Solely based on his college stats alone, the LA Clippers’ 55th selection, Nick Martinelli, already looked like a steal of a selection late in the draft. For context, Martinelli averaged 23.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, shooting 51.0% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc for Northwestern.
Well, Martinelli’s case just got much stronger through the summer league; he posted 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on shocking shooting splits of 60.4% from the field and 50.0% from three.
And, behind those excellent numbers is the film, in which he dominated. Every time Martinelli took his unorthodox playstyle into the paint, it seemed to be a guaranteed bucket. He did so by either throwing up an attempt when the defense least expected it or making an awkward movement that would disrupt the contest.
So, at the end of the day, heading into the rest of the summer, and eventually training camp, then pre-season, it’s clear the Clippers did their homework on Martinelli. He looks very good and has all of the signs pointing towards him being one of the hidden gems found in the draft.
Nick Martinelli could very well become the player every team wishes they took
From the jump, unfortunately, although fans of the LA Clippers may want him to, Nick Martinelli won’t play a key role in Tyronn Lue’s rotation. He’s on a two-way contract and will have to work his way up by taking advantage of every opportunity that comes his way.
But, Clippers fans, haven’t we seen this before, pretty recently at that? Yes. Kobe Sanders was in a similar position just a year ago, and because everything panned out as hoped for, he is viewed as the steal of the draft by many.
Martinelli could easily do the same, as he already has the playstyle, college experience, and work ethic for it.
Additionally, Martinelli showed he can flourish when his number is called through the summer league. Against the Washington Wizards, with Keaton Wagler sidelined due to rest, the 22-year-old shined with 19 points, five rebounds, and two steals, on 8-9 shooting from the field and 3-3 from three-point territory.
The Clippers needed him to step up, and he did, helping LA take home a double-digit victory.
That said, Martinelli is nothing short of legit. He's shown a ton of promise thus far and possesses the tools to become the player every team will regret passing on.
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