Both the California Classic and Salt Lake City summer leagues have wrapped up, so it’s time to focus on the main event of the NBA offseason: Las Vegas Summer League.
The 11-day tournament will begin Friday with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic (4 p.m. ET) kicking things off at the Pavilion in Vegas and run through July 22, with a champion crowned at the end.
The event will be headlined by several recent draft picks, including Atlanta Hawks’ No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher and the Washington Wizards’ No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, second-year players and aging veterans looking for open spots on rosters across the league. The Charlotte Hornets‘ Brandon Miller and Miami Heat‘s Jaime Jaquez Jr. will both be in action after making the 2023-24 NBA All-Rookie first team.
After each team plays four games, the top four teams will then advance to the playoffs. The two semifinal games will take place July 21, with the championship game July 22. The other 26 teams will play a fifth game on either July 20 or July 21.
With the tournament schedule out of the way, it’s time for ESPN Insiders Jonathan Givony and Kevin Pelton to look at the top players to watch on each summer league team.
Zaccharie Risacher | Forward
Risacher will have plenty of eyes on him every time he suits up in Las Vegas, as he begins the onerous task of showing why he was the draft’s No. 1 pick in a class lacking star power. Losing second-year guard Kobe Bufkin to injury might make things difficult with a lack of quality playmaking on the roster, as Risacher is not known for his ballhandling or shot creation and will likely have to adjust to the NBA 3-point line. Atlanta’s matchup on summer league opening night with No. 2 pick Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards (ESPN 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) will be highly anticipated. — Jonathan Givony
Baylor Scheierman | Forward
The Celtics were thrilled to see Scheierman fall to them at No. 30 and will be watching intently to see how close the nearly 24-year-old wing is to playing rotational minutes in the NBA. Scheierman’s shotmaking and passing are easy fits in Boston’s offense, but his ability to hold his own defensively will ultimately determine how much he can help the defending NBA champs in the short term. The front office will be paying close attention in early summer league matchups with Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Dalton Knecht (Monday, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Keep an eye on second-year forward Jordan Walsh (No. 38 pick in 2023), who will also be trying to prove the same and is 3½ years younger than Scheierman. — Givony
The 2023 first-round draft picks (Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead)
Brooklyn’s two first-round picks in 2023, Clowney (No. 21) and Whitehead (No. 22), will be at the forefront for the Nets, who didn’t have a draft pick in the 2024 draft. Both are still teenagers and have room to become key parts of the Nets’ rebuilding process, which is fully underway in the wake of the Mikal Bridges trade with the Knicks. After extensive G League action last season, Brooklyn’s front office and coaching staff will likely be keeping a close eye on their prized youngsters to see how they are developing and determine how much playing time they can realistically be expected to shoulder in the upcoming season. — Givony
Brandon Miller | Forward
Fresh off an appearance with USA Basketball’s select team, Miller will be the most accomplished player competing at summer league, after finishing third behind Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren in rookie of the year voting. It’s likely we see Miller participating for only a game or two, making the Hornets’ opener against the Knicks (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2) one of the best games of opening weekend. It will be interesting to see what kind of jump the nearly 22-year-old wing is ready to make as a sophomore after such a promising rookie campaign. After Miller is shut down, the Hornets’ focus will likely shift to No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaun, who should be cleared to play after missing the California Classic because of a minor injury. — Givony
Matas Buzelis | Forward
On a roster with limited playmaking options, it looks like Buzelis could be asked to shoulder a pretty significant role. This should give us good insight into how ready he is to play a major role for the Bulls as a rookie and in what position. The Bulls took a clear step back this summer, trading Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan, and Buzelis’ ability to develop into a centerpiece of their rebuilding efforts will surely play a role in determining their long-term outlook. Knocking down shots consistently and making good decisions with the ball this summer will be a good start for him. — Givony
Honorable mention: Julian Phillips
Jaylon Tyson | Forward
Tyson will likely play a significant role for Cleveland as its lone 2024 draft pick, along with 2023 second-rounder Emoni Bates. Tyson was a primary ball handler and playmaker for Cal this season and should shoulder plenty of on-ball reps in Vegas, giving us a chance to see the shot creation that enticed the Cavs to use the No. 20 pick on him. A matchup with Anthony Black and a stacked Orlando Magic squad (Friday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+) should prove a stern test right out of the gates, both for him and 20-year-old rising sophomore Bates, who showed promising flashes in the G League last season. — Givony
Olivier-Maxence Prosper | Forward
Prosper, the Mavericks’ second first-round pick in 2023, sat and watched as Dallas reached the NBA Finals with large contributions from lottery pick Dereck Lively II. The Mavericks still expect Prosper to become a 3-and-D player, which could be even more important with the departure of Derrick Jones Jr. in free agency. Dallas summer coach Jared Dudley told reporters that developing Prosper into a rotation player is the top goal in Vegas. — Kevin Pelton
Julian Strawther | Guard
With the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, Denver is light on perimeter shooting beyond starters Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Strawther is the player best equipped to fill that void, having averaged more than two 3s per game on 41% 3-point shooting during his last season at Gonzaga. We saw only flashes of that from Strawther as a rookie, when he made 30% of his long-distance attempts, and the Nuggets will be hoping to see better shooting this summer. — Pelton
Ron Holland | Forward
With 2023 No. 5 pick Ausar Thompson still recovering from blood clotting issues and not expected to participate, Holland will likely play a featured role for the Pistons’ summer league squad. This will be his first action since a thumb injury ended his G League Ignite season in late January. It will be very interesting to see how Holland is utilized by the Pistons’ coaching staff after he played an outsized role with G League Ignite, causing him to struggle with turnovers and inefficiency. After shooting 26% for 3 this past season, Holland’s ability to space the floor consistently will likely determine the type of role he can play with the Pistons’ starting lineup. — Givony
Kevin Knox II | Forward
When Knox last played summer league in 2019, he was a featured player for the Knicks coming off his rookie season as the No. 9 pick. Now Knox, who turns 25 next month, is trying to resurrect his career after being waived twice last season. Demonstrating improved 3-point shooting will be key for Knox, a career 34% shooter who shot 33% beyond the arc in 31 games for the Pistons in 2023-24. — Pelton
Reed Sheppard | Guard
The Rockets bring back last year’s NBA summer league MVP, Cam Whitmore, and have 2022 first-round pick AJ Griffin on their roster after acquiring him during the draft. Yet all eyes will be on Sheppard, the No. 3 pick of the 2024 draft. We’ll be looking to see how well Sheppard’s 52% 3-point shooting as a freshman at Kentucky translates to the NBA 3-point line as well as gauging his athleticism against pro opposition. — Pelton
Jarace Walker | Forward
This is a big week for Walker — the No. 8 pick in the 2023 draft — after seeing just 371 minutes for the Pacers last season, mostly in garbage time. With Indiana’s power forward position secured long term following extensions inked by Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, the Pacers want to play Walker at small forward while giving him significant on-ball reps, allowing him to show he’s more than just an elite defender who also hit 38% of his 3-pointers across the NBA and G League last season. At just 20 years old, Walker will certainly have a considerable market around the NBA if he can’t find his way into the Pacers’ rotation, but having a better showing in summer league than he did last year would be an encouraging sign. — Givony
Kobe Brown | Guard
Despite the departure of nine-time All-Star Paul George, Brown might face a more difficult path to playing time in Year 2 because the Clippers added forwards Derrick Jones Jr. and Nicolas Batum. Brown was briefly in the Clippers’ rotation as a rookie but fell out by virtue of shooting just 29% on 3s. Improved accuracy is the most important skill for Brown to earn more minutes. — Pelton
Bronny James | Guard
Let’s be realistic: Although first-round pick Dalton Knecht is far more important to the 2024-25 Lakers, it’s James who will draw the eyeballs to the summer Lakers.
James’ first two games at the California Classic did not demonstrate much offensive improvement from his lone season at USC.
