Las Vegas Summer League: Who to Watch for

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  • The Las Vegas Summer League is a time of the year where a lot of the rookies and lesser-known players around the league get to showcase their skills. Some rookies are locks to make a final roster while other undrafted or second-round picks may be on the bubble. We also get to see some players with NBA experience come in and light it up for a game or two (think Desmond Bane last season).

    In this piece we’ll be looking at each of the 30 teams around the league and focusing in on which notable players we should be watching for, as well as some intriguing undrafted players.

     

    Atlanta Hawks

    The Hawks made quite the splash this summer and instead of Summer League, most fans in Atlanta are understandably more excited to see the debut of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray together to start the regular season rather than checking out the youngsters in Las Vegas. Second-year player Jalen Johnson will unfortunately be unavailable after he underwent a non-surgical procedure on his left knee after the season concluded.

     

    AJ Griffin
    F, Atlanta Hawks

    Griffin is by far and away the most intriguing player to watch on the Haws’ Summer League roster as he could have been a top-10 or better draft pick had it not been for injury concerns. The ACC All-Freshman played for an insanely deep Duke squad and that likely prevented him from showcasing his full tool box as he shared the floor with several other high-quality players including the No. 1 and 15 overall selections in Paolo Banchero and Mark Williams.

    It seems unlikely that Griffin has more than a minimal bench role for a Hawks team that is looking to get back to the Eastern Conference Finals after a disappointing 2021-22 season. He’ll likely be competing with 2021 first-round pick Jalen Johnson for playing time and perhaps he can get the leg up on Johnson with a strong SL performance. The way that he can improve his odds of getting additional playing time is if the excellent shooting numbers (.493/.447/.792) that he put up at Duke translate immediately to the NBA.

     

    Sharife Cooper
    PG, Atlanta Hawks

    Cooper will look to have another impressive Summer League but will continue to struggle for any kind of meaningful minutes behind Trae Young and Dejounte Murray in Atlanta, making him a deep-league dynasty option at best. He’ll likely be competing for backup point guard minutes with Aaron Holiday, Tyson Etienne and perhaps Skylar Mays.

    What Cooper can do with his Summer League opportunity is he can prove to Atlanta that he is the better option between himself and undrafted rookie Tyson Etienne, who we’ll talk about in a bit.

     

    Tyrese Martin
    F, Atlanta Hawks

    Martin was a four-year college player who the Hawks selected with the 51st overall selection in June’s draft. He improved his 3-point shot to north of 40% during his last year in college and that was likely a big reason why he was drafted. However, he is not even worthy of adding in deep dynasty leagues until we see that he can hang with the Summer League competition. He’s got an uphill battle for any kind of role on this Hawks squad and if he does one day earn a role for himself it’ll be a complementary role as he doesn’t ever project to be more than a role player in the league.

     

    Tyson Etienne
    PG/SG, Atlanta Hawks

    The 6’2″ guard out of Whichita State latched on with the Hawks on a two-way deal after going undrafted and like we talked about before, he will be competing with Sharife Cooper in Vegas to prove who is the preferred PG option heading into training camp. Neither player figure to have a large role with the Hawks barring some serious injuries to the starters, and Cooper has the advantage as the incumbent.

    In his time in college, Etienne was much more of a score-first guard than Cooper and so his efficiency will matter greatly if he is to get opportunity with the big league club as opposed to spending the majority of his first season in the G League. Odds are the two-time All AAC guard will spend the majority of his first season playing for the College Park Skyhawks.

     

    Boston Celtics

    The Celtics are clearly focused on winning a title and will not have many intriguing youngsters to watch for Summer League as neither player below figure to play a meaningful role for the reigning Eastern Conference champs.

     

    JD Davison
    G, Boston Celtics

    Davison may have fared better by returning to school since the Freshman was barely drafted in 2022 with the 53rd overall selection. The All SEC Freshman struggled a bit from 3-point range (.301) in his lone season at Alabama but the .728 stroke from the foul line offsets some of the worry about his long-term future as a shooter. He also showed a good ability to facilitate off the bench as he posted 4.3 assists in 25.8 mpg while grabbing 4.8 rebounds.

    The Celtics don’t have much playing time available for youngsters as they are in clear win-now mode, but Davison has the potential and upside to be a starting caliber player one day in the league if he is able to reach his potential. He is the only draft pick from 2022 that the Celtics had.

     

    Juhann Begarin
    G, Boston Celtics

    The 2021 second-round draft pick will get to showcase all of the fine-tuning he worked on overseas as a draft-and-stash prospect. He still appears to be quite raw and could spend another season overseas but what remains clear is that he will not play a meaningful role for the Celtics in 2021-22. His .563 shooting from the free throw line in France last year gives a lot of reason to worry that his shot is not anywhere close to where it needs to be to earn consistent opportunity in the NBA and especially for a Celtics team that is need of additional shooting depth. Begarin remains an intriguing prospect at just 19 years old, but he’ll likely continue to hone his craft overseas after his time in Vegas.

     

    Brooklyn Nets

    Obviously, the Nets Summer League team is the least of their concerns with the Kevin Durant news atop the minds of all fans around the league. However, the Nets do have some promising youngsters who could look to play a bigger role with the team in their second seasons.

     

    Cam Thomas
    SG, Brooklyn Nets

    Thomas exploded offensively last year in Las Vegas and is poised to have another great showing given how offensively gifted he is. The issue with Thomas comes at the defensive end and that is probably the side of the court that the Nets development staff is challenging the youngster on.

    He didn’t shoot the ball well from distance as a rookie (.270 on 2.6 attempts) but his .829 free throw percentage is very encouraging moving forward. Tthe 3-point shot should come around as well as the rest of his offense and it’s possible that he plays a much bigger role as a second-year player if the Nets end up dealing Kyrie Irving and don’t bring back a guard near his caliber in the return package.

     

    Day'Ron Sharpe
    C, Brooklyn Nets

    At times as a rookie, Sharpe’s number was called and he delivered your typical big man stats when he was given playing time that has deep-league managers and dynasty managers interested in the former North Carolina Tar Heel. He’ll likely feast in Las Vegas against more inexperienced and lesser competition, and could very well see a consistent rotation role off the bench for the Nets this season. He’s slotted to be behind Nic Claxton on the depth chart but could very well start some games with Steve Nash known for experimenting with his lineups throughout the regular season. Sharpe could even enter the standard league conversation at times this upcoming season and should be on draft boards in deeper formats.

     

    Kessler Edwards
    SF, Brooklyn Nets

    Edwards surprisingly started 23 games as a rookie after going in the middle of the second round during the 2021 draft. He doesn’t ever project to be a star in the league but has all the qualities of a solid role player for a contending squad. He’ll likely not play the entire Summer League given how much NBA competition he has under his belt already, and it’ll be interesting to see how much bigger of a role he’ll take on offensively in Las Vegas with no superstars around him.

    While Edwards has already solidified himself as a solid role player in the league, he was outside of the top-300 in per-game value despite seeing 20.6 mpg. He had a ridiculously low usage rate (13.9%) playing alongside several superstars and that will need to climb if he wants to enter the standard league conversation. For now, he’s relevant in leagues with greater than 20 teams and is a reasonable hold in deeper dynasty formats as someone who is producing a bit now but could grow into a more complete role player over the next couple of seasons.

     

    Alondes Williams
    G, Brooklyn Nets

    Williams wasn’t getting the opportunity at Oklahoma but that all changed when he transferred to Wake Forest for his final season as a Junior. The 6’5″ guard exploded onto the scene as a Junior by obliterating the numbers he posted through his first two years of college which included an insane .603 2P%. The Nets took a shot on his potential with a two-way contract after they didn’t have any draft picks and while he’ll likely spend most of his first season in the G League, he’s a player worth watching in dynasty formats as he attempts to prove that he is the player we saw at Wake Forest and not the guy who struggled to see opportunity for Oklahoma over his first two collegiate campaigns.

     

    Charlotte Hornets

    The Hornets hope that they finally got their center question answered and Summer League will be the first test for their 15th overall selection, while they have some other intriguing youngsters worth watching in Vegas as well.

     

    Mark Williams
    C, Charlotte Hornets

    Williams was the player who was constantly mocked to the Hornets and that ended up working out. He has traditional big man written all over him while there is an outside shot that he could eventually stretch out his shooting range to beyond the arc. The .727 free throw percentage he shot as a sophomore is encouraging in that respect, although he shot just .537 as a freshman.

    Out of any of the rookies who are playing in Summer League, Williams has one of the better opportunities to start from day one and could definitely provide top-100 per-game value or greater in a starting role. There may be higher upside picks in dynasty drafts but Williams has one of the safer floors out there, especially in the short-term.

     

    Kai Jones
    PF, Charlotte Hornets

    Jones was drafted in 2021 for his upside as he didn’t have nearly the college resume as Mark Williams, who they hope they got right in the 2022 draft. Jones struggled to see the floor as a rookie despite the need in the frontcourt and while he is worth watching for his draft pedigree alone, he’ll likely struggle to see the court again in his second season in the league.

     

    Bryce McGowens
    G, Charlotte Hornets

    McGowens has great size for a guard at 6’7″ and showed promise as a scoring guard inside the arc in his lone season at college. The 3-point shot needs some work as he shot just .274 at Nebraska and also had a negative assist/turnover ratio. The Hornets drafted the 19 year old in the second round and he is not expected to play a role for the big league club as a rookie. He’ll likely spend most of the first season in the G League, meaning he’s only worth stashing in extremely deep dynasty formats.

