Philadelphia 76ers Epic NBA Summer League

The Philadelphia 76ers launch NBA careers through the NBA Summer League. In fact, Summer League is of epic importance to team and players this year.

The Philadelphia 76ers are at an important crossroads. There has never been a more important summer basketball event than the 2017 NBA Summer League. NBA teams are eager to see how the best rookie class in some time appears in NBA jerseys, under NBA conditions. In fact, that would be enough to make this an incredible summer of NBA hopefuls trying to realize their dreams.

Some players heard their names called on NBA Draft night. But of the hundreds pursuing an NBA  career, only 60 were so fortunate.  Of that 60, some will never get to play in the NBA. Some will be drafted and stashed overseas.  Some will enter training camp and not survive the cut from the 20 slots to the 15 man season limits.

But the NBA has softened their stance somewhat in terms of roster size. For the first time, NBA teams roster has expanded up to 17 roster slots.  The original 15 remain the same, while the new slots fall into the category of “Two Way Contracts”.

Minor Clause to Santa Clause

As you may recall, these new slots were negotiated in the most recent NBA-NBPA Collective Bargaining Agreement on December 24, 2016.  For teams with a strong G-League (Formerly Development League changed to Gatorade League) affiliate, the new arrangement yields a competitive advantage. The first advantage for the Philadelphia 76ers is the proximity from Philadelphia to Delaware. Two-way players are paid based upon where they play.

Two-Way Play

The ability of either two-way player to show up for a 76ers game in less than a day is a distinct advantage. And while the “game roster” will be limited to 13 players, imagine the benefit to the team had it been in effect in the 2016-2017 season?

As players fall to injuries for a week, this new structure allows the 76ers to call up either or both players to fill in during NBA games without the painful ordeal of cutting or releasing players. And the coaching philosophy is the same, whether it’s the Delaware 87ers or the Philadelphia 76ers.

Current roster openings

If the Philadelphia 76ers bring Markelle Fultz to the team roster, this summer league is unabashedly open tryouts for the team. Right now, the team is working hard to determine a starting lineup for the 2017-2018 season.  But examining the current roster is something the Philadelphia 76ers and fans have been doing since season’s end.

While the team has versatility throughout the roster, questions of primary roles will need to be resolved. On one hand, is Richaun Holmes a center or power forward? On the other hand, is Robert Covington a power forward or small forward?  Subsequently, the team will need to address other matters.

Is Furkan Korkmaz playing for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017-2018? Will the team opt to retain Gerald Henderson for another year?  After all that is said and done, the arrival of Markelle Fultz fills the team’s back court woes, but there team is shallow in the forward positions.

2017 NBA Draft and stash

Bryan Colangelo tapped the international basketball pool often in the 2017 NBA Draft.  He selected Latvian center Anzejs Pacecniks at 25, Australian power forward Jonah Bolden at 36, and French power forward Matthias Lessort at 50.  But only Fultz projects to the 2017-2018 roster right now.  All other players will likely play overseas next year.

While the three players all have attributes which translate nicely into NBA play, all are contracted to play overseas for next season.  As such, none may benefit the team this year.

And so, three other spots are up for grabs right now.

NBA Summer League rosters

Everyone knows that the true draw to the 2017 NBA Summer league will be the debut of point guard Markelle Fultz in a Philadelphia 76ers jersey.  I must admit that I am looking forward to it as well.   But the team roster is made up of 15 players.  And to be honest, there are some on the roster already whom I am also eager to see play.

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed on 7-foot-2 Chinese center Li Muhao (some say Muhao Li) for the 2017 Summer League. He is a player I will record games for to see.

Li Muhao Summer League Debut

Duke played the China Olympic team and here are some highlights:

Li Muhao is very active and has a great offense around the basket. I am eager to see his performance. But the team will have 15 players. Who can we confirm so far?

2017 Summer League Roster (so far)

The Philadelphia 76ers roster for the 2017 NBA Summer League is 15 players.  While the team selected six times for four players in the 2017 NBA Draft, don’t look for any rookies to participate beyond Markelle Fultz.

