It’s the dead part of the offseason for the NBA. The only notable stories remaining are the potential blockbuster trades of Damian Lillard and Pascal Siakam. During this time, it’s mostly workout videos and Pro-Am leagues, the latter of which is the subject of this piece.
Dejounte Murray was running against Michael Porter Jr. and Isaiah Thomas in the ZekeEnd tournament, which Murray looked phenomenal in, but that isn’t the meat of this story; it’s Atlanta’s rookie Mouhamed Gueye, who was featured in several of the highlights.
Michael Porter Jr. and Isaiah Thomas went head-to-head against Dejounte Murray 👀
The ZekeEnd tournament game went into double OT 😤
(via @ballislife/IG) pic.twitter.com/v0BUTm8MpR
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) August 7, 2023
Dejounte Murray is rightfully getting a lot of love. He’s the biggest name in this game and looks primed for a huge 2023 campaign, but I can’t help but talk about Mo Gueye.
The second-round pick made a lot of noise in Las Vegas during Summer League earlier in the offseason, drawing praise from John Hollinger of The Athletic as well as Quin Snyder and Hawks superstar Trae Young for his efforts.
Coming out of Washington State, the power forward was heralded for his versatility and ability to attack the offensive boards — both of which showed up during the Summer League appearances. He averaged a respectable 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in four games on 44.8% shooting from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc.
He’s a 6-foot-11 big man with a 7-foot-3 wingspan that can impact the game in a variety of ways on both ends of the court, including nabbing those ultra-valuable offensive rebounds, averaging nearly 3.5 per contest in college. If you can generate second-chance points for a club, you’ll garner playing time. He averaged 2.5 offensive rebounds during the Summer League, which is notable.
Gueye is a fluid athlete that can run the floor and handle the ball. Though he didn’t shoot efficiently from deep, he’s got a smooth jump shot and is improving from three-point land.
The Hawks have a deep roster, so it will be difficult for him to contribute immediately, but if Gueye continues to turn heads, he might force himself into the rotation.
—
You must log in to post a comment.