but in the end, I think it's fair to say he probably ended up arguably the 3rd-best behind Myles Turner and Jahlil Okafor, and no worse than Top 5 ... here's a ranking/breakdown of the Top 10 SEC bigs covering the past 2 NBA drafts, based on production, efficiency, and impact in the 2015 NBA Summer League ...
1. Bobby Portis, rookie, Chicago Bulls ... 6 games, 28.2 minutes per game, 14.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, 42.1% FGs, 75.0% FTs ...
-- BP was first among 10 SEC bigs (rookie or otherwise) in scoring & rebounding averages
-- BP was No. 1 among ALL rookie bigs in rebounding average
-- BP was 5th among ALL rookie bigs in scoring (behind only Myles Turner,
Frank Kaminsky, Jahlil Okafor, and Montrez Harrell)
-- BP had 2 double-doubles in 6 games, and he averaged 9.8 rebounds in the last 4 games.
-- In general terms, BP was a factor inside and out at both ends. His motor and skill set at 6-10
make him a nice player for today's NBA ... combine that with his work ethic and hunger to get better
and you have a great value at the No. 22 pick.
2. Jordan Mickey, rookie, Boston Celtics ... 8 games, 28.1 minutes, 12.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.4 blocks, 52.6% FGs, 67.0% FTs ... after a slow start in 3 games in the Utah SL event, Mickey picked up his minutes and production in Las Vegas to finish as the 2nd-best SEC big in SL play in terms of production, energy, and efficiency.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, rookie, Minnesota Timberwolves ... 5 games, 31.2 minutes, 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.8 blocks, 39.6% FGs, 73.3% FTs ... No.1 overall pick was dominated by Bobby Portis in the SL opening game for both, and K-AT never played consistently well. He certainly didn't fair as well as No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor of Philadelphia. Though he struggled, K-AT showed some range facing and was a physical space-eater inside who altered shots and mixed it up going after 50/50 balls all over the court.
4. Willie Cauley-Stein, rookie, Sacramento Kings ... 5 games, 22.4 minutes, 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 2.8 blocks, 51.2% FGs, 65.0% FTs ... although nothing is mind-blowing, the 2.8 blocks to lead all SEC bigs does stand out ... he was consistent and efficient at both ends, and in his last 3 games, he averaged 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 blocks. I still think he was overrated in value as a college player, and I still think he will be an inconsistent NBA journeyman, but he did better in summer-league play than I thought he would because he appears to be a bit stronger than I thought he was.
5. Jarnell Stokes, 2nd year, Memphis Grizzlies ... 5 games, 28.0 minutes, 12.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.2 blocks, 55.3% FGs, 72.0% FTs ... best FG% among the SEC bigs in summer league play, and as we saw in college, he may be undersized, but he is thick with soft hands and a nose for the ball. For those reasons, he has Big Nasty, Glen Davis, Brandon Bass type potential as a role player.
6. Dakari Johnson. rookie, Oklahoma City Thunder ... 5 games, 26.8 minutes, 7.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, 48.6% FGs, and 57.1% FTs ... Dakari was quicker to gobble up rebounds than I've seen from him, and he ended up the 2nd-best rebounder behind BP ... he also had 2 double-doubles in 5 games.
7. Julius Randle, 2nd year, Los Angeles Lakers ... 4 games, 20.5 minutes, 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks, 39.5% FGs, 64.0% FTs ... his minutes were limited as he continues to make his way back from last year's leg injury, but I've openly questioned his value at the NBA level due to lack of size to play the 4 and lack of perimeter skill to play the 3, and just his overall lack of defensive ability. Too early to say he will be a disappointment relative to his draft-lottery selection from a year ago, but I think that's where he might be headed.
8. Trey Liles, rookie, Utah Jazz ... 6 games, 24.2 minutes, 11.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, 32.3% FGs, 59.4% FTs ... shot the ball poorly from the field and the FT line, but has a versatile skill set to play the 3 or stretch-4, so I like his ceiling long-term.
9. and 10.: Jarell Martin, rookie, Memphis Grizzlies and Johnny O'Bryant III, 2nd year, Milwaukee Bucks ... neither guy played = no stats available. I think Martin has the skill and athleticism to be a good pro, while Johnny O's hands and motor were often a problem in college, and at 6-9, there's just not a lot of long-term upside even though he is very athletic with respectable skill.
