Tier 1: Appointment TV 

• Atlanta Hawks – Zaccharie Risacher, Nikola Djurisic, Kobe Bufkin

The Hawks don’t have the deepest Summer League roster, but they’re going to be intriguing to watch. Everybody on the planet should be trying to get a look at Risacher. The Frenchman was the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and boasts an impressive skill set for a 6’9’’ wing. His first taste of NBA basketball will be must-see television. The Hawks also have Bufkin on the roster. The 15th pick in last year’s draft is a tremendous on-ball guard that should be in for a bigger role in his second full NBA season. And he’s the type of player that should light up the Summer League, as he’s coming off a year in which he really excelled in the G League. Djurisic is also a player that has some interesting on-ball skills. He might be a bit of a project, but there’s a chance he turns into a good player.

• Orlando Magic – Anthony Black, Jett Howard, Tristan da Silva, Jarrett Culver

Last year’s first-round picks, Black and Howard, will be out to prove that they deserve to be part of Orlando’s rotation next year. Black is a big on-ball initiator that can get after it on the defensive end, but he’s working to improve his jumper. Meanwhile, Howard is a legitimate sniper from deep. Both guys should be able to help the Magic flirt with a Summer League championship. Meanwhile, da Silva is a big wing that can shoot the three, make plays for his teammates and score a little in the post. Don’t be surprised if he’s one of the breakout performers in Vegas. And Culver is worth a mention. The sixth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has had a disappointing career, but he averaged 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in the G League last season. He also shot the three well, which is impressive considering the jumper has been his downfall.

• Utah Jazz – Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George, Cody Williams, Brice Sensabaugh, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski

The Jazz are the most loaded team in Summer League this year. George will be the leader of the crew after a season in which he made All-Rookie Second Team. And Hendricks and Sensabaugh both had some flashes with the Jazz last year. All three of those players should be ready to dominate the competition this week, but the rookies will also be fun to watch. Williams is a little raw, but he’s a talented wing that can do a little bit of everything. Collier, once considered a legitimate option to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, will be eager to show everybody that he shouldn’t have dropped. And Filipowski is a big man that can handle the rock, move his feet and shoot the ball. This team is filled with talent and experience.

• Washington Wizards – Alexandre Sarr, Carlton Carrington, Kyshawn George

The Wizards ended up making three first-round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, so they’re going to be a fun team to watch in Vegas. This will be the first time that a lot of NBA fans will be watching Sarr, who is a big man that can really defend but also has a nice little offensive game. Washington will feature him heavily throughout the week, but Carrington and George will also be getting their reps. Carrington is one of the best on-ball creators in this rookie class, and George is a big wing that can really shoot the three. 

Tier 2: Worth Checking Out

• Charlotte Hornets – Brandon Miller, Tidjane Salaun, KJ Simpson, Nick Smith Jr., Bryce McGowens

This was almost a top-tier team for me, but I would be surprised if Miller plays more than a game or two in Vegas. Miller is already getting work in for the USA Select Team, helping the national team get ready for Paris. He also was highly productive in his rookie season, so there’s really no reason he should put himself at risk of getting injured in these games. But Charlotte will still be fun to watch, as we’ll get a nice look at Salaun. The intrigue and overall upside of the Frenchman was enough to get him picked sixth in the 2024 NBA Draft. Salaun is a solid shooter and a good play finisher as a stretch four. He’s also a good defender. Meanwhile, Simpson, Smith and McGowens will give the Hornets one of the better groups of guards in Vegas.

• Detroit Pistons – Ron Holland, Bobi Klintman

As of the writing of this column, the Pistons hadn’t yet announced their Summer League roster. However, it’d be surprising if Holland and Klintman don’t play. And Holland is going to be one of the more exciting players to watch at this event. He’s an explosive player that can make a lot of plays in transition, and he really knows how to attack the basket. He’s also a great perimeter defender. Holland’s jumper is the only real question mark in his game, and that probably won’t be there for a couple of years. But the Pistons will still be one of the team’s to watch because of his ability to make plays. And Klintman is a developing three-and-D wing that could also win over some people in Sin City. You should also expect to see Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser a bit.

• Houston Rockets – Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Kira Lewis, AJ Griffin

Sheppard was the third pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, so a lot of eyes will be on him. Sheppard is an absolute sniper from deep, makes plays off the dribble, and he’s also a pest of a point-of-attack defender. Sheppard is also a great athlete and will be eager to show out in Houston. He knows he needs to impress in order to crack the Rockets rotation this year. Meanwhile, Whitmore is a talented wing that can shoot the ball and soar through the air. He just needs to work on his efficiency and find ways to impact winning. It’ll also be interesting to see Lewis and Griffin, two former first-round picks that flamed out in their previous stops. Lewis is a speedy playmaker that a lot of people were high on before he was drafted. And Griffin is a world-class shooter.

