Summer League Roster Mini-Previews: Pt. 1
Summer League Roster Mini-Previews: Pt. 1
3 Things to Watch for each team in the Atlantic and Central Divisions
No matter how many words of caution we hear to not overthink or overreact to what we see at Summer League, the human mind jumps to conclusions.
For the next two weeks, Las Vegas becomes the epicenter of the basketball world. Star rookies, NBA hopefuls and young whippersnappers all converge on Sin City to try and prove their value to the 30 NBA teams watching. Some will increase their standing in the rotation or add new traits. Others will prove their worth as a roster candidate heading into training camp.
Context is always important, so before watching each team play, you have to know what questions to ask and what to be looking for. Our Summer League preview features a skim through all 30 teams, briefly looking at three questions we’ll be watching for the answers to out in Vegas.
Atlantic & Central Division Preview
Southeast & Southwest Division Preview
Northwest & Pacific Division Preview
Boston Celtics
Coming off a run to the NBA Finals, the Celtics don’t need a ton of young guys to come in and contribute right away. They are looking for young players to come in and either show extreme promise to develop over the long-term, be a project that can help them as a trade asset within the next 9 months, or have enough experience to be able to fill the cheap holes at the end of the roster. There are some intriguing pieces here despite a clear lack of drafted talent.
Does JD Davison flash any immediate improvements? JD Davison was the team’s lone draft selection this year. He's a high-risk, high-reward player coming off a turnover-prone freshman season at Alabama. Progress in controlling the game in the half-court would be encouraging, as would consistent use of his athleticism. For as bursty and gifted as he is, Davison tends to play beneath the rim in the half-court.
Can Trevion Williams defend on an NBA floor? After trading away Daniel Theis and Malik Fitts, there is a spot on this roster for a bench big man to be claimed. Williams, one of our favorite pre-draft prospects, is a frontrunner for the job. He’s a hell of a passer and is much more mobile than most other bigs, plus sports a 7’2” wingspan. Williams has struggled to defend in either switching or drop coverages. If he struggles in Summer League, it likely puts a ceiling on his long-term fit in the NBA.
Who else emerges as a training camp invite? Davison and Williams are two frontrunners on the roster to make it back to Boston in September, and 2021 draftee Juhann Begarin could attempt to come overseas to Boston this year. With those three and Sam Hauser, we’re likely to see four players on the training camp roster at the least. Brad Stevens has wisely filled out this roster with guys who are pretty aware of their role (shooter AJ Reeves), or fit a position of need — like savvy backup guard Jordan Bone or mobile big man Mfiondu Kabengele.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: AJ Reeves
Philadelphia 76ers
Daryl Morey seems to be reassembling his former Rockets role players around Joel Embiid and James Harden. The Sixers have assembled quite the litany of talent with NBA experience this summer, along with three undrafted rookies who received top-80 grades on our 2022 Big Board. This may be one of the most talented teams in Vegas, making for a bloodbath when trying to evaluate who will separate themselves. Two-ways belonging to Charlie Brown Jr. and Myles Powell (and newly signed Trevelin Queen) eat up some roster space with the big league club, while everyone else is competing for more.
Do we see growth from their draft picks - Anytime you enter a Summer League with players that were acquired via draft pick, there’s a vested interest in seeing their development and a hope that they’ll stand out from the rest. Paul Reed, Charles Bassey and Filip Petrusev are all big men who could carve out different roles next year. Reed is assuredly on the roster and gets fringe minutes at the 4 and 5. How aggressively the Sixers go out and fill the rest of the roster out with veteran depth up front might depend on how all three play. Former first round pick Jaden Springer was efficient and showed promise in the G-League next year; the Sixers want him to prove his worth this summer. Finally, shooting wing Isaiah Joe is squarely on the roster bubble. He can no longer be streaky; it’s time for him to consistently drill shots to garner faith within the organization.
Will some second-chance favorites overtake the drafted bunch? Nipping at the heels of all those draft picks are an eager bunch of youngsters who are hoping to land on their feet after striking out on their first home. Tyler Bey once received a first-round grade from us and is playing with the Sixers this summer. He’s an energy forward/ big who needs to shoot consistently. Cassius Winston had a two-way with the Wizards the last two seasons; he’s a crafty scoring point guard with strong 3-point range. Grant Riller was a favorite of draft twitter a few years ago and could be a backup scoring punch this team is drawn to. The emergence of any of these guys as internal favorites could squeeze out one of their former draft picks.