He shot 3-of-12 from the field, scoring seven points. James is more advanced at the defensive end of the court, where he racked up three steals and three blocks. — Pelton
Zach Edey | Center
It’s possible no rookie will play a more important role on a competitive team than Edey, who joins a Grizzlies team that won 50-plus games in both 2021-22 and 2022-23 before an injury-plagued season landed it in the lottery. Not only does Edey fill an important need for Memphis at center, he’s ready to contribute now as a four-year collegian who won a pair of Naismith trophies as the nation’s best player. Edey has already shown his skills with 14 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks and a game-tying tip-in during his debut at the Salt Lake City Summer League. — Pelton
Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Forward
Fresh off an outstanding season that landed him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie first team, Jaquez will play two games in Vegas despite not being announced on the Heat summer league roster, a source told ESPN. The Heat will want to see how Jaquez looks in a featured role alongside rookie draft picks Kel’el Ware and Pelle Larsson, as well as two-way contract holders Keshad Johnson and Zyon Pullin. Cole Swider and Alondes Williams, who were on two-way deals last season, will also be players to watch. — Givony
The 2024 draft picks (AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith)
In clear win-now mode, the Bucks surprised some by drafting two teenagers in Johnson and Smith with the Nos. 23 and 33 picks, despite the historic reluctance of head coach Doc Rivers to incorporate younger players into his rotation. Getting off to a good start in summer league will be important for Johnson and Smith, as the Bucks, who are over the luxury tax’s second apron, don’t have many ways to add talent. The same applies to the other young players on the Bucks’ summer league roster, which includes Andre Jackson Jr., Chris Livingston, AJ Green and two-way contract holders Ryan Rollins, Stanley Umude and Jaylin Galloway. — Givony
Rob Dillingham | Guard
There’s no question Dillingham, who averaged 26.1 points per 40 minutes during his lone season at Kentucky, can score. After trading for the No. 8 pick to take Dillingham, the Timberwolves surely want to learn more about his ability to run a team. That could determine how much Dillingham is able to play as a rookie while joining a team that reached last season’s Western Conference finals. Vegas will also mark the return to game action for 2023 second-round pick Jaylen Clark, who suffered an Achilles tear at UCLA in March 2023. — Pelton
Tyler Kolek | Guard
The Knicks’ precarious luxury tax situation means hitting singles and doubles along the margins of their roster is increasingly important. That’s why nailing some of the four picks the team made in the draft could be impactful. The main one to watch in summer league is Kolek, who fits the mold of player coach Tom Thibodeau often gravitates to with his grit, smarts and competitiveness. It will also be interesting to see how far away 18-year-old first-round pick Pacome Dadiet is from being ready to help the Knicks defensively. — Givony
Yves Missi | Center
Given the Pelicans lost both of last season’s centers — starter Jonas Valanciunas via free agency and Larry Nance Jr. in the Dejounte Murray trade — and added only journeyman Daniel Theis, there’s an opportunity for Missi to play key minutes right away. To convince New Orleans he deserves that opportunity, Missi needs to show he can protect the rim and be effective in the pick-and-roll game this summer. — Pelton
Dillon Jones | Forward
With No. 12 pick Nikola Topic sidelined by an ACL tear, Jones will be the top 2024 draft pick on Oklahoma City’s summer roster. Playing in the same state where he starred at Weber State, Jones threatened a triple-double in his debut at the Salt Lake City summer league, putting up 9 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. If Jones outperforms 2022 first-round pick Ousmane Dieng, who’s playing his third summer league, it improves his chances of contributing to the Thunder as a rookie. — Pelton
Anthony Black | Guard
Black, the No. 6 pick in the 2023 draft, played 17 minutes per-game through 71 games for the Magic, but he could be due for an expanded role as a sophomore with starting point guard Markelle Fultz still an unrestricted free agent. The Magic will surely be watching the 20-year-old guard closely to see what kind of jump he’s ready to make, which starts in summer league where he’ll be a featured option on a stacked roster — 2023 lottery pick Jett Howard and 2024 No. 18 pick Tristan da Silva will also be competing for playing time this upcoming season. — Givony
