“It’s just Summer League” is a phrase that can, and usually should, explain away sloppy, out-of-rhythm basketball when a team has been hastily amassed for a quick jaunt through Las Vegas.
Now, when a team has the type of high-lottery talent of D’Angelo Russell (No. 2 pick, 2015) and Julius Randle (No. 7 pick, 2014), plus three players that played legit NBA minutes in the previous season – All Rookie First-Teamer Jordan Clarkson, Tarik Black and Jabari Brown – inevitable expectations of good, or at least exciting, basketball are going to be there.
But maybe they shouldn’t be.