NBA Player News

Goodwin played five first-half minutes before exiting with a sore left calf, and he has now been ruled out for the rest of the game. Royce O’Neale started the third quarter and will take on an important role, especially with Grayson Allen (hamstring) yet to play despite being listed as available.

After appearing in 22 NBA games as a rookie, Williams is once again on a two-way contract. And with the Celtics giving Neemias Queta an extension and signing Mitchell Robinson in free agency, earning consistent rotation minutes will be a challenge. However, Williams played well in his first action of this summer league, an encouraging development for the Celtics as they move forward after the Jaylen Brown trade.

Signed to an Exhibit 10 contract on Friday morning, Bittle had an excellent summer league debut. The 7-footer blocked six shots and shot 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, providing value on both ends of the floor. In the past, the Raptors have enjoyed success developing players through their G League affiliate. At a minimum, Bittle knows that he’ll be in an NBA training camp come September. Not a bad deal for a player who went undrafted after a productive college career at Oregon.

Making his summer debut, Graves displayed the versatility that made him the 19th overall pick in last month’s draft. Efficient offensively, the former Santa Clara forward was also a pest defensively. What the Raptors’ rotation will look like once the regular season begins is unknown, as the Kawhi Leonard trade has been placed on hold. Regardless of what happens, Graves has the tools needed to crack the rotation, just as Collin Murray-Boyles did as a rookie last season.

While Caleb Wilson put forth a historic performance in the Bulls’ summer opener, fellow first-round pick Swain struggled. Memphis’ perimeter defenders consistently got into the rookie’s body, making it challenging for Swain to handle the ball. The good news is that the inefficient shooting did not carry over into the ball control, as Swain committed just two turnovers. He’ll look to bounce back on Monday when the Bulls face the Jazz in their second game in Las Vegas.

Friday’s game was Essengue’s first action since November 24, as he required season-ending shoulder surgery in early December. With only two NBA games under his belt, this summer league experience is important for the 6-foot-10 forward, who appears to have added some weight/muscle to his slender frame. Essengue didn’t offer much scoring against the Grizzlies, but the six defensive contributions are something that new Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter can work with as he rebuilds the team.

While he didn’t offer much offensively on Friday, the Grizzlies had to be encouraged by Hendricks’ four blocked shots. And the defensive end of the floor is where he may prove most valuable once the regular season begins. With Jaren Jackson Jr. no longer in the picture, getting shot-blocking from Hendricks and the offseason acquisition Isaiah Stewart would help offset Trip’s February exit.

Making his first appearance in Las Vegas after shoulder surgery sidelined him last summer, Coward finished Friday’s 97-96 victory with a solid double-double. As was the case in Salt Lake City, the Grizzlies wing struggled with his perimeter shot on Friday, shooting 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. However, Coward provided value as a rebounder, defender and playmaker. With the Grizzlies turning the page from the Ja Morant era, Coward is one of the players who will figure prominently in their rotation next season. That makes him a more valuable fantasy basketball option, especially if Coward can improve his perimeter shooting.

Chicago’s Caleb Wilson may have stolen the show in the matchup of the top-5 draft picks, but Boozer had an excellent game in his own right. The rookie forward led five Grizzlies starters in double figures, with the lone negative being his four turnovers. They haven’t shared the floor in an official game yet, but Boozer already appears to have established good chemistry with Cedric Coward, which bodes well for the Grizzlies moving forward. Since Boozer also played in Salt Lake City, he may not play every game in Las Vegas.

What a night for Wilson, who set the NBA record for most points in a summer league debut. While there were some negatives, most notably the six turnovers, Wilson’s shot-making ability was highly impressive. He shot 7-of-11 from beyond the arc, including one as time expired. Given his perimeter shooting struggles during his lone season at North Carolina, it would be a game-changer for Wilson and the Bulls if he can consistently hit those shots once the games count.

Jefferson injured his ankle during the second round of the NCAA tournament and did not play in any of the Nets’ games in Salt Lake City or Friday’s win over the Knicks in Las Vegas. Despite not even participating in team practices, there is hope that the 6-foot-8 forward from Iowa State will make his summer debut on Saturday against the Hawks. Jefferson can do a little bit of everything at the forward position, which is why he worked his way into the first round of last month’s draft.