The summer has been wild for our Utah high school and college legends who are playing pro basketball in the NBA and overseas. There have been new contracts, new teams and even new leagues. One top of that, there was also a first-round pick in the 2015 NBA draft and plenty of summer league participation.
Here is a look at what happened in the summer for those basketball players with local ties.
Andre Miller, Utah, Minnesota Timberwolves
After a solid season that was split between the Washington Wizards and the Sacramento Kings, Miller found a new home for his 17th NBA season. He signed a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and is expected to be one of the veteran leaders in a very young back court.
Andrew Bogut, Utah, Golden State Warriors
Bogut is one of the few local stars who isn’t making a big move. He was a big piece for the Warriors championship run in 2014-15 and should be an important part of the Warriors front court moving forward.
Delon Wright, Utah, Toronto Raptors
Wright was the 20th overall pick by the Toronto Raptors after a fantastic career with the Utes. He suited up in just two summer league games for the Raptors in Las Vegas and averaged 9.5 points on 37.5 percent shooting from the floor and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line. He added 5.5 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 21 minutes.
J.J. O’Brien, Utah, Utah Jazz
Following a strong finish to his college career at San Diego State (he played his freshman year with the Utes), O’Brien went undrafted. He landed with the Jazz for summer league and played in eight games where he averaged 4.4 points on 50.4 percent shooting from the floor, including 54.2 percent from 3-point range. He added 2.0 rebounds in 16.6 minutes.
His production was good enough to earn a partially guaranteed contract with Utah, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Dallin Bachynski, Utah, Toronto Raptors
Bachynski went undrafted, but landed with the Toronto Raptors for the Las Vegas summer league. He played in just two games and managed to have some nice moments. His best game came in a 72-64 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers when he totaled four points on 2-for-5 shooting from the floor to go along with four rebounds in 13 minutes.
During his two games, he averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.0 minutes.
Ronnie Price, UVU, Phoenix Suns
After one of his most productive outputs in an injury riddled season for the Los Angeles Lakers, Price is on the move again. He is on his way back to the Phoenix Suns where he played during the 2011-12 season. Price signed a on-year contract for the veteran’s minimum, according to the Associated Press.
Justin Hamilton, Lone Peak High School, Valencia Basket
Hamilton’s run in the NBA is taking at least a year off. After spending the 2014-15 season with the Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans and the Minnesota Timberwolves he is on his way back to Europe. According to Sportando.com, he inked a deal to play for Valencia Basket in Spain.
C.J. Wilcox, Pleasant Grove High School, Los Angeles Clippers
Wilcox was on the floor for the Clippers summer league squad and made some solid contributions. His best showing came in an 80-63 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder when he had 22 points on the strength of a 4-for-8 shooting performance from beyond the arc to go along with three rebounds, two assists and a block in 32 minutes.
He played five games in Orlando and averaged 14 points on 34.3 percent shooting with 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 32 minutes.
Tyler Haws, BYU, Cleveland Cavaliers
Haws spent the Las Vegas summer league with the Cleveland Cavaliers and showed he could still score the ball. His best outing came in an 83-75 loss to the Golden State Warriors when he led the team with 12 points on 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range with an assists and a steal in 11 minutes.
He played five games in Las Vegas and averaged 6.0 points on 58.8 percent shooting from the floor, including 85.7 percent from 3-point land to go along with 1.0 rebounds in 12.2 minutes.
Haws is under contract to play in Spain for Rio Natura Monbus Obradoiro and is already listed as the starting shooting guard on Eurobasket.com.
Brandon Davies, BYU, Orlando Magic – San Antonio Spurs
Davies spent his summer playing with the Magic in Orlando and the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas before finding a home for the 2015-16 season in Italy. One of his best outings came in the Las Vegas summer league championship game when he had four points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 22 minutes.
He played 12 games in the summer and averaged 3.8 points on 37.5 percent shooting from the floor and 92.3 percent from the free-throw line. He added 3.9 rebounds in 15.6 minutes.
Davies will play in Italy during the 2015-16 campaign after signing a deal on Wednesday to join OpenJobMetis Varese, according to Sportando.com and the PallVarese twitter account.
Jimmer Fredette, BYU, San Antonio Spurs
Following a disappointing season with the New Orleans Pelicans, Fredette has another shot to prove that he is an NBA player. His latest landing spot is with the San Antonio Spurs who signed him to what Yahoo!Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski referred to on Twitter as a modest guarantee, according to sources.
Matt Carlino, BYU, Boulazac Basket Dordogne
An impressive senior year with the Marquette Golden Eagles saw Carlino earn second-team All-Big East honors after he averaged 15 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals. Those numbers where good enough to earn a contract to play in France for 2015-16. He signed to play for Boulazac Basket Dordogne in the France-ProB league, according to Sportando.com.
http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/171959/matt-carlino-inks-with-boulazac.html
He is already listed as the team’s starting point guard on Eurobasket.com.
Damian Lillard, Weber State, Portland Trail Blazers
Even though Lillard is still in Portland, the Blazers will have a whole new look next season after losing their other four starters. LaMarcus Aldridge, Robin Lopez and Wes Matthews all left in free agency while Nic Batum was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. Lillard will have plenty of time to get acquainted with his new teammates after signing a five-year contract extension in excess of $120 million, according to espn.com.
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