What to Watch For: Friars in the Summer League
David Duke, AJ Reeves, and Justin Minaya will all take to the court in Vegas
There will be plenty to pay attention to for Friar fans over the coming week, as David Duke (Brooklyn Nets), Justin Minaya (Charlotte Hornets), and AJ Reeves (Boston Celtics) will all be taking part in NBA Summer League action.
Kris Dunn participated in the Washington Wizards’ mini-camp, but it does not appear as though he will play in the Summer League, as he is not listed on the Wizards’ roster. Dunn is expected to be part of the Wizards’ training camp prior to the regular season in September.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead for Duke, Reeves, and Minaya this summer:
David Duke: Duke played in 22 games a season ago for the Nets, averaging 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds, while shooting 36% from the field, 24% from three, and 81% at the free throw line.
Like Kris Dunn before him, Duke’s ability to stick in the league will likely hinge on his ability to defend at a high level. He saw his first action in early December, a month in which he had rebounding efforts of 13 boards (vs. Toronto on 12/14) and 14 (vs. Orlando on 12/18).
His 3-point percentage was certainly lower than he’d hoped for, but it’s not overly surprising considering his attempts were limited and spaced out throughout the season. Duke’s shooting percentages weren’t much better in the G League (37.3% from the field, 30.3% from three), where he put up averages of 16.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists a night.
The Nets are hoping to retain Duke, who is a restricted free agent after Brooklyn tendered him a qualifying offer as a two-way player earlier this summer.
The Nets will have a deep Summer League roster, as Duke will be joined by Kessler Edwards, Cam Thomas, and Day’ron Sharpe, as well as Harvard product Noah Kirkwood.
Here is their schedule:
July 8 vs. Milwaukee at 7pm on NBATV (with a potential matchup against former Seton Hall forward Sandro Mamukelashvili)
July 10 vs. Philadelphia at 3:30pm on NBATV (against four former Big East foes in Paul Reed, Myles Powell, Julian Champagnie, and Aminu Mohammed)
July 12 vs. Memphis at 6pm on ESPNU (notable names include former DePaul guard Sonny Weems, rookies Kennedy Chandler, David Roddy, and Jake LaRavia, and Kenneth Lofton, as well as former Celtics guard Tremont Waters)
July 14 vs. Minnesota at 9pm on ESPNU (with three first round draft picks, including Duke’s Wendell Moore. They also have former Kansas center David McCormack, one-time PC recruit Marial Shayock, and Deonte Burton who spent a few years at Marquette)
AJ Reeves: Reeves will get a shot with his hometown team this summer, as the Celtics announced last week that he would be joining their Summer League outfit.
The Cs currently have 12 players under contract, with the recent signings of Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet. Boston is pretty heavily into the luxury tax following the addition of Malcolm Brogdon (Brogdon and Derrick White will make $40M off the bench next season). Their top priority after adding Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari is finding a serviceable third big behind the aging Al Horford and the oft-injured Robert Williams.
Boston would likely rather keep 2021 second round pick Juhann Begarin developing in France for at least another year (the 6’5 guard is still only 19 years old), while this year’s second round selection, JD Davison, is also a longer term project. Yam Madar is a 2021 second round pick who will not be playing this summer, as he’ll be home in Israel playing with their national team.
Reeves will be battling for playing time with last year’s two-way contract players in 6’5 Broderic Thomas and 6’7 Matt Ryan. Like Duke, both Thomas and Ryan are restricted free agents following their first seasons on two-way contracts.
Purdue big man Trevion Williams could also show well in this type of environment with his post game and outstanding passing ability.
Here is their schedule:
Saturday, July 9 vs. Miami at 5:30pm on NBATV (the Heat have a pair of former Big East players in center Omer Yurtseven and St. John’s wing Aaron Wheeler)
Monday, July 11 vs. Milwaukee at 8pm on NBATV
Tuesday, July 12 vs. Golden State at 8:30pm on ESPN (players to keep an eye on here include former Memphis center James Wiseman, Arkansas products Moses Moody and JD Notae, Mac McClung, rookie Patrick Baldwin, and former lottery pick Jonathan Kuminga)
Thursday, July 14 vs. Memphis at 3:30pm on NBATV
Justin Minaya: Minaya joins a pretty deep Hornets group. There are plenty of familiar names here: first round pick Mark Williams of Duke, 6’10 second year man Kai Jones out of Texas, one-time Kentucky big man Nick Richards, Creighton guard Ty-Shon Alexander, UConn big Isaiah Whaley, Scottie Lewis of Florida, Dayton’s Jalen Crutcher, Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens, and LiAngelo Ball.
Here is their schedule:
Friday, July 8 vs. Indiana at 6:00pm on ESPN2 (Villanova’s Jermaine Samuels and USC’s Bennie Boatwright)
Sunday, July 10 vs. LA Lakers at 9:30pm on NBATV (Cole Swider, Shareef O’Neal, and Scotty Pippen Jr.)
Wednesday, July 13 vs. Cleveland at 5:00pm on ESPNU (Ochai Agbaji, former PC recruit Josh Hall, Jamorko Picket of Georgetown)
Thursday, July 14 vs. Chicago at 6pm on ESPN2 (DePaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty, Howard’s Makur Maker, Dalen Terry of Arizona)