Breaking Down The Best Orlando Summer League Players (Part 1)

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The Orlando summer league allows us to get our first glimpse of the new NBA prospects playing at the pro level. For us as hoops junkies its like unwrapping a bunch of christmas presents, but for many of these guys its their first impression to their new organization and the league in general. For guys who aren’t first round picks its about getting one of these teams to fall in love with you enough to give you a contract. Marcus Smart, Shabazz Napier, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and Jordan Adams headline the 2014 first round picks in the Orlando summer league. Aaron Craft and Nick Johnson make up the undrafted players looking for a spot in the league that were pretty well decorated in college. So without any further delay lets get into the positives of the Orlando summer league.

James Ennis (Miami Heat)

Of every returning player in the Orlando summer league no player has come back as improved as the 6-7 forward out of Long Beach State. If you made me pick and MVP for summer league this far then this would be my guy, he looks like he’s ready to step into the Heat rotation right now and produce. With his 6’11 inch wingspan he is exactly what Pat Riley would be looking for on the perimeter and would fit in very nicely into the Heat’s rotation. They are going to need Ennis to replace the now retired Shane Battier and shoulder the burden of a role player who can defend the perimeter and stretch the floor with his shooting.

The difference between this year and last year is that Ennis has come back more refined on the offensive end. You watch him play now and he can do a lot of positive things with the basketball in his hand. He’s got one-dribble ups, step backs, catch and shoot along with so much more potential to be had moving forward. If there was one player who hasn’t played a minute of NBA basketball that looks NBA ready then it would be this guy.

Stats: 3 games, 25.7 minutes, 17 points, 55.2 field goal %, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1 steal

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Detroit Pistons)

Last season the Pistons drafted Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with 8th overall pick and was thrown right into the fire as the teams starting shooting guard. After about a half a season of underwhelming basketball his minutes were reduced as Kyle Singler and Rodney Stuckey started the rest of the game at the shooting guard position for the Pistons. The struggles were good and it looks like it helped Caldwell-Pope become more aware of what it takes to produce at the NBA level.

The result of last years struggles have been what looks like a completely different player. The Pistons swingman has been lighting it up and of all last years draft picks he has looked the best so far displaying an offensive game that has propelled him to the top of the summer league scoring list at 27.3 points per game. He’s been doing it all from shots off the dribble, to floaters in the lane. You never want to put to much stock into summer league but last years 8th overall pick might just find his way back into his role as the Pistons starting shooting guard.

Stats: 29.3 minutes, 27.3 points, 44.1field goal %, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.7 steals, .3 blocks

Nerlens Noel (Philadelphia 76ers)

The long awaited debut of Nerlens Noel has been made and if you’re a Philadelphia 76ers fan you have to be excited for this season just based on what Noel brings to the table. As I chronicled in my “How The Top 10 Draft Picks Fit In With Their Team” article the Sixers future front court of Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel with both present the most length in the NBA as both are above the league average in wingspan at their respective positions.

For all the talk of the future, the present isn’t so bad for now as the Sixers 1st round pick of last year hasn’t disappointed. Noel is everything we’ve heard about on the defensive end and more as he can switch on wing players and guard them on the perimeter due to his mobility. His touch on the offensive end is also a lot better than I remember it being in college. Its summer league so you don’t put too much stock into it but Noel looks really solid.

Stats: 2 games, 25 minutes, 13.5 points, 52.9 field goal %, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks

The summer league in Orlando boasts a lot of talent and its going to be another exciting 2 days to get a look at some of the leagues new talent.