Summer League is one of the best times of the year for the NBA. Each year, top picks struggle, and undrafted guys show out, leading to waves of overreactions. Just last year, people called Victor Wembanyama a bust after one summer league game. Luckily, teams have a more level-headed approach to evaluating their time at the Vegas Summer League. So, what can the Toronto Raptors learn from their time on the strip?
What Did The Raptors Learn At Summer League?
Better Left In Vegas
At Summer League, you see some second-year players and the occasional third-year player. Usually, those guys only play one or two games and sit the rest because they clearly are a level above the rest. For a third-year player to perform as poorly as Ochai Agbaji did in Vegas is concerning. Across four summer league games, Agbaji shot a putrid 36% from the field and 14% from three. Agbaji was invisible most of the time he was on the court, and when he got the ball, he didn’t want anything to do with it. Defensively, Agbaji wasn’t much better. He got beat off the dribble often and looked lost when it came to switching or rotating off-ball. Agbaji can still turn things around, but the Raptors learned this summer that he is far from an impactful player.
Young Raptor On The Rise
Agbaji wasn’t the only NBA player on the Raptors Summer League roster sophomore Gradey Dick was also in Vegas. Dick’s time in Vegas got cut short due to an ankle sprain, but his growth was evident in the short time he did play. Dick looked like a much better decision-maker running the offense a lot when he did play. He looked stronger, being able to finish through contact and not getting moved off his spot defensively. While his shot didn’t fall much in Vegas, he got good open looks when he wanted to. With Gary Trent Jr leaving in free agency and with what Dick showed in Vegas, the Raptors learned they have a GTJ replacement ready and waiting on the roster.
Learning About The Rookies
Summer League is the first time organizations get to see their rookies under the bright NBA lights. For Toronto, which had four rookies in Vegas, there was a lot to watch and a lot to like. Jonathan Mogbo got hurt after one game, so the rookie didn’t get to show much, but the flashes were there in the first game. Mogbo showed he can handle the ball in the open and half-court, he can pass the ball, and he has the size needed to play in the NBA.
Ja’Kobe Walter was a steal at 19 for the Raptors, and it’s clear why. Walter is a shooter through and through. While his shot wasn’t failing, he could get open whenever he wanted to off-ball—running from one side of the court to the other, quickly letting it fly. Walter’s handle looked better than advertised, snaking his way into the paint. When in the paint, Walter’s footwork was on full display, getting defenders with pump fakes, step-throughs, and turnaround jumpers.
Jamal Shead shared the backcourt with Walter. Shead is like a brick wall with super glue on it defensively. Guys can’t go through him, and if they try to, he picks up their pocket. However, Shead has a long way to go regarding scoring, not being an elite slasher or a good shooter. Ulrich Chomche is raw, but his potential is sky-high. Chomche has shown flashes of his potential, being able to block a shot, recover the ball, go coast to coast, and draw two free throws. He needs to work on every part of his game, but at 6-10 and only 18 years old, Chomche could end up being the best player in this draft class. Toronto learned that their rookies are ready to impact the game and have real upside.
