The Detroit Pistons are nearly through their Summer League schedule, and it’s been a ho hum effort so far.
Summer League is usually the time for wild overreactions, and over the years I’ve had fun making facetious predictions based on what are ultimately meaningless exhibitions that give us junkies enough of a fix to get through the dog days of summer.
This year’s group seems to be lacking the “Summer League Legend” that gets fans excited for no reason, and so far, this iteration has generated the worst response of all, which is apathy.
There’s not much to get excited about in Pistons’ Summer League
Back when the Pistons were bad, Summer League was the ultimate beacon of hope, as it was the first chance for us to see whatever top 5 pick joined the team that year.
That is no longer the case now that the Pistons are a playoff team, so even though there was excitement to see 17th pick Ebuka Okorie play, there wasn’t the same buzz.
Okorie has been fine.
He hasn’t been great, especially shooting the ball, and he’s turned it over too much, but I wouldn’t expect much more from a teenager who hadn’t played five on five for weeks.
He has shown some of the things that could make him special in the NBA, such as his ability to change pace and get to the rim, but he also showed that he needs to put on strength and adjust to the physicality of NBA defenders.
I wouldn’t say he was particularly impressive, but he looked the part at times. But does anyone really believe this rookie is going to be a difference maker right away? I do expect Okorie to get some run next season, but I guarantee you Daniss Jenkins is working out like Clubber Lang in Rocky III right now, so he’s not going to just give up his spot in the rotation without a fight.
Hopefully, Okorie will make an impact next season and provide some of the ball handling and scoring the Pistons need, but he didn’t jump out as a guy who will be rotation ready right away.
Chaz Lanier has been great at one thing
After a rocky start, Chaz Lanier has shot the cover off the ball, hitting 51 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Unfortunately, that is literally all he does, like I am not sure he even runs back on defense, as the only thing I ever see him do is circle the perimeter hunting 3’s. He can do that, there is no doubt, but it’s still difficult to see how he cracks the rotation.
The Pistons have shooters now and need guys who can handle the ball. Lanier may be one of the best movement shooters on the team, but he can’t dribble, create or do much of anything else.
He’s also heading towards 25-years-old, so should be good in Summer League. In other words, good luck to him but I’m not too excited.
Ugonna Onyenso is a wall, and moves like one
There was some buzz that shot blocking machine Ugonna Onyenso would crack the rotation at some point next season, but we may need to slam the brakes on that one.
He’s blocked a fair number of shots in Summer League, but he moves like a summer day in Louisiana... SLOW. This guy moves like a house.
He’s going to have to speed up those feet, but he did have a few eye-opening plays last night, so who knows, there may be a player in there, but it’s doubtful we see him play for the Pistons anytime soon.
Summer League is almost always much ado about nothing, but some of the buzz just isn’t there this season, as the Pistons don’t have an elite prospect, and there don’t look to be any rotation surprises hiding on this year’s team.
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