How do the rookies fit into this picture? Aminu Mohammed, Michael Foster Jr. and Julian Champagnie are all fascinating fits here. The Sixers have assembled quite a glut of guys who play both the 4 and 5 but aren’t great at either; how Foster separates himself from Bey, Reed and Bassey will be interesting within the pecking order. Champagnie could be gunning for Isaiah Joe’s role. Mohammed is fascinating, as he brings something to the table nobody else here does as an athletic, energy ball of a wing. We think he’s far too raw offensively to be an NBA threat, but should be a priority to keep in Delaware next year.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Julian Champagnie
Brooklyn Nets
There may be chaos in the front office in Brooklyn as they search for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving moves to make, but this is a well assembled team. There’s a good balance between rookies and experienced Summer League players, and plenty of guys who figure to be on an NBA roster next year. Remember, with all the drama surrounding their superstars, this team has no interest in tanking since the Rockets own all their future picks. They’re looking for guys who can help them, not necessarily long-term prospects that require a ton of growth.
How much growth do we see from Cam Thomas & Day’Ron Sharpe? These two are the crowned jewels of this Summer League team, two former first-round selections who are guaranteed roster spots next year. Both have value for the Nets and for teams engaging in trade talks with them. Thomas is a killer of a scorer who needs to keep developing the rest of his game. Sharpe is a toolsy big man with more skill away from the basket than given credit for. Big showings would help the organization feel comfortable they have some cheap fallback options that can play next year.
Will Kessler Edwards be the hottest commodity leaving Summer League? The Nets made the decision to decline an option they had on Edwards, a former second-round pick who shot 35% from 3 last year as a rookie, making him an unrestricted free agent. He’s a valued floor-spacer on a team without a ton of it here, has size and really plays hard on defense. If he blows up and proves to be one of the best guys on the floor, the Nets may lose one of their value contracts out the door.
Which second-year guy takes a step forward? There are three prospects we like on this team who were part of the 2021 NBA Draft class: David Duke Jr. from Providence, RaiQuan Gray from Florida State, and Yves Pons from Tennessee. All three bring different traits to the table, and all have the potential to make an NBA roster. Duke is currently signed on the two-way deal for Brooklyn, and Pons was last year for the Grizzlies.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Brison Gresham, Taze Moore
Toronto Raptors
Everybody loves Masai Ujiri, and the roster building construct in Toronto is one we’re marveling at. Ujiri loves long-armed players with wingspans over 7’0” who can either pass or shoot at a really high level. Such a roster lends itself to prioritizing guys who reinforce those stereotypes, of which the Raptors have on their roster. Second-round pick Christian Koloko will have the attention of many as the guy to watch, but the development of prior picks and the emergence of guys who fit their mold will be what we watch for.
Can Ron Harper Jr. keep up with the other main roster guys? The Raptors have a few players in Vegas who will be on the main roster (or are expected to be) on opening night: Dalano Banton, David Johnson, Justin Champagnie, and the aforementioned Koloko. We’re quite high on the undrafted rookie out of Rutgers and believe he was a great signing for them on a two-way deal. If Harper can shoot the ball well and be one of the two or three best guys for them at Summer League, there’s a chance he knocks on the door of the rotation.
How does DJ Wilson fit with their roster construction? A long, wiry forward, Wilson is skilled enough on the perimeter and big enough defensively to be exactly the type of flier that Ujiri is drawn to. If Wilson has enough left in the tank, he could be a sneaky good Summer League pickup that turns into more.
Can Armoni Brooks keep a role in Toronto? After a scorching hot rookie season, Brooks cooled off last year and shot less than 30% from 3. That’s tough for a shooting specialist who has some struggles on defense. In 13 games for the Raptors last year, he only attempted two 2-pointers! He needs to be able to shoot it to stick around, and with many other fringe-worthy guys on the team that are playing this summer, Brooks may be on the roster bubble.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Jeff Dowtin, Christian Vital
New York Knicks
While the Knicks have been flamed a bit for their offseason by giving top dollar to Brunson, trading out of the 2022 NBA Draft and trimming salary, their moves have been solid around the margins. Their second-round and undrafted free agent signings provide a ton of intrigue, and their roster is one that is built on strength at each position, not on quickness or athleticism. We know they need some help on the wing and some 3-point floor spacing. Can they find it on this roster in Vegas?
How much will their core four in Vegas play? By the core four, we mean the draft prospects of the last few years that have already had a role on the Knicks: Deuce McBride, Quentin Grimes, Jericho Sims, and Feron Hunt (currently signed to a two-way). McBride and Grimes are closer to the NBA rotation than they are to needing 30 MPG in the summers. The Knicks could prioritize getting them more reps, or could look to save their bodies and let other guys with fewer guaranteed opportunities fight it out on the court.
