NBA Player News

The Athletic’s Josh Robbins reports it will be a 2026 second rounder from Chicago and a 2029 second round from Sacramento that will be headed back to the Rockets, who needed to recoup what assets they could from the No. 20 overall pick in 2023. Whitmore showcased some scoring upside during his two seasons in Houston and will now be the latest upside swing to land with the Wizards. He’ll join a rotation that features recent first-round picks like Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and Will Riley, as well as a veteran in Khris Middleton.

Knueppel was far more impactful Monday evening after a pedestrian performance in his summer league debut on Thursday. The fourth overall pick in last month’s draft shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and was solid defensively, which likely mirrors what the Hornets will ask of Knueppel once the regular season begins. He’ll be more valuable to dynasty league managers than those competing in redraft leagues, but Knueppel possesses a relatively high floor in his new home.

If Monday’s game was the last of the summer for Furphy, he finished with a flourish. The Pacers wing produced one of the highlights of summer league with his second-quarter dunk over Chicago’s Noa Essengue, and he was impactful on both ends of the floor. According to Pacers team president Kevin Pritchard, Furphy has added 20 pounds since the end of the 2024-25 season. He clearly needed to get stronger after playing limited minutes as a rookie, and he appears to have done that. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle does not hesitate to go deep into his bench, so Furphy will have opportunities to earn more playing time.

After mediocre performances in Indiana’s first two games of the summer, Jones was more productive against the Bulls. The second-round pick out of Marquette shot 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and recorded a complete stat line in Monday’s defeat. Jones’s ability to defend may improve his chances of earning playing time next season, especially with Tyrese Haliburton already ruled out with a ruptured Achilles tendon. That isn’t enough to make Jones a player worth selecting in standard leagues, but he’s worthy of consideration in deeper formats.

Despite suffering a right quad contusion during Saturday’s loss to the Kings, Essengue was in the starting lineup on Monday. And the first-round pick played well against the Pacers, shooting 50 percent from the field overall and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. With Matas Buzelis likely done for the summer, there may be an opportunity for Essengue to show what he can do as the top scoring option. That is, if he isn’t also sidelined for the rest of the week.

Buzelis was sensational on Monday, making routine and spectacular plays throughout the Bulls’ victory. During his postgame interview, the second-year forward said he was likely done for the remainder of Summer League. Given how well Buzelis played, the Bulls have likely seen all they need from the 2024 lottery pick. Buzelis’ status as a starter should not change once the regular season begins, and he’s worthy of a late-round flier in standard leagues.

For some NBA teams, the end of the first weekend of Summer League leads to “known quantities” being shut down for the rest of the event. The Rockets have decided to take that approach with Reed Sheppard, which resulted in even more opportunities for Chandler. Chandler, the 38th overall pick in the 2022 draft, appeared in 36 games with the Grizzlies during the 2022-23 season and has not been back in the NBA since. Performances like the one he produced on Monday may increase the point guard’s chances of receiving a training camp from someone, whether it’s Houston or another team.

Newell’s production took a hit after a stellar performance in Sunday’s win over the Suns. However, the reps are more important than the numbers, as the first-round pick won’t turn 20 until early October. With the Hawks among the teams still in contention to reach the semifinals of the NBA 2K26 Summer League, Newell does not appear to be a shutdown candidate. If so, that would mean more opportunities for Jack McVeigh. He shined against the Rockets, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in 27 minutes off the bench.

Bufkin shot the ball far better than on Sunday, when the Hawks guard shot 3-of-17 from the field in a win over Phoenix. However, the scoring efficiency was countered by a brutal day regarding ball control. Bufkin turned the ball over nine times against the Rockets, eight more than his total on Sunday. While his opportunities will be limited once the regular season begins, Bufkin must be efficient as a scorer and playmaker to log consistent minutes off the bench.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, George injured his knee during a recent workout. The 76ers wing only appeared in 41 games in his debut season with the team, as groin and knee injuries sidelined him for good in March. George initially hyperextended his left knee during the preseason, and it remained an issue throughout the year. With Joel Embiid also recovering from offseason knee surgery, the 76ers could be without two of their stars when training camp opens in September.

Toppin, who agreed to a two-way contract in March, played well in Las Vegas before suffering an injury. According to the Hawks, he’s dealing with a left hip injury sustained during the first half of Monday’s game. Given Atlanta’s depth at the power forward position, Toppin may struggle to get the minutes needed to impact fantasy basketball once the regular season begins. That said, the Hawks had to be pleased with his play at summer league.