Summer League Roster Mini-Previews: Pt. 3
3 Things to Watch for each team in the Northwest and Pacific 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
Denver Nuggets
Nuggets fans should be gearing up for a big year. Their front office has made some shrewd moves around the margins to add role players that complement their stars nicely, and with those stars coming back to health, this figures to be a title contender. Summer League can be important to look at some of the young guys they’ve drafted (two rookies figure to slide onto the NBA roster) and see if there is anyone else that takes a giant step forward.
What is the immediate progress report on Christian Braun and Peyton Watson? The two first round selections Denver made have very different timelines. Braun is more ready for an immediate impact as a role player; he competes, is really sound defensively and can drill shots. How ready is always something that cannot be judged until they take the floor with other NBA players. Watson was thought to be a long-term project, and his offense is clearly far away. What the Nuggets are going to prioritize with his development on that end should at least become apparent this summer.
Which undrafted free agents impress most? We really like the crop of UDFAs that found their way to Denver. Collin Gillespie is a top-50 guy for us and a really good shooter at the point. Villanova guys are mistake-free and Gillespie’s toughness and leadership should be valued by a winning team. Kellan Grady is a unique shooting specialist, Teddy Allen has unlimited confidence as a scorer, and Adonis Arms is a freak athlete who passes and defends. Honestly, several of these guys could push their way onto the opening night roster.
Is there anything left in the tank for Jontay Porter? The brother of Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr., Jontay has dealt with injuries just as much as his brother, and it’s cost him a promising young career. Hoping to get back on track, we’ve always seen the talent in Jontay and think he is the absolutely ideal backup to Jokic in Denver. If he can stick, that’s another value signing for the Nuggets.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Teddy Allen, Collin Gillespie, Jontay Porter
Minnesota Timberwolves
After making the big trade for Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves have a top-heavy roster. President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly knows what that means: find cheap guys who can make an impact at a level above their contract. Summer League is a great place to find them and get a jump on signing these guys to their organization. The Wolves’ summer team has a few familiar faces but is mostly made up of candidates to garner a training camp invite.
How does Wendell Moore get utilized? Part of the appeal of a guy like Moore, a strong 6’5” wing with playmaking skills, is that he can blend in as more of a role player next to stars. This summer, he may need to take the reigns of the offense on one of the few summer squads without a good deal of NBA-caliber talent. The first round pick is the one guy here pretty much everyone in Minnesota will be watching, and we are curious as to what role he’ll play: one more akin to his NBA future or one that asks him to be the best guy on the floor?
Can any G-League retreads prove themselves deserving of an NBA roster spot? There are quite a few guys whose names have been mentioned around the margins of NBA rosters in the past. Marial Shayok (Virginia/ Iowa State) played last year in Turkey but is a guy that shoots and plays tough defense at the 2-guard spot. Deonte Burton is a 6’4” guard that played 71 games with the Oklahoma City Thunder and is a good slasher. Melvin Frazier Jr. is thought to be a 3-and-D type, and Brian Bowen is a good defender on the wings. The Wolves want to win, so perhaps they prioritize one of these guys out of the gate.
What is the plan with Josh Minott? We’re really intrigued to see Minott, a top-30 guy on our board, in a setting here with the Wolves that provides a glimpse into their long-term plan. He’s a tweener in the frontcourt and struggles to shoot the ball right now, but he’s really impactful on defense and is freakishly athletic. Is he going to be used like Jarred Vanderbilt in Minnesota, or is there a plan to do something different?
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Melvin Frazier Jr.
Portland Trail Blazers
Summer League is always a unique experience for the Blazers. This is a team that traditionally does a great job developing their young talent… but they do not have a G-League team, so retaining and giving reps to their youngsters is more of a challenge. Over the last 12 months, the Blazers hit a bit of a reset button and added a few more young guys that are farther from reaching their ceilings. Combine those two factors and this summer becomes vital for seeing the growth and likelihood of their impact next to Damian Lillard while his appetite for competing is high.
