Lenny Talks Sports

Tag: nba-draft

  • 2025 Salt Lake City Summer League: Key Storylines for NBA Teams

    2024 SLC Summer League Schedule

    Just thirteen days after the Oklahoma City Thunder hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy, the next generation of NBA stars descend upon The Jon M. Huntsman Center as the Salt Lake City Summer League gets underway on Saturday night. The hometown Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, and reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder will take part in the three-day event before all four teams head to Nevada for the Las Vegas Summer League. An opportunity awaits young players to make their statement, to show why they belong on an NBA roster, and to make a name for themselves. There are storylines galore heading into Summer League this year, but we will talk about one key storyline for each team heading into the weekend.

    UTAH JAZZ: ACE BAILEY’S WELCOME TO UTAH

    Ace Bailey was at the center of all of the drama on draft night; after not working out for any NBA teams, rumors speculated that Bailey did not want to play for Philadelphia, Charlotte, or Utah. After the first two teams passed on him, the Jazz saw the best player on the board fall to them at the fifth pick and President of Basketball Operations Austin Ainge knew he had to select Bailey. Fans were shocked, analysts stunned, many thought there was no way Bailey would stay in Utah and demand a trade right after the pick, but as the night progressed no movement was made, and Austin Ainge held firm on his belief that Bailey was the right first. The drama did not stop there as heading into the weekend Bailey had not arrived in Utah yet and reporters were saying there was still a rift between draftee and team, but on Saturday Ace landed in Utah. The Bailey saga seems to be over as he was introduced to the media alongside fellow rookies Walter Clayton Jr. and John Tonje. But now the new face of the franchise must turn his attention to the court and show Jazz fans what the franchise used a top-five pick on him for. Bailey as well as Clayton Jr. have a great chance ahead of them to get Jazz fans excited about their future; for a team that has been basement dwellers since moving on from Donovan Mitchell now has a new chance to change the narrative surrounding the Jazz franchise.

    PHILADELPHIA 76ers: PROVE VJ EDGECOMBE WAS THE RIGHT PICK

    One of the other main characters in the Ace Bailey saga was the Philadelphia 76ers, and how fitting of a matchup is it that one of the matchups on day one is between the Sixers and the Jazz. With the third pick, instead of selecting Bailey, the Sixers selected VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor. Now by no means was that a bad pick, as Edgecombe projects as one of the best athletes in the draft and pairs well with Tyrese Maxey in Philly’s backcourt; but now the Sixers need to prove that Edgecombe was the right player for them. Edgecombe struggled with efficiency while at Baylor, and this small three-game sample size in Utah will be a really good audition for Edgecombe to show the improvements he has made since we last saw him. Edgecombe alongside fellow rookies Johni Broome, and Hunter Sallis, as well as second-year forward Justin Edwards, headline the Sixers summer league team heading to Utah this weekend. Edwards should be tasked with the challenge of keeping Bailey off the stat sheet and it will be a good test for Edwards; as he showcased a great amount of potential when given big minutes towards the end of the season. Coming off a season plagued by injuries to former MVP Joel Embiid, the Sixers are looking for a rebound season and new players to step up and contribute, and there is no better place for that to happen than the summer league.

    MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: CEDRIC COWARD’S FIRST GAME IN 2025

    The Memphis Grizzlies made the first major move of the offseason by trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. Many people speculated that a potential rebuild was starting to occur in Memphis, but the Grizzlies front office had a plan. On draft night they traded up to the number eleven pick where they selected Cedric Coward out of Washington State. Coward was one of the most polarizing prospects in the NBA draft, Coward started his career at a Division III school, before transferring to Eastern Washington where he was an all-conference player, before transferring to Washington State last season. After a great start to the season where he averaged 17.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, Coward would miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Coward would enter the transfer portal while also testing the draft waters, he committed to Duke but after an outstanding combine performance, he would keep his name in the draft. This decision paid off as he would be selected by the Grizzlies with the eleventh pick; it seems as if the Grizzlies saw Coward as their Desmond Bane replacement. This could be why they decided to move Bane to gain draft capital, as they suspected a trade-up for Coward in the cards. With all of that being said, it will still be very interesting to see how Coward comes back in his first competitive minutes since his shoulder injury. Will Coward still shoot the ball at a very effective clip like he did at Wazzu or will it look a little different now? Outside of Coward, the Grizzlies also selected two senior guards in Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack in the second round, signifying an approach to want to try and compete now in a loaded Western Conference compared to rebuilding. Coward has shown glimpses of being a very good player in college, but now we must see that translate to the NBA which will start at summer league.

    OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: NIKOLA TOPIC

    Nikola Topic heading into May of 2024 was seen as a potential Top 5 pick in the NBA Draft before tearing his ACL in the Adriatic League playoffs. Many teams saw an unhealthy Topic as a risky pick early in the draft so he slid to the twelfth pick where Sam Presti and the Thunder took him with that pick. Presti knew the risk that came with Topic’s injury, but he also knew the upside of Topic’s game; a dynamic, playmaking six-foot-six point guard who can drive the lane and play make off the dribble. Topic sat out his entire rookie year, and during that time he learned from league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and won an NBA championship before ever playing an NBA game. But now Topic gets his chance to take an NBA court for the first time; after over a year waiting, rehabbing, and chomping at the bit, now Topic gets his chance. The chance to lead the summer league team, to be a veteran voice, and teach others what he has learned in his first year in the league. Topic has the opportunity to prove himself and show why he can be an effective piece in the Thunder’s rotation next season as they look to repeat as NBA champions. Unfortunately, Topic will not be joined by 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber, as the center out of Georgetown is still rehabbing from season-ending foot surgery. Topic and Sorber would have been a dynamic duo in the pick-and-roll but that time will have to wait; for now, it’s Topic’s time to show how good he can be at the NBA level.

    Although it’s just summer league, there’s plenty of hype built up for NBA fans as they look forward to seeing their favorite teams’ high draft picks debut; and hopefully see the next superstars in the league start their careers.

  • French Revolution: Can Noa Essengue be the Next French Star in the NBA?

    Projected Lottery Pick Frenchman Noa Essengue Gains Major Ground, Having The Best Game Of His Season In the German BBL Playoffs. - NewsBreak

    After having the first overall pick in the last two drafts, and the first two picks in last year’s draft, the French basketball factory has not stopped churning out future NBA players. This year’s draft is no different; while the number one pick will not be French, don’t be surprised to see three French players go in the first round, with Noa Essengue being the most intriguing prospect of them all.

    Essengue’s breakout performance, which caught the attention of many NBA scouts, came in an October preseason game when his Ratiopharm Ulm team faced off against the Portland Trail Blazers. In this game, Essengue at just 17 years of age, scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds against the Blazers. A very strong performance by Essengue caught the attention of many NBA scouts as a player to watch for the upcoming season.

    Essengue, just 18 years old, is one of the most fascinating prospects in June’s NBA draft. Measuring in at 6’10” barefoot, with a 6’11” wingspan, and a 9’3″ standing reach, Essengue has the height, length, and all the tools in his game to be a future NBA star, but will he put everything together in his transition from Basketball Bundesliga to the NBA is the question.

    In Germany, Essengue has put together a great season for an 18-year-old averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 23.7 minutes a night. Essengue has done this with a 64.6% true shooting and has done a lot of work by getting to the free throw line. Essengue has one of the highest free throw attempt rates for a prospect at 80%, which shows his aggressiveness and will to get to the rim and draw contact. While still being a very raw and slender prospect, Essengue has shown many strengths in his game his athleticism and ability to finish in transition may be his greatest strength. Going through his film, Essengue flashes as a threat in transition every time, whether it’s cutting to the rim, or gathering the ball on the outside before driving past his man to get to the basket. With a quick first step for someone his size, Essengue can consistently blow by big men on the perimeter to create easy finishes at the rim. Essengue’s athleticism also flashes on the defensive end of the court which will be valuable in the NBA. His ability to stay in front of his man off of switches, his defensive versatility, as well as his shot-blocking ability show on film.

