- Sarr’s defense is far ahead of his offense, Hughes adds in an overview of the Wizards‘ Summer League performance. The big man registered 10 blocks in four games and altered many other shots with his relentless effort. Although he often struggled with his shot, Sarr looks “NBA ready” on defense, according to Hughes. Fellow lottery pick Carlton Carrington was a standout in Las Vegas, averaging 15.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.0 steals in five games. It’s the fourth-highest rebounding figure for a rookie point guard in Summer League history, Hughes adds.
- Keaton Wallace “impacts winning,” assistant coach Ryan Schmidt posted on Twitter after the Hawks signed the free agent guard to a two-way contract, per Lauren Williams of The Journal-Constitution. Wallace is hoping to take advantage of the opportunity after spending the past three seasons in the G League. “I feel like I still have more to show,” he said. “I can always be better in a lot of categories of my game. But I do feel like my work has paid off and it’s just a blessing. I think it could be great for me just trying to learn and be better and get advice from other guys and just leaning on my teammates to get better.”
- Hornets rookie Tidjane Salaun only appeared in two Summer League games, but he has displayed a strong work ethic to go along with his physical talents, observes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. As the first draft pick under new president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee, Salaun is the type of self-starter they’re looking to build the organization around. “For me, it’s playing confidence,” Salaun said. “That makes the difference. That’s always been the key for me, always been the key for me, because when you have confidence even if the shot is hard with my confidence I know I’m going to make it.”
Hawks guard Dyson Daniels welcomed a fresh start to his NBA career after being traded from New Orleans this summer, writes Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Daniels was selected with the eighth pick in the 2022 draft, but he wasn’t satisfied with the progress he made during his two seasons with the Pelicans.
“I think I feel like in New Orleans, I was kind of bottled up a little bit, and it was hard to try to find myself and find whatever I wanted to do,” Daniels said. “I was so focused on basketball, making sure I’m there every time, I’m giving 100% that I was, I was kind of tense and not relaxed. It was always stressful. So just to be able to get out of there, have a new beginning in Atlanta, new team. I love the coaching staff. Love everyone here. Great city, great food, great people here. So, I’ve really enjoyed the move so far.”
Daniels mainly came off the bench in New Orleans, but he started all four preseason games he played with the Hawks and appears to be a good fit alongside Trae Young. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists and connected at 38.1% from three-point range after shooting just 31.2% from beyond the arc with the Pelicans. Although it was an encouraging performance, Daniels is happy that the preseason is finally over.
“I’m ready for the season, now,” he said. “I hate the build-up. I hate preseason. I hate all that stuff. I just like playing games. So I’m ready to step foot on the floor and have an impact, be out there picking up full-court defense, playing off Trae, knocking down shots, getting to the rim, just being that kind of that all guy. Trae’s gonna get a lot of attention. So it’s about running the ball, making the right reads, right decisions coming up, slipping out screens, setting good screens. But I’m just looking forward to playing a basketball game, so it’s gonna be fun.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Coming off an All-Star season, Magic forward Paolo Banchero might be ready to reach new heights, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Head coach Jamahl Mosley talked about the “poise” that Banchero has displayed since camp opened, and the third-year forward agreed he’s approaching the game differently. “It’s just a certain level of comfort,” Banchero said. “After my second year, especially playing in the playoffs, it just showed me a different way that I can be effective. Combining my first two seasons and just looking back, watching so much tape over the summer, I played a lot on the ball my first two years and I learned that if I’m able to mix up playing on and off the ball — screening, flashing, posting up and just trying to not just give the defense one dose of something, just try to mix it up, pick my spots, and be a little more strategic with my approach — it makes the game a little easier.”
- Changing teams is a routine experience for veteran swingman Alec Burks, who joined his eighth NBA club when he signed with the Heat this summer, notes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Winderman adds that Burks became a priority for Miami after losing Caleb Martin in free agency. “The way they develop their guys, no matter their age, no matter the years, they just make everybody better,” Burks said in explaining why he joined the Heat. “I think that’s what I’ve learned so far, is their development of any type of player.”
- Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer examines rookie Tidjane Salaun‘s chances of earning a spot in the Hornets‘ rotation.