     

    JT Thor
    PF, Charlotte Hornets

    Thor was drafted in the second round of the 2021 draft and yet he is very similar in age to most players who were drafted this past June. He’s as much of a project as we’ve seen in the league over the last few seasons and projects to once again play most of his season with the Greensboro Swarm. In 10 games with the Swam in 2021-22, Thor averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.2 triples and 1.3 turnovers in 26.9 mpg while boasting .495/.364/.750 shooting splits.

    There is potential for Thor in the NBA but at the moment, he’s only worth stashing in dynasty formats for managers not looking to compete this upcoming season.

     

    Chicago Bulls

    The Bulls have a very deep roster if everyone is healthy, which is a big if after last season. That being said, these Summer League players don’t figure to play major roles within the rotation this season barring injury, with the possible exception of their first-round selection.

     

    Dalen Terry
    G, Chicago Bulls

    Terry improved across the board in his sophomore season at Arizona and it led to him getting selected 18th overall by the Bulls in June. Terry has the greatest opportunity of seeing minutes off the bench this regular season out of anyone on their SL roster. However, the Bulls have plenty of depth on their roster and so Terry will likely spend more of his time in the G League or on the team’s bench. He’s a player worth rostering in dynasty formats for managers not looking to compete this season.

     

    Marko Simonovic
    C, Chicago Bulls

    Simonović barely played for the Bulls last season and saw more appearances in the G League than the Bulls after being a draft-and-stash pick back in 2020. He doesn’t figure to be a part of the big man rotation once again this coming season, although perhaps a strong Summer League and training camp could change the calculus. In an absolute best-case scenario, Simonovic can find himself competing (and likely losing) for the backup center minutes with longtime veteran Andre Drummond. He also has to contend with Tony Bradley, so the odds are definitely against the Montenegrin big man.

     

    Cleveland Cavaliers

    Despite fizzling out towards the end of last season — in large part due to injuries — the wine-and-gold were one of the NBA’s biggest surprises this past year. A fully healthy roster means not a lot of room for the Cavs’ SL guys to crack the rotation, but there is one player in particular who should see regular reps:

     

    Ochai Agbaji
    F, Cleveland Cavaliers

    The 14th pick in last month’s draft will probably see the court in a regular role, especially considering his high floor and the Cavs’ biggest hole being wing depth. The four-year player out of Kansas put up 18.8 points and 5.1 rebounds his senior season in addition to 2.6 three-pointers made on .407 three-point shooting. His ability to shoot and space the floor makes him a worthwhile watch in summer league. Depending on how he plays, he is worth a glance or more as fantasy managers prepare for their drafts.

     

    Dallas Mavericks

    The Mavs youngsters don’t figure to have major roles with the big league club this upcoming season, but they might have gotten one of the better scoring guards in the draft after a disappointing season in the G League. Only time will tell, but Vegas will be his first opportunity to prove people wrong.

     

    Jaden Hardy
    SG, Dallas Mavericks

    The Mavs only had one pick in this draft, and took Jaden Hardy from the G League Ignite. As ESPN’s top-ranked guard and second-ranked player in the 2021 draft class, his time in the G League drastically lowered his stock. He averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season, and the Mavs will look to see if he can fill the spot left in the departure of Jalen Brunson. It’s possible the Mavs got a massive steal on an electric talent in the second round of the draft.

     

    Derrick Alston Jr.
    PF, Dallas Mavericks

    The Mavs will also take a look at Derrick Alston Jr., a 6’9” guard who played for the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League last season. Obviously, the Mavs offense flows through Luka Doncic so it’s not like either of these guys would have the potential to become ball-dominant in Dallas. That’s not to say that they’ll be completely irrelevant though. Guards usually take some time to adjust to the NBA, but Hardy and Alston both have experience against NBA-level competition. Even if it is the low-end of the talent level, it’s valuable experience nonetheless. 

     

    Denver Nuggets

    Of course, the Nuggets will play all three of their rookies from the 2022 NBA Draft in Summer league. As they all play different positions, there’s no reason why they won’t all start, and it’ll be interesting to see who steps up as they definitely went off-script by taking several reaches according to the mocks.

     

    Christian Braun
    G, Denver Nuggets

    Christian Braun projects to start at shooting guard in Las Vegas. He should crack the Nuggets rotation, but primarily as a perimeter defender with shooting upside. He’s worth holding onto in dynasty formats, but it’ll be a while before he can consistently contribute. Braun is the best bet for fantasy relevance in year one, but the bet is on very long odds.

     

    Peyton Watson
    F, Denver Nuggets

    Peyton Watson will likely start at power forward in Las Vegas, but he has a really long way to go before he can be looked at as more than a stash option in extremely deep dynasty leagues. He had some of the worst production in college for anyone selected as high as him in draft and it’ll be interesting to see if the Nuggets saw something that the rest of the league missed. Watson is likely to play more with the Grand Rapids Gold than with the Nuggets as he continues to develop.

     

    Ismael Kamagate
    C, Denver Nuggets

    Ismael Kamagate is slotted to play center in Summer League, but is an afterthought in fantasy circles at the moment given that he will likely be a draft-and-stash draft pick this upcoming season. The team drafted Kamagate for his defensive upside, and hardcore Nuggets fans will want to check in on his overseas production throughout this next season.

     

    Detroit Pistons

    The Pistons were praised for their 2022 draft, but that was all just talk. Now we get to see their prospects on the court for the first time in Las Vegas and it’ll be interesting to see how the two lottery picks perform with their first opportunity.

     

    Jaden Ivey
    G, Detroit Pistons

    The Pistons will be excited to trot out fifth overall pick Ivey at Summer League this season. The Pistons already know what kind of player they have in him, but will still want to see how he fits next to last year’s first overall draft pick, Cade Cunningham. He has a great shot at surpassing Killian Hayes on the depth chart and the fit with him and Cunningham appears to be ideal on paper. Rookie guards typically take some time to get their legs under them and while Ivey could become a fantasy relevant player down the road, inefficiency issues will likely prevent him from producing value in category leagues. He’s a points league player only as a rookie while there is a shot at him delivering in very deep category leagues. That being said, he is very much worth a top-8 selection in dynasty formats for his potential upside down the road.

    Jalen Duren
    C, Detroit Pistons

    They will also debut Duren at Summer League. In his lone year at Memphis, he showed how dominant he can be in the paint putting up 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Going late in the lottery this year, the Pistons are hoping the production will carry over into the NBA. Seeing as the Pistons have already seen Isaiah Stewart in action, Duren will likely end up being the starting center for the Pistons’ Summer League roster. While rookie guards typically take some time to get their legs under them, big men who rely on rebounds and defensive stats for their relevance can hit the ground running. Duren shouldn’t be drafted with that expectation in redraft leagues, as he still might have to come off the bench behind Isaiah Stewart, but dynasty managers can expect some serious opportunity in year one.

     

    Golden State Warriors

    The Warriors are in an extremely enviable position given that they have a championship core while still having one of the more intriguing SL rosters around the Association with three lottery-picks projected to play at some point.

     

    James Wiseman
    C, Golden State Warriors

    Wiseman is the player that has to be at the top of the wish list in terms of getting some playing time this summer after he didn’t see the court for the big league club last season while recovering from a meniscus injury. He attempted to come back in the early months of 2022, but suffered a setback in Santa Cruz that ended his season altogether. He is reportedly making progress and the team plans to have him available for at least one Summer League game.

    Wiseman doesn’t have much experience outside of high school after barely playing for Memphis before injuries derailed the early part of his career in San Francisco. If he can get back to 100%, however, he could be poised to play a much larger role with the big league club as the second center that the team currently has on their roster behind Kevon Looney. This could be a buy-low opportunity in dynasty formats while he’s a name to consider with the last pick of 12-team redraft formats given the upside that he possesses.

     

    Jonathan Kuminga
    F, Golden State Warriors

    Kuminga doesn’t figure to play much at all in Las Vegas, but should shine in the opportunity he is given. He surprised many this past campaign by actually getting meaningful minutes with the Warriors despite being thought of as a very raw prospect. With the departure of Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica in free agency, Kuminga could be in position to play a much larger role off the bench for the Warriors this coming season. It could translate to 12-team value at times, but it’s more likely that he becomes a consistent deep-league asset while his 12-team glory days don’t seem too far off.

     

    Moses Moody
    SG, Golden State Warriors

    Like Kuminga, Moody doesn’t figure to play a whole bunch in Summer League, although he has already suited up for the team in the California Classic that is held before Las Vegas. He had flashes in 2021-22 and while his role is set to increase marginally this coming year, he is unlikely to have a fantasy impact outside of much deeper leagues.

     

    Justinian Jessup
    SG, Golden State Warriors

    Jessup is a longshot to make the team’s final roster after being the 51st selection in the 2020 draft. It’ll be worth checking his progress in Summer League, but don’t expect any major production from the former Boise State product this summer. He’ll likely head back to the professional league in Australia after his time in Vegas.

