Grizzlies

Grizzlies Gear Up for 2021 Summer League

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The Memphis Grizzlies are back in Las Vegas to defend their summer league crown.

They will be without former SLMVP Brandon Clarke, but are still loaded with young talent. Let’s take a look at the Grizzlies roster as well as some players to watch for as their opponents.

The 2021 NBA Draft didn’t go as expected within the fanbase. The Grizzlies front office decided to take a big swing in drafting Ziaire Williams while jumping back into the first round and drafting Santi Aldama. Summer League will be our first look as these players in a Memphis jersey, so there will be a lot of interest in these games.

Summer League features all 30 NBA teams playing five games each. After every team plays four games, the two teams with the best records from the first four games will meet in the Championship Game on Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. on ESPN. If the Grizzlies do not finish with a top-two record, they will then play another game on Aug. 16 or 17 decided by various factors, including team rivalries, broadcast interest and other scheduling considerations

 

NBA Summer League Breakdown

DateOpponentTip-off (CT)
Monday, August 9Brooklyn Nets4:00 p.m. on ESPN2
Wednesday, August 11Miami Heat4:00 p.m. on NBA TV
Friday, August 13Sacramento Kings8:00 p.m. on ESPNU
Sunday, August 15Chicago Bulls9:00 p.m. on NBA TV

 

Brooklyn Nets

PLAYER#POSHTWTBIRTHDATEAGEEXPSCHOOL
Reggie Perry0F6-8250 lbsMAR 21, 2000211Mississippi State
Cam Thomas8G6-4210 lbsOCT 13, 200119RLouisiana State
Kessler Edwards14F6-8215 lbsAUG 09, 200020RPepperdine
Marcus Zegarowski17G6-2181 lbsAUG 03, 199823RCreighton
David Duke20G6-5205 lbsOCT 13, 199921RProvidence
Day’Ron Sharpe21C6-11265 lbsNOV 06, 200119RNorth Carolina
Jordan Bowden22G6-5193 lbsJAN 20, 199724RTennessee
Alize Johnson24F6-7212 lbsAPR 22, 1996253Missouri State
Brandon Knight27G6-2182 lbsDEC 02, 1991298Kentucky
Chris Silva30F6-8234 lbsSEP 19, 1996242South Carolina
Kaiser Gates31F6-7225 lbsNOV 08, 199624RXavier
RaiQuan Gray34F6-8260 lbsJUL 07, 199922RFlorida State
Quinndary Weatherspoon35G6-3205 lbsSEP 10, 1996242Mississippi State
Brandon Rachal40G6-6220 lbsSEP 30, 199921RTulsa

 

Cam Thomas

W A L K I N G   B U C K E T !

Thomas was the player I wanted the Grizzlies to go after at pick 17 before the trade. He will get up a bunch of shots and is considered a volume shooter. Summer League could be his playground if his shot is dialed in. There may be a flood of threes between Desmond Bane and Thomas in this game.

Day’Ron Sharpe

Sharpe is a legit back-to-the-basket center with his low-post execution as his biggest strength. He is also a very good rebounder with shot-blocking ability. He does, however, struggle with his outside game both offensively and defensively. Xavier Tillman will have his hands full with him, but will also have a good chance to show just how dominant he can be in his second year.

Kessler Edwards

Edwards was a draft darling in the second round of many mock-draft experts. He doesn’t wow you in any aspect of his game, but he is a player that can help you win games. Summer League will be a great spot for Edwards to show the influence he has on his team on the court. If I’m looking for a guy who’s going to do a little bit of everything for Memphis, then I’m looking at John Konchar.

Miami Heat

PLAYER#POSHTWTBIRTHDATEAGEEXPSCHOOL
Gabe Vincent2G6-3195 lbsJUN 14, 1996252California-Santa Barbara
KZ Okpala11F6-8215 lbsAPR 28, 1999222Stanford
Max Strus31G-F6-5220 lbsMAR 28, 1996252DePaul
Javonte Smart50G6-4205 lbsJUN 03, 199922RLouisiana State
Marcus Garrett51G6-5205 lbsNOV 09, 199822RKansas
DeJon Jarreau53G6-5185 lbsJAN 23, 199823RHouston
Dru Smith54G6-3200 lbsDEC 30, 199723RMissouri
Tyson Carter57G6-4175 lbsJAN 14, 199823RMississippi State
A.J. Lawson58G6-6180 lbsJUL 15, 200021RSouth Carolina
R.J. Nembhard59G6-5200 lbsMAR 22, 199922RTexas Christian
D.J. Stewart Jr.60G-F6-6205 lbsJUL 28, 199922RMississippi State
Justin Smith61F6-7230 lbsMAR 01, 199922RArkansas
Micah Potter65F-C6-10250 lbsAPR 06, 199823RWisconsin
Omer Yurtseven77C7-0265 lbsJUN 19, 199823RGeorgetown


