Summer League 2014

Dane MizutaniWeb Editorial AssistantEmail / Twitter

The Wolves wrapped up Summer League play Friday night in Las Vegas, and though they didn’t win the whole thing like they hoped to, there were many positives that stemmed from the five-game circuit. It was the first chance for fans to get a full look at the rookies in action and it also provided a chance to see the development — or lack thereof — of some of the second and third-year guys. It started off slow for Minnesota, as the team stumbled in its first three games, but victories in two of its final three games left the squad with some positives to reflect back on. Those positives should be taken with a grain of salt, as Summer League competition is a fraction of NBA-level play. That being said, some of the skills could translate well come October.

Here are some things that stood out from 2014 Summer League in Las Vegas:

Zach LaVine was seen as a tweener coming into the NBA. Flip Saunders drafted him as a player he hoped could rid Ricky Rubio of some of his ball handling duties, but it was unclear whether LaVine could manage an NBA offense. LaVine was adamant that he had played point guard in the past and was confident he wouldn’t have much of a problem translating those skills to the NBA. His confidence was nice to see, but questions still remained 10 days ago. Those questions have been answered after his performance in Summer League. LaVine played both guard positions in Las Vegas, but appeared more comfortable with the ball in his hands, as opposed to running off screens. He had the knowledge of when to push the pace in transition and when to slow it down and set up the half court offense. It’ll be interesting to see the way he responds with NBA defenses in his face. LaVine also showed his passing skills while in Las Vegas, knifing through the lane before dumping off passes to big men on the low block. He definitely won’t take the starting point guard role from Ricky Rubio, but he’ll be a competent backup, and could also serve as another ball handler even if he’s playing at shooting guard.

Shabazz Muhammad Is A Power Forward Trapped In Shooting Guard Body 

Shabazz Muhammad only played in three full games in Las Vegas, but when he did play, his effort was evident all over the floor. Muhammad snapped off for 27 points in the first game of Summer League and scored 24 points in the Wolves loss to the Sacramento Kings during the knockout stage. Those games showed he has the ability to fill up the stat sheet, but the nuances that didn’t show up on the stat sheet were the bigger takeaway from Las Vegas. Muhammad rebounded the basketball extremely well from the shooting guard position during Summer League play and also seemed to favor backing down smaller opponents. Muhammad clearly loves the baseline floater from the left side of the bucket, and he hit that shot at a fairly high clip in three games. His intensity is definitely something the Wolves can use on both ends of the floor next season. Muhammad still needs to vastly improve his skills on the defensive end, but the array of ways he can score the basketball, namely on the low block, could translate well if given the opportunity next season.

Gorgui Dieng Played Some Power Forward In Las Vegas 

Gorgui Dieng got his opportunity to play for the Wolves last season after Nikola Pekovic went down with an injury toward the middle of the season. Dieng actually responded well and exhibited he can be a defensive stopper and more than capable rebounder as an NBA center. If Summer League was any indication, though, it looks like the Wolves might use Dieng at the power forward position sometimes next season. Dieng wasn’t a standout of Summer League last week, but a bigger takeaway was the position in which he played at times. Minnesota’s coaching staff decided to experiment putting Dieng next to the 7-foot-1 Kyrylo Fesenko in the frontcourt, and the two seemed to mesh well together. Dieng showed he could still rebound from either position as he hauled in an absurd 19 rebounds in one game in Las Vegas, but also showed he can hit the midrange jumper if given the space. That will help with spacing if he does play power forward next season. Dieng will still likely backup Pekovic most of the time, but it’s interesting that the Wolves decided to experiment with him at another frontcourt position.

Alexey Shved Still Has Some Room To Grow Before The Season Starts

Alexey Shved only played in two games during Summer League and was the Wolves leading scorer in both of those games. That being said, he didn’t dominate play the way some would expect a third-year player to at the Summer League level. Shved looked uncomfortable with the ball in his hands and seemed more in tune with the pace of play when he was the off guard in the offense. Flip Saunders has said he envisions Shved as a backup point guard this season, but Shved definitely didn’t seem ready for that role based on his play in Las Vegas. He showed he could score when given the opportunity and also got to the free throw line during his two games of action, but still seemed to lack confidence. Shved didn’t play in the final three games in Las Vegas, as he had a minor injury, and so younger players could get more in game experience. His spot on the Wolves roster next season is pretty much a lock at this point, but he will need to improve more if he hopes to crack the rotation more than he did last season.

