Warriors at Summer League: Three things to watch in Las Vegas
The Warriors’ Summer League squad will descend on Las Vegas this weekend looking for some rhythm after splitting two games in the California Classic at Golden 1 Center. A week in Las Vegas represents a chance for rookies to adjust, for familiar faces to show they have grown and for Summer League invitees to prove they belong.
Golden State will play five games in Las Vegas. The Dubs open Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, then play afternoon games against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday and Houston Rockets on Thursday. A fifth game next weekend will be determined by standings after the first four.
Here are a few names and trends to watch for at Summer League:
Brandin Podziemski’s scoring touch
Podziemski turned down a few open shots in his first Summer League game against the Kings in Sacramento, but he settled in late, scoring eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter. Two of his more impressive scoring plays were a euro-step that led to a layup and a 3-pointer hit without his feet set in the final seconds of the Warriors’ loss. The 20-year-old looked far more comfortable scoring in Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 17 points on 7-14 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Podziemski will stand out if he can continue to take fewer tough 2s, such as floaters, and gain some confidence shooting the open 3.
The rookie picked 19th overall out of Santa Clara was touted for his rebounding abilities — as a 6-foot-5 guard, he averaged 8.8 rebounds per game last year with the Broncos. He showed that he could have a nose for the ball at the NBA level, too, in his first two Summer League games. He had six rebounds on Monday and four on Wednesday.
Podziemski showed patience and poise as a passer, particularly out of the pick-and-roll. He had six assists on Monday, but just one assist on Wednesday. A little lost defensively in his first game, Podziemski was involved defensively against the Hornets, disrupting passing lanes, collecting five steals and finishing an overall plus-23 in the Warriors’ win.
Will Trayce Jackson-Davis play?
The 6-foot-9 big selected 57th overall sat out the games in Sacramento with a right hamstring injury. Jackson-Davis’ injury isn’t considered serious, Summer League head coach Jacob Rubin said, but there’s no reason to risk further injury for the sake of seeing him play now. That was backed up by the Warriors reportedly agreeing Wednesday to a four-year deal with him.
If he plays in Vegas, it will be intriguing to see how the big out of Indiana University plays within the Warriors’ fast-paced system.
Kendric Davis and Javan Johnson
Davis and Johnson joined the Summer League team on Exhibit 10 contracts with invites to training camp as potential breakthrough two-way players.
Davis, a 24-year-old point guard, joined at fellow University of Memphis teammate Lester Quiñones’ suggestion; Quiñones knew Davis as a player who can keep a pace, pass and cut to the rim. Davis had a strong showing against the Hornets, scoring 17 on 6-of-11 from the field and 3-for-6 from 3. He had five rebounds and four assists.
Johnson, a 6-foot-6 forward out of DePaul, shot 37 percent on 3s across five college seasons (at three different schools) and shot 41 percent from 3 last season on six attempts per game. Three-point shooting wings are an NBA premium, so Johnson could be an intriguing prospect to keep around.
Schedule
Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, July 7 at 8 p.m. PT on ESPN
New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, July 9 at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN2
Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, July 12 at 2:30 p.m. PT on NBATV
Houston Rockets on Thursday, July 13 at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN