Maryland Basketball: Former Terps Chasing Their NBA Dreams
By Joe Serpico
Maryland basketball has five players that are looking to make a NBA team this summer. Here is an update on how each is doing thus far.
The Maryland Terrapins have an entire starting five taking part in the NBA’s summer league. Now it’s up to them to make their dreams a reality.
Head Coach Mark Turgeon has made the Maryland program a breeding ground for NBA talent as of late. Four players from last year’s squad and another from the year prior will have an opportunity to impress their team’s this summer and become professional basketball players.
The Terps already have three other players with prominent roles in the NBA. Steve Blake, the iconic point guard from Maryland’s lone national championship run, has played 13 seasons and is currently with the Detroit Pistons. Greivis Vasquez has enjoyed a solid six seasons in the league. Alex Len was a lottery pick for the Phoenix Suns in 2013 and coming off his best year as a pro.
The next wave of Terps hoping to make the NBA have their work cut out for them to have a long career like Blake. Here is an update on each as they make the transition to the NBA:
The No. 47 pick in this year’s draft has agreed to a three-year contract with the Portland Trail Blazers for nearly $2.7 million, two years of which are guaranteed.
The Blazers entered the draft without a pick, but acquired Layman in a draft day trade with the Orlando Magic. Portland gave up $1.2 million and a 2019 second-round pick for his rights.
Many second-round selections are not given guaranteed years on their contract so the Blazers must envision Layman as someone that can take the court immediately for them. He took part in the team’s first practice on Wednesday and will take part in summer league basketball in Las Vegas.
Rasheed Sulaimon and Dez Wells
Sulaimon was not selected in the draft, but will join another former Terp as a part of the Chicago Bulls’ summer league team. While the duo never played together at College Park, they have an opportunity to impress this summer.
It will be tough for either to make the roster. The Bulls recently added Rajon Rondo and Dwayne Wade during free agency, and already have Jimmy Butler on the roster. They drafted Denzel Washington with the first-found pick, and have youngsters Doug McDermott and Jerian Grant in the mix.
Sulaimon and Wells will struggle to make a roster with that kind of talent, but a strong summer from both can land them a job elsewhere in the league.
The Terps’ one-and-done center is already taking part in summer league games and scored 20 points, while adding seven rebounds on Tuesday.
It was a huge improvement coming off his second game in which he picked up 10 fouls in only 17 minutes. He had only scored 11 points in the first two summer league games before the explosion against the New York Knicks.
Carter was the biggest surprise to enter the NBA Draft and it really was not much of a surprise that he went undrafted. He signed a free-agent contract with the Golden State Warriors, but let’s be real, it’s going to be difficult for him to make that championship team.
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He is not the shooter that the Warriors have throughout their roster, but does have length and a work ethic that could catch a team’s attention. Could he fill the role of the smaller center when Draymond Green is not on the floor? That’s what the Warriors want to find out.
Carter should be able to find a role in the NBA and stick around for a while. He has an NBA-ready body and an offensive game that makes him intriguing.