 

Omer Yurtseven

Yurtseven looked good in his Utah Summer League debut. His has length, size and scoring potential around the basket. His offense is his strength, so if he can develop his defense he will have a good shot at getting real minutes during the regular season. Yurtseven, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and KZ Okpala are the only real players on this Heat roster, so expect them to carry the load. Nonetheless, Killian Tillie and Xavier Tillman will have their hands full in his game.

Sacramento Kings

PLAYER#POSHTWTBIRTHDATEAGEEXPSCHOOL
Jahmi’us Ramsey3G6-2195 lbsJUN 09, 200120RTexas Tech
Robert Woodard II13F6-7235 lbsSEP 22, 1999211Mississippi State
Davion Mitchell15G6-2205 lbsSEP 05, 199822RBaylor
Ade Murkey17G6-5200 lbsJAN 29, 199823RIowa Wolves
Louis King23F6-7205 lbsAPR 06, 1999221Oregon
Chimezie Metu25F6-9225 lbsMAR 22, 1997243Southern California
Emanuel Terry26F6-9220 lbsAUG 21, 1996241Agua Caliente
Marcus Graves31G6-1187 lbsJUN 09, 199625RSalt Lake City Stars
DJ Steward32G6-2163 lbsOCT 02, 200119RDuke
Damien Jefferson33F6-5220 lbsOCT 03, 199723RCreighton
Matt Coleman34G6-2180 lbsJAN 22, 199823RTexas
Johnathan Williams41F6-9228 lbsMAY 22, 1995262Niners Chemnitz(Germany)
Alex Antetokounmpo43F6-8214 lbsAUG 26, 200119RUCAM Murcia (Spain)
Princepal Singh45F6-9221 lbsJAN 03, 200120RNBA G League Ignite
Neemias Queta88C7-0245 lbsJUL 13, 199922RUtah State

 

Davion Mitchell

Mitchell has been one of the most polarizing players in this year’s draft. His draft stock was high for some and low for others. How he performs in Summer League will be an early look into how he will adjust to the NBA game. Mitchell has a really good chance to get as many shots up as he wants. This matchup will be a very good opportunity for Grizzlies players to show how good they can be defensively.

DJ Steward

Steward already plays the game with a chip on his shoulder, but after going undrafted, expect this to be a breakout time for him. He is an undersized guard who can really shoot the ball well from beyond the arc. With his spot on the team not guaranteed, Steward will need to show his shooting stroke to get picked up on a two-way deal.

Neemias Queta

A monster among men!

Queta is a force in the paint and will be a good test for Tillman. Queta is very good around the basket and can pass well for a big man. He does struggle defensively out on the perimeter, so the Grizzlies will look to space the floor to take away his size and strength.

Chicago Bulls

PLAYER#POSHTWTBIRTHDATEAGEEXPSCHOOL
Ryan Daly00G6-5225 lbsJAN 06, 199823RSt. Joseph’s (PA)
Jaylen Adams2G6-0225 lbsMAY 04, 1996252St. Bonaventure
Devon Dotson3G6-2185 lbsAUG 02, 1999221Kansas
Ayo Dosunmu12G6-5200 lbsJAN 17, 200021RIllinois-Urbana-Champaign
Jerome Robinson13G6-4190 lbsFEB 22, 1997243Boston College
Omari Spellman14C-F6-8245 lbsJUL 21, 1997242Villanova
Ethan Thompson15G6-5195 lbsMAY 04, 199922ROregon State
Tyler Bey16F6-7215 lbsFEB 10, 1998231Colorado
Marko Simonovic19C6-11220 lbsOCT 15, 199921RMega Basket
Sterling Manley22F-C6-11250 lbsDEC 18, 199822RNorth Carolina
Troy Baxter Jr.25F6-9200 lbsMAR 05, 199625RMorgan State
Patrick Williams44F6-8227 lbsAUG 26, 2001191Florida State
Simi Shittu77F6-10240 lbsNOV 07, 199921RVanderbilt

 

Ayo Dosunmu

Ayo is a very good athlete that can finish at the rim very well. The Bulls are expected to take a step forward this year, so if he can adjust to the NBA game quickly, then Ayo could be a rotational player for them. Dosunmu’s defense will be a very good test for Desmond Bane since he projects to be a high-level defender.

