Las Vegas Summer League
Later this offseason, I will be taking a deeper dive into all the Summer League stats and their implications in my annual column “Does Summer League Matter?” but for today’s column, I want to take a cursory glance of Las Vegas Summer League performers. For some further context, here is the intro paragraph to my column that will be posted later this summer.
So, does Summer League matter? Well, the answer to that question requires context, and it’s not necessarily a binary choice. It both matters and doesn’t matter, depending on who you’re talking about. It’s not completely irrelevant, but it’s not super relevant, either. It can be used as a data point to help us further paint a picture, but it’s certainly not the only data point, and the sample size is too small. A poor Summer League showing could be a cause for concern if it lines up with other relevant worries, but a solid Summer League performance doesn’t really mean anything, as these guys are supposed to ball out in Las Vegas. So, when used within the proper context of where a player was drafted and what type of role they’ll be stepping into, then Summer League can be a helpful tool, but it’s far from perfect.
So let’s take a look at some of the top picks and second-year players and how they performed in Las Vegas
Paolo Banchero (two games): 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.0 triples, 2.5 steals, 1.0 block
40.7 FG (13.5 FGA) / 80 FT (10 FTA)
Banchero played well in Vegas, as he showcased some impressive playmaking skills for a 6-foot-10 forward, but I remain concerned about his fantasy potential in Orlando with a plethora of talented players who play the same position as him. As of right now, I’m not all that interested in rolling the dice on 2022’s No. 1 overall pick on draft day.
Chet Holmgren (three games): 12.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals, 2.0 blocks
46.4 FG (9.3 FGA) / 87.5 FT (2.7 FTA)
Holmgren looked as advertised in Las Vegas, racking up the defensive stats while showcasing a smooth jumper, the ability to guard multiple positions and put the ball on the floor and make plays for others. Yes, he’s skinny, but in today’s NBA that doesn’t matter much. The hype machine is already rolling on the No. 2 overall pick, and I could see his ADP getting into the 30s on draft day. Personally, that’s a bit too high for me to spend on a rookie, but with a larger data set throughout the preseason and training camp, I may come around.
Jabari Smith (five games): 14.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 triples, 1.6 steals, 1.4 blocks
37.7 FG (13.8 FGA) / 76.5 FT (3.4 FTA)
The No. 3 overall pick showed both his strengths and weaknesses in Las Vegas, as he was able to rack up the counting stats, but wasn’t able to do so efficiently. He has a tendency to settle for tough, contested jumpers, so that will be something he needs to work on his rookie year. He’ll also need to compete for touches with Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, but if an underwhelming Summer League performance results in him dipping past the mid-rounds on draft day, it’ll be tough for me to pass up on a guy this talented. After all, he was presumed to be the No. 1 overall selection until about 30 minutes before the 2022 NBA Draft started.
Tari Eason (five games): 17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 triples, 1.8 steals, 1.0 block
44.7 FG (15.2 FG) / 78.6 FT (2.8 FTA)
Josh Christopher (three games): 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.7 blocks, 2.3 turnovers
39.6 FG (16.0 FGA) / 83.3 FT (8.0 FTA)
Both these guys looked quite good in Vegas, and if Houston finally decides to put Eric Gordon in more of a mentorship role, it’s possible these two could be competing for a starting spot on Houston’s young roster. I would give the edge to Christopher between the two simply due to experience, but both these guys should absolutely be on your radar as potential late-round targets.
Keegan Murray (four games): 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.5 triples, 1.3 steals
50 FG (14.5 FGA) / 80.8 FT (6.5 FTA)
Murray was already one of my favorite rookies coming into Summer League, and Las Vegas’ MVP only gave me further confirmation bias as he looked like a man amongst boys at the tournament. Ultimately, the number of minutes he receives his rookie year will be up to Mike Brown, but the Kings certainly have a need at the power forward position, and he looks like a guy who will be ready to contribute immediately. I wouldn’t mind taking a swing at Murray towards the 50s on draft day.
