Ah yes, that magical time of the year is here.
We made it through draft season. Now, it’s an opportunity to kick your feet up and simply just watch some basketball.
EXCEPT this isn’t just basketball. It’s SUMMER LEAGUE boys and girls!
Listen up. The 2026 NBA Draft is behind us. California Classic and Salt Lake City Summer Leagues have already been underway. Now, we prepare for a little action in Vegas.
As tradition, we’re going to breakdown some of the notables in every Summer League roster. Always, the goal is to try to keep these as updated as possible, especially when it comes to players who might be suddenly “shut down” throughout early portion of Las Vegas.
ATLANTA HAWKS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Kingston Flemings (8th), Zuby Ejiofor (23rd), Henri Veesaar (52nd)
NOTABLES: Asa Newell, Kobe Knox, Keshon Gilbert, Isaac McKneely
KEEP AN EYE ON: Kingston Flemings
SUMMARY: As tradition, let’s get the party started with the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks announced their Summer League roster and it’s going to be a sneaky contender on the “Wagon Alert.” Atlanta features a heck of a 2026 NBA Draft class, but there’s some fascinating names throughout the roster to monitor.
The Hawks added some serious beef to the front court in the 2026 NBA Draft. Zuby Ejiofor will be a joy to keep an eye on. Despite some Hawks fans questioning the pick, it won’t take long for Zuby to showcase why Atlanta fans should be thrilled with the first round selection. Ejiofor is a high-energy defensive weapon who knows his role on the court and thrives at it. He’s a smart two-way player who understands how to make an impact and excel at the little things.
Atlanta found some tremendous value with Henri Veesaar “falling into their lap” in the second round. Veesaar is more of a “finessee” big. He’s a sensational pick-and-pop weapon who can stretch the floor from deep and has some underrated feel to his game. Both Veesaar and Ejiofor should be names that get plenty of run, even together, throughout Summer League.
Second year forward Asa Newell will be another fun one to keep an eye on. Newell was Atlanta’s first round pick last year and has the tools to be a sophomore leap candidate. He’s one that was expected to be taking some serious steps forward in his game for the next couple of seasons. The hope, for Hawks fans, is that Newell cements himself early.
Some other intriguing names fill out the roster. Kobe Knox was an intriguing name that generated some buzz with his play at the G League combine. Keshon Gilbert has always been a bucket-getting machine. Don’t be surprised if Louisville guard Isaac McKneely gets red hot from outside and starts to turn some heads as well.
The one to watch out for is 8th overall pick Kingston Flemings. Personally, I think Summer League is CRUCIAL for rookie point guards. You want to have as many reps possible to get the rust off and get some valuable experience when it comes to adjusting to the speed of the game. For Flemings, as well as all of the rookie guards in this class, it’s not going to be simply about dominating from the jump. You want to continue to see promising signs of progression throughout Summer League. He should have an opportunity to get plenty of run for the Hawks, and he’s going to be a fascinating name to keep an eye on. Flemings thrived in a tough system at Houston last year. He could be one that “opens things up” a bit in Summer League play.
BOSTON CELTICS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Chris Cenac Jr. (27th), Dillon Mitchell (40th)
NOTABLES: Hugo Gonzalez, Amari Wiliams, John Tonje, Tucker DeVries, Milos Uzan, Curtis Jones
KEEP AN EYE ON: Hugo Gonzalez
What an interesting offseason the Boston Celtics are certaintly having…but let’s stick to the important stuff here. This Celtics Summer League has the potential to be one of their most entertaining rosters in recent memory. There’s a lot of talent and a lot of weaponry that should be on full display in Las Vegas.
Boston added a high-upside big man in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft when they selected Chris Cenac Jr. with the 28th overall pick. A former five-star recruit, Cenac was viewed as a potential preseason top-10 pick, due to his tools and upside alone. Cenac didn’t take a leap production wise that many were hoping during his only season at Houston, but he remains a tremendous talent who could thrive with the right organization. He’s going to have some jaw-dropping moments, but Cenac landing with the Celtics couldn’t be a better hope for both sides.
Don’t overlook second round pick Dillon Mitchell as well. Another former five-star recruit, Mitchell was the poster-child prospect for “if the shot comes around…” throughout his collegiate career. The shot never did on a consistent basis, but Mitchell also figured out how to become a two-way weapon without it. He’s an athletic freak who flies around and causes nightmares on the defensive side of the ball. Mitchell has figured out how to make an impact without the shot offensively, including some serious strides as a playmaker. He’s going to be one that requires your full attention whenever he’s on the court, as he’s a highlight machine.
Some interesting notables to keep an eye on throughout this roster as well. Milos Uzan was teammates with Cenac and was a popular sleeper in NBA Draft circles going back to last year. Uzan is a plus-sized floor general who plays tough and is coming off a bit of a down year. There’s playmaking chops and real defensive ability to his game. Tucker DeVries was a bucket-getting machine in college. He’s a burly wing with underrated playmaking ability who can get red-hot in a hurry. DeVries dealt with numerous injuries throughout his collegiate career but has always been able to put the ball in the basket. Curtis Jones is a bit of a wildcard to monitor as well. The former Iowa State product was a heck of an asset off the bench as a senior and put up some impressive numbers last year in the G League. He could be a wildcard to get an extended look by the Celtics.
Don’t forget about Celtics second-year big man Amari Williams. After turning heads with some impressive play in Maine last year, Williams got a little bit of run with the Celtics during the regular season. The hope is that Williams is able to take a leap, and cement himself as another intriguing option in the frontcourt for the Celtics. He’s a versatile defensive piece with serious playmaking chops.
The one to watch out for is second-year wing Hugo Gonzalez. Time will tell just how much run Gonzalez gets, as he’s been participating with Spain in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Gonzalez was a pleasant surprise for the Celtics as a rookie and looks to be a serious piece for the organization moving forward. He’s got the tools to be a big-time leap candidate this year, and it will be interesting if Boston is wanting to have him get more on-ball reps throughout Summer League, as his playmaking ability is just waiting to be unleashed.
BROOKLYN NETS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Mikel Brown Jr. (6th), Joshua Jefferson (28th), Tyler Bilodeau (43rd)
NOTABLES: Egor Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf*, Danny Wolf
KEEP AN EYE ON: Egor Demin
Another strong NBA Draft class and the Brooklyn Nets are starting to put together an exciting roster of young talent. Because of the plethora of picks the Nets have had over the last two years, you can put the Nets in the “wagon alert” column for those keeping track at home. Let’s get into this monster.
Despite taking a plethora of guards in the 2025 NBA Draft, Brooklyn chose wisely to go the “BPA” route in this years draft. The Nets selected Mikel Brown Jr. with the sixth overall pick, giving them a dangerous floor general with serious offensive firepower. Brown has the tools and ability to be one of the best guards in the draft. After dealing with some back injury issues throughout his freshman season, Brown was cleared at the NBA Draft combine and should be good to go. The playmaking and floor spacing of Brown alone are sensational. But getting him as much reps as possible in Summer League, when it comes to adjusting to the speed, will be as valuable as ever for this Nets team. He’s a bet to put up some very fun numbers throughout Summer League.
