3 Studs, 2 Duds from Raptors' Summer League domination of Thunder

Stud: Branden Carlson could be earning a rotation spot

In our introduction to the entire Summer League roster, we wrote the following about two-way center Branden Carlson:

"What will be key to watch is not whether he dominates the pain defensively; that should be his strongest skill. It's whether his 3-point shot, which improved to 37.9 percent last season, is a real weapon. if it is, the path to playing time spacing the court next to Barnes and company could come alive."

Check and check.

The former Utah center was positively dominant on Saturday night, the best defensive player on the court as he essentially walled off the paint entirely. The Thunder shot just 15-for-48 from 2-point range in the game, an abysmal 31 percent. They could not muster a clean look against Carlson inside, and while he only logged 2 points his presence was felt all night.

On offense he was the perfect fit with Gradey Dick, hitting 3 of his 7 3-pointers and continually opening up the paint for Dick to drive to the rim. He looked extremely comfortable running pick-and-pop actions, and he even ran to the corner on one possession and smoothly nailed the 3 when the ball was swung to him. Some bigs are only comfortable in one zone or the other, but Carlson can shoot from both the corners and above the break.

Carlson added eight rebounds and two assists for a complete night, and was a game-high +24 in his 23 minutes. On a Toronto Raptors team that has a rim protector in Jakob Poeltl and a floor-spacer and pick-and-pop partner for Scottie Barnes in Kelly Olynyk, there is a massive hole still to be filled at backup center. A player who can combine the strengths of Poeltl and Olynyk would be a massive boon to Toronto.

After one game, Carlson had a standout audition for the spot. He leads the way for a Raptors team that had an excellent first showing and will continue their play in Las Vegas against the Denver Nuggets at 9:30 PM ET on Sunday evening.