1. Bobby Portis, rookie, Chicago Bulls ... 6 games, 28.2 minutes per game, 14.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, 42.1% FGs, 75.0% FTs ...
-- BP was first among 10 SEC bigs (rookie or otherwise) in scoring & rebounding averages
-- BP was No. 1 among ALL rookie bigs in rebounding average
-- BP was 5th among ALL rookie bigs in scoring (behind only Myles Turner,
Frank Kaminsky, Jahlil Okafor, and Montrez Harrell)
-- BP had 2 double-doubles in 6 games, and he averaged 9.8 rebounds in the last 4 games.
-- In general terms, BP was a factor inside and out at both ends. His motor and skill set at 6-10
make him a nice player for today's NBA ... combine that with his work ethic and hunger to get better
and you have a great value at the No. 22 pick.
2. Jordan Mickey, rookie, Boston Celtics ... 8 games, 28.1 minutes, 12.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.4 blocks, 52.6% FGs, 67.0% FTs ... after a slow start in 3 games in the Utah SL event, Mickey picked up his minutes and production in Las Vegas to finish as the 2nd-best SEC big in SL play in terms of production, energy, and efficiency.
3. Karl-Anthony Towns, rookie, Minnesota Timberwolves ... 5 games, 31.2 minutes, 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.8 blocks, 39.6% FGs, 73.3% FTs ... No.1 overall pick was dominated by Bobby Portis in the SL opening game for both, and K-AT never played consistently well. He certainly didn't fair as well as No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor of Philadelphia. Though he struggled, K-AT showed some range facing and was a physical space-eater inside who altered shots and mixed it up going after 50/50 balls all over the court.
4. Willie Cauley-Stein, rookie, Sacramento Kings ... 5 games, 22.4 minutes, 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, 2.8 blocks, 51.2% FGs, 65.0% FTs ... although nothing is mind-blowing, the 2.8 blocks to lead all SEC bigs does stand out ... he was consistent and efficient at both ends, and in his last 3 games, he averaged 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 blocks. I still think he was overrated in value as a college player, and I still think he will be an inconsistent NBA journeyman, but he did better in summer-league play than I thought he would because he appears to be a bit stronger than I thought he was.
5. Jarnell Stokes, 2nd year, Memphis Grizzlies ... 5 games, 28.0 minutes, 12.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.2 blocks, 55.3% FGs, 72.0% FTs ... best FG% among the SEC bigs in summer league play, and as we saw in college, he may be undersized, but he is thick with soft hands and a nose for the ball. For those reasons, he has Big Nasty, Glen Davis, Brandon Bass type potential as a role player.
6. Dakari Johnson. rookie, Oklahoma City Thunder ... 5 games, 26.8 minutes, 7.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, 48.6% FGs, and 57.1% FTs ... Dakari was quicker to gobble up rebounds than I've seen from him, and he ended up the 2nd-best rebounder behind BP ... he also had 2 double-doubles in 5 games.
7. Julius Randle, 2nd year, Los Angeles Lakers ... 4 games, 20.5 minutes, 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks, 39.5% FGs, 64.0% FTs ... his minutes were limited as he continues to make his way back from last year's leg injury, but I've openly questioned his value at the NBA level due to lack of size to play the 4 and lack of perimeter skill to play the 3, and just his overall lack of defensive ability. Too early to say he will be a disappointment relative to his draft-lottery selection from a year ago, but I think that's where he might be headed.
8. Trey Liles, rookie, Utah Jazz ... 6 games, 24.2 minutes, 11.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, 32.3% FGs, 59.4% FTs ... shot the ball poorly from the field and the FT line, but has a versatile skill set to play the 3 or stretch-4, so I like his ceiling long-term.
9. and 10.: Jarell Martin, rookie, Memphis Grizzlies and Johnny O'Bryant III, 2nd year, Milwaukee Bucks ... neither guy played = no stats available. I think Martin has the skill and athleticism to be a good pro, while Johnny O's hands and motor were often a problem in college, and at 6-9, there's just not a lot of long-term upside even though he is very athletic with respectable skill.
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