Brooklyn added Iowa State senior Joshua Jefferson with their second selection in the first round. Although not officially on the roster (below), Jefferson is expected to be added once trades are finalized (get ready for a lot of that folks). The Nets have clearly invested in drafting some high feel playmakers across the board in their last two drafts. But Jefferson has some of the most impressive vision and feel of the bunch. I like to say that Jefferson has “old-man” game. He’s not the greatest athlete, but beats opponents with his mind and anticipation. If his shot can be consistent from outside, he’s going to be a valuable piece on the court.
Don’t overlook second-round selection Tyler Bilodeau as well. The former UCLA product is an absolute sniper on the floor with good size and should be a fun addition to the roster that can develop into a reliable rotation piece. It will be interesting to see the growth in Danny Wolf’s game after an up-and-down rookie season. Wolf has the tools to be a player that could take a nice step in his game as a sophomore. He could be a sneaky candidate to make some noise early on in Summer League.
After some flashes throughout his rookie year, fans should be paying close attention to second-year wing Drake Powell. A raw product out of North Carolina, Powell is a talent that looked as if he could be a classic “when things start to click…” hopefully in his second or third year. If the offensive growth starts to show up, things are going to get exciting for Nets fans.
The one to watch out for is second-year wing Egor Demin. All things considered, Demin had a fantastic rookie season in terms of showcasing promising flashes to build off of. The fact that Demin shot 38.5% last year from three on 6.2 attempts per game is remarkable considering his body of work in college. If Demin can start to showcase improvements in his handling and creation, Nets fans are going to be in for quite a ride.
He’s a contender to have a “short” Summer League and is flirting with an early nomination for the “Too Good for Summer League” list. (If you know, you know)
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Hannes Steinbach (14th), Christian Anderson (18th)
NOTABLES: Tidjane Salaun, Liam McNeeley, Sion James, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Michael Ajayi, Kylan Boswell
KEEP AN EYE ON: Liam McNeeley
Charlotte is starting to build something exciting folks. After an impressive 2025 NBA Draft class, led by monster Kon Knueppel, the Hornets had themselves another strong draft haul this year. Because of it, the Hornets look to have themselves a strong unit ahead of Summer League.
The Hornets got one of the top rebounding bigs in this years class in Hannes Steinbach. The former international product is going to be a force around the basket, as he’s a garbage man who is always ready to take out the trash. Although they were rare, Steinbach showcased some eye-opening flashes with playmaking at Washington. It will be interesting to see if he has a little more “freedom” to showcase that part of his game throughout Summer League. Charlotte added to their backcourt with their second pick of the first round, adding Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson. An absolute sharpshooter from outside, Anderson was one of the best pick-and-roll ball handlers in the 2026 draft class. He’s going to need to add to his frame eventually, as well as work on his self-creation, but Anderson has the tools to be a solid get for the Hornets. Anderson and Steinbach spent time together playing for Germany in FIBA play, so seeing them together on the court again will be a fun one-two punch.
A couple of second-year players for the Hornets find themselves on the Summer League roster. Ryan Kalkbrenner should be a fun one to watch. Kalkbrenner showed some good flashes throughout his rookie year and will be hoping to prove he’s worthy of getting some extended minutes this season. The sneaky one to watch out for is Sion James. These are the type of players that really start to blossom in their second or third season. James averaged 22.5 minutes per game last year as a rookie, which is a promising development for a second round selection. If the game continues to progress, he could become even a more consistent part of the rotation.
It’s going to be a BIG Summer League for third-year forward Tijdane Salaun. The former 6th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft had some promising moments last year. But the time for Salaun to start showcasing some serious strides forward is now. The hope for Hornets fans is that Salaun can “pop” off the screen and look like a player who could “show enough” early on to have his Summer League cut short.
The one to watch out for is second-year forward Liam McNeeley. Plenty of attention was focused on Rookie of the Year runner-up Kon Knueppel last year. But McNeeley is still a big-time prospect who is a candidate to showcase some big strides after a full offseason. If McNeeley can showcase big improvements, it’s going to be another dangerous rotation piece for this Charlotte Hornets team that is quickly on the rise.
CHICAGO BULLS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Caleb Wilson (4th), Dailyn Swain (15th)
NOTABLES: Noa Essengue, Tobe Awaka, Donovan Atwell, Jaylin Sellers
KEEP AN EYE ON: Caleb Wilson
“What do the five fingers say to the face? SLAP” Alright, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. The Chicago Bulls are up next and boy, it’s going to be an exciting draft class to watch out for.
Chicago landed one of the top prizes of the 2026 NBA Draft with Caleb Wilson. In case you forget, Bulls fans have had some success during the organizations history when it comes to high-flying athletic freaks from the University of North Carolina. Wilson has as much upside as any prospect in this class. He’s a psychotic competitor with a rare combination of length and fluidity on the court. Wilson is a monster on the glass and has some fantastic footwork to set up defenders. He’s going to be at the top of the list when it comes to “don’t blink while watching because you might miss something special” when Caleb is on the court. There’s going to be some rawness, and that’s expected with Wilson. The defensive side of the ball has some work to do with consistency, but Wilson will also have a couple of defensive sequences that have you scrambling to pick your jaw up off the ground. Buckle up Bulls fans and enjoy the ride.
I loved the swing Chicago took with their second first-round selection in Texas wing Dailyn Swain. Although a junior, Swain won’t turn 21 until the final days of Summer League. Swain intrigued NBA scouts when he was at Xavier and was more of a pitbull defensive playmaker. After eventually transferring to Texas to follow in the footsteps of head coach Sean Miller, Swain got to showcase some fantastic creation ability for the Longhorns this year. The shot is the swing-skill, and always has been for Swain. It will be interesting to see how Swain does without such a high usage, as he was basically the first, second and third option for Texas last year.
Couple of quick hitters deserve some spotlight. Texas Tech guard Donovan Atwell can light it up and will be a fun microwave scorer to keep an eye on. Arizona senior big man Tobe Awaka is a sleeper to watch out for. Awaka has a gift for being a bad man on the glass. Despite some offensive question marks, Awaka knows how to impact the game and was a gigantic reason for Arizona’s big season last year. He’s on a two-way deal with the Bulls and could be an intriguing one to monitor as a potential rotation asset. Jaylin Sellers is coming off a big year from Providence and is another tough guard who could pop a bit.
The one to keep a close eye on is second-year forward Noa Essengue. Throughout the offseason, the rumor mill has suggested a growth spurt for Essengue. Honeslty, at this rate…the legend might have him at 7’9”. On a serious note, the former 12th overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft needs to get some serious Summer League run under his belt. Essengue was expected to be a bit of a “project” due to his youth, frame, and general rawness. But a shoulder injury in December saw him miss the majority of his rookie year. The hope for Bulls fans is that Essengue can played a lengthy amount of minutes and showcase some growth.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Meleek Thomas (34th)
NOTABLES: Ernest Udeh Jr., Xaivian Lee, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Tristan Enaruna, Malaki Branham
KEEP AN EYE ON: Meleek Thomas
Cleveland is a team that is expected to potentially be running back a majority of their roster for the upcoming season. For now, it looks as if the Cavaliers are going to be trying to groom some of their talent in the hopes of creating some rotation assets with upside.