Do Keels and Montero prove themselves worthy of a 15-man roster spot? The two additions made on draft night were second-rounder out of Duke Trevor Keels and UDFA Jean Montero from the Overtime Elite program. Both help round out their backcourt with young depth, but neither are safely seen as ready for NBA minutes. However, if they’re good enough this Summer, there will be more urgency to lock them up to either a standard or two-way contract.
Where does the floor spacing come from? We really like the big men on this summer squad: Sims, Hunt, Garrison Brooks, Aamir Simms, Micah Potter. But the Knicks as a team need more floor spacing than they do size. MJ Walker, Vince Edwards and Jahvon Blair could be more veteran-based shooters that earn their way onto the Knicks roster, while undrafted rookie D’Shawn Schwartz may be relied upon to stretch the floor and get important minutes.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: D’Shawn Schwartz
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are firmly entrenched in win-now mode. As their roster gets more expensive, filling out the margins with some solid cheap contracts becomes incredibly important — especially for a smaller market team. The Bucks have typically done well at turning their Summer League or training camp guys into eventual roster additions (albeit it’s rare they turn into contributors) so get to know these guys, as they may be on the roster at some point soon.
How ready does MarJon Beauchamp look? Beauchamp played against G-League competition last year, so he definitely shouldn’t look out of place in Summer League. Instead, we’re watching what it is that he does well. Throughout the entire pre-draft process, MarJon won people over (and the Bucks organization) with his desire to come in and be a role player who did all the dirty work: defend, hustle, hit spot-up jumpers. If his shot is falling and he delivers on the energy piece, he could prove ready for bench minutes this year.
Do the returners keep their spot? Four guys on this squad — Rayjon Tucker, Luca Vildoza, Lindell Wigginton and Sandro Mamukelashvili — were called up to the main team and on the roster at some point last season. All four are back this summer and start a half-step ahead of anyone else jockeying for minutes. We especially want to see Wigginton (a guy whose game we’ve always liked) and Mamu (a unique player in the frontcourt) and how they thrive as more primary pieces.
Is there a gem hiding elsewhere on this roster? If the Bucks replace those older guys with a new face, it will be because they earn it. Undrafted free agents Iverson Molinar and AJ Green are the two newcomers here; Green is a shooting specialist (always valuable next to Giannis) and Molinar is a long-armed mid-range guard. Can Matthew Hurt space the floor well enough to garner interest by the main club? Does Dewan Hernandez prove himself worthy of another shot on an NBA team? Does Zylan Cheatham fit what the NBA roster needs?
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Iverson Molinar
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have a type for their bench players: guys who know their role, play defense intentely, provide energy and (perhaps) can hit a spot-up jumper. There are plenty of them on the roster, which means either that’s the only thing they’re valuing, or the door is completely open for the best player available to garner a final roster spot next year. Rookie Dalen Terry will play, but this roster is ripe with opportunity for another big man, scorer or floor-spacer to emerge.
Do any of the Windy City Bulls guys take the next step? Three guys on this Summer League roster were with the Bulls in the G-League last year: Henri Drell, Perrion Callandret, and Ethan Thompson. We’re big fans of Drell, but can see ways for each of the three to become centerpieces of the Bulls summer plans.
How does Justin Lewis shoot it? The undrafted free agent out of Marquette has the toughness and physical profile to be intriguing for the Bulls long-term. His big question mark is the consistency of his jumper, and coming out of the draft process is the first time we get to see many of these guys play in a reduced role. How Lewis responds to fewer reps and more importance on each jumper will help determine whether he’s with the big league club at all as a rook.
Does Marko Simonovic prove ready for emergency minutes? The Bulls frontcourt rotation is still a tad thin. There’s plenty of time (and availability) for them to find a veteran that can plug those holes, but we think the front office is strategically slowplaying that pursuit until they see what Simonovic can give. He’s bulked up, and the European stretch-5 provides a unique punch to the offense as a shooter.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Carlik Jones, Javon Freeman-Liberty
Cleveland Cavaliers
It would be foolish to expect Evan Mobley to play with this team in Las Vegas. But these Cavs have a lot of good young talent playing this July, many who are hoping for a role with the team next year. Lottery pick Ochai Agbaji plays a game that is dependent on others around him to set him up to succeed.
Will another shooting wing emerge? The Cavaliers have a supreme need for wing shooters on this roster. Finding one for cheap that they believe in would be a coup for the franchise. This summer squad was assembled with this in mind. Aaron Henry (Michigan State), Malik Osborne (Florida State), Jamorko Pickett (Georgetown) and Cam Young (Quinnipiac) all check boxes as shooting wings with length. These Cavs are not shy about giving 3-and-D wings a chance this summer.