A Few Players Could Make An Impact Next Season, Just Not On The Wolves 

There isn’t a whole lot of space on the Wolves roster next season, which means even if someone stood out in Las Vegas, it probably wasn’t quite enough to earn a roster spot come October. That, however, doesn’t mean those players can’t make an impact elsewhere in the NBA, or overseas. Though the Summer League circuit, at its core, is about impressing NBA executives, there are tons of overseas scouts at those games, too. That means even if players like Kyrylo Fesenko and Brady Heslip don’t make it on the Wolves, or in the NBA for that matter, there are still opportunities for them to showcase their talents. Fesenko undoubtedly has a place in professional basketball with his large frame. He may not be the most fluid mover on the court, but his size alone is a difference maker in the game. Fesenko used that size to dominate down low while in Las Vegas. There is a logjam in the Wolves frontcourt at the moment, so Fesenko likely won’t make the team, but his size could help someone else down the road. As for Heslip, he can flat out shoot the ball, and that always has a place in some realm of professional basketball. He might be too small to make it at the NBA level, but he could provide some nice floor spacing for a team overseas. There are a few other players that stood out at times during Summer League, but Fesenko and Heslip made the biggest impression in Las Vegas. It still remains to be seen if it was enough for either of them to earn an NBA roster spot.

Now NBA fans wait. As soon as Summer League play wraps up late Monday night when the Sacramento Kings take on the Houston Rockets for the title, it’ll be about two months before fans get another taste of NBA action. October can’t come soon enough.

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Some Takeaways From Summer League In Las Vegas

It may not have been the prettiest display of games, but at its core, Summer League can be considered a success for the Wolves. 

Minnesota closed out its play in the Las Vegas Circuit in style Friday night with a 97-78 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. And in the game a lot of the successes of Summer League were on display. 

Zach LaVine, a scrutinized 2014 NBA Draft pick by some pundits, balled out in the game with 22 points and a few highlights at the rim. He has shown the propensity throughout Summer League to control the offense at the point guard position, but also run the break and push the pace in transition. Yes. It's Summer League and the competition is a fraction of what LaVine will see in the NBA next season. That said his speed will translate will at the next level. 

LaVine, however, wasn't the only person that stood out Friday night. Minnesota trailed early in the game, but used a 19-1 run in the second half to pull away. 

Glenn Robinson III was the second leading scorer with 17 points. Robinson III has improved his play in every game in Summer League and seems to be on the right path with training camp a few months away. Gorgui Dieng also added 12 points and 9 rebounds in the win.

New Orleans was led by Russ Smith who scored 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting from the floor. 

The Wolves will now travel back to the Twin Cities and won't continue organized team actiities until training camp starts in October. In the meantime players will workout on their own and the Summer League roster will look to build on this momentum gained for the Las Vegas circuit. 

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Wolves Close Out Summer League With A Win

Megan SchusterWeb Editorial AssistantEmail / Twitter

After coming away victorious in a must-win game against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, the Wolves were back in action Thursday afternoon to face the Sacramento Kings. The Kings (2-1)—who were ranked eighth following the preliminary three games of Summer League—received a bye in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday.

Minnesota was looking to continue its fluid performance from Wednesday, and it seemed like the team just might be able to do it through the first three quarters. But the Kings pulled away behind a 14-0 run in the fourth, and the Wolves fell 100-86 to the Kings.

It was a close first quarter between the Wolves and Kings, with both teams showing off how good they are at their respective strengths. The Wolves showed their ability to attack the post with the big men Kyrylo Fesenko and Gorgui Dieng, and Zach LaVine’s solid court vision to feed the ball to them from the point position.

Sacramento exploited a weakness the Wolves have shown all Summer League, and that’s perimeter defense. The Kings hit on two early 3’s, one of which was from Ben McLemore, who led his team in scoring with nine points in the first and 22 points in the game.

LaVine started off the game strong for the Wolves, going 2-of-5 from the floor with six points, two assists and a blocked shot in the first. That wouldn’t be enough for Minnesota, though, as the Wolves finished the quarter down to the Kings 28-21.

Glenn Robinson III, who wasn’t in the starting lineup for the Wolves for the first time in Summer League, checked in for the second quarter and hit back-to-back 3’s. That put the Wolves within four points and gave a boost to the starters. He would finish the half a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, and had seven points.

The Wolves’ leading scorers through first two quarters were LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad, both of whom had big outings for the Wolves in prior games—LaVine in Wednesday’s game against Phoenix and Muhammad in the team’s first contest against the Dallas Mavericks. They would each close out the half with 10 points.

