5-on-5: NBA Summer League Closure

With Summer League now in the rearview mirror, the two Tylers and Corey wrap up the NBA's summer session and give us some closure.

Tyler Rucker

Tyler Metcalf

, and

Corey Tulaba

Aug 02, 2024

Summer League is now officially in the rearview mirror, as the attention of the basketball world shifts to Paris for the Olympics. The march to the 2025 NBA Draft cycle is well underway, and we’ve already hit on some of the top prospects in next year’s class here on No Ceilings. However, something didn’t feel quite right with us when it came to the highlights and lowlights of the summer debuts of the 2024 NBA Draft class and the returning Summer League veterans.

Simply put, we needed closure. We had some more thoughts on Summer League that we needed to share. Without further ado, here are our key takeaways from Summer League action.

Who stood out to you the most at Summer League as a rookie in a positive way?

Rucker: I mean come on folks, it’s Reed Sheppard. You know it. I know it. Your neighbor down the street who claims he’s not a basketball fan but was a previous G League Ignite season ticket holder knows it. After a freakishly awesome freshman year at Kentucky, basketball fans wanted to see if the hype was real with Reed Sheppard. It didn’t take long for Sheppard to educate fans and show them that he’s the real deal, finishing with 23 points and five assists in his Las Vegas debut.

Sheppard was his usual self on the court. He’s a deadly shooter from all over the floor and plays the game with poise and pace. Reed isn’t going to always make the flashiest of players, but he’s a player who understands the balance of getting to his spots and creating efficient looks for his teammates. I thought that Sheppard did a great job of taking what the defense gave him and then reacting to defensive adjustments to create great opportunities for teammates. Sometimes, the game of basketball can be simple—and that’s just how Sheppard could be a contributor for this Rockets team as a rookie. With most rookies at Summer League, there’s plenty to work on as well. Despite showcasing some fantastic playmaking, Sheppard also had himself a nine-turnover game. Regardless, it was a big showing for Sheppard. This Houston Rockets roster is shaping up to have a bundle of talent. Although he’s a rookie, Sheppard could be one who battles for some early minutes at some point in the season. If he can look like the player we saw in Vegas, it’ll be tough to keep him off the court.

Metcalf: It was a limited sample but between the Sacramento and Vegas Summer League games, Stephon Castle was just operating at a different level than nearly everyone else. Castle feels like the classic example of a prospect that most people will end up overthinking. Simply put, he can flat-out play. I know the efficiency numbers weren’t ideal, but it’s Summer League. Who cares? What matters is that Castle showed us everything we hoped was part of his game without losing what he thrived at with UConn. Castle seamlessly slid into being a pick-and-roll creator and consistently set up teammates and himself for fantastic looks. Castle also showed the ability to read and react to adapting defensive schemes during the game. Castle’s shot still isn’t where it needs to be, but it’s only been a few weeks, so I’m not entirely sure what the expectation was. More importantly, though, Castle was aggressive and had a good volume of shot attempts. At this point, that is far more important than the final numbers, especially given the hesitations we saw from him at UConn. Spurs fans should be very excited about Castle joining the team, being mentored by Chris Paul, and playing with Victor Wembanyama.

Also, I need to give a shout-out to Kel’el Ware. Ware was someone I really struggled with and doubted for most of this cycle. Turns out he’s pretty good and absolutely massive. Not a bad combination. Yes, it’s “just” Summer League, but I’m more than ready to put my hand up and admit that I just missed. He was very good.

Corey: It has to be Reed Sheppard. I know, I know, don’t overreact to Summer League, but Reed got a chance to show what he can do when he gets more on-ball reps, and…my goodness. It felt like Reed’s blend of court awareness, skill, and athleticism finally had the chance to culminate into what the vision of Reed was for all of the all-star upside truthers. And Reed didn’t even shoot it at the insane level that he did at Kentucky, and was still able to make a ridiculous impact. I can’t wait to watch how well he slides into Houston’s current ecosystem. The only way to craft a player that fits it better would be to make a 6’7” version.