I thought Cleveland got some great value with moving back in the draft and still landing Meelek Thomas early in the second round. Thomas is a bucket-getting machine who can light it up in a hurry. He’s gifted when it comes to his ability to make incredibly difficult and off balanced shots look natural. Thomas had a solid start to the year for Arkansas. Eventually he hit a bit of a wall before pushing through and finishing the season out strong. Thomas has the frame of more of an NBA point guard, despite the game of an off-ball two. So adding strength is going to be key for his development. But I think there’s good poential here for the Cavaliers to work with. He’s going to be a fun one to watch progress throughout summer league.
Ernest Udeh Jr. will be an interesting one to watch. Udeh has the tools to figure out a way to be a nice rotation asset in the league. He’s got great measurables and can really do some damage around the basket. Xaivian Lee was a box score machine at Providence before spending his final season at Florida. His frame is going to need to fill out, but Lee has some versatility to his game that should make him an exciting watch in Las Vegas. Nae’Qwan Tomlin finds himself back on the Cavaliers Summer League roster. Tomlin put forth some eye-opening performances at last year’s Summer League, eventually earning himself a spot on the Cavaliers roster. The hope is that his game can take another step forward.
Tristan Enaruna is another name to watch out for. He spent most of the year last year in the G League with the Cleveland Charge. If the three-point shot can showcase some strides, Enaruna could surprise some folks. Malaki Branham find himself on the Cavaliers Summer League roster as well. The former 20th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft has bounced around the league recently and could be one out to showcase he deserves serious recognition for the main roster.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Morez Johnson Jr. (9th), Sergio de Larrea (25th), Tobi Lawal (48th), Vsevolod Ishchenko (56th)
NOTABLES: Coope…just kidding. Ryan Nembhard, John Poulakidas
KEEP AN EYE ON: Sergio De Larrea
The Dallas Mavericks have had an exciting offseason, adding a new front office and head coach to the mix. On top of that, the Mavericks were busy in the draft, adding a total of four intriguing prospects to monitor.
Dallas landed one of my favorite prospects in this class in Morez Johnson Jr. with the 9th overall pick. While there was plenty of connections to new head coach Duty May, Morez will be a table setter for the Mavericks for years to come. For Mavericks fans, I would stress patience with Johnson, especially at Summer League. We don’t often see bigs put up “sexy” box scores at Summer League due to the style of play. Instead, just focus on the game by game progression, and the level of impact. Johnson will be a defensive piece to get excited about, with plenty of offensive game that is starting to rise to the surface.
Second year wing John Poulakidas became a fantastic find for the Mavericks last year, especially after some strong play in the second half of the season. He will be a fun one to watch out for, as Poulakidas could carve out a consistent role in the rotation if he can showcase his game continues to be on the rise.
Former Virginia Tech forward Tobi Lawal is a generational type of athlete. He’s a bit raw offensively, but Lawal knows where to impact the game. He’s going to need to be a high level defensive piece if he wants a chance to carve out a consistent role. If anything, Lawal will have fans on the edge of their seats the moment he steps onto the floor. The athleticism is that freakish.
Ryan Nembhard finds himself on the roster for another Summer League and he should be leaned upon heavily as the table setter for the Mavericks in Vegas. Nembhard was a great find for the Mavericks last year, as he’s a fantastic change of pace guard with outstanding playmaking ability. Despite being undersized, Nembhard has the tools to be a consistent rotation piece on this roster for the foreeseaable future.
Mavericks fans should get familiar with Vsevolod Ishchenko. He’s a bit of a late bloomer after an eye-opening growth spurt over the last couple of years, but this is a legit talent that could find a way to eventually stick. Ischenko has good athleticism and really took some strides as a shooter. He’s a fun one to monitor throughout Summer League if he can pop early.
The one to watch out for is international guard Sergio De Larrea. There’s a lot of tools with Sergio’s game and he’s been a name on the rise in the scouting world over the last couple of years. The size, playmaking and shooting growth suggest that De Larrea could be a piece that comes over and gets run as a rookie. Summer League should be a good “measuring stick” to just how ready he could be. Sergio has been playing oveerseas currently in the FIBA Qualifiers, so time will tell when he will make his official SL debut.
DENVER NUGGETS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Trevon Brazile (35th), Bryce Hopkins (49th)
NOTABLES: Aaron Nkrumah, Mark Mitchell Jr., KJ Simpson, Mark Sears, Rylan Griffen
KEEP AN EYE ON: Bryce Hopkins
Denver has a bit of a wild Summer League roster that might have you saying “I remember that name…” The Nuggets traded back out of the first round and added a couple of intriguing second round selections in the 2026 class. Former Arkansas forward Trevn Brazile will be one of the major ones to watch out for. Brazile has the tools to be a legit forward who can stick on a roster and be a rotation asset. He’s a lengthy stretch-big with great athleticism who thrives as a lob threat. Brazile can also step out and space the floor, giving him some legit upside as a versatile two-man option.
I think there could be a bit of a sleeper here for Denver Nuggets fans when it comes to Bryce Hopkins. The former Providence product was an absolute bucket with the Friars before eventually ending up at St. John’s. Hopkins shocked me at the NBA Draft combine with his physical transformation. Throughout his collegiate career, he was more of a player who overpowered defenders with his frame. Now, looking slimmed down, it looks as if Hopkins might try to be more of a 3, which could be a fascinating development given his skillset. I thought that was a sneaky fun second round pick to keep an eye on moving forward.
A couple of intriguing “don’t overlook them” players appear on this Summer League roster as well. Aaron Nkrumah was a name that was buzzing as a potential early second round draft pick. Nkrumah has some work to do consistently on the offensive side of the ball but he is an ABSOLUTE ball hawk defensively. He should be a fun “mini-project” for the Nuggets, because the size and defensive juice give him some serious intrigue. Mark Mitchell Jr. has some measurables that you dream of in a forward. After more of a play finisher at Duke, Mitchell ended up his collegiate career at Missouri. There’s still some intriguing versatility that could be leaned upon in a specific area at the NBA-level. A pair of fesity floor generals find themselves on the Nuggets roster in Mark Sears and KJ Simpson.
Simpson spent most of his rookie year with the Charlotte Hornets last year, before ending up on a two-way with the Nuggets. Sears spent some time with the Milwaukee Bucks last year and will be trying to showcase that the offensive versatility is taking a step forward. Rylan Griffen is another intriguing one to keep an eye on. The former Alabama product spent a year with Kansas before ending his collegiate career at Texas A&M. He’s coming off a promising year when it comes to the outside shot and it will be interesting to see if there’s still some tools to unlock with his game.
DETROIT PISTONS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Ebuka Okorie (17th), Ugonna Onyenso (53rd)
NOTABLES: Chaz Lanier, Jaden Henley, Isaac Jones
KEEP AN EYE ON: Ebuka Okorie
Coming off a sensational year, the Detroit Pistons look to be hoping to take another step forward towards contending in the Eastern Conference.
The “sophomore” to watch out for is second year wing Chaz Lanier. The hope is that Lanier can be ready to take a big step forward and give Detroit another dangerous bucket-getting machine in the rotation. He spent most of his rookie season in the G League with the Motor City Cruise and should be a key name to watch out for.
Jaden Henley is a versatile piece to monitor if you’re looking for a sleeper to pop. Henley is coming off a strong year at GCU and has the frame and versatility to intrigue. Isaac Jones will be another one to watch for Pistons fans. Jones is on a two-way with Detroit after spending most of his first two seasons in the G League. If the outside shot can showcase some consistency, Jones has the versatility to intrigue as a legit roster candidate.
