Summer stars materialize
Nobody draws staunch conclusions from NBA summer-league action, but the Bulls’ two-week schedule provided a few reasons for optimism.
Going 2-3 in Orlando’s summer league and 2-2 in Utah, the Bulls received impressive performances from several players.
Four years ago, in his first summer as general manager, John Paxson touted the performance of Bulls second-year forward Lonny Baxter in summer league and said Baxter could be a sleeper player the coming season.
Baxter never amounted to anything and was no longer with the team midway through the campaign.
“It’s very difficult to gauge a lot,” Paxson said last week. “More than anything, it’s a chance for our young players just to play, become more familiar with our system and gain confidence.”
Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha, each a 2006 first-round draft pick who will be counted on for increased contributions this season, were named to the Pepsi Pro Summer League first team in Orlando.
Joakim Noah, this year’s first-round pick, sat out summer league to rest a right rotator cuff injury. But second-round choices Aaron Gray and JamesOn Curry both stood out at times.
Then there were noteworthy performances from various low-profile players who were not in the NBA last season. They were hoping to turn enough heads to earn an invitation to training camp, with either the Bulls or another team.
Thomas starred during three games in Orlando – averaging 16 points, nine rebounds and 4.6 blocks – before sitting out the final two contests to rest knee tendinitis.
Neither Thomas nor Sefolosha, who averaged 15.4 points while at times running the offense as the point guard, was slated to play in the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City. Both returned home after Orlando.
“There’s a lot at stake for them the next couple of years,” Paxson said. “They had some really good moments as far as scoring the basketball, but they both have a long way to go in that area.”
Gray was steady, if not spectacular, throughout summer league. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in Orlando and played better in Salt Lake City.
In a victory over Atlanta, Gray totaled 15 points and seven rebounds. He was the best player on the floor in the finale against Utah, putting up 23 points and nine rebounds.
“He takes up space,” Paxson said. “He’s hard to dislodge with that big [7-foot] body of his.”
Curry also had his moments, averaging 9.2 points in Orlando before cracking double figures in each of the first two games in Salt Lake City.
Two players who spent last season in Europe made names for themselves, perhaps earning an invitation to training camp somewhere.
One was former DePaul forward Lance Williams, who played last season in Poland and averaged 10.2 points a game in Orlando.
Guard Thomas Gardner, who attended Missouri, scored 21 points against Seattle and 18 against Philadelphia in a pair of losses in Salt Lake City.
Layups: Paxson expects to sign Joakim Noah, Gray and Curry to rookie contracts sometime this week.
The general manager said he also plans to soon start up negotiations on contract extensions with Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. By league rule, the window to agree on an extension lasts until Oct. 31.
Both Gordon and Deng are under contract for 2007-08, but would become restricted free agents after the season in the absence of an extension.
Even then, Paxson said, the Bulls almost certainly would match any offer for either player.
See more at www.kcchronicle.com
