Six Summer League stars attracting NBL interest

Photo: Taze Moore.

With pre-season tipping off soon, NBL teams are fine-tuning their rosters and weighing up final additions.

NBA Summer League provides an important window for scouting, introductions and watching the best talent on offer. It’s a packed week where things can move fast, and picking up the right player could make all the difference for the season ahead.

Pete Hooley and ESPN’s Olgun Uluc have been on the ground in Vegas, keeping tabs on the players turning heads and sparking interest from NBL teams.

"I'll lead off with Charles Bassey. I dropped that earlier in the week," Hooley said on The Marketplace.

"That name was brought up by a couple of teams. He has been unbelievable here at Las Vegas Summer League. Double-doubles, a formidable force. A really big piece down low.

"We know some teams need an impact center. I also said in the roundtable a couple of days ago that it looked like it wasn't going to happen. I don't think that door is completely shut. It's opened ever so slightly. Do I think he'll be in the NBL next year? No, but the conversations are ongoing."

"The door is still ajar. Speaking to people around the gym, whether he gets a two-way or not, it seems like a mixed bag right now. It's not a certainty," Uluc added.

"This is a really unique time where a lot of NBL teams are looking for good bigs, and he's one of the best here."

Uluc continued the list of potential targets.

"The first name I heard, a couple of weeks ago, was Javonte Smart," he continued.

"He's a 6'4" combo guard. He's had a couple of two-way contracts over the years. A lot of teams are interested. He can play on and off the ball. He's on the shortlist of at least one team.

"The other one is Taze Moore. A 6'5" shooting guard, but also a combo guard who can handle it a bit. A super athlete. An NBL team has reached out about him and I think he'd be really exciting in the NBL.

"We don’t get off guards too often. Usually the focus is on point guards, ball carriers like Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Kendric Davis, Jaylen Adams. But these off-ball guys, there's some intrigue. You saw Rob Edwards last year. Super dynamic, an athlete.

"One name I heard around the gym is DJ Carton. He’s a 6’3” or 6’4” combo guard. Really good athlete, plays above the rim.

"He's with the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s been on a two-way contract before. He was practising yesterday and I was around the gym. I saw Josh King walk out. They’re looking for a point guard or combo guard, similar to what Omari Moore was.

"I also saw Danny Mills and John Rillie walk out. A lot of NBL teams watching NBA practice gyms. DJ Carton is a name on some lips."

"Another one I have is Cassius Winston. Six foot one guard, 2020 draft, lightning quick. He’d be fun to watch," Hooley said.

"I heard it was getting closer at some point. That interest has backed off now, but those are some names to watch."

Another player attracting interest, one very familiar to NBL fans, Akoldah Gak.

“We sort of forgot about AK because there was an expectation that he would come into Summer League and then maybe try the G League route to figure out what's next,” Uluc said.

“Technically, when it comes to Australians and Kiwis – the local players – he's probably the best available among the non-marquee guys. He's also a big, which is a coveted position. A backup big like AK Gak, someone who can play above the rim, is really valuable.

“So you're looking at teams out here thinking, "Wait a minute, what about AK Gak?" ... not saying anything's going to happen, but a lot of teams saw him play and it piqued their interest.”