When: 6:00 PM CST, Wednesday, July 10th, 2024
Where: Salt Lake City Summer League, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
How to Watch/Stream: Grind City Media Mobile App
Well, that’s about a wrap in Salt Lake folks.
The Memphis Grizzlies have one game remaining as their Summer League concludes. At least this part. They’ll play a final game in Utah before moving onto the bulk of their play—in Las Vegas.
And I’d say so far…. It’s gone about as one would expect Summer League to go.
That’s meant as a compliment. Regardless of wins and losses, this team is succeeding. The guys who you hope to see the most out of—ie. your draft picks—are hooping.
Can I say that for everyone on the Grizzlies Summer League roster? Nah. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s not what this type of basketball is for.
We’re meant to see these guys struggle. And—in an ideal world—learn and develop from said struggles. As long as that happens? I’ll be a happy camper.
Let’s see if that trend can continue against the Thunder tonight. Because taking that kind of energy into Vegas isn’t nothing. It’s not a big something, sure. But it’s not nothing.
1 Thing That I’m Looking Forward To…
- The Wells/Spencer tandem
If I told you Zach Edey, GG Jackson II, and Jake LaRavia weren’t in Memphis win last night would you believe me?
I wouldn’t blame you if you said no. Hell, I wouldn’t believe me. But they did.
The only reason that happened was because of the play of Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer.
Otherwise? The game last night could’ve gotten real bad.
But through two Summer League games… Well it’s looking like Zach Kleiman may have two more absolute steals from the draft on his hands.
After—what I would call bad—performance Monday, Jaylen Wells appeared to be running it back. But after the first quarter of play last night?
Wells offense finally caught up to his defense. Which has been good through two games don’t get me wrong. I’m not worried about that, or his effort level for that matter.
To not let your defense slip when the shot ain’t falling is no easy feat. And to do so as a rookie? It’s tough. So when Jaylen’s shot started falling last night, it was much easier to see the player Memphis was so high on.
Oh the Grizzlies won the game on the above shot. And should that kind of play continue through tonight? Chalk that up as a successful Salt Lake for him.
And then there’s Cam Spencer.
Who’s played like these last two Summer League games were the last two he’d ever play on Earth. That’s the type of abandon he’s injected into this roster. Cam’s had 30 PTS, 10 REB, and 8 AST through two games while shooting over 50.0% from everywhere.
If he keeps it up tonight he’ll far and away be the best player on the Grizzlies’ Salt Lake City roster.
…And 1 Thing That I’m Not
- The lack of surprises
Here’s the thing, I always enjoy when there’s a player that suprises me at Summer League. Right? We love seeing an unexpected guy go off.
But when the guys who you expect to be your better players are in fact that. And the rest of the roster… Well, isn’t…
It makes it a less exciting product. And that’s a good thing. You want the players drafted high—or drafted at all—to play to that level.
And it doesn’t matter all that much if the ones that weren’t don’t. It matters that guys like Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer play well in games like last night. Less so the other guys.
And barring any surprises tonight… The Grizzlies will close the Salt Lake City Summer League with a smile on their faces. And that’s regardless of outcome.
Photo Credit: (Rick Bowmer/AP Photo)