Alright, let’s play the other side of the fence. Is there anyone you’re a little “disappointed, but not completely worried about” after their first Summer League showing?

Rucker: Look, for me it’s going to be Washington Wizards rookie Alex Sarr. But, we need to have a serious discussion about this. If you haven’t been following Sarr closely throughout the previous draft cycle, you’re probably thinking he’s a huge disappointment. If you’ve watched or evaluated Sarr, this previous performance shouldn’t have been much of a surprise. We understood that there was a chance with Sarr that the offensive side of the ball could be a bit of a project. Summer League confirmed that. Bigs are tricky. They will randomly start to “click” and then everything quickly starts to fall into place. On the offensive side of the ball, Sarr and the Wizards just need to figure out a way to make his life simple. Start with building some confidence and then start slowly adding ingredients to the mix.

Defensively, Wizards fans should be thrilled. Summer League is often a pretty difficult event for bigs to “pop.” It’s even harder if you’re at the point of being a defensive specialist at this point. Sarr showed what makes him such a high-upside talent with his display on defense. He was a versatile piece who could switch onto opponents and move around the court with relative ease. There’s a VERY clear difference in confidence with Sarr depending on what side of the floor he’s on. If the Wizards can find a way to get those two worlds to meet in the middle confidence-wise, there’s a very fun player waiting to be untapped. Despite his offensive struggles, Sarr averaged 2.5 blocks per game and highlighted why he’s still got the tools to be a fun defensive piece early on in his development. Just let him run wild in his rookie year and learn with reps. It’s going to have its rough patches, but you have to let the big man learn with experience and time.

Metcalf: This may seem like an odd choice since he ended up with some solid games, but Dalton Knecht was really underwhelming for me. The biggest concern that I had was how difficult it was for Knecht to create any type of space on-ball. Ideally, Knecht can be someone who grows into a second side or tertiary creator, but that looks more doubtful right now. Thankfully, Knecht is going to be playing in a drastically different context this season. Playing off of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell, Knecht is likely going to be used exclusively as a shot-maker with little to no creation responsibilities. In that context, he’s going to be just fine as a rookie. As Knecht continues to adjust to the NBA, it won’t surprise me at all if we see a similar development to his game as we saw in college. So, yes, Knecht’s first few games really concerned me. Then I thought about how he’ll actually be used this year, and the major concerns quickly disappeared.

Corey: Rob Dillingham was pretty inefficient, something I expect to continue early on in his career as he adjusts to the physicality, but I still think he just missed a lot of shots he was capable of making. In a Summer League type of setting e is going to be the lone focus of the defense, but once he plays with the main squad he’s going to have a plethora of guys who demand more attention than he does and I think he got to show how valuable he could be in an on-ball/off-ball hybrid role at Kentucky. He’s always going to have defensive concerns, so it certainly becomes problematic if the offense doesn’t hit; however, he’s just too talented a shot maker to not figure it out at some level.

Give me a sophomore who impressed you. Who is taking the leap in Year Two?

Rucker: If you watched Jett Howard and weren’t impressed, I really don’t know what to tell you. Coming into Las Vegas, Howard was at the top of my list of “sophomores” I wanted to see. I’ve talked about it with Metcalf on the No Ceilings Podcast, but seeing the second-year guys play at Summer League is everything. The pre-draft process is crazy. You’re flying all over to workouts and interviews with teams. You’ve got the media frenzy, followed by suddenly getting drafted. Then, all of the “fun” stuff happens, like trying to figure out where you’re living and getting up to speed on life in the NBA, before suddenly getting dropped into training camp and starting a lengthy regular season. So for sophomores playing at Summer League, after your first FULL NBA offseason, I want to see who has been in the lab working on their game.