How reliable is RJ Nembhard? The Cavs will need playmakers to get those guys shots, and there are two point guards on this roster to do it: RJ Nembhard (signed to a two-way deal) and Ashton Hagans. Nembhard is a big guard at 6’5” and did not make a 3-pointer for the Cavs in 11 games last year. If he can be a stud of a facilitator, these Cavs will win games — and we’ll see what his best NBA role looks like.
How good is Isaiah Mobley? We really like the second round selection out of USC and older brother of franchise star Evan. Isaiah can shoot it, rebound-and-run, defend, and is a skilled playmaker. He just makes plays and could come off as the most polished player on this roster.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Cameron Young
Detroit Pistons
Embrace the youth movement! The Pistons found some young future stars over the last 12 months in Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren. The direction of the franchise is now much clearer, as is the expectation for role players to fit next to them. The big guns are all playing here: Cade, Ivey, Duren, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Killian Hayes, Isaiah Livers. More than any other Summer League team, we can tune into the Pistons and get an initial glimpse into how their long-term NBA future will look.
How do Cade and Jaden play off each other initially? This is what most people are concerned with, or at the very least watching. Two guys who are best with the ball in their hands trying to split reps offensively. Perhaps the two share the floor for most of, if not all of, the summer. Or maybe the Pistons give each the opportunity to grow with the ball in their hands and keep the shared minutes sparse. Either way, it will be great to see both in Vegas, where they are clearly the most talented backcourt tandem in town.
Are there any two-big lineups with Duren and Stewart? For the life of me, I cannot figure out people who believe Isaiah Stewart is or can be a 4 in the modern NBA. Trying to fit he and Duren on a floor together feels ill-advised, but if there’s ever a time to try it, it’s now.
How much run do the other guys get? Because the organizational priority needs to be in getting these guys cohesion and minutes, the rest of this roster plays a very supplemental role. This is a shame because there are SO many guys that we want to watch. Both Boeheims can shoot it, and we want to see them next to elite NBA athletes or creators. Anthony Tarke is a favorite of ours for his bulldog, switchable defense — and we aren’t shy about thinking the Pistons need to develop a Celtics-esque switch everything scheme. Jules Bernard and Saben Lee can really score, Stanley Umude is an intriguing athlete, both Miami guards in Kameron McGusty and Charlie Moore can hoop… there are too many guys to all get minutes. I guess that means we just have to tune into everything these Pistons do.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Anthony Tarke, Jules Bernard, Stanley Umude
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are seemingly setting the direction for their franchise this summer by trading away Malcolm Brogdon and embracing a youth movement around Tyrese Haliburton. There are priority talents here to be developed and guys who should get minutes next year on an NBA floor. But year after year, teams in a position like Indiana’s give extended NBA minutes to some player who scratched and clawed their way from Summer League to training camp, the G-League program to the main club.
How much of a primary/ secondary option does Bennedict Mathurin appear to be? We’re big Mathurin fans, and he reportedly tore it up on the workout circuit ahead of the draft. Improvements to his finishing/ rim pressure, playmaking for others and pull-up scoring were evident throughout the season, and if they keep getting better, he should be a great return in this draft class. With the dearth of secondary playmakers next to Haliburton (and a ton of shooters), expect the Pacers to test out Mathurin’s ability to handle more of a primary load.
How does the chemistry look with Mathurin et al on the floor? There are plenty of other guys on the big league team playing here in Vegas: Isaiah Jackson, Chris Duarte, Duane Washington, Terry Taylor (not the Red Rooster), Andrew Nembhard, Nate Hinton, Kendall Brown. The pacers could have three NBA players on the floor at a time here, so chemistry and group development/ positioning is as important as unearthing those gems.
Who makes a strong push to get a roster spot? The Pacers already got two success stories in Terry Taylor and Duane Washington forcing their way onto the roster and inking new deals with the team. There are some candidates we’d consider this year to be of similar intrigue. Fanbo Zeng of the G-League Ignite is uniquely skilled for his size and could be poised to raise some eyebrows. Tevin Brown of Murray State is an elite shooter (the Pacers are collecting as many of them as they can) and a solid defender. Eli Brooks from Michigan is a competitive point guard we are quite fond of. Jermaine Samuels could be proof that it’s never wise to bet against a Villanova role player.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Tevin Brown, Eli Brooks
Atlantic & Central Division Preview