Does Shaedon Sharpe live up to the hype? Not much explanation needed here. This draft’s man of mystery will get to suit up in Las Vegas and prove to everyone if he was worthy of a top-7 selection despite not playing last year at Kentucky. Every Blazers fan — and every NBA connoisseur — will have their eye on Shaedon this summer.
What growth do we see from Keon Johnson? A year ago, the Tennessee product was one of our favorite draft prospects for his combination of athleticism, length and defensive upside. Johnson was far away from reaching that on an NBA floor, but the raw tools are there. He and Sharpe make for a hyperathletic wing tandem, and we’re really interested to see what layers to his game he’s added consistently on offense. The same can be said of Greg Brown and Trendon Watford, two rookies last year who got some run with the big league club.
Does Jabari Walker join the fold on the roster next year? Brown and Watford received playing time due to the lack of talent and depth on the roster. If they’re going to do it again in year two, they may have to fend off rookie second rounder Jabari Walker from Colorado. We’re really high on the scalability of his game and how he fits defensively. If he looks the part of a lockdown defender, the Blazers might have found themselves a guy that can come in and do some damage right away.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Romello White
Oklahoma City Thunder
This is it, folks. This is the most talent we’ve ever seen on a Summer League team. Josh Giddey had several triple-doubles in the NBA last year. Chet Holmgren is as hyped of a prospect as we’ve seen, and now the leash is off at the NBA level. Long-armed additions Jalen Williams and Ousmane Dieng will be fun to watch, and guys we trust like Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Aaron Wiggins and Eugene Omoruyi will get their chance to play as well. Plus, the Poku experience! The Thunder may not play everyone in the same games, but getting to see Sam Presti’s vision begin to come to light will be so much fun this summer.
Does Chet Holmgren live up to the hype? As a shooter, defender and playmaker, few have all the tools in their arsenal that Chet does. Last year at Gonzaga, the system constrained what he could show with the ball in his hands. During the pre-draft cycle, we’ve heard incessantly about how Chet’s lack of weight will be to his detriment. We can start to get an answer to that question here while seeing if his skill level pops even more outside of Spokane.
Will Ousmane Dieng start shooting it? The Thunder clearly believe in this kid; they traded three future first-round picks to move up and get him. Yet Dieng shot 27% from 3 each of his last two years, and with Giddey, Chet and SGA as mainstays on the roster, his shooting will matter a lot over the long-term. There are some mechanical areas to address, but this is about throwing him into the fire and seeing how he responds to an off-ball role.
How much playing time do Giddey and Mann get? These two are clearly NBA-caliber guards. Will they play alongside each other at all? Will the Thunder chose to play one and rest one for each game to let them have a moment in the sun?
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Jaden Shackelford
Utah Jazz
The Jazz are tearing things down a bit, prioritizing building around Donovan Mitchell. There’s a giant hole in their frontcourt but still plenty of free agency and trade dominos to fall. Instead of looking at the roster and thinking about the bigs that they can poach in Summer League, we see a need for more defensive-minded perimeter players. Jared Butler will get the reigns on offense, and we’re really excited to see how that goes.
Is there NBA-caliber production at the point? Butler has long been a favorite of ours, and we think his best role is as a backup point guard in the NBA. In order for him to move into that role comfortably with the Jazz, he’ll need a strong showing this summer. Nipping at his heels (or playing alongside him) is Justin Robinson, that journeyman third-string point guard out of Virginia Tech who is too good not to be on an NBA roster but never good enough to be considered a rotation guy. This isn’t a Summer League team with a ton of talent or experience that jumps off the page, but the depth at this position is apparent.
Which sleepers will emerge? Every Summer, someone unheralded steps forward and commands a lot of love from their organzation and fanbase. Picking them is like throwing darts at a dart board, but we’ll give two candidates to be aware of: Jordan Usher and JeeNathan Williams. Usher is an active defender who can shoot the long ball and is supremely confident. Williams does a little bit of everything and is a really polished defender. Both fit needs the Jazz have and should impress on a floor filled with younger talent.
