The 2K25 Las Vegas Summer League concluded last night with the Miami Heat being crowned champions. In an exciting game that needed an Elam ending in overtime, we saw guys on waivers from 2023-24 like GG Jackson and Scottie Pippen Jr. they they were the stars. It doesn’t matter if you are a newbie or a vet; It’s an opportunity to level up, and several players did so over the 11 days in Las Vegas.
Only a few of these players will qualify as a potential fantasy basketball asset, but after discussing the five standout players from the opening weekend, here are the rest of my ups and downs for the Vegas Summer League.
NBA Summer League Laughers
Matas Buzelis – Chicago Bulls forward
DeMar DeRozan led the league in minutes played last season, so his departure opened up a lot of minutes on the wing in Chicago. Buzelis, the 19-year-old rookie from now defunct G League Ignitewas successful in Las Vegas, delivering several highlight plays while also invoking confidence in the Bulls’ growing youth movement.
Buzelis acted as the first option, making 17 shot attempts per game. Although inefficient (34/21/74 shooting splits), he was able to get to the line and finish through contact – which is promising considering his age and slender frame.
Furthermore, his defensive efforts, averaging four actions (two steals + two blocks) per game, could earn him immediate playing time. If he continues to apply what he learned from watching Andrei Kirilenko, he could emerge as a player to pick over the recently re-signed Patrick Williams.
Kel’el Ware – Center, Miami Heat
Ware was the most impressive big man I witnessed in all of summer league. He made my watch list after making some noise at the California Classic and took that energy to Las Vegas. He was one of the main reasons the Heat went 6-0 in Las Vegas, finishing third on the team in scoring (18.0/g) and first in rebounding (8.3/g), averaging 2.5 actions in 26.5 minutes per game.
The versatile big man appears to be a guy who will start immediately for the Heat, potentially moving Bam Adebayo to his more natural position at power forward. At worst, Ware can be an effective backup center per minute due to his ability to shoot, catch lobs, rebound and protect the rim. I will call him on the positive side in the last rounds of next season.
Brandin Podziemski – Guard, Golden State Warriors
The second-year point guard will be Golden State’s starting point guard next season, so it was great to see Podziemski openly wants additional reps this summer. It all started with his participation in USA Basketball, playing for the USA Select Team and ended with him playing two games in the Vegas Summer League – an exercise that proved to be fruitful, as he was one of the best players to touch the ground.
Podz was shut down after just two games, during which he averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.5 3s per game. Like some other sophomores on the riser list, Podz was too good for Summer League, but his willingness to get valuable reps with his teammates shows the young combo guard’s level of maturity and leadership.
He will be a great selection late next year, and his potential is something to look forward to in the upcoming NBA season.
Karlo Matković – Forward/Center, New Orleans Pelicans
I know you’re probably giving me the Snoop Dogg “Who??” meme, but the 51st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft stood out more than any other Pelicans player in Summer League. The stats don’t jump off the page, but he made an impact whenever he was on the floor.
Pelicans GM David Griffin was raving about him, and I see why. His range, shot blocking, athleticism and being an effective threat in the pick-and-roll earned him a three year agreement in Las Vegas – not a two-way contract.
He can request a timeshare with Daniel Theis immediately. Matković adds another offensive dimension than Theis, and with rookie Yves Missi looking extremely raw, I’m keeping my eye on Matković as a player sound asleep heading into next season.
Donovan Cligan – Center, Portland Trail Blazers
Robert Williams is officially on noticeMeanwhile, Deandre Ayton could be looking over his shoulder before long because Cligan looks like he could be a force on the interior. He led the Summer League in rebounds (12.3) and blocks (4.3) per game. Although Cligan only made 36% of his shot attempts, he doesn’t project as much of a scorer in the league. It’s possible to make a Walker Kessler-like impact in his rookie season, especially if Cligan gets at least 20 minutes a night in the regular season.
Others who impressed without the path to fantasy relevance (yet)
Summer League Fallers
Alex Sarr – Forward/Center, Washington Wizards
The second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft definitely showed up on the defensive end, but offensively, it was a different story. Through four games, Sarr shot 11% from 3 on four attempts per game and 19% overall on 12 attempts per game. He had a two-game streak shooting 1-for-21, damn. Not even Bronny James was falling that low.
He’ll find out – he’s only 19 – but it was clear he was forcing the issue. He will need to recalibrate his shot selection and use his size to get better vision of the rim and midcourt. Poor shooting aside, his ability to generate stocks, as well as potentially see minutes from starters, offers some intrigue as a late-rounder next season.
Jordan Hawkins – Guard, New Orleans Pelicans
The second-year guard was on my watch list because I predicted he would play a key role in the green-light offense as a shooting guard. I mean, the kid played in 67 games last season and held his own, so he was trending toward the “too good for summer league” level of guys.
Spoiler alert: he wasn’t.
In four games, Hawkins shot 28% from the field and provided just 5.2 rebounds and assists combined, with 1.2 shares and 3.6 turnovers. He saw an insane 31% usage rate, so seeing almost no counting stats is disappointing. For what it’s worth, he didn’t play well last year either, so maybe Summer League just isn’t his thing. However, the backcourt in New Orleans is loaded and this performance gives me no reason to target him in fantasy.
MarJon Beauchamp – forward, Milwaukee Bucks
The 24th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft averaged 12.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.5 turnovers per game on 33/30/85 shooting splits. While the counting stats were good, the Beauchamp ship sailed when the Bucks recently signed Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr.
Wow friend. Doc Rivers said bluntly that MarJon has struggled with the quick decision-making he will need to play with Giannis/Dame/Khris. It may be over.
He also asked for another free dinner
-Ti Windisch (@TiWindisch) July 17, 2024
Beauchamp’s poor decision-making and inefficiency are still present beyond the scoreboard. Despite being a first-round pick, it’s unlikely he can crack the rotation, with Doc Rivers publicly expressing his lack of progression in specific areas.
Marcus Sasser – Guard, Detroit Pistons
Sasser struggled with turnovers (3.4/g) and didn’t hit his shot for much of the five games he played in Las Vegas. He shot 33% from the field and 25% from 3 – inefficiencies are areas of concern as he enters his second NBA season. He will likely play behind Cade Cunningham at point guard, but F Bobi Klintman has emerged as the best playmaker on the Summer League roster.
I’m not sure what happened, but Sasser took a step back this summer and won’t be on my fantasy radar.
Yves Missi – Center, New Orleans Pelicans
The Baylor rookie averaged three more minutes per game than Matković and yet produced a similar stat line with much less efficiency. Since the Pelicans’ only offseason move in the frontcourt was to add Missi and Theis, I thought Missi had an opportunity to get minutes right away, but I’ve since soured on that idea, knowing how far apart his and Matković’s offensive games are. .
Missi’s true shooting (.512) and eFG percentages (.462) were below average, in addition to her 97.7 offensive rating. He had a chance to get minutes soon, but now, Matković, more ready for the NBA, will surpass him.
Others who disappointed