Jaden Ivey (two games): 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 triples
50 FG (8.0 FGA) / 100 FT (6.0 FTA)
The data size is small, and Ivey will famously be playing for a couch (Dwane Casey) that can be wonky with his rotations, but if he’s able to establish himself as a starter alongside Cade Cunningham in Detroit, that could be an incredibly fun backcourt to watch. He’s certainly on my radar, but I need to see how he establishes himself in the rotation throughout training camp and the preseason before I make declarative statements about where I’d be comfortable drafting him.
Ochai Agbaji (four games): 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.0 triples, 1.3 steals
37.8 FG (12.8 FGA) / 2.8 FT (90.9 FTA)
A recent report indicated that the No. 14 overall pick, Agbaji, could be a rotation player in Cleveland right out the gates due to his ability to stroke it from distance. He converted 40.7% of his long-balls during his senior year at Kansas and shot a comparable 37.5% from distance in his four games at Summer League. The key here will be how many minutes he earns as a rotational player, and if he’ll be able to beat out guys like Cedi Osman and Isaac Okoro for the starting three-spot in Cleveland, but he certainly has the talent to do so. Keep an eye on him.
David Roddy (five games): 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 triple, 0.4 steals, 0.6 blocks
44.3 FG (44.3 FGA) / 3.8 FT (84.2 FTA)
Roddy is my sleeper pick to get meaningful minutes with Jaren Jackson Jr. (foot) set to yet again miss a large portion of the season, and his performance in LV did nothing to sway me from that stance. He could be another late-round target in deep leagues.
Cam Thomas (five games): 27.4 points, 4.2 assists, 1.2 triples, 0.8 steals, 2.0 turnovers
44.2 FG (19 FGA) / 87 FT (10.8 FTA)
Thomas could be primed for a breakout season if the Nets are able to move Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (who no one wants), but if one of those two things happen, he’s a guy with mid-round upside. Again, his fantasy-relevant status is mostly dependent upon one of the aforementioned superstars being jettisoned and who would come back in one of those potential deals, but he has a fun skill set for fantasy hoops.
Bennedict Mathurin (three games): 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 triples, 1.3 steals
48.8 FG (13.7 FGA) / 76.5 FT (5.7 FTA)
The No. 6 overall pick fared well in Vegas, but he’s joining a crowded rotation in Indiana. Still, the Pacers are clearly going through a rebuild, so if he’s able to solidify himself as a rotation player at camp, he could be another potential late-round target on draft day.
Isaiah Jackson (three games): 10.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 3.3 blocks
54.2 FG (8.0 FGA) / 50 FT (2.0 FTA)
3.3 swats in 21.9 minutes per game, need I say more? Even if Myles Turner stays, Jackson could be an impact player in a 20-minute reserve role with the Pacers. He’s great – I love his fantasy upside.
James Wiseman (four games): 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.5 triples, 2.0 blocks
48.6 FG (8.8 FGA) / 54.5 (2.8 FTA)
Wiseman looked rusty, but showed promise at Summer League, and if he’s able to beat out Kevon Looney for a starting spot then he could be in line for a breakout season. We haven’t seen nearly enough of Wiseman to truly judge his potential, but Golden State is an excellent franchise and he was selected No. 2 overall for a reason.
Jamal Still Not Ready? MPJ to have minutes cap?
Jamal Murray, who suffered an ACL tear back in April of 2021, reportedly may not be ready for the start of the 2022-23 season. That’s an insanely long time to recover from this sort of injury, but it’s looking like Murray may be going the Jonathan Isaac route with his recovery. Michael Malone already said if/when he does play, he’ll have some minutes restrictions, so at this present moment I’m completely uninterested in drafting him outside the very late rounds.
Michael Porter Jr., who only made it through nine games last year before his back flared up and required surgery, will likely be on a 20-minute limit to begin the year. For what it’s worth, MPJ said he’s 100% recovered, but I’d anticipate Denver being cautious with him. Still, I’m far less concerned about Porter Jr. than I am with Murray, and I’d be happy to take him at a discount on draft day; it’s not like he’ll be on a minutes limit the entire season.
Khris Middleton undergoes wrist surgery
Khris Middleton underwent wrist surgery and while he’s expected to be fully recovered near the start of the season, he’s likely going to miss all of training camp and the preseason. For that reason, he could get off to a slow start and may come at a discount on draft day, so he could be one of the better value picks this upcoming season. Just be prepared to be patient.