The Toronto Raptors kicked off their Summer League schedule with a convincing 90-68 win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday in Las Vegas.
Here are my observations from the action:
• Bruno Caboclo has put on nearly 20 pounds of good weight. His upper body is considerably more defined and sculpted. Couple that with his wingspan and he was an active menace defensively.
• Delon Wright is faster in person than he looks on film. Gets to whatever spot on the floor he wants with ease and has a refined spin move and floater. I know there are question marks about his jump shot but he is quick and crafty enough to be a playmaker on offence like a young Rajon Rondo.
• Norman Powell might be too good for the Developmental League. Yes, it’s only one game but athletically he is on another level. A Western Conference scout said to me, “The kid looks like he is a young NBA player playing in Summer League, not a rookie fighting for a spot.”
• DeMar DeRozan is a pied piper of sorts in NBA circles. Literally every NBA player came out of their way to commiserate with the Raptors guard.
• Jordan Clarkson is way too good for Summer League. Other than to gain chemistry with his backcourt mate D’Angelo Russell, I’m not sure why the all-rookie first team member is playing in Vegas. He was on another level than everyone on the court, including the first two picks of the 2015 NBA Draft.
• Willie Cauley-Stein might be too athletic for his own good. Countless times “Trill Will” got himself in great position to make impact plays but was so out of control he couldn’t seal the deal. When his mind and body get on the same page and adapt to the speed of the game, he’ll be a monster.
• Karl-Anthony Towns is much more demonstrative than he was with Kentucky. I noticed it in footage of his intrasquad workouts with the Timberwolves and it has carried over in his first contests against other teams. After every positive T-Wolve play, Towns was screaming and or pounding his chest. The chest bumps and hard hand slaps might be his new way of separating himself as a leader in comparison to when he took a backseat to the many other all-Americans in Big Blue Nation.
• D’Angelo Russell is a brilliant passer. His head was always up and he had the Thomas and Mack crowd oohing and awwing passes before they even reached their intended target.
• Laker Nation is in full effect. The overwhelming majority of fans were wearing purple and gold. The loudest cheers all day were when former Laker Rick Fox walked in the building. Even former Laker and current Houston Rocket Trevor Ariza got a standing ovation when he entered the building. The Laker love is real.