     

    Gui Santos
    F, Golden State Warriors

    Santos is another draft-and-stash pick for the Warriors and has already performed well in the California Classic, getting to the foul line 11 times in his first opportunity. The Warriors do have a need for players who are not afraid of contact as they attack the basket, and perhaps Santos can provide that. However, it’s not going to be this coming season and as such, he’s only worth watching in extremely deep dynasty formats.

     

    Houston Rockets

    The Rockets are going to have some of the more exciting Summer League games given that their roster is filled with high-touted youngsters headlined by the 2022 No. 3 overall selection, Jabari Smith.

     

    Jabari Smith
    F, Houston Rockets

    Smith is the headliner for the Rockets and could have standard league value in his first season as the projected starting PF for the Rockets. His ball-handling ability was the biggest question mark heading into the draft so that will be the area of the greatest interest in Vegas as we know his shot and defense will translate to the next level. It will be fun to see how his offensive talent and defensive prowess match up against some of the lesser competition in Vegas.

     

    TyTy Washington
    PG, Houston Rockets

    Washington doesn’t figure to play a big role for the Rockets given that he’s currently slotted to play behind youngsters Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green and Josh Christopher who we’ll discuss in a little bit, not to mention veteran Eric Gordon. That won’t prevent him from getting plenty of opportunity in Vegas as the lead ball-handler for the Rockets and there is a shot that he could surpass some of the players on the depth chart if he exceeds expectations early on in his career.

    Kentucky guards have had a lot of success in the NBA even if they didn’t have great college careers and we’ll see if Washington can join that list. Based on the trend of Kentucky guards alone, TyTy makes for an intriguing dynasty guard to stash at the end of a roster.

     

    Tari Eason
    F, Houston Rockets

    Eason was drafted by the Rockets for his defensive ability as the Rockets featured one of the weakest defensive units in recent NBA history. The offense on the other hand is very unpolished and it’ll likely prevent him from getting a large role with the Rockets as a rookie. He should have plenty of minutes available to him in Vegas to show that he belongs on an NBA court offensively even if the odds are against him to begin his career on that end of the floor.

     

    Josh Christopher
    SG, Houston Rockets

    Christopher flashed some upside as a rookie and should see a significant uptick in playing time in his second season, especially if he outperforms expectations in Vegas. The .296 3-point percentage in 2021-22 is the area of improvement that would most likely benefit Christopher in terms of playing time and fantasy value. We have seen some great performances from second-year players and Christopher is in the bucket of potential breakout stars in Summer League.

     

    Usman Garuba
    PF, Houston Rockets

    Garuba’s offense has a long way to go before he can deliver any kind of fantasy relevance in shallow formats, but he should be in the running for a much bigger role off the bench after the Rockets traded away Christian Wood this summer. Garuba is poised to backup Alperen Şengün and if he avoids the kind of injuries he suffered as a rookie, he could emerge with value in leagues with greater than 20 teams. In dynasty, he’s a low-end stashable prospect with defensive upside while the offense leaves a lot to be desired.

     

    Indiana Pacers

    The Pacers sent out Malcolm Brogdon recently and it remains to be seen if Myles Turner and/or Buddy Hield will be on the squad come opening night. They have three youngsters who could end up starting at some point this season and let’s take a look at each of them, plus a former Gonzaga point guard who has flown under the radar.

     

    Chris Duarte
    SG, Indiana Pacers

    Last season, Duarte finished in the top-180 in 9-cat per-game value and in the top-200 on total value. However, to begin the season he was absolutely a must-roster player as a starting shooting guard who can put up points and triples in a hurry with some peripheral steals. There was not a large sample size seeing him next to Tyrese Haliburton due to a toe injury that ended Duarte’s season a bit early. At 25 years old, Duarte is one of the older sophomores in general and will have his value raised quite a lot if Buddy Hield is dealt away from the rebuilding roster. Assuming he gets run for more than a couple games during Summer League, he will be in the running for MVP in Vegas. During the regular season, he can be a top-120 player if he is the team’s starter (presumably) alongside Haliburton and rookie Bennedict Mathurin.

     

    Isaiah Jackson
    PF, Indiana Pacers

    When Myles Turner never returned from injury and after Domantas Sabonis was dealt to the Kings, it was Jackson who filled in as a nice rookie big man. His main attraction is serving as a lob threat who can protect the basket and provide active hands altogether. At 1.4 blocks per game, there is specialist value here in a role that provides him around 20 to 25 minutes each contest. As a second-year pro, there is enough upside to believe that he can be a nice backup behind Myles Turner (or whoever the Pacers begin their season with at center). As an injury replacement, Jackson will remain one of the best young options that will likely be up for grabs heading into the 2022-23 fantasy season.

     

    Bennedict Mathurin
    SG, Indiana Pacers

    The sixth pick in the 2022 Draft put up an impressive 17.7 points per game, while hitting 2.2 triples per game on 36.9% shooting. He will likely need to continue to hone in on his shooting ability, while contributing as a long wing who has the physical tools to one day play the passing lanes well. There is real potential for Mathurin to score alongside Tyrese Haliburton, who will surely be finding the rookie wing on plenty of cuts to the rack. The former Arizona Wildcat is capable of pushing the pace on the break, and showed the ability to make simple reads. If he can continue to get stronger in his frame and work on staying in front of quick players, then there is potential for him to be rosterable in standard formats as an NBA starting wing.

     

    Andrew Nembhard
    PG, Indiana Pacers

    Nembhard is one to watch heading into Summer League simply because of how NBA-ready this savvy rookie point guard is. At Gonzaga, Nembhard ran the show during his senior season after Jalen Suggs was selected by the Magic in the 2021 Draft. The Canadian-born point guard averaged 11.8 points, 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals as someone who was reasonably close to 50/40/90 shooting splits. If Tyrese Haliburton is forced to miss some time this season, the Pacers are investing in a very nice insurance option in Nembhard. He has potential to shine at Summer League and while he should not be on your fantasy rosters on day one — do not ignore his potential as a 22-year-old who could be ready to make an impact soon.

     

    Los Angeles Clippers

    The Clippers are absolutely loaded now that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are set to be healthy to start the season. They didn’t have any 2022 draft picks and only have one 2021 second-round pick that is notable on their current SL roster.

     

    Brandon Boston Jr.
    SG, Los Angeles Clippers

    Though the Clippers have an absolutely stacked lineup, featuring veterans who have far more priority over the live-game development of Boston, there were some flashes of real upside from the rookie. Heading into his sophomore season, there will not be many opportunities for Boston to get a lot of playing time. However, injuries usually run rampant with the Clippers’ stars, so when he does check in for more than garbage time there can be an expectation that he will attack the rim and try to get as many shots up as possible. The former five-star prospect out of high school has a smooth game and will surely be improving his jumper over the next few seasons. A midseason trade to a tanking team would open up a nice path for Boston to be a silly season hero to watch for a late add in late March or early April.

     

    Los Angeles Lakers

     

    The Lakers haven’t had much to get excited about in terms of youngsters since trading/letting go the last batch they had in order to acquire Russell Westbrook last summer. That didn’t stop them from at least attaining one second-round pick in June’s draft and he is the only notable player worth watching in Las Vegas this summer.

     

    Max Christie
    G, Los Angeles Lakers

    The Lakers traded their way into the second round of the 2022 draft, grabbing a guard in Christie who has a score-first mentality but is very raw. There is no set rotation just yet when considering the Lakers currently have a guard rotation that includes Russell Westbrook, Lonnie Walker IV, Austin Reaves, Kendrick Nunn and perhaps Mac McClung. If Christie puts together a nice Summer League outing and does well in training camp, it may be possible that he can be a spark plug off the bench for the Lakers. The 2021-22 team was lifeless (while also horribly injured) at times and desperately needed better shooters alongside LeBron James. In his last year in college, he attempted 3.5 triples per game and knocked them down at just a 31.7% clip. If he is to get run on this team, the 6’6” guard will need to improve his 3-point shot and build upon the crafty repertoire that he already possesses attacking the basket.

     

    Memphis Grizzlies

    A season after the Grizzlies traded up in the draft to acquire Ziaire Williams, they did some of the same maneuvering in 2022 to get the guys they were targeting. Let’s take a look at a couple of players with NBA experience as well as their first-round rookie who has some similarities to one of the team’s current starters.

     

    Xavier Tillman Sr.
    C, Memphis Grizzlies

    Tillman is an interesting member of the Grizzlies’ Summer League roster, given that he was starting in the second-round playoff series against the Warriors just a few months ago. The No. 35 pick in the 2020 draft is a rare third-year player in the summer circuit, but his pathway to minutes opened up a bit after Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent surgery on his foot and will be out for four-to-six months. When Tillman gets minutes, he is mainly a rebounder who does not score much but actually contributes quite nicely with active hands. The former Michigan State Spartan has averaged 3.7 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks in only 15.9 minutes per contest. Thus, take the plunge on Tillman in the fantasy realm if Steven Adams or Brandon Clarke go down with any longer-term injuries.

     

    Ziaire Williams
    SF, Memphis Grizzlies

    After struggling early during his rookie season, Williams eventually settled into a nice reserve role in which he became a 3-and-D starter in games that Dillon Brooks was sidelined for. By the time the playoffs came around, Williams got some extremely important experience battling the eventual champion Warriors squad. His lone season at Stanford left a lot of questions for how his game would translate, but at this point it is far more clear. Williams can provide low-level scoring and triples on the wing next to Ja Morant. When players like Brooks or Desmond Bane cannot suit up, his potential for scoring goes up quite a bit. Summer League will be a nice tune up for the young forward prior to his sophomore campaign.

