Bucks: What to expect from Rashad Vaughn, Damien Inglis
The Milwaukee Bucks ended their summer league play Friday night in a 83-76 loss to the New York Knicks, leaving them with a 1-5 record. You can relax though; we watch summer league for development and potential, not wins and losses.
That being said there are two players who, without playing a single game for Milwaukee, have a polarizing and relatively unknown aura surrounding them. 2015 first round draft pick Rashad Vaughn and 2014 second-round pick Damien Inglis are two players that will continue to be examined closely due to their inexperience and potential upside.
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Feb 7, 2015; Fort Collins, CO, USA; UNLV Rebels guard Rashad Vaughn (1) attempts a free throw in second half against the Colorado State Rams at Moby Arena. The Rams defeated the Rebels 83-82. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Rookie Rashad Vaughn ended his six-game summer league stint averaging 17.1 points per game while shooting 36.5 percent from the field. While Vaughn struggled at times shooting from the floor, he proved that he is a very capable scorer. Before he was drafted, scouts praised Vaughn’s ability to score.
Whether it was his sweet-shooting stroke, or his innate ability to drive the ball and finish, Vaughn is already showing why he deserved to be a first-round pick.
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Now, what kind of production should fans expect from Vaughn this upcoming season?
Despite his rookie status on a deep team, it’s not crazy to envision Vaughn having a significant impact. With minimal pressure, above-average scoring capabilities, and an all-around game that translates very well to NBA success, expect Rashad to develop into an integral part of this offense.
On the other hand, you have an almost complete unknown in Damien Inglis. Inglis was taken with the 31st overall pick in the 2014 draft despite suffering a foot injury in a pre-draft workout that forced him to miss the entire 2014-15 season.
Though we have seen glimpses of what Inglis can do on the court since his draft, we still have to rely heavily on pre-draft analysis and select film to speculate on what kind of impact Inglis can/will have this year.
Sep 29, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Damien Inglis during media day at the Cousins Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Inglis prides himself on being a complete player, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Damien has shown that he can guard on the perimeter with supreme lateral quickness for someone his size, as well as being able to guard with his back to the basket.
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His combination of foot speed and shot blocking ability make him another great piece on the defensive end of the floor; if he can stay healthy and regain his form before the draft.
Damien was eased back onto the court during this year’s summer league, only playing 13.5 minutes a game in his four games. He only averaged 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in his return to action, but those stats don’t really matter at this point.
While Bucks fans may be eager, and possibly impatient when it comes to Inglis, it’s hard to see him making any significant impact for at least the first part of the season. He is still making strides but is still a long way away from contributing at an NBA level.
Without even mentioning his offensive inconsistencies, Damien needs to prove to the coaching staff that he can not only compete on the NBA level, but do so while staying healthy.
Between his lackluster jump shot, lingering foot injury, and not playing basketball for a full year, Bucks fans need to sit tight and give Inglis some more time before any impulsive decisions are made.
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