• Indiana Pacers – Jarace Walker, Johnny Furphy, Ben Sheppard, Tristen Newton

The Pacers have two intriguing rookies in Johnny Furphy, a consensus top-20 prospect that fell into their laps in the second round, and Tristen Newton, the table setter for a UConn team that won back-to-back national titles. Furphy is a big athletic wing that can shoot the three, while Newton is a jack-of-all-trades type as a lead guard. Not much will be expected of the latter, but it shouldn’t surprise anybody if he ends up being a solid bench player in the NBA. Meanwhile, Walker heads to Summer League with the ultimate green light after not playing much as a rookie. He’s a big wing that can guard multiple spots, but Indiana wants him to be a small forward. So, despite being more of a four in college, he’ll be working on his perimeter game in Vegas. And Sheppard is a guy that was making places for Indiana in the playoffs last year. He’s a winner that can do all the little things and also make triples. It’s not clear why he’s on this roster, but he’ll give Indiana a chance of winning this event.

• Los Angeles Lakers – Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, Colin Castleton, Maxwell Lewis

The Lakers have already played some Summer League games. And while they’re not exactly a team that belongs in this grouping when it comes to the roster, the presence of James makes them a team you’ll want to watch. James is going to have to show a lot of people that he belongs in the NBA, and having a nice Summer League would certainly quiet some doubters. Los Angeles also has Knecht, the marksman that fell to them at No. 17 in the draft. Knecht is the type of guy that can get hot and win Summer League games himself. The Lakers will also roll out the ball to Lewis, a talented wing that they’re working hard to develop. And Castleton is a good shot blocker down low that has worked to expand his offensive game.

• Memphis Grizzlies – Zach Edey, GG Jackson, Jake LaRavia, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer

Edey is going to be an exciting player to watch for quite some time. He was just such a polarizing prospect that every one of his games will feature dramatic hot takes in the media. But Edey is a massive human with good touch around the basket, he sets bruising screens and he plays really hard on both ends. He has also gotten himself in great shape. So, he should be one of the best players in Vegas. The Grizzlies also have Wells and Spencer, two superb outside shooters, and LaRavia and Jackson, two guys that have shown a lot in the NBA already. Jackson put up some impressive numbers in extended minutes last year and looks like a big part of the future in Memphis.

• Minnesota Timberwolves – Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., Leonard Miller, Jaylen Clark

The Timberwolves moved up in the draft to select Dillingham, who is arguably the best shotmaker in the class. Dillingham can break defenders down off the dribble and pull up from anywhere. He’s a fantastic shooter and should show out in this setting, assuming his ankle is doing better after he was banged up during the pre-draft process. Shannon Jr. is another first-round pick for Minnesota. The wing is a good downhill driver that can shoot the three and stays active on defense. The Timberwolves also happen to have some fun players from last year. Miller is a big man with guard skills that has real upside. We’ll also get a glimpse at Clark, who missed last season with an Achilles injury. At UCLA, Clark was an elite wing defender that was developing as an offensive player.

• Portland Trail Blazers – Donovan Clingan, Kris Murray, Rayan Rupert, Terquavion Smith, Kennedy Chandler

There’s a decent chance Clingan ends up being the best player in this class. He’s one of the best defensive prospects to come out of the college game in quite some time, and he’s a good passer and play finisher on offense. He’s also working to develop his three-point shot, which looks nice as far as fundamentals go. Usually big men can struggle in a Summer League setting, where guard play can be sloppy and perimeter players are focused on scoring. But it’s nice that Portland has Chandler around to run the show. He’s a legitimate point guard. Other interesting players to watch for Portland are Rupert, Murray and Smith. Rupert is a big wing that can handle the ball and has some intriguing tools. Murray is a sniper that will be looking to be a bigger part of the Blazers rotation this year. Smith is a bucket-getter that should thrive in Vegas. Don’t be surprised if this team makes a run at winning the Summer League.

• Toronto Raptors – Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamal Shead, Ulrich Chomche

The Raptors have a nice combination of Summer League veterans and players with long-term potential. Dick and Agbaji have both been around the block, and they should do their parts in helping this group compete for this title. Dick is a sniper from deep that can also finish plays as a cutter, and Agbaji is a player with three-and-D potential and good size on the wing. As for the rookies, Walter is the most intriguing of the group. He’s a great shooter and a feisty on-ball defender, and he also has an NBA-ready body. So, he should be ready to go here. Mogbo is a small-ball big that can impact games with his energy. Shead is a floor general that can get after it as a point-of-attack defender. And Chomche is a big man with raw tools and a high motor. This team has a nice overall blend of talent.