     

    David Roddy
    F, Memphis Grizzlies

    A rare physical build, Roddy boasts a 6’5” and 250 pound frame. He can handle the ball pretty well, and shot the ball extremely well in his last season for Colorado State. Dillon Brooks will likely have a lot of mentoring to do for Roddy, who figures to be a more physical version of this score-first rookie. Some injuries have already plagued the Grizzlies frontcourt before July even started, not to mention that Kyle Anderson left the team to join the Wolves. At this point, it would not be surprising to see Roddy get some run as a bench scorer who can be a nice asset alongside backup point guard Tyus Jones. There is no reason to draft Roddy, but he is one to keep an eye on as a deep-league stream since he is seemingly a seasoned scorer in many ways.

     

    Miami Heat

    The Heat are one of the teams that has already participated in some Summer League contests as they were included in the California Classic out in San Francisco. This organization is known for finding some diamonds in the rough so come for the first-round international prospect, and perhaps we’ll stay for the lesser-known guys like last year’s Max Strus and Ömer Yurtseven.

     

    Nikola Jovic
    F, Miami Heat

    The Heat got Jovic nearly at the end of the first round of the 2022 Draft, after the Serbian forward dropped a bit down the board. He is a very raw prospect, but his 41.6% clip from downtown at 6’11” is very intriguing for any franchise to begin developing. More of a dynasty stash than a redraft impact player, Jovic will surely be trying to translate his guard-like movement into smooth buckets in the coming years. For next season, the Heat may need his shooting ability if the roster changes more during this offseason or if injuries hit the team hard once again. After all, Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra are no strangers to finding gems who somehow light up opponents in contrast to most scouting reports.

     

     

    Ömer Yurtseven
    C, Miami Heat

    Yurtseven was a 2021-22 fan-favorite in fantasy circles when he got extended run as a main replacement for Bam Adebayo after surgery took him out for 22 games. Managers lucky enough to scoop Yurtseven had a great double-double machine. Serving for the Turkish national team this offseason, he will also get some reps with the Summer League squad as he tries to round out his offensive game a bit more. There is no reason to draft Yurtseven, unless you are in a deep league and need a “handcuff” for Adebayo. In the case that Adebayo goes down, or if Yurtseven wins the backup center battle outright over Dewayne Dedmon, then all signs may be green to at least pick up Yurtseven in 14-team or deeper formats. Unfortunately for Yurtseven’s prospects this season, Adebayo is normally a pretty sturdy player who toughs things out and plays through minor injuries. 

     

    Milwaukee Bucks

    The Bucks have now gone two years in a row in drafting Mr. Irrelevant in the draft. While he is unlikely to make an impact this season, they did grab a first-round who is excited to make his Summer League debut. Let’s take a look at their two rookie selections who are poised to play big roles in Vegas.

     

    MarJon Beauchamp
    G, Milwaukee Bucks

    Beauchamp was the Bucks’ first-round pick at 24 and will come into the league with an NBA ready game.  He played in the G League last season and averaged 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks.  His calling card will be his defense and athleticism, but he will need to improve his jumper to stand out at the pro level.

    He will be 22 by the start of next season and his potential is likely capped, but the Bucks drafted him because he can contribute right away.  As a fantasy prospect next season, he will be a menace racking up defensive stats and should get enough dunks off cuts as a result of defenses swarming Giannis Antetokounmpo.  If he shows improvement in his long range shot, which is instrumental towards earning playing time on the Bucks, he could immediately become one of the best 3-and-D players in the draft.

     

    Hugo Besson
    F, Milwaukee Bucks

    Besson is a creative guard from France who loves attacking opposing guards off the dribble.  At 6’6″, he has good size for a guard, but he’s more of a scoring guard than a distributor.  Besson was taking with the 58th pick in the second round and should thrive in the fast-paced, up-an-down nature of Summer League.

    Besson is a crafty scorer who can go right or left and while he plays below the rim, he excels at drawing contact.  He’s a creative finisher around the basket and has sneaky athleticism that allows him to blow by unsuspecting defenders.  He has a good looking shot and fluid mechanics, but needs to improve his deep-ball accuracy to free up his dribble-drives.   He will be one of the more entertaining players to watch on the Bucks in Summer League.  As a fantasy player he doesn’t have much appeal as he won’t offer anything in terms of defensive stats. He is turnover prone and likely won’t have a good field goal percentage.  He projects as a decent backup point guard, but his first real test will be whether he can score on NBA athletes this summer.

     

    Minnesota Timberwolves

    The Wolves have already traded away one of their 2022 first-round selections but have another youngster who could play a role for this hopeful contender as early as his rookie season. Let’s take a look at two rookies who are projected to make the team’s final squad.

     

    Wendell Moore Jr.
    F, Minnesota Timberwolves

    Moore was taken 26th in this past draft after playing three seasons at Duke.  As a 6’5″ shooting guard, he improved his 3-point shooting from .211/.301/.413 over his college career.  He averaged 13.4 points, 5.3 boards, 4.4 boards and 1.3 steals in his his final season.  Moore doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he’s got an NBA ready game and is a versatile player on all fronts.

    Moore’s improved outside shot really complemented his aggressive driving and opened the floor for his solid mid-range game.  He can finish with either hand in traffic, create in the pick-and-roll and can defend multiple positions.  The Wolves might have gotten a steal at 26.  Landing on a playoff team with multiple all-stars, Moore will be put in position to succeed and could end up being a valuable late-round asset in dynasty leagues.  He might never be a top-100 player, but his vast skill-set lets him contribute across the board and as long as he gets steals, he could be a relevant fantasy option in his second season.

     

    Josh Minott
    G, Minnesota Timberwolves

    Minott has excellent size for a wing at 6’8″ and with a 6’11″ wingspan.  Drafted 45th by the Wolves, Minotf fits right in as an explosive two-way wing.  He might turn some heads at Summer League, but at 20 years old, his game needs more polish to contribute at the next level.  He shot .143 from distance in his lone year at Memphis, but averaged 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocks and has promise down the line as a defensive specialist who can score in the open court.

     

    New Orleans Pelicans

    The Pelicans were able to lock up phenom Zion Williamson to a massive rookie extension, but he’s not the only youngster to get excited about on the team. This team has drafted very well of late and they have at least four notable players in Vegas who are projected to make the team’s final squad come opening night.

     

    Jose Alvarado
    PG, New Orleans Pelicans

    Grand Theft Alvarado made a name for himself last season by sneaking up on unsuspecting point guards and robbing them blind.  While teams will definitely have that play scouted for next season, his antics should be on full display in Summer League.  Alvarado averaged 1.3 steals in only 15.4 minutes last season and while C.J. McCollum will likely start at point guard, Alvarado might develop into one of the premier backup point guards in the NBA.

    If he can improve his outside shot from the .291 on 2.0 attempts we saw as a rookie, he should earn himself more minutes and could be worth rostering in deep leagues based on steals alone.  He’s only 6’0″, but he doesn’t back down from anyone and is exactly the kind of grinder the Pelicans need.  If he has a strong showing in Summer League, be prepared to have to reach for him in the late rounds if you really want him.

     

    Dyson Daniels
    G, New Orleans Pelicans

    Daniels is all flash and hype right now with the Pelicans banking on the substance developing later. The eighth overall pick is a 6’6″ combo guard that has potential to be one of the best two-way players in the draft.  He averaged 1.9 steals and 0.7 blocks last season playing in the G League.  He’s only 19 and should have plenty of highlights in Summer League, but is probably a year or two away from contributing in real games or being a positive fantasy asset.

    Daniels’ defense is ahead of his offense, but he’s a natural passer and already has a deadly floater.  He needs to improve his outside shot (.255 3P%) if he is going to share the court with Zion Williamson as a rookie.  If that happens, he could end up projecting as a decent sleeper pick for dynasty drafts as his defensive numbers alone might keep him in the top-200.

     

    EJ Liddell
    PF, New Orleans Pelicans

    Liddell was drafted with the 41st pick of this past draft and had one of the best college seasons of any player drafted.  He averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 boards, 1.4 triples and 2.6 blocks in his junior year at Ohio State.  He’s got a high-hoops IQ, is very physical and plays unselfish team-winning basketball.  The only real problem with Liddell is that while he was a monster in college, his game might not translate to the NBA.

    At 6’7″, he’s a little undersized for the four and doesn’t have the athleticism to stay with quicker wings on the perimeter.  He plays below the rim and will struggle scoring in the post against NBA shot-blockers.  Liddell fell in the draft because he doesn’t have much upside, but if he can continue to keep working on his fitness and explosiveness, he might carve out a role as a small-ball five in the second unit.

     

    Trey Murphy III
    SF, New Orleans Pelicans

    Trey was named appropriately because the kid can stroke it from anywhere.  A lighting quick release with his 6’9″ frame allows him to get great looks anytime he touches the ball.  Murphy shot a blistering .382 from distance in his rookie season after being drafted 17th in 2021.  He started slow as a rookie, but erupted late in the season, culminating with a breakout seven treys and 32 points against the Bulls on March 11.

