Seltzer’s Notebook: Summer League Minicamp Underway

Minicamp Underway, First Rounders to Arrive in Coming DaysThe Sixers launched their two-day summer league mini-camp Saturday with a set of morning and early evening practices at the University of Utah’s sparkling, recently-opened $25 million Huntsman Basketball Center.  Of the 15 players the Sixers named to their summer league roster, all were present and accounted for, with the exception of Ben Simmons and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. The two first-round selections are expected to join the Sixers in Salt Lake City shortly.  Given the pedigrees that Simmons, this year’s number one pick, and Luwawu-Cabarrot, who went 24th overall, boast, the Sixers’ front office recognizes that the duo will likely be facing lofty expectations, and quickly. Subsequently, when Simmons and Luwawu-Cabarrot arrive, the team plans – first and foremost – to make them feel comfortable. “I think the first thing is start to get acclimated,”  said Brandon Williams, when asked on The BroadCast to outline the summer league goals the Sixers have set for Simmons. “We’re looking forward to getting him here, introducing him to teammates to coaches, and just start to understand a package of plays that we’ll be working with this summer.”Williams, the Sixers’ Vice President of Basketball Administration, pointed out that Simmons, like many prospects fresh out of college, has gone a long time without participating in full-court, five-on-five activities.”It’s going to be a lot of teaching,” Williams said. “We just want him to absorb.”As for Luwawu-Cabarrot, the 21-year old French swingman who has already competed abroad for four professional seasons, the Sixers detect promise, and the potential for a match with Brett Brown’s system. “We’ve talked a lot about him being a ‘3-and-D’ guy,” said Williams, “A player who’s going to be able to play both ways is something that Coach Brown has been emphasizing as a coaching matter.  We see Tim as an athlete who’s going to be to run, and get up and down, and give us play at the rim.”The first of the Sixers’ two Saturday practices concluded with a spirited, high-energy five-on-five scrimmage.  The squad will hold another two-a-day at the Utes’ training facility on Sunday, before beginning their three-game Utah Jazz Summer League schedule Monday.  McConnell, Holmes Ready for Second Summer with SixersT.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes carved out roles for themselves in the Sixers’ rotation during the 2015-2016 regular season, and will be with the team in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Both are focused on better preparing themselves for their respective sophomore campaigns in the NBA. “I’m just trying to do the same thing I did last year,” said McConnell. “Be like a sponge and take in all the information that I get, because I need it.”Heading into his second year in the league, McConnell, who was on the court for all but one of the Sixers’ 82 games a season ago, is looking be more of a “coach on the floor.””Coach Brown shouldn’t have to talk every game,” he said.  Holmes, meanwhile, averaged 5.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in under 14 minutes per game in his first year.  The Bowling Green product believes taking part in the Utah Jazz and Samsung NBA Summer Leagues for a second time presents a valuable opportunity.”It’s still big, just for different reasons,” Holmes said Saturday. “Rookie season kind of excited to get out there, prove what you can do.  Now, second year, you want to show what you’ve improved on.”Holmes has been concentrating specifically on his jump shot, rebounding, and defense.  “[I’m] looking forward to showing what I’ve got.”Holmes recognizes that now, with one year’s worth of NBA experience under his belt, he – in a sense – is an elder statesman on a summer league roster filled predominantly with players seeking to break into the league for the first time.”Just play hard,” Holmes said of the advice he intends to pass along to his summer teammates. “Every second that you’re on the floor, you got to play hard, because there’s somebody that wants your job, somebody that wants your job after that, so can’t take this for granted at all.”Holmes, who missed the Sixers’ final nine games with an achilles strain, said that he’s back to full strength.In addition to McConnell and Holmes, Christian Wood is another member of this year’s summer squad who logged time with the Sixers a year ago.