Mar 13, 2015; Hartford, CT, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs center Yanick Moreira (2) shoots against East Carolina Pirates forward Marshall Guilmette (41) in the second half during the quarterfinal round of the American Conference Tournament at XL Center. Southern Methodist defeated East Carolina 74-68. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Clippers will participate in the Orlando Pro Summer League for the first time this year, and now they have a new talent in 6’11” center Yanick Moreira of the Southern Methodist Mustangs to represent them.
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With Royce White and Eric Griffin already on board (read the story on Griffin here), too, the Clippers are definitely giving hopeful players a chance to prove themselves. White was originally drafted with the 16th pick in the 2012 draft by the Houston Rockets, but has since failed to make a career for himself in the NBA. He didn’t play his first minute until the 2013-14 season when he joined the Sacramento Kings, and his NBA career ended once again as they refused to extend his contract following two 10-day deals.
So whilst White has been a part of the Development League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Reno Bighorns, he has what could be his last chance to make a genuine attempt to enter the NBA again with the Clippers this summer.
Eric Griffin, meanwhile, possesses serious athleticism and some genuine upside. And with his ridiculous explosiveness and length, he can pull off plays like this:
With the Texas Legends of the Development League this season, he averaged 19 points on 45.5 percent shooting, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.4 blocks in 35.2 minutes per game. In addition to his rebounding, rim protection and devastating finishing ability, he also made 36.8 percent of his three point attempts.
Yanick Moreira’s shot at a career, however, is only just beginning.
https://twitter.com/Ymoreira35/status/614486373848887296
After announcing his participating in the Summer League on Twitter, we can add Yanick Moreira to the list of young hopefuls that will represent the Clippers in Orlando. With White and Griffin as well, L.A. now have three players looking to make a name for themselves. And whilst it’s only the Summer League, which is rarely a hotbed for genuine talent or competitive games, these three players should at least play as hard as possible to prove what they can do.
This season, Moreira averaged 11.1 points on 55.0 percent shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.7 steals and 1.2 blocks in 24.4 minutes per game, and made 64.0 percent of his free throw attempts.
As the above footage of Moreira shows, he’s actually a relatively skilled center. At 6’11” and 220 lbs he may be slim, but he has excellent length and his footwork in the post is easily one of his best marketable assets as he awaits the Summer League.
He uses his up-and-under move effectively and is good at adjusting through traffic to finish under the basket. With a solid pump-fake, too, Yanick Moreira can at least be the presence inside that can turn a few heads in the lower standard of the Summer League.
He has length, surprising quickness, he can run the floor and he moves well in the post. So rather than just possessing physical attributes, he actually has some skill. And that can only work in Moreira’s as he tries to prove himself.
We’ll have to wait and see what he can do, but at the very least, the Summer League makes the wait till the official regular season a little more bearable.