The Utah Jazz got the best of the New York Kicks on Las Vegas on Sunday night, winning their second summer league game 90-85. While Grayson Allen didn’t play, the Jazz got good performances from two players who will likely find their names on the opening night roster in Tony Bradley and Georges Niang.
Bradley played limited minutes due to a wrist injury early in the second half, but was impressive while he was on the floor. Going up against Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks second round draft pick, Bradley showed crafty touch, mixed with a heavy body to get good looks at the rim. Alex Jensen, the Jazz summer league coach said Bradley has gotten better rolling to the rim, and has showed it over all of his summer league games. While I don’t believe he’s quite ready to contribute to an NBA team at this point, you can see how his soft touch, strong body, and ability to rebound could find him minutes in an NBA game.
Niang’s odds of making the Jazz skyrocketed when the Jazz chose to waive Jonas Jerebko yesterday. Niang is a combo forward with an incredibly well developed skillset, but questions about whether his athleticism will allow those skills to fully shine on an NBA floor. Talking to Jensen after the game, he believes Niang is an NBA player, and from my interpretation, seems to believe that Niang will find his way onto the Jazz regular season roster. Jensen said Niang’s current role as a jack-of-all-trades likely won’t be his role in the NBA, but can bring shooting, and passing at the next level. Niang’s ability to stay in front of better athletes defensively will determine his NBA future, as his ability to contribute to an NBA offense is clearly well developed.
Niang will also allow the Jazz to sign him at the NBA minimum, saving them nearly $4 million versus Jerebko’s contract.
