Los Angeles

Clippers

The 48th overall pick in June’s draft, Miller joins Moussa Diabate as players the Clippers have signed to two-way deals for the upcoming season. The former Miami standout started all 37 games for the Hurricanes last season, averaging 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 3-pointers in 35 minutes. Miller’s a versatile forward who can be used on either wing, but the path to consistent playing time with the Clippers will be difficult to navigate. Look for him to get the majority of his minutes in the G League.

Brown suffered the injury early in the second quarter of the Clippers’ summer finale, limping off the court under his own power. Given the stakes or lack thereof, there was no reason for the Clippers to put their first-round pick back in the game. Brown was asked to do a bit of everything in Las Vegas, taking on a more expansive role than what likely awaits him when the regular season begins. If he can earn rotation minutes from the start, Brown could be worth a look in deep leagues. But Brown is unlikely to be a player that fantasy managers absolutely have to draft in the fall.

Moon was the Clippers’ most consistent performer in Las Vegas, and he capped his run with another quality performance. The veteran guard finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double while shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. After playing on a two-way contract last season, Moon became an unrestricted free agent when the Clippers declined to extend a qualifying offer before the start of free agency. His play in Las Vegas should earn Moon a training camp look, whether it’s with the Clippers or another team.

What a day for Brown, who had it rolling offensively while also managing to have an impact defensively. The seven 3-pointers may be the most impressive aspect of his Friday, as the first-round pick made 45.5% of his 3.3 attempts per game as a senior at Missouri. Brown was nowhere near that number during his first three seasons, but the foul shooting (79.2% last season, 74.7% for his college career) was a sign that he can eventually develop into a dependable shooter. Add in the defensive production, and Brown put forth a performance that should get him onto Tyronn Lue’s radar ahead of training camp in September. How much he’ll play next season remains to be seen, but consistent perimeter shooting and defensive production would help push Brown into the Clippers rotation.

With Moussa Diabate (ribs) sitting for a second consecutive game, the Clippers needed more production on the glass from their first-round pick. And Brown came through, hitting double figures in the rebounding category while recording a full stat line. He didn’t shoot the ball well from the field, but give the rookie credit for not letting that influence his overall game. Jason Preston also put up a points/rebounds double-double, tallying 13 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in his 27 minutes on the court. Depending on how the Clippers address their roster (read: James Harden) before the start of training camp, Brown could be in line to earn rotation minutes in the fall.

Moon helped push the Clippers to 2-1 in Las Vegas with another standout fourth-quarter performance. He scored nine of his 16 points in the final frame, making it three straight games in which his fourth-quarter point total has exceeded the number from the first three quarters combined. While Moon was on a two-way contract last season, the Clippers declined to extend a qualifying offer for next season. Technically, that makes him an unrestricted free agent, and Moon’s play should boost his chances of being signed by an NBA team well before training camp.

Brown, the 30th overall pick in last month’s draft, did a little bit of everything in the Clippers’ win on Monday. And that fits what he brought to the table during his final two seasons at Missouri, with the 2022-23 campaign being his best. Brown is capable of contributing right away, even if there may not be the playing time needed to be of value in standard fantasy leagues.

Moon is one of the most experienced professionals playing in Las Vegas this week, and he looked the part on Monday. The veteran guard did a good job of balancing getting looks for himself with setting up his teammates, and the six assists were countered by zero turnovers. While he’s had prior NBA experience, Moon has only played in 18 games for the Clippers over the last two seasons. With Jason Preston (two points, three rebounds, and five assists in 24 minutes) having a non-guaranteed contract for next season, Moon could be in a position to make a run for that spot. The end result of that “competition,” if there is one, would not impact fantasy basketball.

Moon nearly helped the Clippers pull off an incredible comeback. He scored 21 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter alone, including some incredible 3-pointers. Moon is on a two-way contract and will likely spend most of next season in the G-League, but it’s still nice to see him playing well in Summer League.

Preston has spent the majority of his first two seasons in the G-League or injured, but the improvements are happening. The Clippers are built to win now, so it may be a few more seasons before Preston ends up seeing real time in the NBA. However, it’s encouraging to see him orchestrating the offense and playing as effectively as he did in this game.