Nba Summer League – Spanish, Pajola, Banchero: the balance of the Italians

A victory for Spanish and a defeat for Pajola without playing. The Summer League for the Italians ended like this last night. Time to take stock for the Azzurri, including Paolo Banchero whose summer experience lasted only two games, enough and advanced to the Orlando Magic to convince himself that he was ready for the next step, the NBA.

Spanish Chiaroscuro

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Matteo Spanish, the 19-year-old winger from Brindisi, played 14 ‘, scoring 2 points (1/3), 2 rebounds and 2 assists in the 89-86 win over Charlotte. +3 plus / minus for the Wolves, who chose him with the call number 50 of the 2022 Draft, with him on the parquet. It was not a tournament where everything went “smooth” for Spanish, the one in Las Vegas. Lights and shadows, he struggled to snatch minutes in rotation and make the most of them, sometimes. Given his young age, this is not surprising. The impact with the US world, even before American basketball, is not easy. Experience served him, and he knew it from the start, as a foundation for the future. He is not expected to immediately call from the Wolves, his near future is still in Europe, we’ll see if in Italy or Spain. The NBA is a speech postponed until a later date. Minny finished with 2 wins and 3 losses in Nevada.

Minott example

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For Minny in Las Vegas, on the other hand, he impressed and “broke” another second-round call, if anything. Josh Minott, winger, former Memphis University, selected by the Timberwolves with number 45 of the Draft 2022, shortly before Spanish, has signed a four-year contract worth 6.8 million dollars, the first two years is guaranteed. For the Wolves, after the signing of him and that of Austin Rivers, the guard son of art, who has signed an annual agreement, there is now only one place in the staff to be assigned.

Pajola does not play

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Alessandro Pajola had started the Summer League as a starter for Dallas, he closed it without playing in the defeat suffered by the Mavs, who have struck 5 knockouts in a row, against the Los Angeles Lakers, 84-95. Pajola is 22 years old, for him the impact with the US reality was less traumatic than that of Spanish, thanks to his age. He showed some intriguing flashes, shining for energy and as a passer, but he had not been chosen in the Draft, he knew he was sowing for the future, without any ambition to make the team right away. In short, it is normal for Dallas to bet on those who called the night of the Barclays Center, like Hardy, choice of second round, winger returning from a year in the G-League with the Ignite Team of the “prospects”, who against the Californians tonight scored 15 points in 31 ‘. On the other hand, even for Pajola, as for Spanish, we will probably talk about NBA again only in a while: it is still early.

Confirm Banchero

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Totally different speech for Paolo Banchero, the Seattle long with an Italian passport first overall choice of the 2022 Draft. He only played two games, but averaged 20 points, with 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Of course, even 5 turnovers per exit, and shooting a total of 41% from the field, but he reiterated beyond the work in progress the offensive potential, as scorer and facilitator, which made the Magic fall in love with him. They thus spared Duke further efforts at risk of injury and in particular the direct confrontation with Holmgren, the number 2 call of the Draft, of Oklahoma City. Too bad, we would have enjoyed it.