That being said, the team will have a solid roster with a mix of veterans, rookie(s) and NBA hopefuls.  With the team seeking to participate in both the Utah (July 3-6) and Las Vegas (July 7-17), there is a short intermission where the team can either retain players or sign new talent between the Utah and Las Vegas schedules.

Playing for NBA contracts

While not all players advance immediately to the NBA , some do. Last year’s success story was Christian Wood, who parlayed a significant summer league showing into a roster spot for the Charlotte Hornets.  The Philadelphia 76ers added Shawn Long, who finished up the 2015-2016 season for the team. He played in the summer league last year, and landed on the Delaware 87ers roster. He was subsequently called up in March 2017 and signed to to a two-year deal for the 76ers.

So it happens, sometimes in ways that do not appear obvious.

Veterans

Unlike some NBA teams, the Philadelphia 76ers do not load up their teams with veterans. On the contrary, the team limits the Summer League roster with players who need more work, and who can help augment the play of new players.  Last season, the team had both T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes for Utah, and added Hollis Thompson and Nik Stauskas for the Vegas round.

This year, the team is sending three veterans to the NBA Utah Summer League. They are:

SG Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
SF Alex Poythress
PF Shawn Long

SG Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot

Shooting guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, my look how far you’ve come?!  In the 2016 NBA Summer League, it was Ben Simmons in the limelight, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot playing hard to earn a role on the Philadelphia 76ers.

At the opening of the season, the chances of TLC getting significant playing time appeared to be remote. But as injuries piled up, so did Luwawu’s minutes.  In April 2017, he averaged over 33 minutes and 18.3 points per game.

Contracts expire on both Gerald Henderson and Nik Stauskas in 2018. Luwawu-Cabarrot seeks to sustain his season-ending momentum to solidify his role with the team this year.

SF Alex Poythress

If anyone understands why small forward Alex Poythress is not under a current Philadelphia 76ers contract right now, please explain it to me. He came in very late to the 2016-2017 season and did practically everything asked of him. He played six games, started just once, and averaged a crushing 26.2 minutes per game. An April 10, 2017, he shot five of seven from three-point range.

Much like Luwawu-Cabarrot, Poythress is hoping to build upon momentum at the close of last season.  At 6-foot-7 and 238 pounds, he has the right “tweener” size and physicality to play either forward position.

Ten Day Perfection

In the 10-day six game debut he had for the team in 2017, he averaged 26.2 minutes of play to generate 10.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Right now, the team needs help at small forward.  With Robert Covington coming off injury, Dario Saric a more natural power forward, and Justin Anderson more natural at shooting guard, Poythress is likely to be signed to an NBA contract at the conclusion of the NBA Summer League.  But he will need to demonstrate that he can compete.

PF Shawn Long

Power forward Shawn Long was a fan favorite to be added to the team roster, and you can bet he earned it.

He converted a 10-day contract into an NBA Deal.   While he only made three game appearances in those ten days, he maintained a shooting accuracy over 60 percent. With big men Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid shut down for the season, he reinforced the team both at the center and power forward positions.

Signed and sealed

The only way to ensure he would not sign off to another NBA team ? Sign him to the 76ers first.

From that point on, there was no looking back. After a tremendous March 2017, he faded slightly in April. This summer, he will be expected to demonstrate the March version in order to secure his future with the team.

Rookies

The Philadelphia 76ers headed into the 2017 NBA Draft with five picks, and the possibility of bringing in Euroleague Furkan Korkmaz. During the draft, the team even traded back into round one to select Latvian 7-foot-2 center Anzejs Pasecniks.  The team selected four second round players, but traded away both the 39th and 46th picks for unconfirmed compensation.

All three, as stated earlier, are currently reported as draft and stash players.  So that leaves this year’s summer league down to top pick Markelle Fultz, and whether the team can coordinate the arrival of Furkan Korkmaz to play this summer.

PG/SG Markelle Fultz
SG/SF Furkan Korkmaz (questionable)

SG Markelle Fultz

The debut of 6-foot-4 195 pound Markelle Fultz is not of the same ilk as was that of Ben Simmons a year ago.  At that time, nobody knew how the Philadelphia 76ers would play Simmons, and the team’s fanbase was starving for the upside promise of a top selected rookie debut.

