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What to Watch For During Blazers’ Summer League

fbpronoy92@gmail.comJuly 5, 20255 Mins read1

For the third year in a row, the Portland Trail Blazers’ season ended with a massive tanking campaign.

Ambiguous injuries spread like the flu and starting lineups were filled with players that will spend the majority of their careers rummaging through the G League. All of the previous three seasons resulted in a top-seven draft pick.

So yet again Blazer fans turn to the part of the NBA calendar designed for rookies, sophomores and G League vets looking to make a name for themselves. A time where fans can focus on all of the highlights and ignore all of the lowlights— Summer League.

For Portland, it will be the only time in the next 12 months where every fan will be in support of winning basketball (see Flagg, Cooper). As one of a handful of teams that are undeniably in the middle of a rebuild, the Blazers’ Summer League team should be an opportunistic runway for multiple players to shine and earn themselves a potential spot on the actual team.

Portland is unique in its rebuilding status, however, as it has all 15 contract spots locked up for next season, and even three of their two-way contracts in place. That means that unlike previous Summer Leagues, the team is less about finding diamonds in the rough (like when Jabari Walker and Trendon Watford wowed everyone en route to a Summer League title), and more about the focus of a few key players that the team has already showed a level of commitment towards.

Here’s what to be on the lookout for in the cases of Donovan Clingan, Rayan Rupert, Kris Murray and Justin Minaya:

Can Donovan cling on to the court

In the past two Summer Leagues, the Blazers’ first draft selection was injured in the first game and never saw the court again. Shaedon Sharpe lasted six minutes in his first outing, and Scoot Henderson made it to the third quarter before his shoulder took him out.

So in the case of Clingan, the goal is simple— don’t get hurt.

All Portland fans want to see out of the big man is four games that go as planned. Scoot and Shaedon were likely both sat as precautionary measures to some degree, but with Portland’s track record of injuries to their young stars — particularly at the center position — Clingan’s Summer League will be a massive success if he comes out of it intact.

When Clingan is on the court, his defense will likely be on full display. He showed the world what he can do as a rim protector during UConn’s most recent championship run. He should have no problem building on that success against Summer League competition.

Where Clingan could really wow some fans is through his passing game. His teammates, coaches and even Clingan himself have all raved about his ability to connect with players on the floor and serve as a facilitator. If Clingan can put together a few highlight assists for Blazer fans to cling (pun intended) onto, then that will satisfy everyone till October.

Justin Minaya on his first impressions of Donovan Clingan: “Really good. I can see why UConn was so good with him. He can spread the floor. I was really surprised by his passing.” pic.twitter.com/m4AaN1G4FX

— Sean Highkin (@highkin) July 7, 2024

If Clingan can complete the two tasks listed above and knock in one or two three-point baskets, fans will consider the 2024 Summer League a resounding success, no matter what happens with the rest of the team.

Rayan Rupert shoots with efficiency

The Blazers already have their own version of Zaccharie Risacher at home in Rayan Rupert.

The 20-year-old French wing is still a work in progress, but has flashed catch-and-shoot ability in games, including in some big moments down the stretch.

Rupert will get plenty of opportunities to shoot in this Summer League. What’s important is that he does so efficiently and decisively. Playing alongside a point guard with the passing ability of Scoot Henderson moving forward, Rupert’s role on future Blazer teams will be as a versatile defender who can knock down threes and slash to the hoop on close-outs when given the opportunity.

In this Summer League, Rupert won’t need to pull out a bag of isolation moves and try to be a 20 PPG scorer. If he shoots 40% from three during Summer League, Blazer fans, front office personnel, coaching staff and players will all rejoice in harmony. This current Blazer team lacks shooting, and as their high-ceiling three-and-D player of the future, Rupert will have more than just a spot on the team if he can knock it down from behind the arc.

Quiet Kris Murray must get aggressive

Something Mike Brown has talked about often in regard to Kings’ forward Keegan Murray — twin brother of Blazers’ Kris Murray — is how he must continue to stay aggressive on the court. Keegan is a sharp shooter and has all the tools to be a high-impact scorer and defender on a winning basketball team. He just doesn’t always want to show it as much as he could.

For Kris, that time to be aggressive and show the basketball skills he has is right now. He won’t see as many opportunities for minutes this year as he did last year (or shouldn’t at least). Conversely, Murray comes in as the most experienced player on the Summer League team in terms of NBA games played. It’ll be up to him if he wants to be the leading scorer on this team.

He doesn’t necessarily have to be a vocal leader off the court— something that it doesn’t seem like he would be great at. But on the court, Murray must take advantage of this Summer League opportunity if he wants to continue to grow as a player and as a Blazer.

Justin Minaya shows leadership ability

The player that should show up as this team’s vocal and locker room leader is third-year small forward Justin Minaya.

The 24-year-old is the second oldest player on the team (Javan Johnson has him by two months), but has been in the league the longest.

Minaya is one of three players on a two-way contract with the Blazers (Ibou Badji and Ashton Hagans). He was a staple of the Blazers’ G League team (the Rip City Remix) last season and he’s poised to be an every-day player of the Remix this season.

Minaya can prove not only his two-way contract, but also a spot in this league, by taking hold of this Blazer Summer League team and leading them to a handful of victories. It will not only help him look good in the eyes of the front office, but it will build into his upcoming role with the Remix, where he’ll continue to get leadership and playing opportunities.

Other players to keep an eye on

Yongxi “Jacky” Cui comes from China and earned himself an Exhibit 10 contract after a stellar showing at the G League Elite Camp.

Is he a scorer? A shooter? Maybe a defensive stud? As a 6-foot-7 wing — an archetype the Blazers are always searching for — it’ll be exciting to see what Cui is like as a player.

Finnish forward Olivier Nkamhoua was a part of a great Tennessee team in 2023, and was poised to expand his talents with Michigan last season before they fell apart entirely. The undrafted rookie averaged 14.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last year. He may come up with a 20-point game or two.

Terquavion Smith was a staple of the NC State Wolfpack alongside DJ Burns in 2023. He appeared in 16 games for the 76ers last season, although in small doses, but did average almost 23 points per game for the Delaware Blue Coats in 22 G League games. He’s a pure hooper who could be the go-to guy down the stretch of a few close contests.

Unlike previous Summer Leagues, there’s less opportunity up for grabs for the players on the court. This year will be all about the guys on the court that already have their spot on the team and what they can do. But that doesn’t mean the other players won’t be fighting tooth and nail for their own buckets.

The Blazers’ four guaranteed Summer League games are scheduled as follows: