to release their complete roster in the coming days, with minicamp starting Tuesday at the team’s Metairie practice facility. New Orleans will head to Nevada on Thursday and begin game action Friday vs. the Lakers (9:30 p.m. Central). Unlike some prior years, the ’16 summer Pelicans will receive significant TV exposure, including their opener being televised live by ESPN. The July 10 game vs. Utah (7 p.m. Central) is scheduled to be broadcast by NBA TV, with remaining games to be announced. New Orleans, which reached the semifinal round in 2015, will play a minimum of five games in Vegas.
The games will give Hield and Diallo a chance to learn more about NBA competition, roughly two months before New Orleans training camp begins in late September.
“For Buddy, I think it will be learning the rules of the NBA: illegal defenses, where you can have your hands (defensively to avoid) different fouls, the shot clock being 24 seconds,” Booth said. “Just adjusting to the different rules of the NBA compared to college. Playing-wise, I think he’ll be fine. (Diallo) is a kid with upside who we feel can be a positive on the offensive end. He’s already shown he’s a positive on defense, because of his long arms, athleticism and ability to block shots.
“They’re both going to be in situations where they can use summer league as a steppingstone to gauge where they are, and take that into the season in the fall when we start training camp.”