That answer quickly was “well, Jett Howard has been.” Jett took the first opening tip of his first game and exploded out of the gates for an easy lay-up. It looked like a player who was foaming at the mouth for his Summer League game after spending an entire year in the G League. As a prospect at Michigan, Howard was an off-ball machine with his movement and quick shooting ability. After dealing with some nagging injuries throughout the year, Howard’s quickness looked to be noticeably different. That was until it was later revealed that Howard had been playing through ankle injuries, which seems relevant for a player who relies on movement shooting. Jett looked like his old, healthy self during this Summer League showing. He was aggressive and decisive, while also showcasing some awesome strides as a playmaker. There’s still plenty of work to be done for Jett, but this is EVERYTHING you want to see for a young player who’s motivated and trying to earn a spot in the rotation. For an Orlando Magic team on the rise, getting a big step forward from Jett Howard in year two is going to make the front office crack a big smile. Now, we will wait and see if Howard can continue to build off that momentum and earn his role with this Magic team for the road ahead.

Metcalf: Jarace Walker rocked. Yes, I know he had a billion turnovers. Guess what? I don’t care. Not even a little bit. Walker was used mostly at SF during Summer League with immense amounts of offensive creation responsibilities. The last time he played a similar type of role was in high school, so it’s been a minute. Even with the turnovers, though, Walker clearly proved that he has way more to his offensive game than most people have historically given him credit for. Some of Walker’s assists were stunning, and he was confident and effective as an on-ball shooter. With the main team, where those creation responsibilities are further diluted, Walker can still utilize them in a complimentary role and improve his efficiencies. I was very high on Walker going into his draft, and everything he showed at Summer League suggests to me that he could be in for a fantastic sophomore season.

Corey: I think guys like Jett and Jarace showed some very fun improvements, but as far as taking a second-year leap…I’m not so sure. That’s a belief I hold mostly due to roster and role. But if I had to choose someone, I’d go with Keyonte George. Key didn’t play in Vegas but he tore up the Salt Lake City Summer League. He’ll always be a guy who takes and makes tough shots but I think the leap will be in his efficiency. He looked like he was playing the game at a much more comfortable pace than a lot of guys which allowed him to get to any spot on the floor that he wanted, including the rim, where he was able to draw a bazillion free throws. I still believe he will be best served in a hybrid on/off-ball role to capitalize on his gravity and movement ability, and I don’t think Utah has found his backcourt partner yet. Outside of Markkanen, though, George is the highest-upside guy on a squad loaded with prospects.

Let’s show some love to the underdogs. Were there any undrafted players or even “vets” of Summer League who stood out to you? Are there any who you believe deserve to be on a watch list moving forward as a super sleeper?

Rucker: The moment the 2024 NBA Draft ended, I found myself with one question. “Who the heck is going to end up with Keshad Johnson?” The moment that Shams tweet hit and said the words “Miami Heat” next to Johnson’s name, you probably heard the entire draft community let out a loud groan. If there’s a player who’s a potential perfect fit for a team as an undrafted free agent, it’s Johnson going to the Heat. Personally, I thought Keshad deserved to be drafted. He was one of the most important pieces of an Arizona Wildcats team that was one of the top squads in college basketball last year. Johnson was impressive throughout the year with his defensive versatility and nastiness on the court. He took great strides forward with his outside shot, and he has the tools to be a fantastic rotation asset. If Johnson was taller, he would have been drafted 100%. But, hey, it’s fine. Let’s just keep letting the Heat find diamonds in the rough. On a serious note, I thought Johnson started to find his groove quickly throughout Summer League, including his play prior in the California Classic. The defensive flashes continue to be impressive and I would be shocked if Keshad is on a two-way contract for long. He’s the type of player who finds a way to be a valuable piece in a playoff series at some point in his career.

Metcalf: Jay Huff was very good and deservedly earned a two-way with the Grizzlies. However, I want to talk about who I thought was arguably the best player in Summer League: Scotty Pippen Jr. Pippen was good at Vanderbilt and has bounced around the league in his young career, but he was dominant at Summer League. Defensively, Pippen was an absolute menace as he forced a turnover essentially whenever he wanted to. He put the Mavericks in absolute hell as they struggled to get the ball over halfcourt. He also frequently turned those steals into quick points in transition. Even in the halfcourt, though, Pippen was highly effective as he got to the rim whenever he wanted, finished with craft, showed off dynamic playmaking, and even knocked down the occasional jumper. This performance by Pippen really felt like he took took the leap and will hopefully lead to him sticking.