This game could be the Grizzlies’ crucible of the summer.

Patrick Williams

The No. 4 pick in last year’s draft seemed to be a reach for Williams. This will be his first Summer League, and a great chance to develop into the player the Bulls expect him to be. Williams averaged nine points per game last season, so expect him to average 20+ this summer. Killian Tillie will likely draw the matchup against Williams. This could be a chance for Tillie to show — when healthy — just how good he could be with the Grizzlies.

Memphis Grizzlies

PLAYER#POSHTWTBIRTHDATEAGEEXPSCHOOL
Romeo Weems0F6-7210 lbsJUN 09, 200120RDePaul
Anthony Cowan Jr.1G6-0170 lbsOCT 07, 199723RMaryland
Xavier Tillman Sr.2F-C6-8245 lbsJAN 12, 1999221Michigan State
Yves Pons5G-F6-6215 lbsMAY 07, 199922RTennessee
Ahmad Caver7G6-2174 lbsSEP 12, 199624ROld Dominion
Ziaire Williams8G-F6-9185 lbsSEP 12, 200119RStanford
Shaq Buchanan11G6-3190 lbsJAN 30, 199724RMurray State
Olivier Sarr20C7-0243 lbsFEB 20, 199922RKentucky
Keaton Wallace21G6-3185 lbsFEB 26, 199922RTexas-San Antonio
Desmond Bane22G-F6-6215 lbsJUN 25, 1998231TCU
Santi Aldama23F6-11224 lbsJAN 10, 200120RLoyola (MD)
Sam Merrill25G6-4197 lbsMAY 15, 1996251Utah State
Ben Moore26F6-8220 lbsMAY 13, 1995261SMU
Sean McDermott30G-F6-6195 lbsNOV 03, 1996241Butler
Darnell Cowart32F6-8280 lbsOCT 16, 199822RMurray State
Killian Tillie35F-C6-10220 lbsMAR 05, 1998231Gonzaga
John Konchar46G-F6-5210 lbsMAR 22, 1996252Fort Wayne

 

John Konchar

Let’s Get Jitty With It!

If John Konchar was in a bigger market, he would be more beloved than Alex Caruso has been. He does everything that you would want from a role player. This summer is a great time for him to show just how good he can be. Expect Konchar to continue to fill the stat sheet just as he has during the Utah Summer League.

Killian Tillie

It’s Tillie time! Killian is finally healthy after an injury-riddled college career. Best-case scenario he continues to shoot well from the perimeter and become a solid stretch four. Don’t expect Tillie to produce much this upcoming season, but he can continue to develop into a solid role player.

Yves Pons

Yves is an athletic freak. If he can continue to show out during these games like he did in Utah, expect him to play with the Memphis Hustle this year. Pons has shown his athleticism and defensive prowess. He needs to develop his outside shot, but the G League can help with that.

Santi Aldama

Most of us know nothing about Santi Aldama. The unknown creates so much excitement and the potential of what he could become. All eyes will be on Santi when he gets on the court. Look for ball handling and shot creation as the true strengths of his game.

Ziaire Williams

Welcome back to playing in front of a crowd, Ziaire. He has not played in front of a crowd since his last high-school game. Don’t expect there to be a breakthrough in his outside shooting percentage during these games. Williams needs to show off his athleticism and defense as his strengths this summer. The 10th overall pick brings a ton of pressure, but Ziaire has a just as much potential and will show out right away.

Desmond Bane

This is Bane’s chance to take that next step. Improving defensively should be Desmond’s focus during these games since that seems to be one of his few weaknesses. Bane looks to be the best player on this team and he could become this year’s Summer League MVP.

Follow us on Twitter @Grizz_Lead for the latest Grizzlies news and insight. 

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About Daniel Greer

Audio Director for The Lead Sports Media. Contributor for Grizz Lead & Bet The Lead. Host of the Grizz 901 podcast.

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