Markelle Fultz arrives to a team with far less uncertainty. In fact, it was the prescribed specific need of the Sixers which likely compelled them to trade up for Fultz. He can excel in either a point guard or shooting guard role, and will likely get looks at both roles throughout the summer league.

Unselfish Play

On one hand, he showcased his stuff on a less than good Washington Huskies Basketball team that truly was not built to help him either on offense or defense. On the other hand, as he ramps up for play this season you can expect to see his true value flash in summer league. In conclusion, he is a natural magnet to team defenses. But in doing so, he does not hesitate to pass out to an open man.

As a matter of fact, he will face many of the same players he faced in the PAC-12 in summer league. Lonzo Ball, Lauri Markannen, T.J. Leaf, Kyle Kuzma, Derrick White, Ivan Rabb, Jordan bell, Tyler Dorsey, Dillon Brooks, Ike Anigbogu, Kadeem Allen, and Jabari Bird are all PAC-12 opponents now in the NBA.

Stands Above All

Fultz did not land atop an NBA Draft by vote or popularity contest. He landed there on his dedication to become the best basketball player. And unlike some NCAA prospects, he understans situations dictate shooting, passing, and defending.

He works to improve all aspects of his game. He does not have a quirky shot, he is not just a “shooter” nor is he exclusively a defender. Just how good  can he be? There is not scientific method to project his upside. He is the best in class with below average coaching and a losing team. Now he is surrounded by talent and has one of the best coaches for developing talent in the NBA.

We will understand his upside potential this summer, or flashes of it.  And that alone will be worth the price of admission.

SG Furkan Korkmaz (questionable)

6-foot-6 Furkan Korkmaz is the 26th player selected in the 2016 NBA Draft, and his skillet is nearly identical to that of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. And he is a player I truly want to see him on this roster this year. In fact, it looks as though it will happen.

But it does not appear as though he will free his schedule in time to play in the Summer League.

Turkey Under 20 League

In a recent article from Philly.com’s Keith Pompey, Korkmaz’s summer schedule was discussed:

"“The 19-year-old is going home to be with Turkey’s under-20 team, which will compete in the U-20 European Championship from July 15-23 in Greece.Then Korkmaz is scheduled to join Turkey’s senior team for FIBA EuroBasket from Aug. 31 to Sept. 17."

He did spend some valuable time with the Philadelphia 76ers as they auditioned NBA Draft prospects.  It was well timed, as he was able to showcase his play while draft prospect workouts were still fresh in the memory of 76ers executives.  He clearly is in the team’s plans this year.

But who will the team add without Kormaz to make it interesting? Sit down, you’re going to love this…

Roster fillers

The Philadelphia 76ers need 15 players, and they are still building their summer league roster.  But with ten confirmed roster spots filled (possible 11), the team is nearly complete.   Despite the team’s season roster having few openings, the track record of this team is such that a call up can happen throughout the year.  And so, let’s look at confirmed names so far:

Domestic Players

This year we’ll look at the players

Melo Trimble
Isaiah Briscoe
Aaron Harrison
James Blackmon
Larry Drew

Now lets examine each player individually.

PG Melo Trimble

6-foot-3 185 pound Maryland point guard Melo Trimble was an intriguing prospect in 2016 NBA Draft discussions. But after the 2016 NBA Combine, he returned to the Terrapins for another season.

Too Long Trimble

Trimble is a curious prospect. On one hand, he has tremendously honed basketball instincts. On the other hand, he can run a pick and roll, and he knows exactly when to dish the ball out to the open wing. In fact, he has crazy good handles too.

But he is not offensively complete.  He can score, but his shooting average did not improve at college. In fact, he three-point shooting regressed from a 41.2 percent as a freshman to 31.7 as a junior. He would have seved himself well to choose a one-and-done college career.  Now he must earn his NBA career one step at a time.

PG James Blackmon

James Blackmon is a 6-foot-4 200 pound  point guard from Indiana University. Much like Trimble, he is a junior who has entered the NBA waiving a final season of NCAA eligibility.  Unlike Trimble, he has improved over the course of his NCAA career.

