Ranking the Top 30 NBA Summer League Prospects to Watch

NBA fans can debate the meaning of summer-league play and how much the production actually matters.

It is, unknowingly to them, a colossal waste of time.

Summer-league hoops are made to be enjoyed. Savored, even, while covered in the delectable sauce known as offseason optimism.

The young players set to take over Las Vegas now (and perhaps the league at large later) have little more than potential to offer at this point, but potential is all that's needed to make this one of the most enjoyable events of the summer.

It's like peeking into the future of basketball. And when we go peeking at the NBA's next generation, these are the 30 players we'll be watching the closest, ranked by the subjective level of our excitement to see them.

Excitement is, admittedly, a vague term, but it can be anything from players with aesthetically pleasing styles to those we want to watch handle the adjustment to the size, speed, physicality and spacing of the NBA game.

It was a choppy rookie season for Gradey Dick, who opened the 2023-24 campaign in the Raptors' rotation, then spent a big chunk out of it and finally found his way into the starting lineup for the final month.

This is his chance to show whether that late-season success is something he can build on.

Toronto needs to maximize its spacing around Scottie Barnes, and Dick's post-All-Star success in that department (37.1 three-point percentage) suggests he should be an easy fit with the franchise face. A strong summer showing could steer Dick toward a sizable role for his sophomore campaign and many beyond it.

Last summer, Jett Howard was a lottery pick. This summer, he quietly ranks high among the players in need of some reputation repair.

The 2023-24 Magic struggled mightily on offense due to a shooting shortage. And yet Howard, whose three-point shot was essentially solely responsible for his prominent draft placement, still couldn't get burn in Orlando. He appeared in just 18 Magic games for a total of 67 minutes, the 14th-fewest of the 58 players taken in that draft.

Orlando knows he can shoot (he hit 38 percent of his threes in the G League), but he must convince the club he can do enough other stuff to not get played off the floor. The Magic clearly didn't have that confidence last season, and they won't just grant it to him now unless he earns it.

The first pick after last year's lottery, Kobe Bufkin was injured early in his rookie year and basically never factored into the Hawks' plans after. His 17 NBA appearances spanned just 196 minutes.

Playing time shouldn't be nearly as big of a hurdle this time around.

Atlanta already ushered in a changing of the guard by shipping out Dejounte Murray, and the possibility of plunging into a rebuild with a Trae Young trade still exists. Bufkin should be a rotation regular (at least) for the Hawks this season, and if he isn't, that may very well mean something went horribly wrong at summer league.

AJ Johnson was one of the bigger wild cards in the draft after spending the 2023-24 season with the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL and hardly seeing the floor for them. He turned heads for the right reasons at the combine, though, and his blend of size (6'5"), skill and athleticism could shine under similar conditions in Sin City.

There are rough-around-the-edges elements of his game, but he is fun to watch when he catches fire.

He is a blur off the bounce, has creative enough handles to ditch his defender, boasts a capable (if inconsistent) outside shot and can deliver explosive finishes around the rim. He might not be polished enough for the big-league Bucks, but he could be electric for their summer-league squad.

The number of rookie second-rounders capable of impacting next season's championship race isn't a long one, but Tyler Kolek is absolutely on it. If the size and speed of the Association doesn't swallow him up, he offers plug-and-play potential as a polished floor general.

The Knicks lacked shot-creation when Jalen Brunson needed a breather this past season. That may not be an issue any longer if Kolek finds his way onto the floor.

His leadership should galvanize this group, and he'll keep the summer 'Bockers humming with his instincts, creativity, pull-up shooting and relentless penetration.

Jordan Hawkins' rookie season was rather uneventful. His fiery jumper and quick-strike scoring surfaced early, but by the end his limitations had bumped him out of the rotation.

He needs a strong showing this summer to ensure that late disappearing act doesn't become a trend.

His game should play up in this environment. He can lace it from long range, and he has enough shake to snake around closeouts. He just needs to show he can consistently do all of the above and play non-atrocious defense. If he stumbles this summer, he could leave the door open for second-round rookie Antonio Reeves to snatch his spot.

The vibes are less than immaculate in Miami, where folks are wondering why the Heat aren't trying to do more to keep up in the Eastern Conference. Gone, apparently, are the days in which this club is simply given the benefit of the doubt based on past accomplishments.

They could use an injection of energy from Kel'el Ware to help quiet any talks of disappointment.

If everything goes according to plan, the rookie could be on his way toward securing a prominent role both alongside of and behind Bam Adebayo. First, though, Ware must prove his perimeter shot is for real and that he's able to consistently give the kind of defensive effort this culture-first club requires.