Is Kofi Cockburn roster-worthy? Finally, let’s address that big man position. The Jazz should be looking for depth and third-stringers here, not necessarily someone who goes from undrafted rookie to starter. Kofi Cockburn is huge, physical, competitive and rebounds it well. Those traits matter, despite the lack of elite footspeed or skill on the perimeter. In the right role, Cockburn can be fine as a pro player.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Jordan Usher, JeeNathan Williams
Golden State Warriors
The reigning NBA champions will be playing in two different summer leagues, as they make the drive to Sacramento for an early kickoff. Most championship teams are looking for fringe talent to come in and develop. These Warriors have three lottery picks from the last two years and all eyes will be on the development of those three now that they get minutes to play with.
Do we get to see anything from James Wiseman or Patrick Baldwin Jr.? Injuries kept the 2nd pick in 2021 out this entire campaign. The clock is ticking on one of the most talented bigs in recent years. Wiseman needs to start playing, but it’s so hard to know what to expect from him after all the time off and the lack of developmental minutes. We are still believers in Wiseman, but it’s hard to argue that the last 18 months have been difficult. A fellow retread candidate in Patrick Baldwin Jr. out of Milwaukee. The rookie is coming off a wildly disappointing last year, but the Warriors took a swing on him in the first round. His first impression will be important in justifying that pick and stopping the slide his reputation has been on.
Does Jonathan Kuminga take another step? Another top-tier talent, Kuminga is a freak athlete who thrived as a hybrid 4 and 5 in limited roles with Golden State. More reps offensively will be good for him, and this team should be built around Kuminga as the focal point there. The Warriors have plenty of floor spacers on this roster (Justinian Jessup, Moses Moody, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Lester Quinones) so letting Kuminga cook shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Who else garners a camp invite? The Warriors have a lot of guys we really like on this team. Quinones is an underrated sniper. Jacob Gilyard is a feisty defender despite his small stature. We know they like Quinndary Weatherspoon and Justinian Jessup, and there are a few others that were with their G-League team last year. Unfortunately, Ryan Rollins is hurt, but with his injury comes the opportunity to open the door for more guys to come into camp. The Warriors are so top-heavy with their future Hall of Famers, but Bob Myers has done an exceptional job getting young, interesting talent in the door.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Lester Quinones, Jacob Gilyard
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are building a title contender around two scoring wings in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. They value positional versatility, size, shooting and a desire to go 5-out at the end of games. They’ve hit on a couple of second round picks lately in Terrance Mann and BJ Boston, and Jason Preston was a pick last year that we didn’t get to see due to injury. There’s a lot to watch here for the Clippers, a team that has utilized their G-League program pretty well over the last few years and constantly has NBA-caliber talent hiding in their farm system.
How do Boston and Preston look together? We want to see the cohesion their NBA-talented backcourt shows. Preston is a big PNR guard who is a high-feel passer. Boston has impressed at doing whatever is necessary to make an impact and was a real steal for the organization. Both need to be leaders this summer and ideally play off of each other well.
What’s the early return on Moussa Diabate? The second-round pick fits exactly what the Clippers look for from bigs: size to guard the 5 but mobility to play on the perimeter. Diabate is incredibly raw offensively, but if he thrives in the PNR next to a guard like Preston, the ceiling may not be as far away as we think.
Who else shows out? There are plenty of guys we’re fond of here. Reggie Perry stand out the most as the right big man for the roster and a talent we believe in. Lucas Williamson is a tenacious defender that can drill shots. Justin Bean is really underrated, Michael Devoe is competitive as a scoring guard… there is once again good talent here.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Reggie Perry, Lucas Williamson
Los Angeles Lakers
Kudos to the Lakers front office. They’ve added all the right signings thus far in free agency and are providing spacing around an aging core of stars in LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. As the Lakers look for more perimeter defense and shooting, this Summer League squad should give them ample opportunities to find it.
Does Max Christie shake off his shooting woes at Michigan State? Anytime you draft a shooting specialist who has subpar shooting numbers, there’s a little bit of worry. Summer League is far too small of a sample size to write off a guy just because they struggle, but Christie could really use a positive showing. He defends, doesn’t need the ball a lot and is smart. We’d be thrilled to see him get a few early minutes in his career, but the shot needs to fall first.
