Player Grades: Philadelphia 76ers Summer League
Dating back to the 2018 NBA Draft, the Summer League hasn’t really held much weight for the Philadelphia 76ers, considering their only notable first round pick they made from ’18-’24 was Tyrese Maxey in the 2020 COVID draft.
There was no Summer League during the 2020 COVID draft. In 2018, the 76ers drafted Mikal Birdges with the 16th overall pick before swapping him with Zhaire Smith and we all know how that turned out.
This year was different. The 76ers selected Duke guard and TikTok superstar Jared McCain at with the 16th overall pick in the 2024 draft and UCLA big man Adem Bona with the with the 41st overall pick.
All of the sudden, Summer League became relevant in Philadelphia once again.
With McCain and Bona and Ricky Council IV highlighting the 2024 Summer League roster, there was a lot to look out for this year’s campaign.
Philadelphia 76ers Summer League Roster:
Jared McCain: C+
Heading into the Summer League, Jared McCain developed a reputation of being a deadly off-ball perimeter shooter. However, we didn’t see much of it in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas. McCain was primarily utilized as a secondary ball-handler to guard Jeff Dowtin Jr.
McCain gained valuable experience in pick-and-roll plays, showing promise as a playmaker by connecting with Adem Bona on lob passes. However, he often focused too much on attacking off screens and settling for contested jumpers, even in isolation.
The 16th overall pick often started quickly by making a spot-up three or driving to the rim. However, after that, McCain would force the action instead of dictating his own pace and reading the floor.
It’s worth noting that McCain’s strengths weren’t fully utilized, which may have been intentional, but he still has potential to improve as a ball-handler.
When given the opportunity to play off the ball, he excelled at using pin-downs, shooting from the perimeter, and driving to the basket after receiving the ball.
Ricky Council IV: A-
Ricky Council IV was a diamond in the rough for the 76ers last season and truly emerged when Joel Embiid was sidelined with a meniscus injury.
With Philadelphia locking him up on a multi-year deal, Council had the opportunity to build off of a solid rookie season and convince Nick Nurse that he belongs in the rotation.
Council had a strong start in his Summer League debut, scoring 29 points and grabbing 8 rebounds with 5-10 shooting from beyond the arc. However, as defenses focused more on stopping his dribble penetration, his performance declined. When driving to the hoop, he encountered multiple defenders, resulting in turnovers and forced shots.
As the Summer League went on, Council began to improve by passing to the weak-side player. Although he faced challenges as a playmaker, he did show promise in drive-and-kick situations. He will need to continue working on it, but with his better perimeter shooting and consistent aggressiveness at the rim, he will definitely have a chance to be part of the 76ers’ rotation on certain nights.
Adem Bona: B+
Adem Bona made his way into the 2024 draft with his elite talents as a rim protector. Both skillsets were on full display in the Summer League.
Bona had a significant impact in the paint with his shot-blocking ability and keen sense of when to help against ball pressure, disrupting many of the 76ers’ opponents’ possessions and creating transition opportunities, a hallmark of historic interior defenders.
The UCLA player needs to improve his discipline in the restricted area. While he got a lot of blocks, he also committed a high number of personal fouls, which is typical for a rookie and should improve over time.
Offensively, Bona didn’t need to do much with plenty of weapons around him. He showed promise as a roll-man by diving hard to the rim and converting many lob passes.
Bona has the makings of a Clint Capela archetype and under Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond, he’ll learn a great deal in his first few years as a pro.
Jeff Dowtin Jr: A
After playing with the 76ers last season, guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. stayed on to assume an offensive creation role for Philadelphia this Summer. He performed well in this capacity and was rewarded with another two-way contract with the 76ers for the upcoming season. Here, you can find more information.
While Dowtin displayed potential during the 2023-2024 season, he demonstrated his NBA-level skills with his strong two-way performance in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. He excelled in pick-and-roll situations, outmaneuvering inexperienced defenses in various ways.
Against drop coverage, Dowtin punished the defense with floaters and foul-line jumpers, and created opportunities for his teammates like Jared McCain with catch-and-shoot threes, or Adem Bona with hard rolls.
With Philadelphia adding Reggie Jackson to the fold, the 76ers have a crowded guard room with Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Reggie Jackson, and Jeff Dowtin Jr.
Having too much depth is a good problem to have.
David Jones: C
Coming out of Memphis, David Jones signed a two-way contract with the 76ers after the 2024 NBA Draft. Known for his scoring ability, he demonstrated his skills during the later stages of the Las Vegas games.
With such talent like Ricky Council IV, Jared McCain, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. getting priority, Jones was a reserve for the 76ers, who didn’t get as much run in as his fellow draftees.
The Memphis product struggled to get it going offensively in Salt Lake City, but started to come into his own in Philadelphia’s last few games.
Jones consistently scored points, whether by driving to the basket or shooting three-pointers. He also played strong defense and was active on the boards, comparable to Ricky Council IV.
Justin Edwards: C
Like David Jones, UDFA Justin Edwards signed a two-way deal with the 76ers after the 2024 NBA Draft. The Kentucky product and Philadelphia native started in every Summer League game, but couldn’t match Jones’ performance despite having a bigger role.
It’s worth noting that Edwards played alongside Jared McCain and Ricky Council IV, who had more freedom to take shots, placing Edwards in a more limited role compared to Jones, who was a key reserve player.
Edwards was a strong defender for the 76ers and was aggressive in attacking the rim, particularly in transition, despite some inconsistency in his perimeter shot.
Edwards is a project player who, with the right development, will become a solid “3&D” player for Philadelphia.
Mandatory Credit: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
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