Not to spoil anything, but Ousmane Dieng is the only player on this list who wasn't drafted either this year or last.

For most players taken in 2022 or earlier, if they haven't shown enough by this point, it's hard to keep hope alive. Plenty of people might feel that way with Dieng, but his age (21) and the fact his lack of floor time (934 minutes across two campaigns) might have more to do with Oklahoma City's depth than anything have earned him something of a free pass—for now.

If he can't make noise this summer, though, maybe that's the last we hear of him, at least as any part of the Thunder's short- and long-term plans. He looks like a potential two-way playmaker, but he needs to show some evidence about actually becoming one.

It was tricky finding the right spot for Bronny James. What wasn't difficult, though, was knowing he needed a mention somewhere on this list.

He is a direct descendant of NBA royalty, the firstborn of none other than GOAT-debate member LeBron James. That matters. It will matter a whole lot more, though, if Bronny proves he can play.

Because so many summer leaguers are playing for jobs or roles, there can be a selfless element to the style of play. This isn't a great environment for James, who counts instincts and awareness as two of his best traits. Still, if he plays disruptive defense on one end and helps organize the offense at the other, his playmaking will find a way to stand out.

The 14th pick of the draft doesn't always find their way to building-block status, but the Washington Wizards will give Carlton "Bub" Carrington every chance to earn exactly that. Their post-Bradley Beal rebuild hasn't even reached the blueprint stage yet, so they are looking for any kind of young talent to build around.

Carrington has plenty to offer.

He is slipperier than a cartoon banana peel and is the kind of tough-shot-maker who can have defenders shaking their heads and social media going wild. He can absolutely fill up a stat sheet, too, as his one-and-done campaign at Pittsburgh was bookended by a triple-double in his debut and a 24-point, four-triple eruption in his finale.

Every time there is even a whisper of trade talk around Lauri Markkanen or Walker Kessler, it's a reminder the Jazz could be standing on the edge of a top-to-bottom overhaul. Young talent means about as much to them as anyone, and few of their prospects boast a higher ceiling than Cody Williams.

The younger brother of Thunder swingman Jalen Williams, Cody fits the always coveted big-wing mold.

Williams' game and frame both need filling out, but there are some high-end outcomes potentially within his reach. Hopefully, he uses this stage to provide a glimpse of what he might become and ideally drops at least a few hints about when that evolution could happen.

Few players raised their profiles more dramatically than GG Jackson II this past season. He arrived as a second-round project and was barely an afterthought through the first couple of months and change, but a second-half surge cast him as a potential future star and indispensable piece of the Grizzlies.

Jackson, who didn't turn 19 until December, wound up as one of the most productive players in his draft class. Only Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller, the draft's first and second picks respectively, averaged more than Jackson's 14.6 points.

It's worth noting, for context at least, that the Grizzlies were essentially drawing dead by the time Jackson became a factor, so there weren't a lot of stakes at play when he was putting up those stats. So, there might be a bit of skepticism regarding how much he can contribute to a winning team. It'll be hard to quiet that noise during the stake-free summer, but he can easily drum up excitement if he once again looks the part of an ascending star.

Brandin Podziemski earned high marks—and an All-Rookie first team spot—for his ability to step in and contribute right away for the win-now (or try-to-win-now, rather) Warriors. The way he sees it, though, that only set the stage for even greater things ahead.

"I want to be able to be in the conversation and win Most Improved Player," Podziemski told Sportskeeda's Mark Medina. "... I want to put my name up there as an up-and-coming star in the league. I'm ready to make the year two jump."

With Klay Thompson out of Golden State, Podziemski should have ample opportunity to improve his numbers and solidify his standing within the organization. If he looks like he doesn't belong at summer league for the right reasons, the Warriors' confidence in him should only increase.

The Los Angeles Lakers seemingly snagged the 2024 draft's biggest steal when plug-and-play sharpshooter Dalton Knecht fell right in their lap.

Since his appeal is tied more to instant impact than long-term potential, though, you'd like to see him look ahead of the pack in summer league.

The shooting-starved Lakers could have a sizable role set aside for him, provided he shows he can deliver right away. If he looks anything like he did at Tennessee, where he averaged 21.7 points on 45.8/39.7/77.2 shooting, he could wind up having a prominent part in the Purple and Gold's plans for 2024-25.

A minor knee injury kept Tidjane Salaün out of the California Classic, but the hope is he'll be ready to go in Las Vegas. That will provide Hornets fans with their first glimpse of arguably one of this draft's biggest risk-reward prospects.