Which undrafted rookies perform the best? Look, the Lakers need cheap contracts, so there’s a lot of competition within this summer group to earn one or two of them. Cole Swider is the frontrunner to have one of those spots, a confident shooter out of Syracuse. He fits a need most on the roster, but guards RJ Cole and Scotty Pippen Jr. are both really crafty scorers. Fabian White is a toolsy frontcourt guy, too.
Are the older guys better than the rookies? The Lakers do have three guys on their roster who were fringe NBA guys last year: Mac McClung, Mason Jones and Jay Huff. Older guys always look better than the rookies because they have that year of seasoning under their belt and are older, stronger, and wiser. All three could find themselves up with the Lakers next year at some point, but if they fail to outplay some of the younger guys coming in, that could be a problem.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: RJ Cole
Phoenix Suns
No G-League team. Decline the option on Jalen Smith. Refuse a max deal to DeAndre Ayton. The Suns are in a strange place developmentally, and the ticking clock on Chris Paul’s career has the organization caring more about win-now pieces than restocking the pantry with youth. This summer team has a distinct international flavor (perhaps due to the fact they don’t have a G-League team) but there are a few guys here that we are fascinated to see. Zero participating this summer have firm deals in place with the Suns, so this may just be a squad that is much ado about nothing.
Can McKinley Wright or Louis King impress enough to earn an NBA contract? Wright and King had cups of coffee in the NBA last year and both are coming off wildly successful G-League seasons. They’re the closest to knocking on the door of an NBA roster, so our eyes instantly turn to these two.
How will cult hero Vrenz Bleijenbergh look in Summer League action? The favorite of Draft Twitter a year ago, Vrenz has a unique game that definitely has NBA upside. He shoots it, is good with the ball in his hands and a toolsy defender. He’s another dark horse to make an opening night roster — in Phoenix or elsewhere.
Do any of the international guys get guaranteed contracts? The Suns have exactly zero undrafted rookies on this team. It’s an older squad, and with that comes the hope for immediate impact. If they float out a non-guaranteed contract or a two-way to one of these guys, the summer has helped them accomplish their goal of filling out the roster. The vast number of international guys here indicate a desire to have a role player come in right away, something that becomes even more important if they consolidate some roster pieces in order to acquire Kevin Durant.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Vrenz Bleijenbergh
Sacramento Kings
Let’s not pile onto the Kings too much here. While we’ve long been critical of the involvement that ownership takes in steering the big decisions, their front office has done a solid job filling in the margins with fringe NBA talent. Keegan Murray will look good in a summer environment and his do-it-all nature should be on full display. The rest of this Summer League team is brimming with intrigue, and our eyes will divert there far more than to the fourth pick.
How does Murray shoot it? Too often we try to relitigate the draft and think that the 5th pick performing better than the 4th in summer action shows that the draft was selected wrong. That’s pure craziness. Murray just needs to be the best version of himself, and to be scalable next to De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, that requires shooting the ball well. Focus on that and playing solid defense and Murray will be absolutely fine for the Kings.
Can Neemias Queta prove to be one of the better bigs in Summer League? Queta was knocking on the door of the NBA team’s rotation last year, and if he wants to claim a backup spot, a huge showing this summer would help. He’s physical, skilled, athletic and improving on defense in NBA systems. We’re really high on Queta, so we’re expecting big things.
Are there wings on this team that can fill a roster spot this upcoming year? The Kings need more wings, preferably ones that shoot the ball and have some length. Jared Rhoden, undrafted out of Seton Hall, fills that gap nicely. Jeriah Horne out of Tulsa can really shoot. Keon Ellis is more of a backcourt defender but is a 3-and-D type of player. DJ Steward is much of the same. We like other guys here too (Matt Coleman, for example), but this is a team that needs wing help. Luckily, they’ve added the right undrafted free agents in Rhoden, Horne and Ellis to address the issue.
Sleeper name(s) to watch: Jared Rhoden, Jeriah Horne
Atlantic & Central Division Preview