    Murphy could lead the Summer League in scoring and could even finish in the top-10 in triples next season based on all the great looks he will get playing with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum.  If he balls out in Summer League, he will be atop everyone’s list for second-year breakout players.  The Pelicans are stacked with talent and Murphy was born to shoot but unfortunately, he doesn’t offer much categorical diversity outside of triples.

     

    New York Knicks

    New York once again was in the market for a PG this summer and they got their main target in Jalen Brunson. Let’s take a look at a couple youngsters who are hoping to play meaningful minutes alongside Brunson this coming year.

     

    Trevor Keels
    G, New York Knicks

    The Knicks traded out of the first round in order to get three future picks and ended up taking Duke’s Trevor Keels with the 42nd pick.  In 36 games for the Blue Devils, Keels averaged 11.5 points along with 2.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds, leading Duke to the Final Four.  Keels doesn’t let the game come to him and instead forces the issue on both ends.  He’s ultra-aggressive, very physical and should be a fan-favorite at the Garden.  Keels needs to improve his outside shooting to make a lasting impact at the next level and while he is 6’5″, he plays below the rim and is not a prototypical point guard.

    Keels should be good for a few highlights at Summer League, but he will likely be inefficient as a scorer and prone to unforced turnovers. He could end up being a valuable late season streamer if playing time breaks in his favor.  Keels is the kind of player you don’t want to bet against but for fantasy managers, it’s probably better to be late than early.

     

    Quentin Grimes
    PG, New York Knicks

    Grimes appeared in 46 games for the Knicks last season and immediately impressed fans with his ability to stroke the long ball.  He shot .381 from distance on 4.1 attempts and could be in for a big showcase at Summer League.

    The Knicks are desperate for outside shooting and Grimes is already a very good catch-and-shoot gunner, while also remaining a decent defender.  He could be a solid end-of-draft option for teams in need of treys and he even averaged 0.7 steals in only 17 minutes last season.  The Knicks don’t have a deep Summer League roster and Grimes should get all the shots he can handle.  If he displays an improved handle or the ability to shoot off the dribble, he’s definitely a guy to keep on the deep league radar.

     

    Oklahoma City Thunder

    The Thunder’s G League squad is one of the deepest squads we’ve seen in Las Vegas. They might not have success again this coming year but that won’t stop them from being in contention for the championship this summer.

     

    Josh Giddey
    PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

    It’s a little surprising that Giddey is playing in Summer League after his breakout rookie season.  The Australian point guard already possesses a polished NBA skill set after being drafted sixth last season by the Thunder. As a rookie, Giddey averaged 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.4 dimes and 0.9 steals in 54 games.  He is already a fantasy stud and while he needs to improve upon his 3.4 turnovers and .263 3-point percentage, his fantasy stock is going to be super high regardless of how he performs in Summer League.  If he displays an increased confidence in his shot, he could jump a couple rounds in drafts next season.  The Thunder team is pretty stocked for Summer League and one of the main narratives of the session will revolve around how he meshes with Chet Holmgren.  Giddey is a walking triple-double threat and will be one of the best players in every Summer League game he plays in.

     

    Ousmane Dieng
    F, Oklahoma City Thunder

    Dieng was selected 11th overall in this past draft and comes from France.  He has one the biggest upsides in the draft, but also has a far way to go in order to reach his potential.  Listed 6’10″ in shoes with a 7’0″ wingspan and a 205-pound frame, he’s only 19 and could potentially still grow.  Dieng is an intriguing wing with great size, potential as a shot maker, and fluidity with the ball who faced a steep learning curve in his first season playing outside of France.

    He will be brought along slowly in the NBA next season, but the Thunder historically haven’t been in the habit of playing their best guys late in the season and he could emerge as a sneaky streamer for blocks and boards in the silly season.  First we have to see if he can play and while the Summer League doesn’t officially do that, it does let the league know who can’t play.

     

    Chet Holmgren
    C, Oklahoma City Thunder

    Holmgren was taken second in this past draft and has the highest upside of any player drafted.  At 7’0″ with a 7’5″ wingspan, the Gonzaga product projects as the perfect modern day NBA big.  Capable of protecting the paint and hitting outside jumpers, the only real question is how good he will be right away.  The 20 year old big man averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.9 assists over 26.9 minutes at Gonzaga and will come into the NBA with a game built to dominate, even if his body might lag behind.

    Holmgren should be a fantasy stud right out of the gate with his ability to contribute with blocks and not hurt you too bad at the line (.717 FT%).  While most rookies don’t historically contribute in fantasy right away, we will get a glimpse into how he handles the physicality of the NBA in Summer League.  The Thunder are going to be fun this summer and heading into next season, but their ceiling will be defined by how far Holmgren can take them.  If he starts raining treys and swatting shots into the stands, his fantasy stock is going to rise exponentially.  There hasn’t been a big man prospect with this offensive and defensive versatility in the NBA since Kristaps Porzingis. The sky is the limit with him, but if he doesn’t add some bulk, the floor could be lower than we think.

     

    Tre Mann
    PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

    Mann didn’t have the greatest rookie season for the Thunder after getting drafted 18th in the 2021 draft, but make no mistake this kid can ball.  He averaged 10.4 points, 1.6 treys and 0.8 steals, but shot a robust .360 from distance and .793 from the stripe.  While he’s a little undersized and not a traditional point guard, he attacks the rim relentlessly and possesses a great change of pace dribble.  If given the minutes and opportunity, he’s a great option as a late-round flier in fantasy drafts.

    He should be able to score at will in Summer League and if he can keep building up his confidence, he’s a sneaky candidate to have a second-year breakout.  The only problem is that the Thunder are stacked at guard with Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.  Mann projects better in dynasty drafts than redrafts leagues because managers might have to stash him early in the season as the lead guards play heavy minutes but if the Thunder are bad again, he could potentially swing fantasy leagues late in the season.

     

    Aleksej Pokuševski
    F, Oklahoma City Thunder

    Poku offers tantalizing potential as a Chet Holmgren-lite and showcased his diverse arsenal at the end of last season.  Over the final 24 games of the season, Poku averaged 12.0 points, 6.8 boards, 3.7 dimes, 1.5 treys, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals, which put him inside the top-140.  All Poku needs to do is bulk up and the rest of his game should flourish.  He only averaged 20 minutes last season after averaging 24 as a rookie and if he can play between 24-28 minutes, he could be a sneaky fantasy asset.

    Poku needs to showcase that he can handle the grind of a NBA season and not just put up empty stats on a losing team.  If he comes out and dominates at Summer League, he will become a popular late-round pick in dynasty leagues as he offers box scores reminiscent of Shawn Marion.

     

    Jalen Williams
    SF, Oklahoma City Thunder

    Williams is 6’6″ wing with a great frame and a massive 7’2″ wingspan.  He’s got solid ball-handling skills and made a massive jump in his perimeter shooting from 27% to 40% in his junior year.  He was selected 12th by the Thunder and should be ready to play big minutes from day one.  On a different team he would excel as a secondary ball-handler, but the Thunder are already stacked with guys who can initiate the offense.  He lacks the ideal explosiveness for a player of his size, but he should thrive in Summer League, as he has great basketball instincts.  He doesn’t project as a fantasy contributor this season as the Thunder have a lot of talent on their roster, but he’s a guy to definitely keep an eye on.

     

    Orlando Magic

    The Magic are going to be one of the team’s to mark on calendars for Summer League for one player alone and that’s the top selection in the 2022 draft. While we will come to watch Banchero, there are several other youngsters to keep in mind while watching Orlando in Las Vegas.

     

    Paolo Banchero
    C/F, Orlando Magic

    Fresh off being drafted first overall in this year’s NBA Draft, Banchero is set to make his debut in the NBA Summer League for the Magic.  He is a very talented young man and can get the job done in a number of ways on the court.  With his unique skill-set of a point forward, he is able to exploit matchups on the interior against smaller defenders and on the perimeter against bigger defenders.  During his tenure at Duke, Banchero raked in the awards including consensus second-team All-American, ACC Rookie of the Year and first-team All-ACC.  He led the Blue Devils to an impressive run in the NCAA Tournament and led the conference during the regular season in points, while finishing second in total rebounds and tenth in assists. He could truly do it all and that should translate fairly quickly in the NBA.  Banchero will likely be a top-2 pick in dynasty rookie drafts and don’t be surprised if he quickly becomes a key component to the Magic’s offense and turns in an excellent rookie season, while being a strong value pick in redraft formats as well.

     

    Devin Cannady
    G, Orlando Magic

    Cannady has appeared in 13 NBA games over the past two seasons, all with the Magic.  In his five appearances last year, Cannady showed that he is a capable performer at the NBA level.  While playing an average of 29.0 minutes per game, Cannady produced 10.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.  The Princeton product is best known for his outside shooting ability, which he put on full display in the 2021 G League Finals.  Cannady was named G League Finals MVP while leading the Lakeland Magic to a championship.  Unfortunately, he suffered a tough ankle injury after signing a two-way deal to stick with the Magic.  If Cannady is able to stay healthy, he will have no problem becoming a small part of the rotation for this young Magic team.  His ability to knock down triples (47% with Lakeland last season) and getting buckets at the rim are a huge asset to fantasy GMs.  He can also add a couple secondary stats each game with ease.  During the past three seasons playing in the G League, Cannady has averaged 3.7 boards, 2.5 assists and 0.9 steals.  Cannady has matured during his time in the G League and seems to be ready to take the step to a full time spot in the NBA.