Gorgui Dieng looked poised to have his second double-double in two games as he went into halftime with eight points and seven boards, but Sacramento overcame those performances behind 14 points from McLemore. The Kings held onto their lead, and took it into the break up 55-47.

Though the Wolves didn’t close out the half in great fashion, they quickly turned things around entering the third quarter. Dieng had four fast points and a blocked shot within the first few minutes, and a slashing dunk in transition from LaVine put the Wolves back within four of the Kings.

Sacramento let the Wolves hang around for a little while, trading baskets through the middle of the third, but then the Kings started to pull away. With just over two and a half minutes left in the quarter, Sacramento matched it’s largest lead of the game at 11 points.

Robinson III and LaVine connected for an exciting fastbreak, with LaVine taking a long over-the-should pass from Robinson III and finishing on the offensive end. Quick plays in transition and a late 8-2 run from the Wolves cut the Sacramento lead down from 74-69 going into the fourth quarter.

A name that may be unfamiliar for most Wolves fans, Brady Heslip out of Baylor University checked in for Minnesota in the fourth. Heslip, a sharpshooter who is the all-time leading 3-point shooter in Baylor history, knocked down back-to-back 3s, putting the Wolves down just one.

After those baskets, though, Sacramento went on a 14-0 run. Minnesota’s defense had plenty of holes for the Kings to expose, and the players just couldn’t get shots to fall on the offensive end, even from point-blank range. The Wolves were down 13 with 3:45 to play in the game, and the team couldn’t put together a run.

The Wolves lost 100-86 on Thursday to the Sacramento Kings.

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Wolves Fall 100-86 to Sacramento Kings

Shahbaz KhanSocial Media AssociateEmail / Twitter

Las Vegas has arguably been the liveliest basketball city in the nation for the past few days. With current players, former players, celebrities, owners, agents, scouts and fans out to watch NBA Summer League, people may think a show for the ages was taking place there. They may very well be correct, considering the effort that each player puts forth throughout the showcase.

NBA Summer League is rarely considered the most exciting or pleasurable basketball viewing experience, but for the 360 players taking part in this year’s tournament, it’s their first crack at showcasing their skills against professionals in the offseason. It’s where careers can be born.

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Summer League roster had the same approach going into the team’s first games--display the players’ skills both individually and collectively, and prove that each one of them deserves minutes in the NBA.

The Wolves began their 2014 Summer League experience on Saturday night, facing the Dallas Mavericks and losing 93-85. Two more games and two more forgettable losses later, and it seemed like there wouldn’t be much to take away from this tournament except some disappointment.

But looking past the final box score, the first three games ended with more positives than negatives. Of course, winning is always preferred, but in the Summer League, individual growth from game-to-game is almost as respected. For the majority of the roster, that growth is exactly what the Wolves got during their first three competitions.

Rookie Zach LaVine evolved his game from simply being a great outside shooter and athletic player to displaying an ability to perform as a defender, passer and finisher in the lane. Kyryrlo Fesenko earned his minutes, not by what he did offensively, but by what he provided defensively. Each player that got major minutes chipped in one way or another, and for the most part all of those players improved and adapted at least one aspect of their game.

Going into Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, the Wolves were the lowest seeded team to take part in the Summer League tournament. For a team filled with players that improved individually rather than collectively for the first three games, it was expected.

But Wednesday’s contest versus the ninth-seeded Suns proved that this Timberwolves team had learned its lesson. Continual ball movement, relentless defense and a huge effort on the boards earned the Wolves their first win when it counted: during the first tournament game. Despite the 1-3 record, the Timberwolves did what they weren’t able to do previously, and grew as a team.

Notable showings by LaVine (20 points), Gorgui Dieng (a double-double 10 points and 19 rebounds), Fesenko (17 points) and Shabazz Muhammad (16 points and 9 boards) proved that this team has begun to mesh.

The Wolves’ squad is filled with a majority of offensive-minded players, but they were able to display their defensive talents by limiting the Suns to 39 percent shooting and 30 rebounds, while shooting 46 percent and grabbing 51 boards themselves.

Most notable on the defensive end were Muhammad and LaVine – two players that have rarely been known for their abilities on that side of the ball. Muhammad was only 4-of-12 from the floor, but defensively out-hustled the Suns, earning his minutes. LaVine closed out well and was rarely beaten on drives into the lane.

Although it was only one game, the Wolves seem to have learned from their first three, and have grown from individual talents to team players. Look to see if the Wolves continue their cohesive play on Thursday as they face the Sacramento Kings at 3 p.m. CT. 

