Pacers Summer League Review, News and Notes

Oct 12, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward

(3) and Indiana Pacers forward Shayne Whittington (42) laugh during the game at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable and Dishonorable Mentions

Mar 10, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Solomon Hill (44) dunks against the Orlando Magic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Orlando 118-86. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

While not everything that happens during the week of the Summer League impacts those players vying for a roster spot, it is an opportunity to separate one’s self from the pack. Both Turner and Young were very impressive in their Summer League performances, but there were others who exceeded expectations and one who seriously disappointed.

Exceeded: Shayne Whittington only participated in two games during the Summer League, but put up solid numbers. Whittington displayed the veteran presence necessary for a player who played in 20 games for the Pacers last season. He averaged 12.6 points along with 6.5 rebounds per game. Whittington looked strong in the post and appears completely recovered from a 2014 broken fibula which limited his development going into last season.

Disappointed: Solomon “Solo” Hill was the most experienced veteran on the Pacers summer league roster. Admittedly, he volunteered to join the team in Orlando to further develop his game. After two years in the NBA  – including 78 starts last season – for the Pacers it was expected that Solo would dominate competition and perform as a leader on the team. In three games averaging 26.7 minutes, Hill averaged only 4.7 points and 3 rebounds per game. Perhaps he intended to help facilitate the offense and get others involved. If so, that is commendable, but such low numbers do not indicate much progression on his part heading into his third NBA season.

Next: Pacers Trade Damjan Rudez to Minnesota for Chase Budinger