     

    R.J. Hampton
    PG, Orlando Magic

    Hampton has a bright future with the Magic after putting together a nice season in 2021-22. When Cole Anthony or Jalen Suggs missed time throughout the season, Hampton had no issues with taking on a bigger role with the team.  Starting in 13 of the Magic’s last 18 games, he snuck into streaming consideration at times last year. He might not become a starter in the next year or two, but if he continues to develop and flourish in his secondary role. The 21 year old is absolutely a great stash player and worth a look in deeper redraft leagues. Hampton managed to finish inside the top-400 in 64 games last season as an ancillary player and should finish higher than that next season.

     

    Caleb Houstan
    G/F, Orlando Magic

    Houstan was selected by the Magic with the 32nd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft after having an impressive freshman campaign at Michigan.  Houstan averaged 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.7 steals in 32.0 minutes per game as a Wolverine and caught the Magic’s eye with his ability to excel in a 3-and-D role.  The guard was able to knock down triples at 36% and averaged 1.8 per game, including five games with at least four made 3s.  Houstan is a bigger-bodied guard, standing at 6’8″. He likely will not be much more than a capable role player with a decent amount of upside.  His ability to flourish in the 3-and-D role makes him a nice draft-and-stash candidate for dynasty managers who are building towards the future.

     

    Devon Daniels
    SG, Orlando Magic

    Daniels is an older prospect coming out of N.C. State who suffered a torn ACL in his senior year.  The lack of playing hoops for the past year doesn’t help his case to be much of a fantasy asset, but while in college he showed flashes of being a very dangerous scoring threat.  In the 12 games that he suited up for before the injury, Daniels scored in double figures in 11 of those games which included a 29-point outburst in the season opener.  The guard averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a senior, displaying his ability to put together a well-rounded game.  He is also known for his defensive prowess, averaging 1.7 steals in his last two seasons at N.C. State.  If Daniels is able to properly rehab his knee, he should have a chance to be a strong contributor as a bench player, with the upside of finding a starting or sixth-man role on a team.

     

    Daniel Oturu
    C, Orlando Magic

    Oturu is a former 33rd overall pick from the Wolves back in 2020 who quickly found his way to the Clippers via a draft night trade.  The center has played a handful of games in the NBA thus far in his career but has yet to be able to stick with a squad.  He was able to put together a nice season with the G League Windy City Bulls last year, averaging 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game. Oturu is a slightly shorter center, but with his combination of strength, excellent footwork and bigger-bodied build, he is able to create mismatches on the offensive end of the floor.  Oturu could find his way into the Magic’s rotation next season with a strong showing in the NBA Summer League, although he would probably fit better on a different team given that the Magic are loaded in the frontcourt.

     

    Philadelphia 76ers

    The Sixers are in clear win-now mode so while they have some youngsters to keep an eye on in the desert, it’s a longshot for them to have a meaningful impact on the team’s big league squad.

     

    Julian Champagnie
    F, Philadelphia Sixers

    Champagnie somewhat surprisingly went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft after having a nice career at St. John’s. On two occasions he was named to the First-Team All-Big East squad, while earning the Big East Co-Most Improved Player in 2021 and being named to the Big East All-Freshman team.  He is a very prolific scorer and averaged nearly 20 points per game in his last two seasons at St. John’s. Champagnie uses his length and size to be a great defender as well, averaging at least 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game in his three years at college, including a rather impressive 2.0 steals per game in his junior year.  His excellent footwork and strength allows him to properly box out on the defensive end and crash the glass for offensive boards.  In a couple years, Champagnie could very easily be that undrafted player who has been a huge asset on a contender that causes people to scratch their head in regards to how he was overlooked on draft night.  He is a great stash option for dynasty GMs and has an incredible amount of upside, but may take a year to polish his game at the NBA level.

     

    Michael Foster
    F, Philadelphia Sixers

    Foster is a skilled power forward who showed signs of being one of most talented players coming out of high school in 2021 when he was named a McDonald’s All-American and to the Jordan Brand Classic. He has good size and strength for his position with the physical gifts to excel at the next level and the body to develop into a more physically imposing player.  That size and strength allows him to be a talented rebounder on both ends.  He is able to knock down shots from deep, but the majority of his points come from the post. In 13 games last year with G League Ignite, Foster averaged 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals and an impressive 2.2 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game. He is a very capable player on both ends of the floor and has the skill set to become a solid contributor in the NBA and help fantasy GMs that are able to wait on a player with some well-rounded upside.

     

    Isaiah Joe
    SG, Philadelphia Sixers

    Joe is one of the most veteran players that will suit up for the NBA Summer League this year with a whopping 96 NBA games under his belt with the Sixers. In those games, Joe has averaged fairly low totals across the board in his 10.3 minutes of action, but most notably he was able to shoot 35% from beyond the arc.  During his two seasons at Arkansas, he was able to average 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals but he is another year removed from college. Last season he finished outside the top-450 with a decent run during January when the Sixers were short-handed. Joe needs to have a big year this season and work his way up the rotation, which he is definitely capable of, or else his fantasy relevance in dynasty formats will drift away.

     

    Aminu Mohammed
    F, Philadelphia Sixers

    Mohammed is a talented and lengthy rookie that has some nice accolades coming out of high school.  He was named to McDonald’s All-American, Jordan Brand Classic and Mr. Show-Me Basketball in 2021 and his skillset translated to a nice freshman season at Georgetown.   This high energy and athleticism allowed him to excel at the college level to the tune of 13.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. Mohammed will need to put on some weight and muscle without sacrificing any of his athleticism in order to truly make the transition to a contributor at the NBA level.  He has a well-rounded game and if he is able to fill out he has the potential to become a key player on a contending squad.

     

    Jaden Springer
    SG, Philadelphia Sixers

    After having a strong freshman season at Tennessee, Springer decided to go pro and the Sixers scooped him with the 28th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Springer averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 boards, 2.9 dimes and 1.2 steals during his time as a Volunteer and earned himself SEC All-Freshman Team honors. He is a scrappy guard who prides himself on his effort defensively with the occasional explosive game on offense, including a 30-point outburst against Georgia.  He did not shoot a lot of triples at college, but was an impressive 43.5% when letting it rip from deep. He has the physicality and aggression to continue to work on his offensive game and the foundation on defense to become a very strong fantasy option for years to come.  Springer might not be ready to take that step this next season but with the right development plan, he is worth grabbing in dynasty.

     

    Phoenix Suns

    The Suns might not have a roster filled with guys who will see any kind of minutes in the NBA this season, but that doesn’t stop them from having one of the most fun names to pronounce in all of the NBA. Let’s get to know our Belgian friend.

     

    Vrenz Bleijenbergh
    G/F, Phoenix Suns

    Bleijenbergh is an international prospect who continues to develop his game overseas, being named a PBL Rising Star in 2021. For his size, he has advanced dribbling and passing skills, with the skills to be able to play the 2 through the 4 spot. Although he did make a brief appearance in the G League last year, the majority of his growth and maturation will come while he continues to get valuable minutes. Bleijenbergh is talented in the pick and roll offense as either the ball handler or screener. His length allows him to contest shots and disrupt the passing lane. He is gifted offensively and would make a nice addition to a bench rotation as a primary scorer in the secondary unit and has enough talent on defense to hold his own. He is not quite ready to make his way to fantasy relevance at this time but if fantasy GMs have the roster space in a deeper dynasty league, he is not the worst player you could roster.

     

    Louis King
    F, Phoenix Suns

    King was a top prospect coming out of high school in 2018 but an injury slowed down his progress and forced him to miss the McDonald’s All-American and Nike Hoop Summit events. He was able to recover in time for his freshman season at Oregon where he led the Ducks to an impressive postseason run, while earning Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors due to his 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He is a lengthy wing at 6’8″ with a 7’0″ wingspan, which is what every NBA team seems to be looking for these days. King is a talented scorer and can get buckets in a variety of ways. Over the past couple seasons he has fallen short of sticking with a franchise despite a couple of opportunities. If he continues to impress at the NBA Summer League and when he gets reps in the NBA, he should be able to earn a spot on a roster. This year seems as good as any for King to take the next step towards being fantasy relevant, although it would only be in deeper leagues for the time being.

     

    Portland Trail Blazers

    The Blazers have the mystery man in Las Vegas who was a top high-school recruit but never suited up for a single college game. He’s the headliner, but there is another player who could be set to have the greatest on-court impact as a potential second-year breakout candidate.

     

    Shaedon Sharpe
    G/F, Portland Trail Blazers

    Sharpe is a talented and athletic wing that the Blazers took with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The young man has the foundation to be an incredibly talented player in the NBA and consistently produce quality fantasy games on a nightly basis. He played for team Canada at the U16 FIBA Championships where they brought home a silver medal. He has shown great footwork and strength on defense to hold his own. On offense, he is able to knock down shots from all ranges with his smooth shooting form. The one downside to Sharpe is that he took his sole college season off to prepare for the NBA, so his last game competition was against high-schoolers. He has the length and size and combined with his shot-making ability, he could make an immediate impact on the Blazers roster and should be in consideration in the later rounds in redraft leagues if he performs well in Summer League. As far as dynasty, Sharpe is easily top-5 consideration as one of the highest upside players in this draft.

