Spending 12 days in Las Vegas is exhausting. But it's worth it every single time. There's truly no experience in the sporting world quite like NBA Summer League. Nearly two weeks of watching basketball and brushing elbows with executives, coaches, and scouts, all of whom love basketball more than almost anything in the world.
Even when you're not at one of the two gyms -- the Thomas & Mack Center or Cox Pavilion -- you'll see the same people on the strip, whether at a dinner table or around a Blackjack table. But at the end of the day, it's all about one thing: Basketball.
The Boston Celtics went 3-2 in Summer League, though the last game was nothing more than a virtual scrimmage. Boston had been eliminated from the playoffs at that point, so head coach Amile Jefferson primarily played his deep bench guys.
However, we did get a few nice games of action from the likes of Hugo Gonzalez, Dillon Mitchell, and Amari Williams. So, as a final ode to Summer League, I wanted to go through the Celtics' roster through the lens of a stock. Did it go up? Down? Stay the same? How did the Celtics' youngsters perform?
Hugo Gonzalez: Stock up
Gonzalez's stock went up. Way up. But in my opinion, this was already coming. Nothing Gonzalez did at Summer League necessarily surprised me because I had already seen it in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, and even at times in the NBA last year.
The biggest reason for Gonzalez's stock rising in Vegas would be his ball-handling. He proved that he has the chops -- or at least could have them -- to run an NBA offense. When the ball was in his hands, the Celtics were better because of it.
But in just two games leading up to Summer League, Gonzalez showed off that skill for Spain in FIBA play. When he had the ball in his hands for the national team, it went well. As for his rebounding and defense, he proved he can thrive in those areas when he got NBA minutes last year.
Gonzalez struggled with turnovers at times and wasn't an amazing on-ball creator when it came to getting himself open shots. Those are the areas in which he still needs to improve. But he's still only 20 years old. He showed enough to prove that improvements are coming.
In my eyes, Gonzalez was already destined to make a leap this season. I knew he was going to be a solid, all-around lead ball-handler in Vegas. He just did what I expected. Just like I expect a major leap next season.
Dillon Mitchell: Stock up
I might be higher on Mitchell than most people. But I have my reasons. Everything Mitchell put on display at Summer League will be translatable to the NBA level. I believe he could step in and play impactful NBA minutes right now for this Celtics team.
The biggest trait I noticed was Mitchell's instincts. Whether it's his nose for offensive rebounds, his knack for jumping passing lanes, or his off-ball timing when acting as a cutter on offense. He just knows where to be and when in order to get the ball in his hands.
His defense also shined. He pestered ball-handlers at the point of attack and still managed to show off some help-over defense at the rim, soaring through the air for monster blocks. That versatility is rare, especially for a guy his size and with his athleticism.
Mitchell made seamless passes when he needed to, and perhaps most notably, the 3-point shot looked clean. After shooting just 1-of-15 in college last year, he shot 3-of-8 in Vegas with the Celtics. And he showed off some shot creation inside the arc, too.
Everything Mitchell does just screams 'NBA role player.' But not just any NBA role player. The exact type of role player Joe Mazzulla will love to have on his basketball team, regardless of the 3-point shot.
I know Mitchell was the No. 40 pick. Guys drafted that late don't always pan out. And maybe I'll be wrong. But I would be thoroughly shocked if Mitchell isn't playing regular rotation minutes for the Celtics in the next few years. Maybe even as soon as this season.
Chris Cenac Jr.: Stock up
My thoughts on Chris Cenac Jr. aren't quite as concrete as my belief in Mitchell. That said, Cenac still showed enough in Summer League to raise the stock I had in him coming out of the NBA Draft.
At Houston, one of the best areas of Cenac's game was his rebounding, and that proved true in Vegas. Cenac was a monster on the glass. No matter the situation, he always seemed to get at least a fingertip to the ball.
He even got the chance to show off some of his offensive creation. A crossover out of the corner followed by a baseline drive for a bucket. A mid-range turnaround pull-up. He was comfortable with the ball in his hands, which is rare for a near-seven-footer.
But the real reason Cenac's stock rose for me was the shot-blocking. His defense as a whole, really. Under Kelvin Sampson, Cenac was told to focus on rebounding. So, his block numbers weren't great. But in Vegas, he was a shot-blocking machine.
Add in his quick feet, and Cenac showed off the defensive profile of a switchable defender who can also be a towering presence at the rim. That's a rare combo. He has a long way to fulfill that potential, but it's certainly there.
Amari Williams: Stock down
In the Celtics' first Summer League game -- a win over the Toronto Raptors -- Williams looked impressive. He had a double-double and was aggressive on offense. However, in the games that followed, Williams' play went downhill.
His passing always impressed. He found off-ball cutters, threaded the needle from the top of the key, and at times acted as a hub on offense. But all of the traits he needs to improve upon to make it in the NBA fell flat.