Corey: I continue to buy into Colin Castleton as an NBA rotation player. Castleton remains a smart defensive big who protects the rim and can play solid drop coverage defense where his length and mobility allow him to cover a fair amount of ground. He always has his head on a swivel off the ball and he plays hard. Castleton isn’t going to blow you away as an offensive player. He’s going to set good screens, take good shots, and keep the offense humming, as his passing remains his standout skill. I continue to want to see Castleton shoot threes at volume. Castleton only took five threes in Summer League, and that needs to become a bigger part of his game at the next level as teams thirst for true five-out options. I think he can get there. Castleton’s game is simple and straightforward, but when you’re on a team that has a clear pecking order, you want role players who can slide into the lineup and not introduce chaos. I won’t be surprised if Castleton finds himself playing rotation minutes next season.

In classic “overreaction fashion” was there anyone at Summer League who made you proud of your evaluation from before? Yes, it’s okay to pat yourself on the back.

Rucker: It was always Tristan Da Silva. The 2024 NBA Draft cycle brought forth plenty of challenges for scouts and draft sickos. Da Silva was one of my favorite tapes of any prospect in the 2024 class. It was boring because it was just a player that kept making the right play all the time. Throughout the draft cycle, I continued to ask scouts about players in the class. Every prospect I would ask about would get a different answer, except for one. Every team I talked to about Tristan Da Silva gave me the same answer. “I like him; the kid can just flat-out play.” Da Silva was never going to be the highest-upside player. But for the right team, he was a talent that could keep your franchise taking steps in the right direction.

Da Silva couldn’t have looked better in Las Vegas, and for a team like the Orlando Magic, he looks like he’s going to fit beautifully. Tristan understands how he can make an impact on the floor. He’s a tough player with a strong basketball IQ that allows the game to come to him. Yes, you can throw out the classic “hey, it’s just Summer League,” and yes, I agree with you. But if we’re going off just a Summer League showing, do you think Da Silva will get some open shots with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner on the court? In three Summer League games, Da Silva averaged 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 60.7% from the field and 58.8% from downtown. Magic fans, be hyped. You got a heck of a piece to go to battle with.

Metcalf: Listeners of the pod will likely already know this but IT TURNS OUT AJ JOHNSON IS PRETTY DAMN GOOD! Before I get totally obnoxious, I fully admit that it is still doubtful that Johnson will contribute to this Bucks team in a meaningful way at all this season, and that’s ok. Johnson was always going to be more of a project, but this Summer League showed that it may not be as long of a project as we thought. Johnson ended up at 15 on my board. His NBL numbers were awful, but so was his situation. Despite that, he always played hard and did the little things. That mindset, combined with the physical tools and creation flashes, is why I held strong and fully believed that he would’ve been a lottery pick if he stayed at Texas. In these games, Johnson continued to do all the little things like rotate on defense, cut off drives, not shy away from contact, and push in transition. He also showed scoring versatility and playmaking that was almost entirely hidden in the NBL. Johnson needs to add about 20 pounds this year, but he can very clearly play. Once his body gets to an acceptable NBA level, he could be an absolute steal for the Bucks. I know fans wanted someone to help right away, but Johnson’s long-term upside is very very exciting. And it may not be as long as we initially thought.

Corey: I loved what I saw out of Bub Carrington. If you didn’t follow the draft at all and just showed up to Vegas and were asked which guy on the squad was the second overall pick, Carrington would be the answer. I thought Bub looked fantastic physically, the shot creation looked effortless, and while it still needs work, he looked more aggressive attacking the rim. The scoring flashes were great, but those flashes, in concert with his playmaking, are what makes him such an intriguing lead ball-handler bet. Bub led the break, he organized guys in the halfcourt, he operated out of ball screens. There wasn’t a single game in Vegas where he had more turnovers than assists. The Wizards gave up a really good player to put themselves in position to take a swing on Carrington. It looks like they may have hit it out of the park.