Are you still watching the closing moments of Game 6 of the NBA Finals? Is the confetti from the parade still perusing the floor in your bedroom? Have you not washed your playoff shirt yet?
If you haven’t heard, or are a Los Angeles Lakers fan still in denial, the Golden State Warriors won the NBA championship. It’s been nearly a month since the final buzzer sounded in Cleveland, and for most, the moment is still surreal.
This season was such a contrast from previous years that Las Vegas Summer League, which usually gives the organization and fans first glimpse at the team’s latest top pick, suddenly seems almost moot.
Major contributors of the championship team all played in Las Vegas at some point, including Draymond Green two seasons ago and Festus Ezeli just last summer. This season, newcomer Kevon Looney will be the highlight with returnees James Michael McAdoo and Ognjen Kuzmic also getting looks.
Championship fever was put Summer League on the back burner, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. Looney was a first round selection after all, and if he hadn’t suffered injuries at UCLA the consensus was he would’ve been in the lottery.
An incredible rebounder – he led all freshmen in the nation with 15 double-doubles and was second among freshmen in rebounding – with a 7′ 3.5” wingspan, Looney can contribute in areas that the defending champions need improvement. The Warriors were 21st in the league in offensive rebounding, and if Looney can remain healthy he’ll surely get a chance to help in that department.
As “skilled big,” as Bob Myers put on draft night, Looney averaged 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in his first and only season with the Bruins. 41.5 percent from deep in his lone season is intriguing, as well as his ability to defend other positions. At 19-years old, the Warriors could afford to take a flyer on such a talent, and Myers acknowledged as such shortly after the selection.
“If he needs to take some time to recover from anything that might be there, or not, then he will,” said the reigning Executive of the Year.
Looney is a project, but that’s what Summer League can help establish. The competition isn’t fierce, but it’s not college either. He’s healthy, and while standing out in Summer League isn’t a precursor to success in the league, Looney’s performance under Luke Walton can go a long way towards a spot on the regular season roster.
Two players who did spend some time on the roster last season were James Michael McAdoo and Ognjen Kuzmic. McAdoo, who spent three seasons at North Carolina under some disappointing Tar Heel teams, was mostly present for spot-minute duties in the fourth quarter when the Warriors decided to ease up on their downtrodden opponent.
At 6’9,” McAdoo is a high energy big with potential to become a rebounding force. His highlight performance last season occurred against the Denver Nuggets, which saw the Norfolk, Virginia native mount 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and five rebounds. The combo forward was impressive in Denver and immediately became a prospect worth keeping an eye on.
With the departure of David Lee, that leaves an opening in the frontcourt for the active McAdoo to contribute. He’s not as skilled as Lee, but if there’s a need to spell Green, Andrew Bogut or simply some energy, McAdoo can be that guy. His offensive contributions remain to be seen, but his other skills are enough to warrant more minutes.
Kuzmic, on the other hand, has some work to do before he cans any type of consistent minutes. As the third center, Kuz didn’t see much of any time during the regular season, instead being regulated to D-League duty in Santa Cruz. For the champion Santa Cruz Warriors, however, he averaged an impressive 12.8 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks 30.7 minutes.
The potential is there, but the minutes aren’t for the 7-footer from Bosnia. Known as “Wilt” Kuzmic on the interwebs, the big man is stuck in league purgatory: good enough to play at the D-League level, not quite skilled enough to get minutes on the NBA level.
The Warriors believed in Kuz enough to extend a qualifying offer (they didn’t for newly signed Atlanta Hawk Justin Holiday), and with Bogut’s future beyond his current deal in doubt, Kuz can very well be the backup center of the future. A strong performance – coinciding with Bogut’s benching – in the Finals gave all an early look at the possible future.
As reigning champions, the Warriors begin Summer League with nothing to prove and little to display relative to other high picks and struggling franchises. But, despite the talent displayed throughout last season, they’re neither perfect nor invincible. Looney, McAdoo and Kuzmic all can earn larger roles for the defending champions, and it starts on Friday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Las Vegas.