Most notably, Williams' defense just wasn't good enough. He was late to react on drives, and in the pick-and-roll, he could never seem to make up his mind: Stay with his man or step up and help on the ball-handler.
Even in the Celtics' last Summer League game -- when they played a shell of the Orlando Magic's Summer League roster -- Williams wilted. He didn't guard well enough and only took two shots in a game where he should have been the most dominant player on the court.
Williams' offense is also in a rough spot. He still sets illegal screens, and his efficiency around the basket isn't where it needs to be. Barring some significant improvement this summer, Williams could be in danger of losing ground with the Celtics.
John Tonje: Stock up
During the weeks leading up to Summer League, it wasn't even clear if John Tonje would play for the Celtics. He finished the year on a two-way with Boston, but there was no news regarding his status with the team.
Yet when the roster was released, there he was. And he certainly made the most of his time in Vegas. Not only was he the sparkplug scorer he's been since college, but he improved on defense, too.
Tonje's shot was elite during Summer League. In his five appearances, Tonje shot 14-of-31 (45.2%) from deep range, and he was even creating for himself at times.
But that's always been part of Tonje's game. He hasn't always been quite that efficient, but he's always been a shot-maker. The real improvement came on the defensive end. That's why his stock is up.
Tonje wasn't a perfect defender. He's still a bit small, and he got blown by at times. But his incessant hustle and constant effort getting over screens and sticking with ball-handlers was noticeable. He put himself in a prime position to compete for a two-way spot during training camp.
Milos Uzan: Stock up
Boston signed Milos Uzan to an Exhibit 10 contract ahead of Summer League. He played at Houston with Cenac last season and was one of Sampson's most trusted players. So, it makes sense why he was such a steady hand in Vegas.
Whenever Uzan checked into the game for the Celtics, the offense calmed down. His pick-and-roll presence gave Boston consistent offense at times when they couldn't figure out how to put the ball in the basket.
He's comfortable driving to the hoop, he can pull up from deep range (7-of-19, 36.8% in Vegas), and his passing is beyond his years. Nothing Uzan did was over the top, but he just seemed to play much older than his age (23 years old).
Like most young point guards, he'll have to keep developing if he wants to help lead an NBA offense. But if nothing else, Uzan earned himself a real chance at competing for a two-way, just like Tonje.
Tucker DeVries: Stock down
Throughout Summer League, I saw a lot of hype around Tucker DeVries and his 3-point shot. I saw the phrase 'Sam Hauser replacement' thrown around a lot. I just don't see it.
DeVries was never a great shooter in college. At least, not consistently. He was a career 35.9% shooter from deep range, and he shot 33.3% on 7.7 attempts at Indiana last season. In Vegas, that inconsistency continued, as DeVries shot 9-of-27 (33.3%) from distance.
Hauser never shot below 40% in college. This past season was the first time he's ever shot below 40%, and he still reached 39.3%. DeVries just isn't on the same level as Hauser when it comes to the 3-ball.
On top of that, DeVries wasn't amazing on defense in Vegas. He hustled. But he got beat pretty consistently. He just always seems to be a step behind the offensive player.
DeVries is on an Exhibit 10 contract, so there's a clear pathway to him playing in Maine next year. However, barring significant improvements on defense and a more consistent jumper, I don't know if he'll make the jump to the NBA anytime soon.
The rest
Nobody else on the Summer League Celtics seems destined for NBA playing time. But some could end up in Maine next season, and maybe they'll have a chance to crack an NBA roster at some point.
Caleb Grill enjoyed an impressive last game. He's a solid 3-point shooter who tries his best on defense, but at just 6-foot-3 and already 6 years old, he has a tough path forward.
It could be a different story for Nick Pringle. He has NBA-level size and athleticism, but he needs to develop better timing and instincts. Pringle didn't play much in Vegas, but his shot-blocking stood out in Boston's final game.
Both Alondes Williams and Kyle Mangas got significant minutes for the Celtics, but neither showed enough to warrant a training-camp invite. Williams has been around the league for a while, so he could maybe sneak in, but it seems unlikely. Mangas is already 27, and he didn't pop much at Summer League.
In Boston's final game, Chauncey Wiggins flashed some solid shooting, and Day Day Thomas handled the ball well and fought hard on defense. Both could be Maine guys but would need to make big improvements to make a leap past that.
Hank Morgan will probably be back in Maine next season, where he wrapped up last season. He didn't show out that much in Vegas, but he was usually in the right spots on both ends. Morgan has good instincts, but a path to the NBA is questionable.
Mohammad Amini didn't play a lot, and when he did, he tried a bit too hard to force the issue. He's only 21 years old, so he has plenty of time to grow, but he'll probably need one or two more Summer Leagues (at least).
Lastly, there's Curtis Jones. Like Amini, he was seemingly trying to force the issue way too often. He was a starter for Boston for most of Summer League, but he got pulled for Uzan pretty consistently. This was a rough Vegas trip for Jones.