Jared McCain | Guard
McCain’s pathway to rookie minutes won’t be easy on a 76ers team fresh off signing nine-time All-Star Paul George, along with Kelly Oubre, Eric Gordon and Caleb Martin. McCain’s ability to space the floor and play off starting point guard Tyrese Maxey could make him a bench option for a team that is still filling out its roster, which makes his performance in Vegas important. The same can be said for Ricky Council IV, who was on a two-way contract last season and had some impressive outings in the California Classic. — Givony
Ryan Dunn | Forward
It will be interesting to see how the Suns use both Dunn and Oso Ighodaro, their two draft picks this June. Both big men are known for their defensive versatility but not their shooting range. Ighodaro never made a 3-pointer in four years at Marquette, while Dunn shot 23.5% on just 51 career attempts at Virginia. If Phoenix can’t space the court with Dunn and Ighodaro playing together in Las Vegas, it’s a bad sign for the rookies’ chances of finding immediate playing time. — Pelton
Donovan Clingan | Center
Going against summer opposition, Clingan should have the ability to hang back near the basket and put a lid on it with his size and length on defense. It will be more interesting to see Clingan away from the hoop, whether it’s defending on pick-and-rolls against stretch 5s or spacing on the offensive end. Clingan impressed with his shooting in pre-draft workouts. We’ve yet to see that in games; he made two 3-pointers in nine attempts during two seasons at UConn. — Pelton
Keon Ellis | Guard
After starting 21 games in his second NBA season, including the last 15 after Kevin Huerter was lost to shoulder surgery, Ellis is overqualified for summer league. The Kings adding DeMar DeRozan could create even more need for Ellis’ on-ball defense in their 2024-25 starting five. This is a chance for Ellis, who had a 12% usage rate in 2023-24, to stretch his wings more as a shot creator. Ellis averaged 20.3 points in three games at the California Classic. — Pelton
Stephon Castle | Guard
During two games at the California Classic, Castle averaged 15.0 points and 4.0 assists. The Spurs signing Chris Paul to team with Tre Jones at point guard takes the pressure off Castle to be a playmaker right away in the NBA, freeing him to focus on his secondary passing and his movement without the ball, something we saw at UConn. It will also be fun to see Castle match up with No. 1 pick Risacher when the Spurs face the Hawks on Sunday. — Pelton
Gradey Dick | Guard
Dick, the No. 13 pick in the 2023 draft, got off to a slow start for the Raptors as a rookie but caught fire as the season moved on, hitting 40% of his 3-pointers from January through April. With starting wing Gary Trent a free agent and seemingly not in the Raptors’ plans, Dick has a runway to emerge as an important rotational player as a sophomore. It will be interesting to see what kind of role he plays this summer as the Raptors’ roster also features top-20 picks Ochai Agbaji and Ja’Kobe Walter, who have similar opportunities to impress on the wing. — Givony
Isaiah Collier | Guard
Last summer, Utah first-round pick Keyonte George outplayed his draft slot (No. 16) by looking more like the five-star prep prospect than the player who struggled as a one-and-done at Baylor — presaging George starting 44 games as a rookie. Collier, a projected top-five pick entering USC who ended up sliding all the way to the No. 29 spot, will look to do the same this year. Collier averaged 11.3 points in the Salt Lake City summer league but should have more opportunity in Vegas if George shuts it down after averaging 30.5 points in his two games in front of home fans. — Pelton
Alex Sarr | Forward
The No. 2 pick in the draft will be one of the most closely scrutinized players in Vegas, with matchups against No. 1 pick Risacher (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and a stacked Rockets squad (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2) during the opening weekend. Sarr’s ability to handle physicality on both ends, stretch the floor and make good decisions with the ball in Vegas will help shed some insight into what kind of rookie season we can expect to see from him. Much of the same can be said about fellow 2024 lottery pick Bub Carrington, who seems to have a similar pathway to extended playing time for a rebuilding Washington team. His readiness to contribute early will be key. — Givony
