Vegas Summer League 2023: Three Underlying Questions to Consider

With Vegas Summer League is underway, what are three underlying questions to consider?

Summer League performances should be taken with a grain of salt. However, those performances still serve as a data point and hold some value as both the players and teams are searching for some answers. 

It's a time for prospects of varying levels to either get their feet wet in the NBA, show development in their game or showcase their talents in an audition to earn a NBA contract. As we keep this in mind, here are three questions to consider. 

Can Boston find playmaking help in JD Davison and/or Dalano Banton?

After completing the biggest trade of the offseason thus far which sent Marcus Smart to Memphis, Kristaps Porzingis to Boston and Tyus Jones to Washington, the Celtics lost their best defender and the team’s heartbeat. Boston clearly will need to address those voids, but the playmaking and facilitation value Smart brought could prove to be just as significant.

Smart has led the team in assists every season since the 2019-2020, including a career high 6.3 assists per game last season. Although the expectation is for Tatum and Brown to assume a larger playmaking and facilitation role as the lead handlers, young prospects JD Davison and Delano Banton may have a chance to help ease that burden, starting with strong showings in Vegas.

Davison, a 2022 second round pick, has made noticeable strides as playmaker in the G League while becoming Boston’s best G-League prospect. His 8.7 assists per game ranked fourth in the G-League. He doesn’t have elite vision or a high passing feel, but his burst and athleticism off the bounce allow him to create paint touches as a downhill threat that’s capable of making solid reads.

JD Davison is so good in creating these wide-open looks for his shooters.

The pass should have been better. Overall, he's looking better than he was at Alabama.

Let's see if the Celtics give him some minutes this season. pic.twitter.com/3jvDin40vK

— Ersin Demir (@EDemirNBA) December 2, 2022

JD Davison impressively works the defense following th high screen and delivers a great pass to Trevion Williams. pic.twitter.com/bZslXayoaq

— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) July 14, 2022

On the other hand, Banton is that high feel passer with excellent vision and manipulation. At 6-foot-9, he’s a tall playmaker with the versatility and ball skills that teams desire. Banton inked a two-year deal with Boston with a team option on the second year. I thought he would stick with his hometown Toronto Raptors, but this could end up being an excellent fit for both sides.

3 excellent PnR passes from 6'9" Dalano Banton: skip pass to the weakside corner, feed to the roller after snaking, and hits the lift. pic.twitter.com/q1GRxOQSFC

— Will Morris (@w_a_morris) December 29, 2020

Some Dalano Banton tape

Hasn’t been too productive in the league, but has a very interesting skill set. pic.twitter.com/lUpz6npEY2

— Pull up shoot  (@NElGHT_) July 3, 2023

Will we see more Jordan Hawkins self-creation?

Hawkins was such a joy to watch at UConn. He paired elite 3-point shooting with Energizer Bunny like stamina and excellent off ball screen navigation to run circles around defenders attempting to stay attached. Most times they couldn’t, resulting in Hawkins effortlessly burying threes or smartly curling to attack the rim or pull-up.

The off-ball movement and 3-point shooting marriage offered a high floor, leading to the Pelicans to select Hawkins with the 14th overall pick where he’ll be an outstanding complement to the Williamson-Ingram-McCollum trio. 

An impressive 22-point flamethrowing display by Jordan Hawkins tonight in UConn’s 74-66 win vs. Villanova. The 6-foot-5 sophomore is a dangerous weapon running off screens. Savvy with tremendous elevation and a quick trigger. Exudes pure confidence. Also added 7 REB & 2 STL. pic.twitter.com/H4Q2gAdwEE

— League Him (@League_Him) December 29, 2022

Summer League will provide an opportunity for Hawkins to show a bit more of his self-creation game in both a different environment and system that should usher those chances. How he balances his off-ball shooting with the self-creation freedom generally encouraged in the Summer League should be monitored.

Can the Wizards get production out of first rounders, Johnny Davis and Bilal Coulibaly?

Despite a rough overall rookie season for Johnny Davis that began with an underwhelming Vegas League, he seemed to get more comfortable and confident late in the season while playing both with the Wizards (28 games) and GoGo (18 games). Over his final five games with Wizards, Davis averaged 17 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. With another year under his belt, I would be surprised if Davis doesn’t have promising Summer League.

2022 NBA lottery pick Johnny Davis took full advantage of his time in the G League to work on his game! 🔥

When he returned to the @WashWizards, he was a different beast. Davis averaged 14.6 PPG & 5.6 RPG over his final eight NBA games with back-to-back 20-pieces. #RookieRewind pic.twitter.com/mJlOnQ5Uv3

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 6, 2023

Just like patience was and still is needed for Davis’ development, the same should be said about Coulibaly, who the team traded up one spot to select at seventh overall in a bit of a surprise. 

Listed at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Coulibaly is home run swing by Washington on an athletic, toolsy two-way wing with skill flashes and an encouraging development trajectory. If he does get off to a slow Summer League start, I like that Davis will be right by his side and can offer words of encouragement after going through a similar start. 

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