Enjoy Basketball: Young stars clash with Summer League in full swing

Welcome back fellow basketball philosophers to another round of the Enjoy Basketball newsletter!

Just as free agency has started to cool down, we've been blessed with some great summer league action. Last night saw two top three picks in Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr. go head-to-head while Shaedon Sharpe played his first competitive minutes in nearly a year in a showdown against #5 overall pick Jaden Ivey. We cover all that and more in today's edition.

But before we get into it, let's put something to a poll. Let us know which top five pick has impressed you the most in Summer League so far below!

Chet can't keep the magic going in second game with Thunder

Chet Holmgren's first game in a Thunder uniform was the stuff of summer league legend. Whether it was his Dirk-Esque midrange game, stifling defensive presence which led to a summer league record six blocks, or his insanely efficient offensive onslaught, Holmgren looked every bit the future star many have claimed him to be.

But as quick as he was to show off his strengths, Holmgren was almost as fast in putting his greatest weakness on full display, his lack of strength. In the Thunders second summer league game against the Memphis Grizzlies, he had few answers for the 280-pound Kenneth Lofton Jr, who repeatedly bumped and bruised Holmgren out of position inside, and forced him outside on the offensive end, where he made just one of his six three-point attempts. 

That's not to say all was bad. Holmgren put in some great work on the defensive glass, was perfect from the charity stripe, and still showed off his elite rim protection with a couple of blocked shots. Overall, it was a valuable learning experience for the young center and a chance to really examine both the good and bad of his game against professional talent. 

Banchero wins battle of the top three picks

Paolo Banchero flashed a little bit of everything that made him the #1 overall pick in this year's NBA draft during the Orlando Magics 91-77 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Whether it was his crafty footwork inside, a three point shot that looks better and better with every game, or his general willingness to find the open man, Banchero looked every bit as NBA-ready as advertised.

Across the court, third overall pick Jabari Smith showed off his talent as well, especially on the defensive end. Down the stretch he did a good job of locking down Banchero, who struggled a bit shooting after a dominant first quarter. It may not have been the dominating performance some Rockets fans may have been hoping for, but Smith showed plenty of flashes of the promise that got him to this point. 

Both Banchero and Smith seemed to relish the opportunity to match up head-to-head and each managed to hold their own. Suffice it to say, the future of the NBA is in good hands.

Ivey and Pistons get the W as Shaedon Sharpe mystery continues 

Jaden Ivey v. Shaedon Sharpe, the headline practically writes itself. Or at least it would have if Sharpe played more than seven minutes before exiting with a shoulder injury. Ivey, for his part, looked confident as a scorer, especially from long range. His three point shot has always been a bit of a question mark so its encouraging to see him hit from NBA range early and often. Turnovers were a bit of a problem though, as Ivey sometimes struggled to deal with the high-pressure Blazers defense. 

As for Sharpe, it was obviously hard to get a read on him after only seven minutes but it looks clear that he'll have a bit of rust to shake off after nearly a year without playing in a competitive game. Still, his raw talent was apparent through the overall verticality of his game as well as the graceful footwork and smooth shooting he showed off on his only bucket, a gorgeous mid-range fadeaway from the right baseline. It's a bummer we only got to see a few minutes of him, let's hope he's back and healthy for Portland's next game in a couple days. 

Bradley Beal rewarded with rare no-trade clause

It's crazy sometimes how dead-wrong the NBA rumor mill can be.

After years of speculation around Bradley Beal's future in Washington, including endless trade rumors and Miami Heat jersey swaps, it seemed like him leaving our nation's capital was a matter of when rather than if. But then, when given the opportunity to sign a massive extension to stay in D.C, Beal took the deal.

5 years, $251 million. It's the second-largest contract in NBA history and, in a surprising move, only the tenth ever to have a full no-trade clause. Not only does Beal appear committed to staying in Washington, but he's also actively solidifying his long-term future with the team (whether they like it or not).

His commitment to the Wizards is an important reminder that players aren't always just thinking about their prospects to win a championship, or where they can make the most money. Beal just loves D.C, and that's as good a reason to stay as any.

Kevin Durant has 'gone dark' as trade speculation continues

It's been a full seven days since Kevin Durant shocked the NBA world by requesting a trade out of Brooklyn just two years after forming a star-studded trio with Kyrie Irving and James Harden. The announcement has sent teams like the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat scrambling to put together a package for the superstar forward, but nobody has been able to meet the Net's sky-high asking price yet. 

Sky-high isn't an exaggeration either. According to reports, when the Timberwolves came knocking about Durant earlier this week, the Nets demanded Karl Anthony-Towns, Anthony Edwards and four first-round picks. 

And after sending the NBA into a frenzy, what does Kevin Durant do? According to Chris Haynes, he just stopped answering his phone. 

"KD's going dark. He's not talking to anybody. Not answering anybody's phone calls, not responding to texts. The only time you see him get out into the sunlight is when he responds on Twitter, and he's not saying anything much on there." said Haynes on his Posted Up Podcast. 

So if you're wondering what KD's next move is like the rest of us, you can take solace in knowing that nobody else knows either. 

Brittney Griner pleads guilty to Russian drug charges

Phoenix Mercury star player Brittney Griner pled guilty on Thursday to drug charges in Russia after allegedly bringing cannabis-derived oils through a Moscow airport.

The WNBA and Phoenix Mercury star faces up to ten years in prison, but her legal team hopes that a guilty plea will help lessen the severity of her sentence.

"Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence," said her Russian legal team following the announcement.

We here at EB ask that you keep Griner in your thoughts and hope that she gets home safely from this harrowing ordeal.

 Timberwolves’ ‘big-ball’ experiment is either the NBA’s future or a future disaster - John Hollinger (The Athletic)

Who’s Stronger Than Steven Adams? - Rohan Nadkarni (Sports Illustrated).

10 NBA veterans with a bit more to prove at Las Vegas Summer League - Ethan Fuller (Basketball News)

Predicting What 'Biggest Trade' Ever Could Look Like in Nets' Potential KD Deal - Andy Bailey (Bleacher Report) 

That's all from us this time at Enjoy Basketball! We hope everyone has a great weekend and that your favorite rookie balls out in Summer League.

Until next time,

- Spencer PooleLast Trivia Answer: The answer to Wednesday's trivia question is Mark Jackson! The former Warrior's head coach and current TV commentator wasn't too bad on the court either. He racked up 10,334 assists over his 17-year career, good for 5th all-time.Trivia Question: We've seen some virtuoso performances in this year's NBA summer league, but nobody has come close to breaking its single-game scoring record of 47 points. Which former Golden State Warrior set this record  in 2009? (No, it's not who you're thinking)