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The NBA Summer League has become a huge event for die hard NBA fans and fringe players trying to get that contract, whether it’s with an NBA team, G League team, or a European team. Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford are both in Las Vegas trying to do that now. Unfortunately for Jaylen, for the second year in a row the Minnesota Timberwolves brought in a former Hog but mostly left him on the bench.
But Daryl, yes Daryl is getting the chance with the Miami Heat to cook some. He’s not going to earn any MVP type awards, but he has been a starter and a positive impact for the Heat this summer. In both the Sacramento and Las Vegas Summer Leagues, he’s played in six of the team’s seven games and averaging 22.8 minutes per game, 8.8 points per game on 36% shooting, and 5.2 assists per game.
In Sacramento, that dribble pull up Arkansas fans got used to was on display.
Always said Hog alum Daryl Macon @_dmacon4 had an underrated middle game in his bag ... nice use of his crossover to move up, then back, to set up this Bang Bang from 20 feet as the Miami Heat are rolling over the Los Angeles Lakers late 3rd Q in NBA Summer League in Sac-town! pic.twitter.com/zx3WVgbmNG
— Kevin McPherson (@ARHoopScoop) July 4, 2018
He’s also played a bigger role as a distributor. In that same game against the Lakers, he dished out 11 assists with just three turnovers. In Las Vegas, against some stiffer competition, the assist numbers have still been there but so have the turnovers. His ratio of 16 assists and 14 turnovers needs improvement. Still despite that, he’s had the ball in his hands a lot and been in position to make plays like this one.
Plays like this helped Hog alum Daryl Macon @_dmacon4 lead the '17-18 Hogs in assists ... sweet lean & hesi to draw 2 defenders before blowing by them into the paint & diming for an uncontested Miami Heat smash ... NBA Summer League action Tues nite in Sacramento ... pic.twitter.com/YOI45zCewX
— Kevin McPherson (@ARHoopScoop) July 4, 2018
Macon’s numbers are good but not great, and certainly teams won’t be breaking down his door trying to get him on an NBA team, but he’s certainly proved himself capable. Teams are still looking to fill out their rosters and with the new two-way player contracts, Macon can have more opportunities.
If he tightens up on the turnovers, and gets that shooting percentage north of 40%, he could definitely land one of those coveted spots either on Miami or elsewhere in the league. The Heat are close to filling out their roster, so for Macon it may be a two-way deal or convincing someone else that he’s worth taking a shot on.