Rookie guard Davion Mitchell lived up to his defensive reputation as the Kings defeated the Celtics Tuesday to capture the championship in the Las Vegas Summer League, writes Jason Jones of The Atheltic. Jones suggests Mitchell could be a strong Rookie of the Year candidate, even without exceptional numbers on offense.
Mitchell showed he can be a difference-making defender during Baylor’s run to the NCAA title, and he brought that same intensity to Summer League play. In Tuesday’s game, he shut down Boston’s Payton Pritchard, who had been averaging 20.3 PPG in Vegas, holding him to six points.
“I think if my teammates see that, they’re going to want to play hard because I’m like the head of the snake,” Mitchell said. “So I’m going to be up there playing pressure defense, so my teammates are going to follow behind me. So I think if I lead by example and be myself in training camp, I can change the identity here.”
Sacramento was hoping to land Michigan’s Franz Wagner on draft night, according to Jones, but when the Magic took him one pick earlier, the Kings opted for Mitchell, the highest-rated player left on their board, even though they already have two ball-handlers in De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. They have confidence in Mitchell as a defender, even against bigger players, Jones notes, and plan to use a lot of three-guard lineups.
There’s more on the Kings:
- The MVP of the title game was Louis King, who had 21 points and five steals, Jones states in the same story. A two-way player who played six games for Sacramento at the end of the season, King can provide size on the perimeter and showed he can play defense, which was a question coming into Las Vegas. “He’s got an edge about him and that’s why I like him,” Summer League coach Bobby Jackson said. “He’s confident. He understands where he wants to be at and what he wants to achieve.”
- Another player who improved his standing was Jahmi’us Ramsey, a second-round pick in 2020 who got into just 13 games last season. The Kings weren’t sure if Ramsey would play in the Summer League because of injuries, but he was steady throughout and scored 16 points in the win over Boston.
- Jackson, who was named head coach of the Kings’ G League affiliate in May, showed he’s ready for the job, observes James Ham of NBC Sports California. “I told them training camp was going to be hard, but I kept preaching teamwork, chemistry, having each other’s backs, defending at a high level, making other teams uncomfortable, and taking things away,” Jackson said.
Davion Mitchell aka mr. off night
I love that nickname.
Mitchell can start now. Have no clue why Kings drafted him. I doubt they do either. Unless
Halliburton, Buddy, Bagley, #1 pick.
For >>>> Ben, Maxey
Doubt Kings have a need for Simmons.
But the Kings should look to add Tobias Harris in a Buddy Hield deal.
Maybe something like this
Cavs get Bagley
Kings get Tobias Harris
Sixers get Love and Hield.
There’d be more to make the deal work but I think Harris would fit well for the kings and Sixers replace Harris with Love and add a shooter in Hield alongside Simmons.
I think salary cap wise, Sixers would need to give up about another 15 mil to the Cavs, in order to make that deal work. Which would mean giving up either Curry and Green plus extras which won’t happen.
I like the idea but not going to happen
Mitchell has defensive player of the year written all over him. He needs to work on his jump shot a little just to be a floor spacer at the minimum like a Pat Beverly but kid looks great. Need to carve out more minute for him.
That’s why the kings shouldn’t be afraid to push the trigger on Fox for Simmons. Yes Fox is great and has top potential but you cant fit him Haliburton and Mitchell all into the starting line up and be a success team I don’t think.
However if you got yourself Simmons, you could throw him at the 3 or 4 spot which opens up minutes in the guard spot for Haliburton and Mitchell. Haliburton in particular in a bigger role could be be a candidate for most improved and put up something like 22-6-6.
Simmons coming in as a forward, plus drafting Mitchell would make your defence much better from last season.
Kings would go from having 3 ‘point guards’ and little direction in where to go, to then having 2 elite defenders and most improved player candidate and probably winning 5-10 more games being a playoff contender
No point in trading a PG for another PG. But after SAC drafted another PG, Fox or Haliburton are expendable and should draw a good forward.
It is obvious that Ben wants out, and will not be happy until he is a PG. Other people’s opinions are irrelevant unless unless you’re Ben reading this.
But why bother, Ben. You’re doing it right. It takes a lot for people who think they own you, to let you leave their hoary clutches.
Don’t really understand your first part.
It would make more sense if you went, Kinhs found Fox a franchise player, then draft Haliburton another PG that could play SG in the future around Fox but isn’t an ideal fit, however at the time was best player available and the smart decision.
Then this year they took another point guard, doesn’t really fit with Fox or Halliburton but at the time was the best player available they believe.
Leaving them with 3 point guards that don’t really work together but all look pretty impressive. My solution trade 1 (Fox) for Simmons, a 3 time all star, 2 time all defensive first team player that lead the league in steals last year on his way to earning a spot on the 2020 all nba third team.
That would then allow Haliburton to start at point with Heild at SG and Simmons at SF. Both Haliburton and Heild would be great fits beside Simmons and give the team some direction. Then allowing Mitchell to play a solid role off the bench, together him and Simmons would be an elite defensive duo.
And if Simmons rebels against this? I do think he is rebelling— point guard or bust. Thus he is a risky target even if SAC wins him without giving up Mcnair’s two firstrounders.
IDK what anyone is offering for Hield. SAC gave him his money, they must not feel they have to start him too.
Too many guards. Ramsey had a good SL too. They must have a trade in mind. Have to. McNair has impressed me with his decisions… assuming a trade…
III spoke of nobody more than Davion in the predraft period for value, yes so did K.AL, several others and apparently, Monte McMair
(good job, SL #1 GM)(not Marty Mcrae).
That is not to say Mitchell is better than the first few taken.
However my advocacy of Mobley for the Cavs is not looking as strong as I thought Mobley’s ankles were. (Already an ice bag post-game)