The Grizzlies finished their Las Vegas Summer League season Sunday with 3-2 record, losing their final two games to the Minnesota and San Antonio summer squads. What I took away from the games:
O.J. Mayo: After several hints that Mayo would return for one or two more games in Las Vegas, they didn’t happen? Did Mayo decide not to play or did the team shut him down? There are hints that it’s the latter, with coach Lionel Hollins offering skeptical comments about Mayo’s potential transition.
With nothing new to factor in since my previous Summer League post, I’ll just reiterate: I remain agnostic on the question of Mayo becoming a point guard. His awkward, mistake-heavy play at the position certainly doesn’t help the case, but nor do I find it definitive. The bigger issue is that the team’s current roster (where the three best bench players might be wings) and penchant for having match-up problems with bigger guards at both backcourt spots both point toward needing to put Mayo on the ball for stretches. And if the team is giving up on that after two poor Summer League games, then what’s the end game going to be?
- Sam Young: The one Griz player who definitely had a good summer league season.
Sam Young: Before turning in a clunker in the teamwide debacle of a final game (3 points, 1-6 shooting), Young had been one of the best players in Vegas, highlighted by a league-best 35 point eruption against the D Leaguers.
Young has already proven he can score against pros. In Vegas he need to expand his game beyond the ball-stopping, one-on-one, slashing play that marked his rookie season, and I think he did that. Young scored plenty on isolation plays, but it seemed to be a much better mix than during his rookie season: More catch-and-shoot jumpers, more transition scores, some quick post scores.
The Grizzlies two biggest acquisitions this summer — Tony Allen and Xavier Henry — both play the same positions as Young, but on a team so devoid of quality depth, the Grizzlies can’t let Young languish. He’s a legit NBA contributor.