Knicks 2023 Summer League preview: DaQuan Jeffries returns, Trevor Keels hopes to earn some looks
Las Vegas Summer League is the first chance fans get to see their teams’ newest prospects on the court as professionals. While the Knicks went the entire 2023 NBA Draft without making a selection, they do have some familiar faces competing in the desert that fans should keep an eye out for.
Here’s a preview of what to expect out of the Vegas Knicks.
New York opens up the proceedings on Saturday, July 8 against the Philadelphia 76ers, and immediately follow that up on Sunday against the Nets. They get a breather before a Wednesday, July 12 game against the Orlando Magic and face the Boston Celtics on Friday, July 14 before a TBD fifth game.
Some names fans hoped to see this summer won’t be joining the roster. One is Rokas Jokubaitis, who the Knicks drafted in the second round of the 2021 draft and who has played well overseas.
The other is Jacob Toppin, an undrafted free agent the Knicks penned to a two-way deal just before trading his older brother, Obi Toppin, days later. He’ll reportedly miss the entire slate due to a minor injury.
Still, there’s plenty of talent on the roster to tune into. The Knicks are returning three guys from their roster last season that will want to make an impact.
New York drafted Trevor Keels in the second round of the 2022 draft, but the guard was largely relegated to its Westchester G-League affiliate. In the developmental league, he averaged 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 48.2 percent shooting from two and 35.5 percent shooting from three in 25 games.
After spending little time in the league during his rookie season, Keels can use a strong Vegas outing to earn some looks. The key areas to focus on will be his three-point shot and creation.
Another two-way returner is DaQuan Jeffries, who excelled in Vegas last year and has spent a few years bouncing around the NBA. He’s a potential 3-and-D threat from the wing that will play a big role on this summer’s squad.
Fans looking for a Toppin replacement may find one in Isaiah Roby, who the Knicks inked to a two-way deal late last season. Roby is 6-foot-8, lengthy, and has shown promising signs defensively and from range.
Other Vegas participants already in the pipeline are Jalen Harris and Dmytro Skapintsev, who both were rostered with Westchester last season. Harris didn’t play a game, while Skapintsev averaged 15.4 points and 11.3 rebounds on 60.8 percent shooting per-36 minutes.
Where things get very interesting are the undrafted rookies. The Knicks called in four to Vegas in hopes of finding a diamond in the rough, and they may just do so.
Jaylen Martin is a 6-foot-6, 210-pound wing out of Overtime Elite with some tantalizing athleticism and defense. His catch-and-shoot threes were pretty dependable too, and if all this makes it to the next level he’ll have an NBA future.
If the Knicks are looking for an immediate impact, they may have something in Race Thompson, a 24-year-old big out of Indiana. He wasn’t highly coveted going into the draft process, but is a great fit for this franchise thanks to his hustle and toughness.
David Shriver, a 6-foot-6 guard out of VCU, was one of the best shooters in college ball last season, hitting 40.3 percent of his threes on 4.3 attempts a night. His release is quick and fluid, his size helps on the perimeter, and he’s comfortable taking shots off a variety of looks.
Out of nearby Fordham, big man Khalid Moore also takes the stage in Vegas, where he’ll look to dominate with his post game. The 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward also picked it up from three his senior season, knocking down 35.1 percent of them.
Filling out the roster are a number of G-League and overseas guys trying to get out of the fringes. They include Q.J. Peterson, Justyn Hamilton, Marcus Garrett, Michael Foster Jr. and Charlie Brown Jr.
