The NBA Summer league is largely an overrated event that allows the Association to try to build a 12-month content cycle much like the other competing major sports in the United States. The real value of the league is to get to take a first look at a few rookies and up-and-comers and give some exposure to potential G league players. It is difficult to fully assess players in Summer League as most teams only have a few players that will actual see signficant court time.
The Chicago Bulls should be feeling pretty good. For a franchise that has taken its fair share of criticism, Matas Buzelis feels like a bit of hope and many people are taking notice. Buzelis, rifely so, attracted the most attention from the past week, but here are a few other notable tidbits from Vegas.
Julian Phillips is not quite ready
The second most notable player on the 2024 Bulls Summer League roster was Julian Phillips. The Bulls have an investment in Phillips when they traded into the 2023 2nd round to select him #35 overall. The price was not extravagant, but significant as the Washington Wizards were able to acquire two future second round picks.
At first glance, Phillips passes the eye-test as a lengthy 6-foot-8 athlete that fits into the 3-D model teams are coveting. His game does remind you a bit of former Bull, Derek Jones Jr. His overall performance was solid with the Summer League squad in 4 games as he posted a line of 13.8 PPG - .368 3P% - 0.5 AST - 2.3 STL - 1.0 BLK. As written, early this week maybe he could be a rotational piece for the Bulls.
With that said, I would not overact to his performance. Albeit solid in Vegas, he was not as noticeable on the court as his stats may have show. When watching the Summer Bulls it was easy to see the impact of Buzelis, Steward or Sanogo. There was many times, that you might forgot Phillips was on the court.
Phillips is still an intriguing prospect and has legitimate potential as a role player in the NBA. It would be surprising if he would contribute to the big league squad on a regulard basis unless Bulls move into a tank situation.