While many mock drafts had Salaün landing somewhere in the latter half of the lottery, Charlotte pounced on his potential with the No. 6 pick. To be fair to this front office, there is plenty of potential to be found here. The most optimistic outlooks on his career show two-way stardom with everything from defensive versatility and shot-making to creation and electric finishing.

The 18-year-old is a long ways away from even approaching that territory, though, and there are obviously a lot of ways this can go awry between now and then. All the Hornets need for now is Salaün looking like he belongs and leaving his mark as a play-finisher.

Jared McCain is a fiery shot-maker. And a fun follow on TikTok, apparently.

His shot-making could be one of the better shows in Vegas, though. Things could really get interesting for him if his playmaking continues playing up, too.

While he isn't Philly's most high-profile pickup this offseason (Paul George waves hello), McCain could step into a sizable role for the Sixers right away. He has a chance to start expanding that role here.

Anthony Black's stat lines seldom went berserk during his rookie season, but he made 69 appearances and 33 starts for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. That's kind of a big deal for a 20-year-old freshman.

So, what comes next?

Black has already proved to be a defensive pest at this level, but how is his offense looking? Can he turn up the volume with his perimeter shooting? Does he have more creation in his bag than he was able to show so far? Orlando has a pair of rising stars in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and this is Black's chance to audition for a featured role alongside them.

Jarace Walker had one of those blink-and-you-missed-it rookie seasons. He might need to ball out this summer to ensure his sophomore campaign doesn't play out the same way.

The Pacers may have spent a premium pick to get him, but they've basically set one obstacle after another in front of him ever since. His natural power forward position is fully blocked for the foreseeable future with Indiana having paid big money to both Pascal Siakam (four years, $189 million) and Obi Toppin (four years, $60 million) this offseason.

Walker at least should get a ton of touches this summer, though they'll seemingly come on the wing and not at his natural 4 spot. Indiana is already requesting adaptations from the 20-year-old, and if he can't adjust to what they need, this partnership could already be in jeopardy.

Cam Whitmore's slide down the 2023 draft board was bizarre while it was happening and only appeared more baffling in hindsight. The Rockets even slow-played him out of the gate, but once they started giving him regular floor time, they found out how difficult it can be to take him off.

The first signs this might be brewing came last summer, when Whitmore looked like one of the more electric rookies around. He averaged 19.3 points across six contests, converted 44.7 percent of his field goals and was crowned MVP of the summer.

He may not make enough appearances to repeat that feat, but as an ignitable shooter and impressive athlete, he should put on a show for however long he laces them up. If he makes enough noise in Vegas, he could either command a substantial role with the Rockets or serve as one of the primary trade chips in their ongoing star search.

There were certainly scenarios in which Donovan Clingan could've landed a lot higher on this list.

Like if, say, some win-now suitor would've turned all those pre-draft trade rumblings into an actual transaction and staked a not insignificant part of their 2024-25 hopes on Clingan's interior impact. Or even if Scoot Henderson was on Portland's summer league roster and had the chance to start creating chemistry with the Blazers' new big man.

With Clingan on a rebuilder and no Henderson in sight, though, this feels less interesting than Clingan's draft-season buzz made it seem like his summer would be. Still, it will be worth watching to see how the 7'2", 282-pounder navigates his way around an NBA floor against NBA (and NBA-adjacent) competition.

Keyonte George was one of last summer's brightest stars. The hope this time is he shines so bright that the Jazz see no need for him to make many appearances.

When he's out there, though, he'll put on a show. His handles are slippery and creative. He is a live-dribble threat to pull-up, pass or penetrate. His stat lines could get silly.

He needs more polish to make good on his full potential (he shot just 39.1 percent from the field and 33.4 percent from three as a rookie), but a few hints of that sky-high upside are all that's needed right now.

Is this underselling Reed Sheppard? Maybe. There is definitely a chance he posts some of the wilder numbers around or even goes viral with some wild three-point shooting display or a flash of those best-at-the-combine hops.

It just feels like there's less to learn with him than with some of the other top prospects. Or less that we can learn without seeing him in action on the real Rockets—alongside Amen Thompson, in particular—at least.

For now, though, it will be worth tracking how comfortable Sheppard looks creating offense for himself and his teammates against professional defenders. He might handle a lot of off-ball work in the regular season, but hopefully his summer diet is heavy with on-ball offerings.

There are two big reasons to put Matas Buzelis on your must-watch list this summer.

First, he's just a talented prospect with some easy-on-the-eyes attributes. He is a 6'9" swingman with do-everything versatility. He is an instinctive passer with a great feel for the game. He could be a two-way connector if everything goes smoothly with his development.

