由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
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乔纳森·吉沃尼 (Jonathan Givony)
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凯文·佩尔顿 (Kevin Pelton)
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凯文·佩尔顿 (Kevin Pelton)
ESPN 资深撰稿人
- 《职业篮球前景》系列丛书合著者
- 曾担任印第安纳步行者队的顾问
- 开发了 WARP 评级和 SCHOENE 系统
2024 年 7 月 12 日，美国东部时间上午 8:00
加州精英赛和盐湖城夏季联赛都已经结束，现在是时候将目光聚焦在 NBA 休赛期的重头戏：拉斯维加斯夏季联赛了。
这项为期 11 天的锦标赛将于周五拉开帷幕，届时克利夫兰骑士队和奥兰多魔术队（美国东部时间下午 4 点）将在拉斯维加斯体育馆展开首场较量，比赛将持续到 7 月 22 日，届时将决出最终的冠军。
本次赛事将有多名新秀参加，包括亚特兰大老鹰队的状元秀扎卡里·里萨谢 (Zaccharie Risacher) 和华盛顿奇才队的榜眼秀阿莱克斯·萨尔 (Alex Sarr)，以及希望在联盟各支球队中找到空缺位置的二年级球员和经验丰富的老将。夏洛特黄蜂队的布兰登·米勒 (Brandon Miller) 和迈阿密热火队的海梅·哈克斯 (Jaime Jaquez Jr.) 在入选 2023-24 赛季 NBA 最佳新秀阵容一阵后也将参加比赛。
在每支球队完成四场比赛后，排名前四的球队将晋级季后赛。两场半决赛将于 7 月 21 日举行，总决赛将于 7 月 22 日举行。其余 26 支球队将在 7 月 20 日或 21 日进行第五场比赛。
随着比赛日程的确定，现在是时候让 ESPN 专家乔纳森·吉沃尼和凯文·佩尔顿来分析一下每支夏季联赛球队中最值得关注的球员了。
亚特兰大老鹰队
扎卡里·里萨谢 (Zaccharie Risacher) | 前锋
每次里萨谢在拉斯维加斯披挂上阵时，都会有很多双眼睛盯着他，因为他要开始一项艰巨的任务，那就是证明自己为什么能在缺乏球星的选秀大会上成为状元秀。二年级后卫科比·巴夫金 (Kobe Bufkin) 的因伤缺阵可能会让球队在缺乏优秀组织者的情况下举步维艰，因为里萨谢并不以控球或创造投篮机会而闻名，而且他可能还需要适应 NBA 的三分线。亚特兰大队在夏季联赛揭幕战中对阵榜眼秀阿莱克斯·萨尔领衔的华盛顿奇才队（美国东部时间晚上 9:30，ESPN）的比赛将备受期待。 – 乔纳森·吉沃尼
波士顿凯尔特人队
贝勒·谢尔曼 (Baylor Scheierman) | 前锋
凯尔特人队很高兴看到谢尔曼在第 30 顺位落到他们手中，他们将密切关注这位年近 24 岁的侧翼球员距离在 NBA 获得轮换上场时间还有多远。谢尔曼的投篮和传球能力很容易融入波士顿队的进攻体系，但他能否在防守端站稳脚跟将最终决定他在短期内能给卫冕冠军带来多大的帮助。管理层将密切关注夏季联赛初期与迈阿密队的海梅·哈克斯（周六，美国东部时间下午 6:30，ESPN+）和洛杉矶湖人队的道尔顿·克内希特 (Dalton Knecht)（周一，美国东部时间晚上 10:30，ESPN+）的比赛。请注意二年级前锋乔丹·沃尔什 (Jordan Walsh)（2023 年第 38 顺位新秀），他也将试图证明自己，而且他比谢尔曼年轻三岁半。 – 吉沃尼
布鲁克林篮网队
2023 年首轮秀（诺厄·克洛尼 (Noah Clowney) 和达里克·怀特海德 (Dariq Whitehead))
布鲁克林队在 2023 年的两名首轮秀，克洛尼（第 21 顺位）和怀特海德（第 22 顺位），将成为篮网队的核心球员，他们在 2024 年的选秀大会上没有选秀权。两人都还不到 20 岁，并且有潜力成为篮网队重建过程中的关键部分，在与尼克斯队的米卡尔·布里奇斯 (Mikal Bridges) 的交易之后，篮网队已经全面进入了重建阶段。在上赛季经历了大量的 NBA 发展联盟的比赛后，布鲁克林队的管理层和教练组可能会密切关注这两位潜力新星的发展情况，并确定他们在即将到来的赛季中能够承担多少上场时间。 – 吉沃尼
