To say that using Summer League action to gauge the fantasy values of rookies and returning players is an inexact science would be a severe understatement. Most players participating in Salt Lake City, northern California (San Francisco and Sacramento), and Las Vegas won’t be on opening night rosters, and roles tend to differ vastly from those of the regular season.
However, that won’t stop the Rotoworld staff from putting together some thoughts with the NBA 2K25 Summer League reaching its conclusion on Monday night. Zak Hanshew, Raphielle Johnson, Noah Rubin, and Ameer Tyree made their picks for players whose fantasy potential for the upcoming season excites them and those who don’t.
1. Which rookie stands out the most for you regarding fantasy value for next season and why?
There are many great picks here, and Reed Sheppard would be an easy choice. Sheppard, however, has the likes of Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, and Fred VanVleet to compete with for minutes. That’s why Matas Buzelis is the pick. Buzelis has averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 2.0 blocks, and 1.2 triples in five Summer League appearances. His 33.7% shooting and 2.4 turnovers per contest are typical warts for a rookie. Still, Buzelis looks like a strong, two-way option who should have plenty of opportunities for a rebuilding Chicago team. DeMar DeRozan is already gone, and Zach LaVine’s future with the team is in serious doubt. – Hanshew
I’m a big fan of what Reed Sheppard brought to the table in Las Vegas and what he could potentially add to the Rockets‘ rotation once the season begins. However, as Zak noted, Houston‘s combination of talent and depth on the perimeter could limit Sheppard’s ceiling as a rookie. So, I’m going with Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan. He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, averaging 9.0 points per game on 35.7% shooting from the field. Still, the rebounding and rim protection excites me about the two-time national champion’s fantasy potential next season.
Clingan averaged 12.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks (as well as 0.8 steals) in Las Vegas, with 3.5 of those boards coming on the offensive end. He led all players in total rebounds and blocked shots, and those are areas where he can provide immediate value without needing a high number of touches on the offensive end of the floor. We’ll see what Portland does with Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III, but both have had availability issues during their respective NBA careers. Regardless of what decisions are made, Clingan is a rookie who will be high on my board come draft time. – Johnson
Zach Edey only played in two games and exited one of those early after suffering an ankle injury. The two ankle injuries in Summer League are a bit concerning, but his production on the court was undeniable. He will have a chance to average a double-double and provide excellent block numbers as a rookie due to the lack of competition for minutes at center. Hopefully, he’ll be able to leave the ankle issues in Vegas and have a healthy first year in the league. – Rubin
Zach Edey was limited by an ankle injury but showed me enough to make me confident that he’ll be among the most productive rookies. I expect him to start alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. from day one, and the two will form a formidable defensive frontcourt.
Edey will rebound and block shots at a high level regardless of his offensive tools. I’m confident that he can get plenty of second-chance points around the rim. Ja Morant’s playmaking will create plenty of easy opportunities for him as well, while JJJ spaces the floor with his shooting. – Tyree
2. Which rookie are you most concerned with regarding fantasy value after seeing them in summer league?
It’s got to be Alexandre Sarr. In four Summer League outings, he averaged 5.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.5 blocks. Sarr averaged the fewest points of any first-round pick, shooting 19.1% on 11.8 attempts. His best fantasy assets will be his rebounding and shot-blocking, but the horrendous efficiency is an evident concern. Sarr did his best Tony Snell impression in one Summer League game, going 0-of-15 from the floor and 0-of-7 from beyond the arc. – Hanshew
Alexandre Sarr. First, Washington decided to re-sign Marvin Bagley III and add Jonas Valanciunas in free agency. While having those two can help shield Sarr to a certain extent, as he does need to get stronger, there’s always the concern that the presence of Bagley and Valanciunas will limit his ceiling minutes-wise. And then there was his poor shooting in Las Vegas. The second-overall pick averaged 5.5 points per game on 19.1% shooting from the field, and more than a third of his 11.8 attempts came from beyond the arc (4.3).
Sarr’s shot-blocking (2.8 per game) and willingness to go after anything around the basket were encouraging, but the offense is an issue. And it isn’t as if he’ll be in a situation where he’ll be guaranteed to get cleaner looks once the regular season begins, as Washington ranked 25th in offensive rating last season. Regarding the Wizards newcomers, I came away from summer league feeling better about Carlton Carrington than Sarr. – Johnson
Much like Edey, Yves Missi was drafted into a situation that really needed help at center. Across his four games this summer, he averaged 8.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 46.2% from the floor. He’s a young, raw, big man with plenty of upside, but it may not translate to immediate success. His production, or rather lack of production, this…
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