I thought Detroit got an underrated big in the second round in former Virginia product Ugonna Onyenso. Despite being a senior, Onyenso is still just 21-years-old and has the tools to be a promising upside piece as a rotation big. Onyenso has a pretty vanilla role on the offensive side of the ball, but he has some special abilities as a defensive big. In terms of rotational depth, Onyenso has legit tools to work with to make him an asset longterm.
The one to watch out for here is Ebuka Okorie. Detroit desperately needed some more firepower in the backcourt to give Cade Cunningham some help last year. Okorie is coming off a sensational season for Stanford and put up some eye-opening numbers against elite competition. Many want to see if the Okorie production is “legit.” If it is, Detroit could have themselves a heck of a weapon in the backcourt with Cunningham. Okorie has fighterjet speed in the open court but always seems to have another gear in his back pocket just in case. If the outside shot is consistent, he’s going to be a player who could put up some wild box scores in Vegas and beyond.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Yaxel Lendeborg (11th), Lajae Jones (54th)
NOTABLES: Will Richard, Graham Ike, Nick Boyd
KEEP AN EYE ON: Yaxel Lendeborg
There’s some exciting pieces on this Golden State Warriors roster. Personally, I think there’s two names who could earn some serious minutes this year in the rotation.
Let’s shed some light on some of the other sleepers to monitor. Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd was an absolute bucket getting machine last year. Despite being an older prospect (25-years-old), Boyd saw tremendous growth in his scoring last year. He averaged 20.7 points per game while posting splits of 48/36/83. I would keep a close eye on former Wyoming and Gonzaga big man Graham Ike. He’s a productive machine and has a fantastic frame as a potential rotation asset. Ike knows what he is on the basketball court (underrated aspect), and knows how to make the best of it. If he can showcase a little more pop as a defensive anchor, I think there’s a real shot he can earn a spot for an “extended look” by Golden State.
Golden State added Lajae Jones in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Coming off a solid final season at Florida State, Jones was viewed by some as a popular deep sleeper heading into the draft. He’s going to be one I’m fascinated to monitor in terms of a game-by-game basis at Summer League.
I thought Will Richard showcased some fantastic stuff last year, both at Summer League and during brief stints in the Regular season. Richard is the perefect type of player that is primed to take a serious step forward when it comes to a potential sophomore leap. The reason why I’m so high on Richard as a piece for the Warriors is the match of scheme + players strengths. Richard already showcased he’s starting to fit this Warriors system perfectly. With Golden State having a roster that needs some players to step up and bolster their rotation, I think Richard can be one of those guys this year.
The one to watch out for is rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg. I thought Golden State’s first round selection was the most fascinating pick in the entire draft leading up to draft day. Despite many wondering if Golden State should swing for upside or a higher floor selection at #11, I though Lendeborg fit both areas perfectly. Lendeborg has the mentality makeup and versatility on the court to be a perfect fit early on as a rookie for Golden State. He’s a player who plays with extreme toughness and is going to be willing to play a wide range of roles for the Warriors. Even though he’s an older rookie, I think Lendeborg has the tools to be a big time contributor for the Warriors out of the gate.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Bruce Thornton (31st)
NOTABLES: Quadir Copeland, Tristen Newton, Isaiah Crawford
KEEP AN EYE ON: Bruce Thornton
I’m not going to sugar coat it. Houston’s roster is lacking the firepower they have had on display in other years. Still, there’s some fun names to watch out for in Las Vegas.
I thought Houston did a great job in moving up in the second round to secure Bruce Thornton with the 31st pick. Thornton is a tough guard from Ohio State who is a rare case of “wow, he played his entire collegiate career at only one school?!” Remember how those days used to be common? On a serious note, Thornton did something throughout his collegiate career that is one of my favorites with prospects…he showed legit improvements each season. He’s a versatile player who Houston will be trying to groom as a potential rotational asset early on.
I think Quadir Copeland could be a legit name to watch out for here for Rockets fans. Copeland is more of a jumbo-sized guard with legit playmaking and feel chops. He plays the game with a bit of swagger and can really do some damage on the attack. The outside shot is the swing-skill, but Copeland could be an intriguing piece due to his downhill ability and playmaking.
Tristen Newton finds himself on the Rockets SL roster as well. He’s currently on a two-way contract with the Rockets and has been a name that has consistently been on the verge of earning a spot on a roster. Newton has been a player who has spent some time in the G League with various teams before putting up some big time production. He will be motivated to showcase he deserves a legit spot with a team. Fellow two-way player Isaiah Crawford also is back for another Summer League. Crawford, like Newton, has put up some promising numbers in the G League and will be hoping to showcase enough to earn a legit look with the big club.
INDIANA PACERS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Braden Smith (38th)
NOTABLES: Taelon Peter, Kowacie Reeves Jr., Jalen Slawson, Tamin Lipsey
KEEP AN EYE ON: Taelon Peter
The Indiana Pacers are looking to make some noise in the Eastern Conference this year. With a roster that is finally healthy, Indiana will be looking to find some intriguing depth pieces with their Summer League roster.
The Pacers traded into the second round to land former Purdue product Braden Smith. There’s plenty of intriguing guards on the Pacers roster, but Smith could be a perfect change of pace guard to groom for the future. He’s got the mentality and feel for the game to stick at the NBA level despite the size questions. His versatility and playmaking vision alone should make him a fun watch in Vegas.
Couple of intriguing sleepers to monitor moving forward on this Pacers SL roster. Kowacie Reeves Jr. is coming off a strong final season at Georgia Tech. The 6’7” guard has a thin frame but took some tremendous strides this year with the Yellow Jackets, especially when it came to his outside shot. Tamin Lipsey is another feisty guard to watch out for. Despite being a bit undersized, Lipsey is an absolute pest on the defensive side of the ball and was an impactful piece throughout his time at Iowa State. Forward Jalen Slwason has spent the last couple of years in the G League and has put up some impressive numbers. He was previously on a two-way with Indiana and has got the versatility to intrigue, but will need to have a strong showing to stick on a roster.
The one to keep an eye on here is Taelon Peter. The second year guard has some flashes last year as a rookie at Summer League and will hopefully be ready to take a bit of a leap for the Pacers in his second season.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Keaton Wagler (5th), Baba Miller (36th), Nick Martinelli (55th), Narcisse Ngoy (57th)
NOTABLES: Kobe Sanders, Sean Pedulla, Fletcher Loyer, Cam Christie
KEEP AN EYE ON: Keaton Wagler
A very fun Summer League roster for the Los Angeles Clippers that has a bundle of different toys to keep an eye on. Let’s start off with the notables. Kobe Sanders is a bit of a “hey, I’m a sleeper to get shut down early.” Saunders showcased some intriguing flashes throughout his rookie year and could be a legit piece for the Clippers moving forward. Cam Christie is a classic “don’t forget about me” name who could be ready for a big step next year.
Fletcher Loyer is a dude who can just absolutely play and shoots the cover off the ball. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the game comes around, but he’s a sleeper to watch out for. Don’t overlook Sean Pedulla. The former Ole Miss guard was the G League Rookie of the Year last year and will be motivated to show he belongs on this roster.
The Clippers added a plethora of draft picks in the 2026 class. Baba Miller continues to be an intriguing talent that looks to slowly be putting things together. He’s a stretched out forward with some fascinating skills to his game and could be one that figures out how to be a legit asset at the next level. Nick Martinelli was a beast at Northwestern throughout his collegiate career and could offer some intriguing depth as a rotation piece to groom.
