Bulls' Daniel Gafford snubbed for All-NBA Summer League Team spot

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The only thing sillier than putting too much stock in Las Vegas Summer League results are getting upset over Summer League awards.

Still, Bulls fans may have been confused that center Daniel Gafford wasn't named to either All-NBA Summer League Team announced yesterday.

Say what you will about how it will translate in the NBA, but Gafford's numbers were outstanding in Las Vegas. The 38th overall pick finished with 13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in just 24.9 minutes over five games. He shot 68.3% from the field, which was the best mark among players who attempted at least 40 shots (Gafford was 28 of 41). The next best players on that list were 8th overall pick Jaxson Hayes (63%; 27 of 43), Devontae Cacock (62%; 28 of 45) and Jarrett Allen (61%; 33 of 54).

Gafford's numbers were similar to Wendell Carter Jr's from a year ago, when the 7th overall pick from Duke averaged 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in Las Vegas. Carter was named to the All-NBA Summer League First Team fofr his efforts in five games.

Instead, Gafford was bypassed by voters for the following big men: Jarrett Allen, Brandon Clarke (the MVP of Summer League) and Mitchell Robinson on the first team, and Chris Boucher, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes on the second team.

Here's how those players stacked up against Gafford, who, again, finished with 13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks while shooting 68.3% from the field:

Allen: 16.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 61.1% FG, 26.6 minutes (5 games)
Clarke: 14.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, 55.2% FG, 22.0 minutes (6 games; Memphis won the Summer League championship)
Robinson: 15.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 86.7% FG (26 of 30), 26.0 minutes (4 games)

Boucher: 23.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 49.1% FG, 30.9 minutes (4 games)
Hachimura: 19.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 50% FG, 31.6 minutes (3 games)
Hayes: 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 62.8% FG, 24.3 minutes (4 games)

Gafford had a real case to make the second team over both Hachimura and Hayes, while Allen and Robinson really shouldn't have been playing in the Summer League. Allen has 152 NBA games and more than 3,600 minutes to his name, while Robinson was one of the top rookies in the NBA last season and led the NBA in blocks per game.

OK, we've faked our outrage long enough. Gafford had a great Summer League and he should be in the mix for some rotation minutes along with free agent signee Luke Kornet behind Carter.

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