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Through First Four Games, Wolves Summer League Players Have Become a Team

After going 0-3 in the prelminary round, the Wolves were ranked 24th in NBA Summer League. That ranking pitted them against the ninth-ranked Phoenix Suns squad on Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas.

The Suns had plenty of success during their first three Summer League games, going 2-1 against their opponents. But Minnesota came into the game trying to prove that they could come out of Vegas with a victory.

And that they did. The Wolves stayed alive in Summer League on Wednesday, beating the Phoenix Suns 86-77. Minnesota will move on to play the Sacramento Kings on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT.

Minnesota came out swinging early in the game, getting active on the offensive boards and leading the Suns in second-chance points. This kind of effort was new for the Wolves, but their initial defensive problems were not.

The Wolves struggled dealing with perimeter shooters in their game against Chicago, and Phoenix was no different in the first quarter. Elias Harris led the Suns in scoring in the first half with 10 points, shooting 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.

What did change for the Wolves, though, was the team’s determination and clean style of play. Minnesota has dealt with a lot of turnovers—and they still had 11 in the first half of this game—but they also forced seven from Phoenix and played much tighter as a group. Couple that play with double-digit production from Kyrylo Fesenko, and the Wolves were up 19-14 after the first.

The first quarter hasn’t been the problem for the Wolves in Summer League, it’s how they’ve played after that. This second quarer was a big proving-ground for Minnesota as the team tried to keep its lead and continue its offensive production.

Fesenko was the leading scorer for the Wolves in the half, as he was in the team’s game against Chicago, with 12 points off 6-of-7 shooting. Teams don’t have an answer for Fesenko once he has the ball in the post, and Minnesota’s guards have been taking full advantage.

LaVine had another solid half, shooting 3-of-6 for six points and leading his team from the point guard position. LaVine is a guy who likes to get out there and make plays, so taking over the responsibility at point has been a different role for him than he played in college. It has taken some getting used to, but it was clear from his play in the first half that he is starting to settle in.

The Wolves maintained their controled play through the second quarter, and Minnesota took a 37-33 lead into halftime.

To start off the second half, Shabazz Muhammad and LaVine came alive scoring for the Wolves. Both would get into double figures in the quarter and the Wolves continued to push for their first win of Summer League. Though Gorgui Dieng wasn’t putting up many numbers in the points column, he had a Summer League-high 19 boards for Minnesota, giving them extra possessions against a tough Suns team.

Minnesota kept battling throughout the quarter as the Suns made runs to try and overtake the Wolves. The team stayed disciplined and the rookies on the team played like seasoned veterans, holding onto a 57-53 lead entering the fourth quarter.

And in the fourth, the potential that fans have seen all Summer League from this Wolves squad finally came to be a reality. Dieng was a monster in the paint, cleaning up missed shots and pulling down every rebound that entered his airspace—finishing with a double-double 13 points and 19 rebounds.

Muhammad and Fesenko finished with 16 and 17 points respectively, nearing the top of the points column for the Wolves. But it was LaVine with 20 who came up big in the game and led his team.

It was LaVine’s huge dunk with 1:04 left in the game that put Minnesota up 78-71, and once and for all knocked out the Suns. Minnesota went on to win the game by a final of 86-77.

The Wolves move on in Summer League competition to face the eighth seeded Sacramento Kings on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT. The Kings are 2-1 so far in Summer League, and they had a bye in the first round of the tournament—as did all of the top eight teams.

Should the Wolves win that game, they would move on and play on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.

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Wolves Beat Phoenix 86-77 in Fourth Summer League Game

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Photos: NBA Summer League Preliminary Round

Minnesota came into Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls 0-2 in Summer League contests. The Wolves lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday afternoon and the Washington Wizards on Sunday night.

Chicago would be no easy test for the Wolves, with the Summer League’s leading scorer Tony Snell on the Bulls’ roster, and also sharpshooter Doug McDermott who the Bulls took with the 11th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

The Wolves fought hard on Tuesday, but their offense couldn’t fight through Chicago’s defense and they had no answer for McDermott. The Wolves lost their third Summer League contest 107-73 to the Bulls.

McDermott showed what all his hype has been about early on. He hit two quick shots—one from 3-point range—and the Bulls took an 8-5 lead over the Wolves.

Kyrylo Fesenko—who has NBA experience playing for the Utah Jazz—was in the starting lineup for the Wolves, playing in the four spot with Gorgui Dieng at the five. He replaced Alexey Shved—who had started the first two contests for Minnesota—and had six of the Wolves’ first nine points in the game.