The one to watch out for is Keaton Wagler. The Clippers stayed put with the 5th overall pick and invested in Wagler for the foreseeable future. Wagler has the feel and floor spacing ability to be a tremendous guard in this stacked class. It will be interesting to see if the Clippers try to groom him early on as an off-the-ball weapon, or if he gets a majority of the on-ball reps. I imagine we will get a healthy dose of both throughout Summer League.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Cameron Carr (24th)
NOTABLES: Adou Thiero, Peter Suder, Chase Ross, Robert McCray IV
KEEP AN EYE ON: Cameron Carr
Not a ton of firepower on the Los Angeles Lakers Summer League roster, but there’s still some names to watch closely. Adou Thiero will be a fun one to monitor. Thiero was a good find last year for the Lakers in the second round. He missed Summer League with an injury and eventually would get some run in the G League during his rookie season. Thiero has the tools to be a dynamic wing with his explosiveness and ability to get downhill. It will be interesting to monitor how he progreses.
Peter Suder is an interesting name to keep an eye on. Suder signed as a two-way player for the Lakers and had himself an impressive final season at Miami (OH). I think there’s some fun potential for Chase Ross to be a bit of a “wait and see” sleeper. Ross has the potential to be a dynamic rotation asset with his relentless motor and his defensive weaponry. He had to play a role at Marquette during his senior year that was asking a lot, mainly as an offensive go-to option, and he could be one that figures out how to thrive in his speciality at the NBA level. Robert McCray IV is another name coming off a strong final season at Florida State who cannot be overlooked.
Personally, I thought the Lakers got tremendous value when Cameron Carr fell into their laps on the night of the draft. Carr was a redshirt-sophomore at Baylor this year after transferring to Tennessee but he’s oozing with potential. He’s a legit bucket-getting machine who could get early minutes as a rookie if he can consistently make an impact as a two-way player. But there’s legit tools to groom and upside for him to be a heck of a value in this class.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Cameron Boozer (3rd), Karim Lopez (21st), Richie Saunders (32nd)
NOTABLES: Cedric Coward, Taylor Hendricks, Javon Small, Jahmai Mashack, Walter Clayton Jr.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Cameron Boozer
A new era in Memphis Grizzlies basketball is about to begin and it kicks off with a juggernaut prospect and a loaded Summer League roster. Yes folks, we have a bit of a “wagon alert.”
Although the Grizzlies will be getting their feet wet during the Salt Lake City classic, a pair of players are expected to make their debut in Las Vegas. Rookie forward Karim Lopez was an interesting get by the Grizzlies this year. Many expected that the Grizzlies could be a team looking to add to their backcourt in the draft. Instead, Memphis moved back and added an upside swing in Lopez. He’s got the strength and frame to be an intriguing forward piece to groom moving forward. If the rest of the skills can continue to take steps forward, Lopez has the potential to be a good get. He’s going to be a fun one to monitor the progression in Vegas.
Another name who is expected to make his summer league debut in Vegas is second-year guard Walter Clayton Jr. After being selected by the Utah Jazz, Clayton was eventually a piece sent to Memphis in the Jaren Jackson Jr. deal. I’m still curious to see what WCJ can do, as I thought he could be a second-year “put it together quickly” type of player out of the draft.
Memphis added Richie Saunders as well in the second round. Saunders isn’t expected to play after suffering a late season ACL injury, but he’s going to be a Grizzlies-type of player when he eventually makes his return to the court. Couple of notables deserve some serious spotlight. Cedric Coward finds himself on the Summer League roster. Coward could be a name that has a very short lived SL experience, as he’s coming off a strong rookie year. Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack are two pitbulls who continue to look like pieces for the future for this organization. I’ll be interested to see how much run Taylor Hendricks gets in Summer League as well. After a rough start to his career, I think Hendricks can be a fun piece to let get back on the right track in Memphis.
The one to watch out for, as you guessed, is Cameron Boozer. It’s going to be fascinating to see how much run the Grizzlies give Boozer in Summer League. I would think after a couple strong showings, the Grizzlies could look to play it safe with their prized possession. Boozer will be a playmaking machine as he is a robot when it comes to processing the floor on that side of the ball. I think it will be interesting to see how much creation opportunity he gets on offensive, as well as how the defensive side of the ball is coming along. He’s going to make Grizzlies fans very happy in a hurry.
MIAMI HEAT
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Ryan Conwell (37th)
NOTABLES: Trevor Keels, Vlad Goldin, Tre Donaldson, Keyshawn Hall
KEEP AN EYE ON: Ryan Conwell
This Miami Heat roster is fascinating because I think there could be some legit names who could be contributors this season. Ryan Conwell was one of my favorite sleepers in this years class. I thought Conwell had a season that was impressive, given that Louisville had to deal with some adversity throughout the year. He’s going to be a player that could be the classic “look, the Heat found another guy that’s going to be solid.” I think he could be a solid re-draft climber years down the road.
Tre Donaldson is a sneaky name to watch out for. Donaldson played a bit all over for his collegiate career but for big-time programs. He’s a former elite football recruit that plays like it on the basketball court. If you’re looking for a “Heat Culture” guard that can be a serious sleeper, Donaldson can become that.
Personally, I can’t ever get over the idea of Trevor Keels. I still wonder if this could be an intriguing fit for the Heat. But he’s back for another Summer League run. Vlad Goldin is a legit name to watch out for. I thought Vlad could be a really good find by the Heat after last years draft. After the Giannis trade, the Heat are going to need to find some serviceable bodies in the frontcourt for depth. Goldin has the tools to be a filler for the time.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Brayden Burries (10th), Nate Ament (13th), Malique Lewis (60th)
NOTABLES: Kasparas Jakucionis, Kam Jones, Bogoljub Markovic, Boopie Miller, Rafael Castro
KEEP AN EYE ON: Brayden Burries
Life after Giannis begins for Milwaukee Bucks fans with Summer League. Obviously there’s going to be a different mindset with this roster. The hope is that the Bucks can find a couple of surprises pieces to groom moving forward and there’s a lot of names to look at.
Milwaukee took a swing with their second 1st round selection in Nate Ament. Although I was a bit lower on Ament as a prospect, I thought he would be a smart swing for a team with two first round picks. Ament has the upside to be a valuable talent down the road, but I thought it was going to need to be a team that could stress patience. With Ament landing in Milwaukee, the hope is they are the perfect team to give him that path to develop. Ament had a bit of a rollercoaster season at Tennessee. After being hyped as a potential preseason top-5 pick by some, Ament struggled throughout the first half of the season before a small, but eye-opening SEC stretch. There’s a lot of thrilling flashes, but there’s going to need to be patience required. He’s expected to make his debut in Las Vegas as the Giannis trade has officially processed.
2025 second round pick Bogoljub Markovic will be a notable name to monitor. After being stashed for a year, Markovic signed a deal and should be a “let’s see what we got” name for the Bucks for the upcoming season. He should get plenty of run in Summer League, and will be a fun one to watch out for. Rafael Castro and Boopie Miller will be a pair of sleepers to monitor. Castro had himself a strong collegiate career at George Washington and could be a fun one for the future to develop. Miller, despite being undersized, can flat out play.
