2015 NBA Summer League: Must See Games of the Orlando Summer League

Now comes the fun part for all the hoop junkies who are following their favorite College Basketball players into the NBA.

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When the 2015 NBA Summer Leagues start, it is everyone’s first glimpse into what is to come for a lot of these players as they embark on their NBA journeys.

The NBA Summer League schedule starts on July 4th in Orlando with nine NBA teams participating.

The host team Orlando Magic will have a split squad (Orlando Blue and Orlando White) with the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Clippers, all sending squads to the Magic Kingdom.

The Orlando Summer league will last from July 4th thru July 10th and will be televised on NBA TV.

These are the matchups that will be the most intriguing in the upcoming week for the Orlando Summer League that will feature top picks from the 2015 NBA Draft.

July 4th – Oklahoma City Thunder vs Charlotte Hornets

This is the first opportunity for Charlotte Hornets fans to get a glimpse at their first round draft pick in “NCAA National Player of the Year” Frank Kaminsky out of Wisconsin.

The Hornets have made some interesting moves during the offseason trading away Lance Stevenson and then bringing in Jeremy Lamb and Nicolas Batum in separate deals.

The addition of Kaminsky to go along with Al Jefferson gives the Hornets a nice one two punch in the high and low post.

The Thunder should be putting their first round draft pick Cameron Payne on the floor to make his Summer League debut. Payne averaged 20.2 points per contest with the Murray State Racers en route to becoming the “Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year”.

Payne did hurt a his finger on his non-shooting hand so there is a possibility that he is not going to get any run. But if he is good to go this will be his Summer League debut.

July 5th – Memphis Grizzlies vs Charlotte Hornets

This matchup will have former University of Kentucky guard Andrew Harrison matched up against Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky for the first time since the 2015 NCAA Final Four.

Photo: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY

Memphis acquired Harrison in a trade with the Phoenix Suns who took him in the second round with the 44th pick of the NBA Draft.

The connection between these two players goes far beyond Wisconsin ending Kentucky’s chances for an undefeated season 2014-15 season in the Final Four.

Harrison uttered an unflattering response on a hot mic during the postgame press conference after the Kentucky loss using an ethnically charged debatable word that starts with an “N” to dismiss the question of how he felt about Frank Kaminsky.

“(Expletive) that ‘N’ “, was not very flattering at all after the loss to Wisconsin for Andrew Harrison, and he did apologize after the statement was made.

Now they will meet again for the first time since that game and since that remark under different circumstances. Both players will be laying the ground work for their professional reputations.

July 6th – Detroit Pistons vs Miami Heat

This should be everyone’s first look at Detroit Pistons No.8 pick Stanley Johnson vs. Miami Heat No. 10 pick Justise Winslow.

Stanley Johnson has an opportunity to start immediately on the wing for the Detroit Pistons. The University of Arizona standout is one of the smoothest and most athletic people coming out in the NBA Draft at 6-foot-6, 242 pounds.

Justise Winslow was a flat out steal dropping to the tenth pick of the NBA draft for Miami Heat consumption. If the Heat are able to retain the services of Dwyane Wade during the free agency period, the Heat will be a threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference in 2015-16.

These two players may even get a chance to go face-to-face in the Summer League which should be must see TV.

Next: Wisconsin Badgers Top 5 Seasons under Bo Ryan

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