Tier 3: If There’s Nothing Else On

• Denver Nuggets – DaRon Holmes II, PJ Hall, Trey Alexander, Jaylin Williams, Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, Hunter Tyson

The Nuggets have a nice amount of young talent on the squad this year. Watching this team might not be all that fun, as they have a roster full of low-upside players that spent a lot of time in college. But with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope having signed with the Magic, the Nuggets could be counting on some of these guys this season. So, this will be a first look at some of the players that could impress the coaching staff and earn some minutes.

• Miami Heat – Kel’el Ware, Pelle Larsson, Alondes Williams, Zyon Pullin, Keshad Johnson  

Many are skeptical of how Ware will fit with the Heat, as he’s a center and will need to shoot the three well in order to pair with Bam Adebayo. But Ware does have the potential to knock down shots, and he’s already an effective rim runner and shot blocker. The Heat also added some nice talent in the second round and undrafted free agency. Larsson is a good shooter that competes hard and knows how to play a role. Pullin is a big point guard that was excellent in pick-and-roll situations last year. And Johnson is a big, athletic power forward that also understands how to impact winning.

• New York Knicks – Pacome Dadiet ,Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar Jr., Ariel Hukporti

Dadiet seemed like he was going to be a draft-and-stash player, but the Knicks decided to bring him over immediately. He’ll be a fun watch at Summer League, as he’s a wing that can score at all three levels. Kolek should instantly be an impactful player in the league, as he’s a great pick-and-roll decision maker and good outside shooter. That also means he should play well in Vegas. McCullar and Hukporti should also be watched closely. McCullar is a Bruce Brown type that can impact games without having a reliable jumper. And Hukporti is a big man that can really rebound and is looking to prove himself to a New York team that needs help at center.

• Philadelphia 76ers – Jared McCain, Justin Edwards, Ricky Council IV, Adem Bona, Judah Mintz

McCain is one of the best shooters in the rookie class, but he’s out to prove that he’s a little more than just that. He actually showcased his driving ability in Utah Summer League already, and he’s going to be out to make a splash in Vegas. Meanwhile, Edwards is a big wing that can shoot the three and is looking to deliver on the potential many believed he had before arriving in Kentucky. As for the others, Council IV is an absolute bucket and might be the best scorer in Sin City. Bona is an energetic big man that has potential as a rim runner off the bench. And Mintz wasn’t drafted, but he once looked like a guy that would be picked. He can really attack the basket and has good size at point.

• San Antonio Spurs – Stephon Castle, RaiQuan Gray, Harrison Ingram, Sidy Cissoko

The real stars of this show will be Castle and Ingram. Castle was the fourth pick in the draft and is a jack of all trades at the guard position on offense. He’s also an elite perimeter defender. If Castle’s jumper develops, he’ll end up flirting with All-Star production in the NBA. So, that’ll be the thing to watch in Vegas. Meanwhile, Ingram might not crack the Spurs rotation immediately, but he’s a very skilled wing that does pretty much everything well. He should be a very good player in Summer League, and he will eventually help San Antonio at the next level. Cissoko also has the ability to stand out in Vegas.

Tier 4: Not Much To See Here

• Boston Celtics – Baylor Scheierman, Anton Watson, Tristan Enaruna

Scheierman and Watson are two players that should eventually help the Celtics, and this team might be competitive in Vegas. However, Boston’s Summer League team is lacking players with upside, so this might not be a fun group to watch.

• Brooklyn Nets – Dariq Whitehead, Noah Clowney, Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson

Of everybody on this Brooklyn team, you’re going to want to keep an eye out for Whitehead. The big wing was once one of the top players in his high school class, but he dealt with injuries during his freshman season at Duke. And the Nets have taken a long-term approach with him, opting to get his body right so that he can put the injuries behind him. But Whitehead is a smooth scorer and will have the opportunity to develop in this Brooklyn rebuild. It starts with Summer League, where he’ll be the go-to scorer.

• Chicago Bulls – Matas Buzelis

There’s really just nothing here to be excited about. Buzelis is the only legitimate prospect on this team, and the 11th overall pick probably needs some structure around him to succeed. So, it’s going to be hard for him to showcase his abilities in Vegas. The most important thing to watch with him is the jumper. It’d be nice if he can show some signs.