After a late update, the Milwaukee Bucks have also added a couple of intriguing names to the roster. The biggest one is second year guard Kasparas Jakucionis. After a shocking fall in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, Jakucionis got off to a slow start in last years summer league with the Miami Heat. That was until Kasparas started to show some promising signs throughout the year. He’s coming off some fantastic play overseas in the FIBA Qualifiers, and it will be interesting to see how early the Bucks let him get some extended run. Don’t overlook Kam Jones as well. It hasn’t been the start to his career that Jones has hoped for, after being a second round pick with the Indiana Pacers. But this is going to be an ideal opportunity for Jones to sort of get his potential NBA career back on the right track in a hurry.
The name to watch out for is Brayden Burries. Milwaukee will have a bundle of new toys on their roster from the Giannis haul, but Burries should be a fun asset to groom. He’s got the tools to be a legit franchise building block moving forward and is a tough two-way guard. I think Burries could be a heck of a get for Milwaukee, and i’ll be fascinated to see how he develops, especially with his on-ball reps.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Isaiah Evans (33rd), Trey Kaufman-Renn (59th)
NOTABLES: Joan Beringer, Rocco Zikarsky, Zyon Pullin, Enrique Freeman
KEEP AN EYE ON: Joan Beringer
The Minnesota Timberwolves have some big names to keep an eye on, including some that could be sneaky fun contributors for the upcoming season.
I thought Minnesota got one of the best microwave scorers in the draft in sharpshooter Isaiah Evans. Despite Evans not taking the leap that many hoped as a sophomore, I thought the defensive side of the ball showcased some good development. He’s got to showcase that he can be a consistent 3-and-D type of asset if he wants to get run as a rookie.
Trey Kaufman-Renn was an intriguing second-round grab by the Timberwolves. TKR was a productive machine at Purdue and could be a sneaky value get if the three-point shot can ever come around at a consistent level.
Rocco Zikarsky continues to be a fun developmental big for the Timberwolves. He’s trending upward after a strong year in the G League and could be one to watch out for as a future asset on this roster moving forward. Zyon Pullin and Enrique Freeman continue to be some fun sleepers for Timberwolves fans to monitor as well.
The one to get overly excited about is Joan Beringer. This one could be a legit “shut it down” candidate. Beringer was tremendous throughout his Summer League debut last year, especially when it came to his defensive showings. Throughout the year, it looked as if Beringer had taken some eye-opening strides when it came to his physical transformation. He remains a player that is very highly thought of within the organization and he should be ready to roll.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Jaron Pierre Jr. (58th)
NOTABLES: Micah Peavy, Kobe Bufkin, Hunter Dickinson
KEEP AN EYE ON: Jaron Pierre Jr.
New Orleans Summer League roster is lacking a punch, but there’s still some sleepers that deserve some spotlight. Kobe Bufkin is back. Everybody is excited about this. Bufkin hasn’t had the NBA career he had hoped for, but this will be a big opportunity to showcase he deserves a spot on this Pelicans roster. Micah Peavy should be a fun one in Las Vegas. He got some limited run throughout the regular season before ending the year on a high note. Peavy was the 40th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and will hopefully be ready to take a step forward for the Pelicans.
You can run but you cannot hide from Hunter Dickinson. The former collegiate big man is back for another year at Summer League and could have a good chance to stick on this roster moving forward with a solid showing.
The one to watch out for is Jaron Pierre Jr. The Pelicans selected Pierre with the 58th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He had an interesting year at SMU and can really do some damage in transition with his downhill ability and athleticism. There’s some areas of his game that need to be cleaned up but if that happens, Pierre could be a great valued pick for the Pelicans.
NEW YORK KNICKS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Jack Kayil (39th), Tyler Nickel (47th)
NOTABLES: Mohamed Diawara, Pacome Dadiet, Dillon Jones
KEEP AN EYE ON: Pacome Dadiet
The defending champion New York Knicks will have a roster that features some exciting talent. New York’s roster is so deep that the hope is that some players on the Summer League roster can really cement themselves as potential rotation assets.
Mohamed Diawara is the one to get excited about. There’s a bundle of upside with his game just waiting to be unlocked and Summer League is going to be a perfect opportunity for him to get some valuable reps. He’s a name Knicks fans should be excited about moving forward.
Dillon Jones finds himself back for another round of Summer League. Although Jones hasn’t found his groove in the league just yet, he’s still a versatile player that could start to make his mark with the right bounce. He should be motivated to cement himself.
The Knicks added a pair of fun talents in the draft in Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel. Kayil was making some buzz overseas and was set to play for Gonzaga this year. That was until he de-committed and decided to keep his name in the 2026 NBA Draft. Reports have suggested that Kayil is going to be stashed next year overseas. Similar reports have put out conflicting reports that Kayil could be added to the Summer League roster if his club allows it. Tyler Nickel is a bucket who can really light it up from outside. If the Knicks are looking for a potential sharpshooter to groom, then Nickel is going to be the guy.
The one to keep an eye on is Pacome Dadiet. The former 25th overall pick from the 2024 NBA Draft was selected as a bit of a “wait-and-see” wing with fun upside. Despite the Knicks roster, Dadiet needs to showcase he’s taking some legit strides to be a name to keep around for years to come. The hope for Knicks fans is that he can hit the ground running and show that he’s the next in line to be a potential option on this roster.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Aday Mara (12th), Bennett Stirtz (16th), Otega Oweh (41st)
NOTABLES: Brooks Barnhizer, Payton Sandfort, Lamar Wilkerson
KEEP AN EYE ON: Aday Mara
The Oklahoma City Thunder had another haul on draft night, which is a sentence I’ve gotten familiar with writing over the years. Bennett Stirtz was a sneaky get for the Thunder, who continue to look for ways to stack their depth. Stirtz is a high feel, lethal shooter from beyond the arc. It will be interesting to mointor Stirtz throughout Summer League. The hope is eventually the Thunder tell him to let it fly, as he can get red hot from just about anywhere on the floor.
Otega Oweh was another fun addition in the second round. I think Oweh could end up being a great value from this draft, as his NBA role will look much different than his collegiate one. He was a bit of a pitbull on defense before transferring to Kentucky and I think there’s good longterm potential there.
Some notables to watch out for. Brooks Barnhizer looks to be the next wave of players the Thunder are grooming to be rotation pieces. He’s a tough-minded player with some versatility to his game and if the shot comes around, should be a NBA player for a long time. Payton Sandfort is a legit sniper who can get red hot in a hurrry. I’ll be interested to see what Lamar Wilkerson can do after a bucket-getting season at Indiana.
The one to monitor is rookie big man Aday Mara. A rollercoaster of a path towards becoming a lottery pick, the giant of a center is a ridiculous playmaking wizard on the basketball court. Mara thrives with his feel and shot blocking ability. The biggest question remains about the conditioning part of his game. The highs are going to be tremendous, but I’ll be fascinated to see how the rest of the game comes around for Mara throughout each Summer League game.
ORLANDO MAGIC
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Izaiyah Nelson (51st)
NOTABLES: Jase Richardson, Noah Penda, Malik Reneau, Cam Reddish, Keon Johnson, Colin Castleton, Ricky Council IV
KEEP AN EYE ON: Jase Richardson
ORLANDOOOOO. This is one of the funkiest rosters of Summer League and I absolutely love it. There’s some fun talent followed by a couple of “wait, who is that?!”
