\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The NBA Summer League ended Sunday night with an 85-77 victory by the Portland Trail Blazers over the New York Knicks in the championship game.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eight former Wolverines had the opportunity to showcase their abilities in Las Vegas: Chaundee Brown<\/b> (Atlanta), Isaiah Livers<\/b> (Detroit), D.J. Wilson<\/b> (Toronto), Caleb Houstan<\/b> (Orlando), Moussa Diabate<\/b> (LA Clippers), Zavier Simpson<\/b> (Orlando), DeVante’ Jones<\/b> (Denver) and Eli Brooks<\/b> (Indiana).\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how each of them performed:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Chaundee Brown (Atlanta): 5 games played, averaging 23.4 minutes,14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n As he did at Michigan, Brown continues playing high-energy defense and knocking down 3-pointers. He made 46.7% of his attempts from deep during the Summer League.\u00a0His 17 points in Sunday’s finale against Cleveland were another argument in\u00a0favor of him earning a roster spot after he signed a two-way deal at the end of last season.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to do anything to win, guard the best player and not let him score \u2014 that\u2019s my job. Space the floor, run the floor,\u00a0defend,\u00a0and rebound,\u201d Brown said<\/b><\/span> earlier this month. The Hawks named him one of six players to watch during the Summer League, and he certainly impressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Isaiah Livers (Detroit): 2 games played, averaging 30.1 minutes, 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist.<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Last year, Livers watched the Summer League from the sidelines as he recovered from the foot surgery\u00a0that prematurely ended his Michigan playing career. Despite the injury,\u00a0he still had a productive rookie season, averaging 11.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 19 total games with the Pistons (5 starts).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt Livers can score, but improvements on defense will be necessary for him to solidify a spot in the Pistons\u2019 rotation. There were encouraging signs during his performances in Las Vegas, and Livers attributed some of his NBA readiness to Juwan Howard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \u201cNo disrespect to coach (John) Beilein, but when coach (Juwan) Howard came in, he established the NBA lingo and communication,\u201d Livers told reporters<\/b><\/span>. \u201cIt was hard at first, but once you got it, it felt natural. Then, my time off last year allowed me to watch what coach Casey likes to do defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n D.J. Wilson (Toronto): 4 games played, averaging 25.7 minutes, 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The bigger news for Wilson came off the court, as he signed a multi-year contract with the Raptors on July 8. He averaged a double-double in the G League last year and appeared in four games (one start) with Toronto in 2021-22.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \u201cI love this game and it\u2019s just all I ever wanted to do,\u201d Wilson told Sportsnet<\/b><\/span>\u00a0about his reaction to\u00a0landing a new deal after last year\u2019s 10-day contracts. \u201cSo, it wasn’t all that hard for me considering how much I love the game, and how much I want to be out here and play. When you love the game that much, fighting through adversity and persevering makes it much easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Caleb Houstan (Orlando): 4 games played, averaging 28.8 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists.<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Houstan cooled significantly after a hot start to his Magic tenure. He flashed with a 20-point outing (and five made 3-pointers) in Orlando\u2019s first game, but he finished the Summer League shooting just 32.5% from the floor and 25% from deep \u2014 on 7.0 attempted 3-pointers per contest.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Despite the inconsistency, Orlando is committing to their second-round selection and signed him to a four-year, $8.2 million deal, per Hoops Hype<\/b><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Moussa Diabate (LA Clippers): 2 games played, averaging 24.1 minutes, 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n