After 11 days and 61 games, the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League is in the books.
While it was the Golden State Warriors who ended up taking it all, defeating the Phoenix Suns in an entertaining final game, the Toronto Raptors were well represented in Sin City.
Despite playing just four games and missing the team’s final matchup against the Suns because of a sprained left index finger, Jonas Valanciunas was awarded the greatest honour of the entire tournament, being named Summer League MVP. Averaging 18.8 points and 10 rebounds per game, Valanciunas also shot 56 per cent from the floor and 88 per cent from the free-throw line.
"He’s becoming a man and he wants to take that next step," Raptors swingman DeMar DeRozan said. "He’s gonna be that major part for us next year. If we want to get to where we want to get, it’s going to be partly because of him."
From the first day of Summer League, it was clear that Valanciunas was a different player than the one who finished the season on the All-Rookie second team. Working hard since Toronto’s mid-April season end, the 21 year-old showed up in Vegas with a filled-out frame and a focused attitude.
DeRozan wasn’t participating in Summer League, but the four-year vet was on hand for each of the Raptors’ five summer league games. He came away impressed with what he saw from his sophomore teammate and he had high praise even before the league announced him as their pick for MVP of the tournament.
"I told J.V. after he was done, ‘I’m so proud of you, I’m happy for you,’" DeRozan said. "I remember him coming in and you could tell his whole demeanour was like a kid but now you can tell he’s taking it seriously."
"If he would have played that last game, they’d be playing today," he said on Monday afternoon. "Guaranteed. That’s the type of effect he has on the court. On both ends, he plays hard every time. He doesn’t slack and he just wants to win, man. Every time he’s out there. I love him, man. It’s going to be great. I can’t wait until we get started in training camp."
Another Raptor who can’t wait for training camp is Dwight Buycks. After bouncing around from the D-League to France, to Oklahoma City for a week of practice with the Thunder prior to starring for them in the Orlando Summer League and then shifting from the Miami Heat’s Vegas team to Toronto after the Raptors showed interest, Buycks is ready to visit Toronto and get his first NBA season started.
While he hasn’t been to the city before, he said his summer league teammates were quick to tell him he’ll enjoy his new home. After so much uncertainty and movement, the 24 year-old is mostly thankful that he knows where he’ll be located for the next nine months and change.
"It’s very [comforting] to know that," Buycks said. "You think about it a lot, you try to think about your next move. To me, I was doing that for the past two years so to finally say I know exactly where I’m going and I know this is the date I gotta be there, it definitely feels good to know…It feels good and I’m just ready to get there and get to work."
Toronto forward Quincy Acy summed up Buycks’ journey perfectly: "Earned everything. I respect his battle and his grind. I like Dwight already, man."
Buycks turned heads in Vegas and showed why Toronto gave him a contract. He led the tournament in scoring and assists by averaging 23 points and seven assists in his two appearances in Vegas. Of course, it needs to be noted that most players appeared in at least five games, but Buycks remained sidelined for the beginning of the week while waiting to sign his contract and undergo his physical.
One Raptor who was very vocal in his praise for his new point guard teammate was Terrence Ross. While Ross had an up-and-down Summer League, he was effusive in his excitement for Buycks after the team’s final game. Walking around the locker room he shouted over the interviews taking place that, "We’re going to give some teams some problems."
Pushed on what he liked about Buycks’ game, he had plenty to say.
"He can do it all," Ross said. "He can pass, shoot, score. He can defend. Point guards that can defend like that, him, Kyle (Lowry), we’ve got a scrappy back court. It going to be fun to play with. I can’t wait. I’m excited."
While Ross was a surprise selection with the eighth pick for the Raptors in the 2012 NBA Draft, learning about Buycks’ path inspired the 22 year-old.
"I feel like we’re underdogs and we can really help this team out," he said. "He makes me want to work that much harder."
Ross explained that despite his high draft selection he still feels he has plenty to prove. After a quiet tournament in Vegas, his coaches would be pleased to hear it.
"Honestly, I always feel like I have something to prove," Ross said. "I always try to play with a chip on my shoulder. Whenever the general manager or coach tells me to work on something, I always try to put all of my time and focus into what they were talking about. It helps me because (I’m currently) focusing on attacking, attacking, attacking, even if it doesn’t go my way. I just need to keep working on it."
Ross said he will be attending Tim Grgurich’s camp in August and has spent most of July working with shooting coach (and former Raptors assistant coach, current consultant) John Townsend and video coordinator David Gale in Los Angeles.
"I’ve been trying to get to the free-throw line more," he said. "Keep working on getting to the basket, ball-handling, really making my dribbles, North and South, East and West. I’ve really worked on that and I want to go into the season with really improving on that."