NBA Summe League Vegas

Saturday July 07 , I walk into the Thomas & Mack Center the atmosphere of being a basketball junkie and in the place where dreams are always made. I felt inspired, I felt that anything was possible, and on that night I was only able to watch two games fully which was the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers.

The arena was packed with fans from LA, which is only a 4-hr drive from Las Vegas, kids of all ages where definitely in the building ranging from newborns all the way up to top high school recruits. As I took my seat the Cavs/ Bulls game already started, Antonio Blakeney (Bulls) who I've already seen play in the NBA G-League was in beast mode as per usual, finished the game with 25 points on 10-19 shooting, while the top performer for the Cavs was Ante Zizic who had 25 points and 11 rebounds.

In regards to the new draft class, the seventh overall-pick Wendell Carter Jr. didn't disappoint a 6-10 Forward/Center who can pretty much do everything at his size. Able to handle the ball, shoot the ball, and facilitate for others. With Deardre Ayton being drafted number 1, that ROY award is definitely up for grabs this year with the way other rookies have been producing. Carter Jr. finished the game with a easy 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 monstrous blocks.

On the other end we had Colin Sexton, who now has the keys to the front seat with Lebron leaving town and heading to Los Angeles. Sexton finished with 14 points, he had a few great moves that showed off his athleticism and speed in trasition.

Bulls won this game in the last 3 minutes as they controlled the game down the stretch and defeated the Cavs, 86-81.

Last game of the night we had the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers, a team that just picked up Lebron James and is definitely looking for players who can come in the system and help out Lebron oppose to his previous team the Cavs, who didn't have many players who wanted to even shoot the ball.

Well Lebron, this year is a different year and a great change for you, regardless of the age of your new teammates. Kuzma, Ball, McGee, and Luke Walton were all in house to watch the newly drafted Lakers.

Right from the jump, Xavier Rathan-Mayes a player from Toronto, Canada who played for the Weschester Knicks last year, was able to get into the lane and distribute the ball like a veteran point-guard would. It's very much possible that players who stay a few years in college are usually the top players to come into the league and start contributing towards their team, he finished with 10 points, 3 Assist on 4 of 8 shooting.

But the Rookies of LA, were in their zones tonight, Moritz Wagner definitely a steal for the Lakers had 16 points, 8 rebounds, but the 47th pick for the Lakers, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk could have a very outstanding scan season if the players and coaches use him effectively. Mykhailiuk who is a sniper, and doesn't hesitate to shoot the ball has tons of upsize being 6-8 -205 lbs. with decent ball handling, i can definitely see him in 2-3 years being a very big problems for all those teams who skipped him in the 2018 draft. Mykhailiuk finished the game with 17 points, 9 rebounds, on 6 for 11 shooting and 4 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Any team looking for some star power Mykhailiuk, has shown glimpses of why and how he can potentially become ROY this year, once again if he's used correctly he could be the Lakers 3rd or 4th next top scorer.

Zhaire Smith of the Philadelphia 76ers, a 6-5 G/F out of Texas Tech, who was sporting his new Puma Contract shoes, shown great offensive and defensive awareness. He was able to dig in deep and get his hand in the passing lanes. Smith finished the game with 16 points, 3 assist and 3 steals, it might take him some time to develop and become that top-tier player we expect him to be.