Second, he should also hit the hardwood with the proverbial chip on his shoulder after sliding down the board on draft night. While this wasn't a plummet, it was a handful of picks later than most mock-drafters thought he'd go. If that makes Buzelis motivated to prove his doubters wrong, that should only help his performance.

Zach Edey spent the past two seasons serving as the best player in men's college basketball. The Grizzlies, who have a real chance to get back on the championship track with a healthy Ja Morant, made a significant wager on Edey's dominance carrying over to this level.

"Zach Edey is a particularly special fit [for the franchise]," Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman told reporters at the draft. "In getting to know him, we are talking about someone whose competitiveness is through the roof, care factor is through the roof. No ego, just wants to win."

Edey has loads of size and skill, but does he have the mobility needed to defend at this level? That's a quietly critical question that will be a factor in next season's Western Conference race. The way Edey moves and operates within the spaced-out NBA hardwood should be one of summer league's top takeaways, for better or worse.

There's a case to be made that Stephon Castle could wind up being the most important player picked during this year's draft. He might be a reliable jumper away from stardom, and he also might be the long-term running mate of Victor Wembanyama. Castle's development could have a direct and profound impact on championship chases for years to come.

So, why doesn't he land even higher here?

Well, this maybe isn't the best environment in which he can showcase his skills. Hardnosed defending and subtly smart distributing are helpful winning traits, but they don't exactly make for the most electric highlight reel. There's also a worry Castle could need some time to find his scoring niche given his limitations as a long-range shooter.

The most interesting move of this year's draft—by a country mile—was Minnesota's aggressive trade to get Rob Dillingham. The Wolves paid a premium to get him, sending a 2030 first-round swap and a 2031 first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs, but they clearly think he can be their missing piece.

And they just might be right.

The Timberwolves looked short on shot-creation at times during the postseason, and they'd yet to implement a succession plan behind 36-year-old point guard Mike Conley. Dillingham has a real chance to scratch both itches. His scoring bag is deep, his playmaking is improving and his defensive effort is full-throttle.

Maybe the No. 4 ranking feels too low for this year's No. 1 pick, but Atlanta's selection of Zaccharie Risacher felt as much about fit and floor as it did his potential.

He's almost a high-end three-and-D wing, though he flashes more handles and passing than the label implies. Still, he's someone who The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor put 11th on his big board and compared to Harrison Barnes and Tobias Harris.

Risacher is a puzzle piece, not a centerpiece. That's the word out on him, anyway. Maybe he can change that narrative by flashing more creation than expected at summer league.

Brandon Miller took bronze in this past season's Rookie of the Year voting. Hopefully, he has everyone asking, 'What the heck are you doing here?' early into his summer run.

He arguably already nudged his ceiling higher. He made good decisions, shot threes at a high rate (2.5 makes per outing, 37.3 percent splash rate) and looked comfortable creating off the bounce. Tack on defensive versatility, and you have all the earmarks of an impact, two-way big wing.

He can't secure stardom over the summer, but he can get Buzz City absolutely buzzing if he looks a level above the rest in Las Vegas.

Detroit delivered the first surprise of this year's draft when it took Ron Holland with the No. 5 pick. It's possible the Pistons scored the night's biggest steal with the selection, too, as the athletic swingman was once regarded as the top prospect in the class.

Then again, maybe he's the latest prospect to hit the Motor City without a perimeter shot. The Pistons have been perpetually squeezed for spacing during this rebuild, and he hardly looks like a fix for that problem. Even worse, their shooting issues could shrink the attack lanes his downhill driving game is meant to exploit.

Can he make good on that potential and solidify his place as one of the primary building blocks? Or will he be the latest early pick of the Pistons who fails to deliver a great return on investment? Hopefully, summer league provides at least a little hint of what's to come.

Alex Sarr might have wound up No. 2 in the draft, but he snags the No. 1 spot here. Some, yours truly included, would argue he has the highest ceiling of any player in this draft, and he just so happened to land on a rebuilding roster that was almost devoid of potential entering the talent grab.

This looks like one of those cases where the best player available and the best need-filler were one in the same. All due respect to Sarr's fellow Frenchman, Bilal Coulibaly, but Sarr immediately becomes the most important player on Washington's roster.

Scouts and analysts seem confident Sarr's all-purpose defense will play at this level right away, but hopefully this summer showing gives glimpses of what he can bring to the offensive end. He'll have some highlight finishes, but he could get social media talking if he flashes as a handler, live-dribble creator and—fingers fully crossed—perimeter shotmaker.

Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on X, @ZachBuckleyNBA.