     

    Jabari Walker
    F, Portland Trail Blazers

    Walker averaged nearly a double-double in his sophomore season and was named to the First-Team All-Pac-12, while earning Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors the year prior. He is a very unique player with a versatile skill set. Walker is able to beat players off the dribble but also able to hold his own down low, using his excellent form, footwork and touch to finish around the rim. Those skills allowed him to finish with an impressive 14.6 points per game on 40% shooting from deep. His athleticism and strength also allow for him to be effective on the glass, averaging a solid 9.4 boards per contest. The best attribute of Walker’s game is his ability to perform and get the job done in the big games or the big moments. His competitive nature and scoring ability will keep him around for a few years but if he is able to lock in defensively and polish his game, he has the upside to be a key player on an NBA roster.

     

    Greg Brown III
    PF, Portland Trail Blazers

    Brown is a former top prospect who turned in a strong first year in the NBA. The former Texas Mr. Basketball is a high-end athlete with tons of explosiveness. He was fairly inconsistent in his first NBA season but down the final two-week stretch of the season, he turned his season-long rankings of top-400 into top-180 when he was given extra minutes. Those extra minutes were due to a number of key injuries, as well as the Blazers engaging in tank mode. Brown’s crazy athleticism allows him to perform well on both ends of the floor but his best attributes come from his defensive arsenal. He can be a nice off-the-bench specialist for a Blazers team that is in need of a lockdown defender but with their squad being healthy heading into next season, Brown will have to become a more consistent player if he wants to remain in the rotation.

     

    Keon Johnson
    SG, Portland Trail Blazers

    Johnson is a combo wing with good size and is one of the best in terms of basketball IQ. His instincts help him be one of the best defenders on the floor at any given moment. To accent those defensive abilities, he also has the stroke to consistently knock down shots from any range. The former two-time Tennessee Mr. Basketball winner was able to suit up and dominate for the Blazers over the final 10 games of his rookie season. Over the final two weeks, Johnson performed at an impressive top-150 rate. If he is able to string together a few solid outings during Summer League play, he could easily earn himself a spot in the rotation and be a decent sleeper option in deeper redraft leagues. Johnson is a must-own in dynasty leagues.

     

    Didi Louzada
    PG, Portland Trail Blazers

    Louzada is a combo player who spends time at both the 2 or 3. He is a very prolific shooter, but other than scoring he doesn’t provide a crazy amount of stats other than a couple boards and assists here and there. With that being said, any team would be happy to have a wing that’s capable of knocking down shots from deep at a 42% clip. Unfortunately, Louzada spent the majority of last season in the G League and subsequently missed time due to a knee injury. If he is able to stay healthy there is a chance that he could work his way onto the deeper part of the rotation for the Blazers, with the upside of being a 3-point specialist who comes off the bench. Until his minutes seem solidified, Louzada will only be a stash-candidate in dynasty leagues.

     

    Trendon Watford
    PF, Portland Trail Blazers

    Watford is a very gifted athlete who has nice length and a massive wingspan, as well as a sturdy frame. He is skilled and quick enough to match up with smaller guards, but strong enough to hold his own under the basket. The former two-time Alabama Mr. Basketball had an excellent rookie campaign with the Blazers, including a very fantasy relevant end of the season. Over the final two months of the season, Watford caught fire and finished just outside the top-100, earning himself 10 starts during that span. He likely has etched himself a spot in the rotation heading into next season and if he is able to maintain this level of play, he will be a standard league sleeper option for fantasy managers.

     

    Luka Garza
    PF, Portland Trail Blazers

    Garza is one of the highest-profile college players in the past decade and has received a remarkable amount of impressive individual achievements. Unfortunately, his game has yet to translate to the NBA. With that being said, he has done well during his time in the G League, being named to the All-Rookie Team and All-NBA G League Third Team. He is a very smooth and talented shooter, especially for a man of his stature, and he simply knows how to get buckets. Garza has shown the desire and ability to mature his body to be more athletic, which will allow him to excel in the NBA. Without a doubt, Garza is a must hold for dynasty GMs but for the time being he is off the fantasy radar for even the deepest of redraft leagues. There is potential and upside for Garza, so fantasy GMs just need to be patient and hope he takes advantage of his opportunity whenever (and if) the time comes.

     

    Sacramento Kings

    Murray was not the player that many thought the Kings should draft fourth overall in June’s draft and he as well as the Kings will have their first opportunity to prove the haters wrong.

     

    Keegan Murray
    F, Sacramento Kings

    Murray was selected fourth overall by the Kings in this year’s NBA draft and he should have an immediate impact on a young Kings team that is ready to take the next step towards being a contender. Murray was a consensus First-Team All-American this year while leading Iowa to an impressive season before being upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He is technically a frontcourt player, but has the agility, ball-handling skills and outside shooting to exploit a bigger matchup. Meanwhile, he has the strength to hold his own defensively which led to his strong 9.6 rebounds per game. Murray knocked down 40% of his attempts from deep and that allowed him to maintain an impressive 23.5 points per game. As a rookie, Murray will have an immediate impact on fantasy rosters and is definitely worth considering in the middle to late rounds.

     

    Keon Ellis
    G, Sacramento Kings

    Ellis is a defensive specialist who the Kings have signed to a two-way contract. Although defense is his strong suit, Ellis is a more than capable player on offense.  He has the speed and explosiveness that help him succeed on both ends of the floor, while having the verticality to get up and grab boards at a 6.1 per game rate as a senior.  He has the ability to get to the rim and strength to finish through contact, but also has the touch to knock down free throws at 88%, which led the SEC. The best part of his game is definitely his defense. Ellis has the gifts to be one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA, including being an alert help-side defender which was evident with his 1.9 steals per game at Alabama. If Ellis is able to work on getting his own looks, he has the potential to be an incredible fantasy option. He stuffs the stat sheet and the two steals on a nightly basis are a nice supplement that will put a smile on fantasy GM’s faces.

     

    Neemias Queta
    C, Sacramento Kings

    Queta is an absolute beast of an interior presence on both ends of the floor.  The Utah State product is still a very raw talent for the Kings, but he has all the right keys to make a successful career in the NBA. He is one of the tallest players in the NBA and his shot-blocking prowess is not the least bit unexpected, easily averaging over two per contest.  He also averaged 14.9 points and 10.1 boards per game in his final year of college, showing the ability to be a more well-rounded player with a 2.7 assist rate as well. He continues to develop his jumper and stroke from the line and has showed signs that he is ready to take the next step in the NBA. He has the potential to work into the Kings rotation and be a shot-blocking specialist. He shouldn’t be drafted anywhere outside of deeper dynasty leagues, but keep an eye on the big man as he tries to work his way onto the roster.

     

    San Antonio Spurs

    The Spurs shook things up in a major way this offseason after deciding to trade Dejounte Murray to the Hawks. In return, the black-and-gold received a massive haul for Murray: three first-round draft picks (2023, 2025, 2027), the rights to a 2026 pick swap, and Danilo Gallinari (who was waived). San Antonio also sent out center Jock Landale in the trade, in addition to rescinding their qualifying offer for Lonnie Walker IV, who agreed to a deal with the Lakers. It is safe to say that the Spurs have entered a full rebuild. So what does that all mean for the Spurs’ Summer League team? With Murray, Landale and Walker gone, it means a lot more minutes — and roster spots — will be open on the team this upcoming season. And there’s a number of players on this Summer League crew that may hold fantasy value in 2022-23.

    Joshua Primo
    SG, San Antonio Spurs

    The most notable returner on the Spurs’ SL roster will be Primo. After receiving inconsistent — or simply nonexistent — minutes through 49 games last season, the 12th pick in 2021 became a regular part of the Spurs rotation in late January. From that point on, the 6’6” guard averaged 23.2 minutes a game, though struggled to put up significant numbers in any single category. With Murray and Walker now gone, and a possible decreased role (if not an offseason or midseason trade) in store for SG Josh Richardson, expect Primo’s minutes to increase significantly. It should be noted that while Primo’s numbers will get a boost, he still has a lot of work to do before becoming a trustworthy starter in any fantasy league — even per-36 minutes, his numbers last year still left much to be desired across all categories. With that said, the 19 year old will have plenty of opportunity to up his game, especially with some more reps during Summer League. He is worth a look in deeper leagues.

    Jeremy Sochan
    F, San Antonio Spurs

    A number of eyes will be on the ninth pick in 2022 as he descends on Las Vegas for Summer League. The 6’9” forward averaged 9.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 25.1 mpg in his lone season at Baylor. We don’t know how Sochan will be utilized in the Spurs offense but with the team being far from competitive this season, it is looking like Sochan will get a lot of time on the court to develop. A strong and versatile defender, look for Sochan to be a good candidate to get steals. This, in addition to rebounding, seem to be his strongest categories. The most glaring issue with Sochan is his shooting — at Baylor, he shot just .296 from deep (on 2.7 attempts) and a glaring .589 from the free throw line. Besides dynasty, Sochan is probably worth a look only near the end of drafts for deeper leagues. Owners probably want to look at other stat-heavy rookies before turning to Sochan.

    Malaki Branham
    SG, San Antonio Spurs

    The No. 20 pick at the draft will also be getting some time on the court with the Spurs in a rebuild, allowing the guard to grow his game. Last season, the Ohio State player posted 13.7 points on top of 1.2 3-pointers on .416 3-point shooting and .498 FG%. Branham really didn’t impress in any other category beyond those three, though we will see if that changes as he turns pro. He will be worth watching in Summer League and is worth monitoring, though right now he should probably remain on waiver wires outside of dynasty leagues.

