We’re nearly two weeks removed from the NBA Draft, and players are finally getting settled in with their new teammates and the cities they’ll call home for their rookie seasons. Summer League is officially underway, though rookies aren’t headed to Las Vegas just yet.
Instead, a select group of teams is competing in the Salt Lake City Summer League and California Classic. Those teams feature several lottery picks and plenty of first-round talent. Through the opening games, three players have already stood out and look like future All-Stars.
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Cameron Carr
The Lakers traded for Carr, who was the 24th overall pick, despite plenty of buzz after the combine that he could sneak into the lottery. The 6-foot-5 athletic wing was a force on both ends at Baylor. He showed he was a great shooter, an excellent finisher, and an amazing defender.
All of that was on display in Summer League. Carr scored 19 points in his debut, leading the Lakers in scoring. He followed that up with 26 points and eight rebounds in his second game.
He’s already proving he was one of the best scorers in this draft, and the Lakers may have found a diamond in the rough.
Yaxel Lendenborg
Yaxel Lendenborg’s NBA career started with a bang. In his debut, he proved his outstanding season at Michigan was no fluke. It wasn’t the product of great coaching or a loaded roster; it was the result of being one of the best players in the country.
The 23-year-old made his impact in every facet of the game. He shot 6-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from beyond the arc while adding six assists, five rebounds, a steal and a block. Despite falling to the 11th pick, Lendenborg has already started proving his doubters wrong.
Darryn Peterson
This shouldn’t surprise anyone, but the No. 2 pick has looked like the best scorer in this draft class. Peterson had all the tools to be the No. 1 pick, but character concerns contributed to him falling to second. Regardless, nobody questioned his ability to score, and he reminded everyone why in his debut.
Peterson finished with 28 points on 21 shots, scoring effortlessly at all three levels. He also went 4-for-7 from three while adding five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
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