Chicago had success against the Minnesota defense, with their outside shooters spreading the floor and clearing out the lane to get easy passing into the post. Dieng had three early fouls too, making defending the lane even more difficult for the Wolves.

The Bulls were on an 11-1 run late in the first quarter, but the Wolves came storming back with nine straight points, seven of which were from D.J. Kennedy—who was 3-of-3 from the field in the quarter. Heading into the second, Minnesota trailed Chicago 22-19.

To start the second, Fesenko took a great pass from LaVine in the low paint and finished it with a foul. Those three points brought his total in the game up to nine, and tied Minnesota with Chicago at 22 points a piece. Chicago really had no defense for Fesenko in the post, as his 7-foot-1 frame towered over the Bulls players on the court. Minnesota’s guards took full advantage and the Wolves took back a lead.

It was a back-and-forth quarter between the Bulls and Wolves, with both teams showing off different assets and solid shooting—the Bulls shot 54.5 percent from the floor, and the Wolves were right behind them at 48.6 percent.

Zach LaVine and McDermott seemed to be in a battle as to which was the better first round draft pick this year, and both performed well under the pressure—McDermott with 13 points in the half and LaVine with five points and three assists. McDermott led the Bulls in scoring, and Fesenko led the Wolves with 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor. Heading into the second half, Chicago had a 49-43 lead over the Wolves.

The Wolves opened the half with some aggressive play, but McDermott could not be stopped. Even with hands in his face, pressure off the dribble and tough situations that the Wolves’ defense put him in, McDermott continued to hit shots. Three minutes into the half, Minnesota was down 57-46.

While the Wolves struggled from the floor, Chicago continued to press hard on the offensive end. The Bulls were up by as many as 22 in the quarter, though Minnesota would battle to try to keep their deficit within reach. LaVine had a few tough baskets in the quarter, taking a leadership role while playing point, but it wasn’t enough. The Wolves were down 81-59 at the end of the third.

As much as the Wolves wanted to make a comeback, the team just couldn’t stop the bleeding in the fourth. They were down by as many as 36 points in the quarter. Despite double-digit efforts from Fesenko, LaVine and Muhammad, no one else on the team had more than nine points.

The Bulls continued to pour it on, never letting the Wolves get their head above water, and Minnesota lost its third game of Summer League 107-73 to Chicago.

The Wolves will play at least two more Summer League games, and their tournament bracket will be determined by their play compared to the other teams in the showcase. Those games have yet to be announced, but will be soon as the initial set of games end for teams. Stay tuned to Timberwolves.com for the next announcement of games.

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Wolves Lose Third Summer League Game 107-73 to Chicago

If there’s one word you’ve heard used to describe Zach LaVine since he was drafted by the Timberwolves, chances are, it was “potential”. Whether it was during his tenure at Bothell High School—where he was honored as Washington’s “Mr. Basketball”—or after he was briefly ranked fifth on Chad Ford’s Mock Draft, it’s a word that’s followed him time and time again.

Given that LaVine has some impressive offensive skills, had a great start to his collegiate career and is only 19 years old, it’s fair to say that “potential” is an accurate word to describe LaVine’s future. But, now that LaVine has completed his first three professional NBA games in the Summer League, fans may be wondering how much of that potential he’s shown against NBA caliber competition.

Looking solely at box scores, people may be perplexed as to where this potential is being shown. But LaVine demonstrated the definition of potential during his first games—showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.

In his first Summer League contest, LaVine displayed his shooting abilities but sometimes looked lost on defense. Playing point guard, he turned the ball some, which can be attributed to the nerves that come with inexperience.

In his second contest, LaVine showed fans something they hadn’t seen before—an aggressive style of play that fought through contact driving into the lane. He also improved his defensive focus, correcting his mistakes from the first game and distributing the ball much more effectively. LaVine shot 10 free-throws in his second game while grabbing seven rebounds. It’s those kinds of realizations and improvements, along with the fact that LaVine is usually the quickest player on the court, that could turn LaVine’s potential into a real NBA threat.

Potential is used to describe NBA players every off-season, arguably far too often. With that said, it’s turning out to be valid in LaVine’s case. That’s why Summer League is more important than any stretch of games that LaVine has played in thus far. Proving that he’s able to capitalize on his strengths and improve his weaknesses will provide the coaching staff proof that he deserves meaningful minutes during the season.

LaVine has often said that one of his goals is to continually improve. With a bit more of a defensive focus and an off-season in the weight room, LaVine could turn out to be one of the most exciting guards that came out of the 2014 NBA Draft. Only time will tell, but early returns on LaVine’s progress with a professional training and coaching staff have proved to help his game already.