•Cleveland Cavaliers – Jaylon Tyson, DJ Burns

Tyson has the ability to help Cleveland this season, as he’s a wing that can shoot, make plays for others and defend a little bit. However, his style of play isn’t overly exciting, making the Cavaliers a team you won’t need to specifically tune in for this summer. However, people will be interested in checking out Burns. The NC State star has slimmed down quite a bit and will be eager to show NBA front offices that he can contribute in the league.

• Dallas Mavericks – Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Alex Fudge, Melvin Ajinca

O-Max is a player that the Mavericks will be counting on next season. With Derrick Jones Jr. out the door, Dallas can use a big, athletic wing that can shoot the three and defend. If he shows out in Summer League, Jason Kidd will give him a shot. As for Fudge and Ajinca, there’s not a pathway to minutes right away. But Fudge has a lot of tools and some intriguing long-term upside. He’ll be able to show that here. And Ajinca is a potential three-and-D player that Dallas should be high on.

• Golden State Warriors – Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brandin Podziemski, Reece Beekman

The Warriors might be one of the better teams in Vegas. Jackson-Davis and Podziemski are both players that contributed in a big way as rookies last year. So, they should be ready to rock against this watered down competition. But keep an eye on Beekman, who was a little underrated in the pre-draft process. He’s a high-level point-of-attack defender and a very good pick-and-roll player. If his jumper continues to come along, he has an NBA future. But overall, this is one of the more boring groups in the competition.

• Los Angeles Clippers – Cam Christie, Jordan Miller, Trentyn Flowers

There’s not too much to watch with this Clippers Summer League team. Christie is a player with three-and-D upside and could end up being a good player eventually. However, it’s the undrafted Flowers that has the most potential on this team. Flowers had a down year in the NBL, but he’s a wing that has point guard skills and some real pop as an athlete. His shot mechanics are also good. There’s an NBA player in there somewhere.

• Milwaukee Bucks – AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith, Ryan Rollins, Andre Jackson?, Chris Livingston?

The Bucks haven’t said whether or not Jackson and Livingston will be playing. If they do, this is a team that can compete in Summer League and belongs higher on this list. If they don’t, it’ll just be about watching Johnson and Smith. People were stunned that Johnson went in the first round, but he’s an explosive scorer that can be a dangerous pro player if he develops physically and improves his feel for the game. He’ll be fun to watch in Vegas. And Smith is a big forward that can drill threes at a high clip.

• New Orleans Pelicans – Yves Missi, Antonio Reeves

Missi is a very intriguing prospect at the center position, but he’s very raw and players like him don’t tend to show up in Vegas. It would take a real effort from New Orleans to prioritize getting him touches in the right spots, and you just don’t see that in these games. That’s why the Pelicans aren’t really a must-watch group this summer. But it will be fun to see how Reeves looks. The 6’6’’ guard can really shoot the three-ball.

• Oklahoma City Thunder – Dillon Jones, Ajay Mitchell, Adam Flagler, Jack Gohlke

Jones and Mitchell were both targeted by the Thunder pretty aggressively, and that’s generally a good sign. Jones is an undersized big that can do everything but shoot, and Mitchell is a bigger guard that has great feel for the game. Meanwhile, Flagler is a good shooter at the guard position and should show out in this setting. It’ll also be cool if Gohlke gets some minutes. The breakout star of March Madness probably doesn’t have an NBA future, but he’s a gunner and a fun personality.

• Phoenix Suns – Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, Jalen Bridges

The Suns don’t belong higher on this list, but this year’s Summer League team is a lot more interesting than ones we’ve seen in previous years. Dunn is the best defender in the rookie class and is a jumper away from significantly outperforming his draft slot. It’s just not a given that he will ever be able to shoot, which is why he was picked where he was. Ighodaro is an undersized center that can make plays off the dribble, pass a little bit and defend multiple spots. Both players have a shot at contributing for Phoenix as rookies. And Bridges wasn’t drafted, but he easily could have been. He’s a big wing that can really shoot and competes hard defensively. His agent apparently asked teams not to draft him in the second round, which is why he was available for the Suns afterwards.

• Sacramento Kings – Colby Jones, Keon Ellis, Isaiah Crawford

The Kings are another team without many long-term upside guys on the Summer League roster. But Jones is a player that isn’t far away from being a rotation player, so it’ll be interesting to track his progression. Ellis was a feisty on-ball defender last year and he’s a solid shooter. The Kings also added Crawford in undrafted free agency. Many people like him as a big wing that can defend and do some things offensively. Of course, Sacramento would have been higher on the list if Devin Carter wasn’t getting shoulder surgery. The first-round pick is a tenacious defender that can shoot the ball. He’ll be a good player for a long time.