Summer League is a wrap this year, and all in all, it was a disappointing showing. The lack of star power in the 2024 NBA draft became obvious in Summer League with only a few bright spots emerging. A lack of top-end talent did set the floor to elevate some unlikely prospects early though, illuminating some diamonds in the rough. We’ll break down our thoughts on some potential stars, and who we’re already concerned about.
There were few prospects more impressive at Summer League than Reed Sheppard. The third pick in the draft by Houston, the former Kentucky freshman showed that he’s a force on both sides of the ball. Not only demonstrating his shooting ability which he was known for in college, but his play-making and elite defensive instincts. Sheppard made it known that even though he’s a smaller guard, there is nothing little about his game. He may be exactly what a young Houston team needs to put all the pieces together, and start competing in the West again!
The big man from Indiana already is proving himself as a winner with Miami winning the Summer League Tournament. The 15th pick in the draft, Ware was a bit of a mystery on draft night. With questions surrounding his drive, and work ethic, his draft projections were unknown. But boy did he luck out. Landing on a Miami team that is known for bringing out the best in players, Ware’s early numbers are already impressive. Averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks over his 6 Summer League Games. His place alongside NBA star Bam Adebayo could make him one of the top rookies to watch in the class!
Falling on draft night, Knecht ended up dropping right into the lap of a Lakers team desperate for shooters. Coming off a successful season in Tennessee Dalton won SEC Player of the Year with his elite scoring ability. These scoring chops showed up again in summer league, with Dalton as one of the best shooters in the tournament; averaging nearly 40% from the 3-point line. Though Dalton was rarely the main focus of the Laker's Summer League next to Bronny James, he still managed to shine despite the distractions.
As an older rookie, da Silva finished up his final year at Colorado as a do-it-all forward. Selected right ahead of Knecht at 16 by Orlando. He did not disappoint at Summer League, putting up 17 points per game, 5 rebounds, and 1 block a game with wild scoring efficiency. The scouting reports seem to be accurate on da Silva being one of the most NBA-ready prospects in the draft. He’ll join an up-and-coming Orlando team looking to not only win in the regular season but compete in the playoffs as well. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what he can do with a full NBA workload!
Well, it’s still extremely early in this young guy's career but woof did he have some rough games during Summer League. Selected second by the Wizards, Sarr struggled to show off his 7’1 frame all tournament. Often settling for difficult mid-range shots that lead to some abysmal shooting games. Sarr’s defensive talent did shine through, so the story isn’t all bad, but without his promising scoring touch showing up, we’re beginning to worry early. Hopefully, this is just a Summer League fluke and he’ll show us his full game soon, but we’ll be watching cautiously.
Scheierman ended up sneaking into the first round of the draft with the Boston Celtics at 30. The 5th year senior was billed as one of the most plug-and-play NBA players in the draft. Dropping to the bottom of the first round primarily because of his age. However, he struggled in his 5 games in the Summer League. Failing to showcase his elite shooting that got him drafted in the first place, Scheierman put up a pedestrian 29% from 3, far from his college numbers. This may just be a small blip on the radar, and for the Celtics is hardly a concern after winning the title. Though, with the explosion of the team’s salary bill, a productive player on a rookie contract would have been a home run!
Ryan Dun may be one of the most elite defensive prospects we have seen enter the draft in a decade. He’s huge 6’7 with a 7’1 wingspan makes him a challenge to beat off the dribble. Even with this elite defensive prowess, his offense was non-existent at Summer League. Shooting below 35% from the field, and 7% from 3, you don’t need to guard the guy on offense. However, this might now be an issue for a defensively challenged Suns team. With elite offensive players across the board, they may be the one team in the league that can make up for his offensive shortcomings. Either way, Dunn will be an interesting addition to an expensive Pheonix roster with title aspirations.
The NBA Vegas Summer League is hardly a good gauge of who these players can become, but it does give us our first glimpse. For many of these players, it’s the start of great things to come. For those who struggle, this may be a warning that even with 100s of scouting hours it’s still hard to predict who 19 years old will become. Nothing is certain, and that is damn sure for Summer League results, but overall, we’re excited to see these players in the NBA soon!