I’m jacked to see what Jase Richardson can do in his second Summer League. I thought he had a very solid rookie year to build off of and think that Jase can be a big asset for this Magic team as they try to make some noise in the Eastern Conference. The same could be said for second year forward Noah Penda. The two should be options that earn a big climb in minutes this year, especially if they can showcase it early on in Las Vegas.
Couple of sleepers to monitor for this roster include second round draft pick Izaiyah Nelson and UDFA Malik Reneau. Nelson is a player that you might hear talking throughout the entire game if you’re going to be at the game in person. He’s extremely vocal on the defensive side of the ball and needs to showcase some development as a consistent two-way weapon to stick. Reneau is a bit of a rebounding machine who has started to try to open up his game as more of a versatile threat.
We’re about to take a walk down memory lane with this roster…Cam Reddish and Keon Johnson find themselves on the roster, as two players looking to find a way back on a NBA roster. The talent shouldn’t need to be described, but it’s always fun to see some old friends. Colin Castleton continutes to be a big man that is on the verge of sticking. Don’t forget about Ricky Council IV as well.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Labaron Philon (22nd)
NOTABLES: Johni Broome, Duke Miles, Nick Townsend
KEEP AN EYE ON: Labaron Philon
The Philadelphia 76ers have been in the news for some exciting moves over the last couple of weeks. But this 76ers Summer League roster is as stacked as it has been in recent memory.
This has a serious chance to be the Labaron Philon show folks. Philon was one of the top guards in college basketball this year but slipped through the cracks on draft night. He’s landing with a 76ers team that has some serious firepower in the backcourt, and that was before adding another talented piece in Jaylen Brown to the mix. Philon is a sliterhy bucket-getter who should be motivated to put up some very loud numbers in Las Vegas. Given this roster, he should have the opportunity to do so.
Johni Broome finds himself back for another year of summer league run. Like Philon, Broome should have plenty of chances to showcase that his game is taking a step in the right direction. A couple of other sleepers to monitor include Duke Miles and Nick Townsend. With a main roster that features a lot of firepower, the 76ers are going to need to find some potential cheap rotation pieces.
PHOENIX SUNS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Koa Peat (30th)
NOTABLES: Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, Koby Brea, CJ Huntley, Corey Camper Jr.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Khaman Maluach
This is honestly one of the more exciting Summer League rosters I can rembember in quite some time for the Phoenix Suns. Personally, I’m jacked up to see what Rasheer Fleming can do after a full offseason. After weighing in at about 232 at last years combine, reports have Fleming up to 250 as of late. Got to love weight gain season. Fleming showcased some intriguing defensive flashes throughout his rookie year and could be a name poised to take a nice step forward with his development in year two.
Koby Brea was lighting nets on fire last year at Summer League. Phoenix rewarded Brea with a solid contract recently and he looks on the path to being a name that can earn a potential role in the rotation sooner rather than later. The Suns also drafted “Mr. Arizona” in Arizona Wildcats freshman Koa Peat. Despite an underwhelming predraft process, I love the Suns mentality to trade up and get a talent like Peat at the end of the first round. He needs to forget everything that was told to him about the shot in the predraft process, but Peat has the toughness and intangibles to be a really solid longterm piece for this organization. If he somehow is wide open and hits his first three, that crowd pop might rival Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Just kidding…but seriously.
Couple of sleepers to watch out for. I think CJ Huntley is a fun one to monitor after showing some promising stuff in the G League last year. Nevada’s Corey Camper is also another one I would not overlook.
The big one to watch out for is second year big man Khaman Maluach. The Suns drafted Maluach 10th overall last year and the expectation was that Maluach would be a talent you’d hope to see some real strides with in his development in year 2-3. Back for another round of Summer League, it’ll be awesome to see what the emphasis has been for Maluach in terms of his offensive game. The hope, is that he can get as much Summer League reps as possible.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: None
NOTABLES: Yang Hansen, DJ Steward, Chris Youngblood
KEEP AN EYE ON: Yang Hansen
To put it politely, there’s a lack of pop on this Portland Trail Blazers summer league roster. The main attraction will be Yang Hansen. He was the wildcard last year after the Blazers sent shockwaves and selected him in the first round. But Hansen has the game and versatility to be a legit name moving forward.
The expectation should have been realistic for Yang when it came to how quickly he would transition to the NBA. Not was it only a big learning curve for the on the court play, but completely adjusting to a new lifestyle is a sizemic adjustment as well. After getting plenty of reps in the G League last year, Hansen averaged 17.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He was especially impressive last year in Summer League and time will tell if Hansen is primed to deliver and take a sizeable jump in year two.
One sleeper to keep an eye on is Chris Youngblood. He spent some time last year in the G League with both the Oklahoma City Blue and Rip City Remix. Youngblood looked like an intriguing talent after some showings in last years Summer League with OKC. In 17 G League games last year, he averaged 22.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 45.7% from the field.
DJ Steward will be another familiar name to monitor. He’s spent most of his career putting up some impressive numbers in the G League and continues to look for any way to carve a spot out on a roster.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Darius Acuff Jr. (7th), Alex Karaban (29th), Emanuel Sharp (45th)
NOTABLES: Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell, Jonathan Mogbo
KEEP AN EYE ON: Darius Acuff Jr.
This is probably an underrated “wagon alert” when it comes to Summer League squads. I thought the Kings have done a fantastic job in the last two drafts of adding talent and navigating the board to accumulate value.
After the California Classic, the Kings announced their roster ahead of Las Vegas and an intriguing name was added in second-year big man Maxime Raynaud. Coming off a sensational rookie year, Raynaud will be a big name to monitor to see if his game is about to take another step forward. I thought Nique Clifford showcased some awesome growth last year and should be a name that is poised for a nice step forward this season. Clifford was one of the most impressive players at Summer League last year and had to fight off some growing pains early in the year. After finishing the regular season on a high note, it will be interesting to see if Clifford can carry some momentum into training camp and beyond. The Kings found another great piece in undrafted free agent Dylan Cardwell who has been just what the doctor ordered. Cardwell has been a building block when it comes to shifting the identity and future culture of this organization. He’s a bully of a big man who plays with his heart on his sleeve. Don’t overlook two-way player Jonathan Mogbo who I thought was a sneaky nice depth signing by the Kings. If he can impress, he could carve out a role on this roster.
Sacramento has plenty of returners to get fans excited. But there’s a fantastic rookie class as well. Alex Karaban suffered an ankle sprain in practices and has yet to hit the floor in Summer League. He should be a fun one to monitor once he eventually makes his debut in Las Vegas. I thought the Kings got a potential steal in the second round in former Houston guard Emanuel Sharp. He’s a classic player that seemed to get overlooked when it came to measurements and upside. But at the end of the day, Sharp brings toughness and winning intangibles on the court. He’s going to have plenty of Kings fans excited.