Blackmon Jr. was a surprised to fall undrafted this year. His play is solid, and he has a sweet three-point shot.  His only detractor is the knee injury that kept him out of conference playe as a sophomore. He had another lower leg injury, but returned to the team. He has the talent to stick in the league.

PG Larry Drew

6-foot1 179 pound Larry Drew was one of the first names reported signed to the 76ers summer league roster. At that time, the team held the third pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, and were most likely leaning hard at the small forward position.

Things have changed.

So far, the roster appears to be more robust at the backcourt than originally expected.  Although first to arrive, Drew will compete with both Trimble and Blackmon Jr. for playing time in summer league contests.

Drew can dish

But before you start moving Drew down on any projected depth charts, know this. He will hold his own.  Drew is an excellent basketball facilitator.  As such, he is the one you want on the court to showcase your shooters.  If you truly want to test the compatibility of either Fultz or TLC with Ben Simmons, you play Larry Drew.

Kentucky two-step

The next pair of summer league players hail from the University of Kentucky, albeit at differing years.

SF Aaron Harrison

6-foot-6  210 pound Aaron Harrison is the G-league standout for the Delaware 87ers.  He was formerly on-again/off-again for the Charlotte Hornets and their G-League affiliate the Greensboro swarm.  After the team cut ties with Harrison to avoid guaranteed salary clauses, the Swarm  traded Harrison to the Delaware 87ers for Cat Barber.

In 26 games for the Hornets over two seasons, Harrison barely showed a pulse on the stat sheets.  Since arriving to the 87ers, he has averaged a lofty 48.2 percent from three-point range. You can bet he’ll get plenty of long distance looks this summer. While Harrison is often listed as a shooting guard, you can expect him to play at small forward with his height.

PG  Isaiah Briscoe

6-foot-3 202 pound Kentucky point guard Isaiah Briscoe is another surprising addition to the Sixers summer league roster.  But after investigating further, I see there is a method to the madness.

Briscoe is a completely versatile guard, slotted as a point guard but made room for both Tyler Ullis and De’Arron Fox.  So what does Briscoe bring? Well, he is a veteran from kentucky, so he competed against very good players. Briscoe is only one of three players to land a triple double for UK, when he posted 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds at Ole Miss.

Jersey Baller

Briscoe hails from Newark,  New Jersey, and as such is quite familiar with Philly basketball. He even has the celebrity NBA endorsement of New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, per SNY.TV’s Adam Zagoria

"“Oh, for sure, I absolutely see him in this league one day,” Anthony told me. “I just want him to continue to focus in on what he gotta focus on, and don’t even worry about this NBA stuff. It’s gonna happen if he do what he gotta do.” Anthony added: “I’ve seen him work out, I’ve watched him work out. I mean, he’s a hell of a talent. Big body, big guard.”"

You don’t find many glowing endorsements anymore. This one is a resounding promotion.

Fine China Players

The philadelphia 76ers have one confirmed player and a second reported player from Chinaa on this year’s summer league roster. They are:

Li Muhao
Guo Ailun

Li Muhao

7-foot-2 center Li Muhao is a very talented player.  His name has surfaced as an NBA Draft prospect in both 2014 and 2015.

He has a solid game in the paint and as you watch videos from 2014, you can see he has the physicality to bounce big bodies, pivot and pop for the score.

He will be fun to watch. Do yourself a favor and set the DIVO to record each game.  Trying to determine the current contract terms of Li Muhao is difficult, as an April 2017 report indicates contract term are still in effect. Would Muhao be a player considered for a two-way contract? Perhaps.
That will certainly be a question to pose to the Chinese center this summer.

Guo Ailun

China’s 6-foot-04 170 pound shooting guasrd Guo Ailun is another player worth recording.

I have been unable to confirm reports of his participation on the 76ers summer league team, but am excited at the concept.

He is a solid shooter. In fact, he averaged 19.93 points per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 39.3 percent from three-point range.  I can certainly hope reports prove to be true. This guy is electrifying.

This should catch you up to speed for the Philadelphia 76ers 2017 NBA Summer League play.  This will be a huge summer for the team. Hope you are as excited for it as I am.