    Blake Wesley
    G, San Antonio Spurs

    The third rookie for San Antonio, drafted with the 25th pick, is also worth keeping an eye on. The combo guard put up 14.4 points at Notre Dame averaging 29.3 minutes. He knocked down 1.5 triples a game, though on just .303 shooting. Outside of those numbers and his 1.3 steals/game at ND, Wesley does not jump off the page in any stat category, though it’s possible we see his assists go up if Coach Popovich uses Wesley as a facilitator. Unless he goes ballistic in Summer League, he is probably not worth a pick outside of dynasty and deep-league teams looking to take a flier.

    Joe Wieskamp
    SG, San Antonio Spurs

    Probably not worth mentioning, but with a tanking team, you never know. Wieskamp may or may not return to the team as he is a restricted free agent, but management has given him a qualifying offer and he’s on the Summer League roster. There’s a chance the wing sees a bump in floor time, but his minutes will likely be minimal as he slots behind a number of better and higher-upside players. That said, tanking teams sometimes give big minutes to their bottom-of-bench guys during brief stretches of the season, as rotation players rest and/or vets get traded. For now, he can be ignored across all formats, but he may be worth the occasional eyeball for the true deep-league junkies as the season goes on.

    Toronto Raptors

    Unlike San Antonio, the Raptors will be in the mix this year as they look to be competitive in a strong Eastern Conference. While the Raps’ Summer League roster has yet to be officially announced at the time of writing, we have reports of some signings and can make some safe assumptions on who will be on the summer squad. Here are the two most notable players we should be watching as they (probably) take on Vegas:

     

    Dalano Banton
    PG, Toronto Raptors

    Banton played in 64 games for the Raptors last season, with much of his time on the court being in real, non-garbage minutes. That said, while the guard’s place in the rotation was somewhat consistent, it was always in short bursts — Banton averaged just 10.9 minutes a game and only logged over 20 minutes in six games. Because of this, Banton was never worth a fantasy pickup, and was also sent down to the G-League during the campaign. Despite not having a jumper, he did excel in non-shooting categories during his time on the floor, averaging a per-36
    slashline of 10.6/6.4/5.1 to go with 1.4 steals. He’ll be competing again with Malachi Flynn and Armoni Brooks this season for bench guard minutes, and so as of now, can be ignored across all fantasy leagues. But keep an eye on the crafty guard this summer in case he balls out and earns an uptick in minutes in the rotation.

     

    Christian Koloko
    C, Toronto Raptors

    By nature of being an early second-round draft pick, Koloko is worth watching this summer, though he most likely won’t have a ton of value when the Raptors are healthy. The big man’s minutes will most likely be sparse with Pascal Siakam, Precious Achiuwa, Chris Boucher and Khem Birch on the roster. But if coach Nick Nurse decides to run some bigger lineups or injuries become a factor, the rookie may begin to have deeper-league fantasy value.

     

    Utah Jazz

    Like the Spurs, the Jazz also saw a major roster shakeup this offseason, though most signs lead to their change being a “retooling” around Donovan Mitchell rather than a full rebuild. The trade involving Rudy Gobert brought with it a number of new role players headed to Utah, but there may still be room for guys on the Utah SL roster to crack the rotation. The Jazz had no draft picks in 2022, but these players are still worth a watch in Vegas:

     

    Walker Kessler
    C, Utah Jazz

    OK, while that statement about the Jazz not having a draft pick was technically true, one of the five players headed to Utah as part of the Gobert trade will be 2022 first-round pick Kessler. Gobert gone means a big hole at center, and with Hassan Whiteside an unrestricted free agent, it is safe to say that Kessler, a 7’1” center, will get some regular floor time. Kessler is a 7’1, 245-pound behemoth of a human.  He will be 21 by the start of the season and after playing two years at Auburn, he is an intriguing option for fantasy.

    How much time the 22nd pick will get on the court is still to be determined, as the Jazz are likely to sign or trade for another big man before the season begins. As it currently sits, the only centers rostered are Kessler and Udoka Azubuike (and I suppose Jarred Vanderbilt, if new coach Will Hardy wants to use him as a small-ball center in brief doses).

    Will that incoming big man be someone major like Deandre Ayton, or someone in a more veteran role, like Whiteside (or someone similar)? The answer to that question will be a major determining factor in predicting how much playing time Kessler receives. It’s hard to gauge Kessler’s fantasy value with the Jazz still expected to make moves, but he’s a player very much worth monitoring regardless.

    Assuming Kessler plays in Summer League (he has yet to join the Jazz as the trade is still processing), look for his ability to block shots: Kessler registered one of the best shot-blocking seasons ever last season at Auburn, logging an insane 4.6 rejections in just 25.6 minutes a game. He doesn’t have much of a jumper nor does he play a role of a passer, so look for his stats to come across in points, rebounds, and the aforementioned blocks.

     

    Jared Butler
    SG, Utah Jazz

    Second-year guard Jared Butler is worth a short paragraph, though he finds himself way back in the depth chart after the Jazz acquired guards Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverly. Despite not receiving consistent minutes, Butler showed positive flashes during brief stints on the court in 2021-22. The 21 year old may play a slightly more prominent role on this team or another if the Jazz decide to do some more roster shuffling at the backcourt positions — but as of now, he’s at the back of the guard logjam in Utah.

     

    The Rest

    There’s a number of names on the Jazz SL roster worth a brief mention, but not enough to break them down into their own section.

    First up, fans will see NBA vets Justin Robinson and Bruno Caboclo hooping for the Jazz SL squad. Robinson and Caboclo have logged some of the most NBA experience out of all players set to participate in Vegas. Neither guy has played consistent enough ball to be fantasy-relevant for a few years, but there’s a chance a team looking for a veteran this season puts them in the rotation for brief stints.

    Next up is NBA fan-favorite Tacko Fall, who may see occasional rotation minutes if the Jazz (or another team) need size. Fall, however, can really only be played in shorter bursts, so don’t expect a major breakout. Lastly, UCLA star Johnny Juzang will play in SL after signing a two-way spot with Utah. Like Butler, he is towards the back of the line with a plethora of guards on the Jazz roster, barring another shakeup.

    It’s possible one of these names will become relevant to a super-deep fantasy league later in the season, but as of now, they should simply be noted while they sit on waivers.

     

    Washington Wizards

    Last but not least: the Wizards. The team from D.C. will look to be competitive this season as newcomers Will Barton and Monte Morris join a healthy Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma, and a host of role players going into their second, third, and fourth years. As for the summer league roster, the biggest name will be their 2022 lottery pick (featured below), who they will ask to step up as the Wiz look to earn a playoff spot.

     

    Johnny Davis
    G, Washington Wizards

    The No. 10 pick in the draft is the most noteworthy name on the Wizards’ SL squad, and will likely be a regular part of the Wizards’ rotation. The big two-way guard is known for his ability to defend multiple positions as well as his ability to get a bucket. He averaged nearly 20 points on 34.2 mpg in his second and final season at Wisconsin in addition to securing 8.2 rebounds a game. Davis will have the green light in Vegas as the Wiz hope he can bring his large frame and shot-creating abilities to the NBA stage. We’ll see if Davis can use these SL games to improve on his playmaking skills and his pure shooting ability — over his two years as a Badger, Davis averaged more turnovers than assists, and he shot .325 and .779 from the three-point line and free-throw line, respectively. Davis is still obviously a high pick in dynasty leagues; in standard leagues, managers should monitor Davis’ summer league play in order to judge his value. Davis will definitely have a regular role in D.C., but his deficiencies may lead to coach Wes Unseld Jr. going with Delon Wright and Corey Kispert instead of the rookie. Regardless, keep an eye on him as drafts start to near the final rounds.

     

    The Rest

    Like the Jazz, the Wizards have a collection of Summer League players who can probably be ignored for fantasy, but are still worth touching on briefly.

    While it is not yet known if he will play on their summer league squad, the now seven-year NBA vet Kris Dunn did participate in the Wizards’ Summer League minicamp. It has now been revealed that Dunn will not participate in Summer League for the Wizards. After battling injuries the past few seasons, Dunn will look to earn a spot on an NBA team. In 2019-20, Dunn was second in the league in steals per-game with 2.0, and in 2018-19 he averaged 1.5 steals per-game (top-25 in the league) to go with 11.3 points. If healthy, and moving as well as he used to — and that’s a big if — Dunn may have some upside as a quick bucket and high-steals guy. First, however, he has to make an NBA roster. It doesn’t help that he is not a threat as a jump shooter.

    We’ll end by featuring forward-center Isaiah Todd (drafted 31st in 2021) and center Vernon Carey Jr. (32nd in 2020), both of whom will likely be playing in this year’s Summer League. While both players have played minimally in the association, the Wizards have Todd signed through 2025 (2024-25 not guaranteed) and Carey through 2024 (2023-24 is a team option). Since these two are under contract and taking up roster spots, it’s possible Washington throws one or both of these guys into the fire for spot minutes this season. Their deals are also fairly easy to move, too, so we may see them get more play on a different team if D.C. decides to do some shuffling. We’ll watch how they play in Vegas — if they show that they’ve improved their game, we could see them enter the fantasy conversation.

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