How will former Auburn players fare after NBA Summer League?

Not only have Auburn fans gotten to enjoy great basketball from their team this year at the college level, they’ve also been fortunate to witness what it’s like to watch some of those same players test their skills in the professional game with the albeit brief, NBA Summer League season.

Three former Auburn Tigers were offered chances by the NBA to showcase their skills in an attempt to catch the eye of at least one of the 30 NBA franchises. Jared Harper signed a Summer League contract to play for the Phoenix Suns, Bryce Brown for the Sacramento Kings, and Malik Dunbar got an opportunity to represent the Golden State Warriors.

Let’s first take a look at Bryce Brown’s summer with the Kings. He played in 4 games with Sacramento and subsequently averaged 11.5 minutes per game, while pouring in 4.3 points per game. Brown went 6 of 19 from the field and played some pretty solid defense as well. Most of the Summer League season saw Bryce coming off the bench playing behind Virginia legend Kyle Guy, who the Kings drafted in the 2nd round at No. 55 overall. However, the former Auburn sharp shooter made his chances count when he got in the game in typical Bryce Brown fashion. Thanks to @TweetsFromAlpha for the video.

It’s not very uncommon for an NBA team to play a guy who was drafted over an undrafted free agent. Bryce has been a solid contributor for the Kings, but the playing time was very sporadic to say the least.

For Bryce’s future, I believe a two-way contract will be a good turnout for him. Whether it be from Sacramento or another team, I truly believe a team will offer a contract to Brown that allows the team to be able to move him back and forth from the G-league team to the NBA team as the organization pleases.

For Malik Dunbar and the Warriors, they finished the summer session with a 3-2 record. Malik’s stats weren’t updated at the time of this writing, but in the last game against the Lakers he shot 2 of 13 from the field, including 0 of 7 from beyond the arc. He added a steal, a block, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. It was a disappointing end to an overall lackluster showing for Dunbar.

Unfortunately, Malik didn’t get a whole lot of playing time in the summer season with Golden State and his future with the team is definitely in doubt. His main hope now should be that a team picks him up and gives him a G-league contract. There is always ways to prove yourself during the G-league, but getting that opportunity alone may be a challenge in of itself.

Also, just a little side note for all the Auburn fans learning how the NBA works, an NBA franchise will not only play players that they invest more in financially, but also they will change and mix up their lineups in Summer League to see how certain guys play with others. It may not make much sense, but winning is not necessarily the sole factor in these games out in Las Vegas. An organization would rather try out different and intriguing lineups than win a game with the same group out on the floor. Once again, to the viewers that are watching the NBA and Summer League for the first time, this will not make much sense but it is part of the process.

Lastly, Jared Harper has been playing this summer for the Phoenix Suns. The Suns went 3-1 as Harper got to see a lot of action on the floor at the point guard position. Harper played 21.8 minutes per game, while putting up 10.5 ppg on 38% shooting from the field. Harper also averaged 2.5 rebounds and assists, respectively, to go along with just over a steal a game.

What Jared provided for the Suns in the brief summer season was just a glimpse of what he did for Auburn during his three-year career on the Plains. He managed the offense while pushing the pace, something the Suns will want to do with new head coach Monty Williams. The video below from our Power of Dixieland Twitter account shows how Jared performed during the first game against the Knicks.

Phoenix has given chances to small point guards in the past, including the likes of Isaiah Thomas and Tyler Ulis. Even if the Suns decide not to offer Jared an NBA contract, a team like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who could use a backup point guard, might be in the market for a guy like Harper. My prediction for the dynamic Auburn legend is that he lands a one-year deal with the Suns and actually makes the roster. It might be a little hopeful, but if Jared has shown us anything the last couple of years, it is to never doubt him or count him out.

In closing, it’s been fun following along with these former Auburn Basketball greats as they pursue their professional careers and what’s even more exciting, this is just a taste of the type of talent a Bruce Pearl coached Auburn team will produce for the professional game. Ten years from now, Auburn fans will have the luxury of watching many of their former players in the NBA thanks to Pearl, who has dramatically transformed the basketball culture at Auburn.