Sixers: 5 storylines to watch in NBA Summer League

The NBA Summer League will take place from Aug. 9-17 in Las Vegas, with at least five games allocated to each team. The Sixers have put themselves in a spotlight already with one of the more impressive rosters heading to Vegas — headlined by recent first-round picks Jaden Springer and Tyrese Maxey.

The full roster includes four players who were on the Sixers’ roster last season (Maxey, Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed, Rayjon Tucker), as well as all three rookies picked in last month’s NBA Draft (Springer, Filip Petrusev, Charles Bassey).

Philadelphia will do battle with Dallas (Aug. 9), Atlanta (Aug. 12), Boston (Aug. 14), and Minnesota (Aug. 15), with the fifth and final game TBD. Here are the storylines to pay attention to as well get a closer look at Philadelphia’s young talent.

What to watch for in Sixers’ Summer League: Tyrese Maxey MVP?

The Summer League is typically dominated by elite prospects and older, more experienced players. Maxey has a very successful rookie season under his belt, and should have no trouble slicing up Summer League defenses in Vegas. If the Sixers commit to playing Maxey all five games — and that’s a mighty big if given his status in the league — he’s a tentative MVP favorite.

NBA defenses could hardly contain Maxey’s drives last season, and that was without a reliable 3-point stroke. He was an important part of the playoff rotation by the second round, and his work ethic is well-documented. He made drastic improvements all season, and there’s no doubt this summer has led to more growth from the 20-year-old.

The last three Summer League MVPs are Brandon Clarke, Josh Hart, and Lonzo Ball. A fascinating mix of talent, but Maxey has the goods. He can operate on that level, especially against lesser competition. If his poise from the postseason carries over, Maxey will look like a man among boys in Vegas.