    Just like all other prospects, Essengue does have downsides to his game. The most glaring flaw in his game is his three-point shooting. On the season, Essengue has shot just 29.4% from three and Tankathon projects his NBA three-point percentage to be 33.5%. But, in the game in October against the Blazers, Essengue did hit three three-pointers showing potential for improved shooting. The other flaw in Essengue’s game is his slender build; he jumps off the screen before the ball tips due to how skinny he looks. While we have seen players like Chet Holmgren be successful with a slender build, Essengue will have to add some muscle in order to withstand the physicality of an 82-game NBA season.

    At just 18 years old, Essengue will be one of the youngest players in the NBA draft and possesses some of the highest potential out of anyone. While not being a finished product, whatever team drafts Essengue will commit to the process of Essengue’s upside. While it may take a couple of years for his potential to come to fruition, with the proper development Noa Essengue could be the steal of the 2025 NBA draft.

  • Analyzing Utah Jazz’s 5th Pick: Tre Johnson vs. Jeremiah Fears

    2025 NBA Lottery Results: Utah Jazz feel the pain - SLC Dunk

    Entering Tuesday night’s NBA Draft Lottery, the Utah Jazz had a 14% chance of winning the number one overall pick, which was tied for the highest odds with the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets. Jazz fans had high hopes that they would be able to land the first overall pick and take consensus first overall pick Cooper Flagg with that pick. However, as NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum opened the pick envelopes, the Dallas Mavericks jumped into the top four picks, followed by the San Antonio Spurs and the Philadelphia 76ers. This led to the opening of the pick five envelope, where the Jazz logo was revealed. A crushing blow for Jazz fans as their hopes of Flagg becoming a star in Utah slipped away from their minds. But with the 2025 draft class being such a deep class, the Jazz can still pick a franchise-altering star with the fifth pick.

    The first player that could come into play at the fifth pick is the former Texas Longhorn Tre Johnson. The SEC Rookie of the Year and league’s leading scorer is a walking bucket, Johnson can create his own shot off the dribble well, as well as being able to consistently make catch and shoot threes. There is not a shot on the court that Johnson will not be able to create and take; Johnson has a great frame standing 6’6″ with a 6’10” wingspan, which allows him to rise and maintain a high release point on his jump shot. The downside of Johnson’s game comes from his mindset, where he has to get his shots up, which, if he’s hot, he’ll drop 30, but if he’s ice cold, he can go 0-14 like he did against Oklahoma last season. Another area of improvement in Johnson’s game would be his ability to get to the rim; he has shown plenty of speed and agility to create pull-up jumpers, but he doesn’t get to the rim as much as you would like. With that being said, Johnson just turned nineteen years old in March and has plenty of time to grow and adjust to the NBA game.

    The second player is Johnson’s college rival in Jeremiah Fears out of Oklahoma. Fears is a dynamic 6’4″ point guard who wants to get downhill and finish at the basket. Averaging 17 ppg, as well as four assists and four rebounds per game, Fears is a prototypical point guard who can be effective for years to come. Fears is also one of the youngest prospects in this year’s draft as he won’t turn nineteen until October. The downside in Fears’ game comes from his strength and his shooting; Fears weighs in at just over 180 lbs. and struggles with contact around the rim sometimes. Fears only shot 43% from the field and 28% from three in his one year at Oklahoma, but given some time to refine his mechanics and get used to NBA threes, expect those numbers to rise. Fears has the upside of being an all-star caliber point guard and would be a great addition to the Jazz organization.

    Although Cooper Flagg won’t be a member of the Utah Jazz on draft night, the Jazz still have a great opportunity to upgrade their roster with the fifth pick. Johnson and Fears are raw prospects who have proven the ability to take over the game on any night, but just have some refining to do to be successful in the NBA.