The Niagara Falls basketball community is hoping that what happens in Vegas this week doesn’t stay in Vegas.
Local products Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris will debut in the NBA Summer League tonight, teaming up for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they did before at Niagara Falls High School and Syracuse University.
For them to continue playing together after this week, Harris will have to prove he belongs in The League.
For Flynn, these five games in seven days a chance to acclimate himself to the pro game and prepare himself for the regular season, which starts in October. He signed a multi-million dollar contract this week that guarantees him at least three years in the NBA. His talent, work ethic, and draft position should keep him in the NBA long after that.
For Harris, the summer league is effectively his NBA tryout. After forgoing his final year of college, Harris went undrafted, denying him a guaranteed contract. Having also received summer league invitations from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, Harris decided to join the Timberwolves, citing Flynn’s presence as a major factor.
“I think it’s a great fit for me in Minnesota,” Harris said after the draft. “Me and Jonny will be reunited.”
Harris preceded Flynn as a star player for Niagara Falls High School, leading the Wolverines to a state championship in 2005. He and Flynn were both prized recruits for Syracuse University, and won 49 games together with the Orange.
Prior to the draft, they trained together in Chicago, under the tutelage of Michael Jordan’s former trainer.
“It’s definitely not free to work out in Chicago. I didn’t know who was paying for it at first, and I found out it was (Flynn),” Harris said before the draft. “It shows that this is more than basketball. This is brothers and family, forever. When I was younger, I had the juice. Now he’s got the juice and he’s using it to help both of us.”
When Flynn received the key to the city a week later, he said Harris is “like the brother I never had.” But aside from getting him the ball in scoring position, Flynn can’t do much more to help Harris’ career.
If Harris is to earn an invitation to training camp from the Timberwolves or another club, he will have to showcase his potential as a physical defender, rebounder and fast-break finisher, while overcoming concerns about his height, jump shot, and decision-making.
Harris will be rotating on the wings with three first-round draft picks — Corey Brewer, Wayne Ellington, and Gerald Henderson, who was placed on the Timberwolves roster because the Charlotte Bobcats are not participating in the summer league.
Brewer, who was drafted seventh overall out of Florida in 2007, is attempting to return from a major knee injury suffered in December.
Flynn will likely get major minutes at point guard, since the Timberwolves’ other lottery pick, Ricky Rubio, has yet to negotiate a buyout with his Spanish team and won’t be participating in the summer league.
“I’m going to bring high energy ... all the time,” Flynn said after being drafted. “I’m going to bring personality and be somebody that comes in all the time and works hard. I can defend. I can put the ball in the basket. I can make my teammates better.”
The Timberwolves will face the Houston Rockets at 6 p.m. today. On Monday they’ll play the D-League Select team. Their next game is Friday against the Washington Wizards. They’ll finish summer league play with games against the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday and the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
NBA.com is offering live and on-demand Web streaming of the entire summer league for $14.99.
Local products Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris will debut in the NBA Summer League tonight, teaming up for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they did before at Niagara Falls High School and Syracuse University.
For them to continue playing together after this week, Harris will have to prove he belongs in The League.
For Flynn, these five games in seven days a chance to acclimate himself to the pro game and prepare himself for the regular season, which starts in October. He signed a multi-million dollar contract this week that guarantees him at least three years in the NBA. His talent, work ethic, and draft position should keep him in the NBA long after that.
For Harris, the summer league is effectively his NBA tryout. After forgoing his final year of college, Harris went undrafted, denying him a guaranteed contract. Having also received summer league invitations from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, Harris decided to join the Timberwolves, citing Flynn’s presence as a major factor.
“I think it’s a great fit for me in Minnesota,” Harris said after the draft. “Me and Jonny will be reunited.”
Harris preceded Flynn as a star player for Niagara Falls High School, leading the Wolverines to a state championship in 2005. He and Flynn were both prized recruits for Syracuse University, and won 49 games together with the Orange.
Prior to the draft, they trained together in Chicago, under the tutelage of Michael Jordan’s former trainer.
“It’s definitely not free to work out in Chicago. I didn’t know who was paying for it at first, and I found out it was (Flynn),” Harris said before the draft. “It shows that this is more than basketball. This is brothers and family, forever. When I was younger, I had the juice. Now he’s got the juice and he’s using it to help both of us.”
When Flynn received the key to the city a week later, he said Harris is “like the brother I never had.” But aside from getting him the ball in scoring position, Flynn can’t do much more to help Harris’ career.
If Harris is to earn an invitation to training camp from the Timberwolves or another club, he will have to showcase his potential as a physical defender, rebounder and fast-break finisher, while overcoming concerns about his height, jump shot, and decision-making.
Harris will be rotating on the wings with three first-round draft picks — Corey Brewer, Wayne Ellington, and Gerald Henderson, who was placed on the Timberwolves roster because the Charlotte Bobcats are not participating in the summer league.
Brewer, who was drafted seventh overall out of Florida in 2007, is attempting to return from a major knee injury suffered in December.
Flynn will likely get major minutes at point guard, since the Timberwolves’ other lottery pick, Ricky Rubio, has yet to negotiate a buyout with his Spanish team and won’t be participating in the summer league.
“I’m going to bring high energy ... all the time,” Flynn said after being drafted. “I’m going to bring personality and be somebody that comes in all the time and works hard. I can defend. I can put the ball in the basket. I can make my teammates better.”
The Timberwolves will face the Houston Rockets at 6 p.m. today. On Monday they’ll play the D-League Select team. Their next game is Friday against the Washington Wizards. They’ll finish summer league play with games against the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday and the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
NBA.com is offering live and on-demand Web streaming of the entire summer league for $14.99.
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