The name to watch out for, of course, is Darius Acuff Jr. It’s always thrilling to see a top 10 point guard able to showcase his skills at Summer League. But it’s always one that takes a little bit of “pump the breaks” when it comes to early expectations. Acuff struggled a bit in his first game, but it was some struggles that are more often than not when it comes to that first game for guards. After a strong bounce-back game, it will be fascinating to see how Acuff can continue to stack games moving forward in Las Vegas.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Jayden Quaintance (20th), Tarris Reed Jr. (26th), Ja’Kobi Gillespie (42nd), Maliq Brown (44th)
NOTABLES: Carter Bryant, Miles Kelly
KEEP AN EYE ON: Carter Bryant
San Antonio won’t have the “sexiest” of Summer League rosters, but there’s some legit rotation pieces to watch closely in terms of developmental pieces. Jayden Quaintance finds himself on the Summer League roster, but he won’t be playing at all. He’s still recovering from his previous injury, and the Spurs are going to want to take as much time as possible when it comes to getting Quaintance ready to hit the floor. The talent is fantastic, and the Spurs know this. But they should be in no rush to have him playing any time soon.
I loved what the Spurs did in getting Quaintance and also doubling down on another big in Tarris Reed Jr. He’s going to be a big that can give the Spurs some real muscle in the paint with his rebounding and strength. Reed has some underrated playmaking ability as well that took a gigantic leap during his final season at UConn. Don’t overlook second round selections Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown as well. You can consider both prospects specialists, as they know exactly what they can bring to an NBA floor. Gillespie can be a tough bucket-getting machine, but consistency is the key to unlocking a player who can stick in a rotation. Maliq Brown isn’t much of an offensive threat, but the defensive and “glue-guy” ability is perfect for a team like the Spurs.
The one to watch out for is Carter Bryant. The Spurs hit the ground running last year, surprising many with their impressive run to the NBA Finals. Bryant showcased some fantastic signs throughout his rookie year and looks like a talent that could explode as a sophomore leap candidate. The three ball has been trending in the right direction and the defensive side of the ball is going to be his bread-and-butter. San Antonio doesn’t need him to add a bundle of toys on the offensive side of the ball. But if he can showcase that the creation is coming along, it’s going to be a gigantic development for the Spurs.
TORONTO RAPTORS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Allen Graves (19th), Jaden Bradley (50th)
NOTABLES: Alijah Martin, Chucky Hepburn, Collin Murray-Boyles
KEEP AN EYE ON: Collin Murray-Boyles
Toronto has themselvevs another strong roster ahead of Summer League. I was a bit lower than some, but Allen Graves could be an interesting fit here for the Raptors. He was an analytics darling and stands out with his awareness on both sides of the ball. It will be interesting to see how Graves adjusts to the NBA game and what type of role Toronto could have for him early on.
One of my favorite second round sleepers in this class was Arizona senior guard Jaden Bradley. The Raptors have continued to add some fun guards in the second round of recent drafts but Bradley could be a little bit different type of weapon. He’s more of a physical tone-setter who makes defenders play to his speed and has outstanding feel.
Speaking of those guards, Alijah Martin and Chucky Hepburn find themselves back for Summer League as well. I’m still curious to see Martin, as I believe he was the type of player that could take some big steps in his 2nd or 3rd season. Hepburn has been a scrappy defender going back to his collegiate days, and it will be interesting to see how the rest of the game is coming along.
The name I’m most excited to see is Collin Murray-Boyles. Honestly, I was a bit shocked to see CMB on the Summer League roster for the Raptors. After becoming a puzzling evaluation for some out of South Carolina, I thought Murray-Boyles was tremendous throughout his rookie year. The fact that Murray-Boyles was taking and making so many threes with confidence, compared to where he was as a prospect, was a remarkable development. He’s going to be a player that could be shut down quickly, but I cannot wait to see where the offensive versatility is at.
UTAH JAZZ
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: Darryn Peterson (2nd)
NOTABLES: Cody Williams, Ace Bailey, Matthew Cleveland, Eric Dixon
KEEP AN EYE ON: Darryn Peterson
In the last couple of Summer Leagues, it seemed as if the Utah Jazz just had an absolute wagon of a roster each year. Now? They still have some lethal firepower in the mix.
I thought there was some tremendous signs of an awesome developmental path for Ace Bailey during his rookie season. I loved how Utah got Bailey to develop some legit confidence early on when it came to his off-ball shooting ability. Now, it’s time to see what the next piece of the puzzle is for Bailey moving forward with his game. The tools are still tremendous and the upside for Bailey to be a longterm building block for Utah are legit.
Cody Williams finds himself back for another Summer League run but this year feels a little different. Williams has put on some eye-opening weight in the best way possible and his frame has taken a fantastic transformation. You started to see Williams put the pieces together last year at times when it came to figuring out how to get to his spots on the floor. Now, Williams has some serious weight to throw around and it’s been a noticeable improvement early on at the Salt Lake City classic.
Matthew Cleveland and Eric Dixon continue to be some sleepers to monitor. Dixon can shoot the cover off the ball from beyond the arc as a big man.
The name to watch is Darryn Peterson. After some head-turning performances at the Salt Lake City classic, the buzz continues to build around Peterson. He’s coming off a year in which I never felt we truely saw the 100% prospect of Darryn Peterson while he was at Kansas. But after two Summer League games, it looks as if the previous prospect so many believed in, is starting to look like himself. The offensive versatility has been tremendous early on and Peterson is most likely another strong showing away from entering serious “alright, we’ve seen enough” territory. That strong showing could possibly come on Thursday night against AJ Dybantsa…
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
2026 NBA DRAFT PICKS: AJ Dybantsa (1st), Felix Okpara (46th)
NOTABLES: Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Jamir Watkins
KEEP AN EYE ON: Tre Johnson
We save the best for last folks. The Washington Wizards suddenly have a much different vibe compared to previous offseasons. After a number of swings before the NBA Trade Deadline, Washington looks like a team that is trying to make some serious noise in the Eastern Conference.
Let’s start with some of the notables. Will Riley showcased some serious “are you watching this” signs last year and will be one of the top names to monitor in terms of leap candidates. Riley was a player that started to see the game slow down and was putting it together in impressive fashion. His size and versatility could give the Wizards a very exciting piece for the future. Don’t forget about Jamir Watkins as well. The versatility for Watkins remains his best calling card and he’s got the potential to be a legit rotation asset on this roster.
I thought Washington added a smart potential rotation piece in the second round in Felix Okpara. He’s a physically imposing big man with good measurements who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work. For a Wizards team that is suddenly trying to put together some legit depth on the roster, Okpara has the tools to be one that can be molded into a serviceable backup big.
Everybody knows that AJ Dybantsa is going to get all of the spotlight here. Dybantsa has been one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. Washington believes in the hype, as they selected him first overall in a stacked draft class. When AJ is on, its a terrifying development. There’s going to be some growing pains throughout the year but Dybantsa has the raw tools to be a franchise superstar for an organization that has been starving for one. Don’t be surprised if Dybantsa is an absolute monster, even at Summer League, when it comes to getting to the free throw line.
I know plenty are expecting that Dybantsa would be the clear “one to watch out for” but this is my dance with madness, and my excitement level is higher for another name. I cannot wait to see what second year guard Tre Johnson can do at Summer League. I said it on the No Ceilings Summer League preview pod and I meant it, this is the type of player that was born to be a second-year leap candidate. Johnson has some awesome flashes throughout his rookie year and he’s the type of player that goes crazy with a full offseason to work on his craft. If Johnson can showcase that things are starting to fall into place, it’s going to make Wizards fans even MORE excited about a potential duo of Johnson & Dybantsa for the foreeseeable future.
Nembhard is out for Summer League, he's playing in FIBA :)