夏洛特黄蜂队
布兰登·米勒 (Brandon Miller) | 前锋
米勒刚刚代表美国男篮出战了国家队选拔赛，在年度最佳新秀评选中仅次于维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 和切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren) 排名第三，他是参加夏季联赛中最有成就的球员。我们很可能会看到米勒只打一两场比赛，这使得黄蜂队对阵尼克斯队的揭幕战（周六，美国东部时间下午 5 点，ESPN2）成为揭幕周末最精彩的比赛之一。这位年近 22 岁的侧翼球员在经历了如此 promising 的新秀赛季后，将在二年级取得怎样的进步，这将是一件很有趣的事情。在米勒被雪藏后，黄蜂队的注意力可能会转移到 6 号秀蒂迪亚尼·萨劳恩 (Tidjane Salaun) 身上，他因轻伤缺席了加州精英赛，现在应该可以上场了。 – 吉沃尼
芝加哥公牛队
马塔斯·布泽利斯 (Matas Buzelis) | 前锋
在一支组织进攻选择有限的球队中，布泽利斯似乎会被要求承担相当重要的角色。这应该能让我们很好地了解到，作为一名新秀，他有多大 khả năng 为公牛队发挥重要作用，以及他将在哪个位置上发挥作用。公牛队今年夏天明显地后退了一步，交易走了亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (Alex Caruso) 和德玛尔·德罗赞 (DeMar DeRozan)，而布泽利斯能否成长为他们重建计划的核心，无疑将对他们未来的长期前景起到决定性作用。在这个夏天，稳定地投篮得分和在控球时做出正确的决定对他来说将是一个良好的开端。 – 吉沃尼
荣誉提名： 朱利安·菲利普斯 (Julian Phillips)
克利夫兰骑士队
杰伦·泰森 (Jaylon Tyson) | 前锋
泰森很可能会和 2023 年的二轮秀埃莫尼·贝茨 (Emoni Bates) 一起，作为克利夫兰队唯一的 2024 年选秀球员，在球队中扮演重要的角色。泰森在本赛季是加州大学伯克利分校的主要控球手和组织者，他应该会在拉斯维加斯承担大量的持球任务，让我们有机会看到吸引骑士队用 20 号签选中他的创造投篮能力。与安东尼·布莱克 (Anthony Black) 领衔的阵容强大的奥兰多魔术队的较量（周五，美国东部时间下午 4 点，ESPN+）对他和 20 岁的二年级球员贝茨来说都将是一场严峻的考验，贝茨上赛季在 NBA 发展联盟中展现出了 promising 的潜力。 – 吉沃尼
达拉斯独行侠队
奥利维尔-马克桑斯·普罗斯佩 (Olivier-Maxence Prosper) | 前锋
普罗斯佩是独行侠队在 2023 年的第二位首轮秀，他只能坐在场边，看着达拉斯队在乐透秀德雷克·莱夫利二世 (Dereck Lively II) 的出色发挥下打进了 NBA 总决赛。独行侠队仍然希望普罗斯佩能够成为一名 3D 球员，随着德里克·琼斯 (Derrick Jones Jr.) 在自由市场上的离开，这一点可能会变得更加重要。达拉斯夏季联赛教练贾里德·达德利 (Jared Dudley) 告诉记者，让普罗斯佩成长为一名轮换球员是他们在拉斯维加斯的主要目标。 – 凯文·佩尔顿
丹佛掘金队
朱利安·斯特劳瑟 (Julian Strawther) | 后卫
随着肯塔维奥斯·考德威尔-波普 (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) 在自由市场上的离开，除了首发球员贾马尔·穆雷 (Jamal Murray) 和迈克尔·波特 (Michael Porter Jr.) 之外，丹佛队在外线投篮方面的人手不足。斯特劳瑟是最有能力填补这一空缺的球员，他在冈萨加大学的最后一个赛季场均投进超过 2 个三分球，三分命中率高达 41%。我们只看到了斯特劳瑟在新秀赛季的昙花一现，当时他的三分球命中率为 30%，掘金队希望在这个夏天看到他更好的投篮表现。 – 佩尔顿
底特律活塞队
罗恩·霍兰德 (Ron Holland) | 前锋
由于 2023 年的 5 号秀奥萨尔·汤普森 (Ausar Thompson) 仍在从血液凝固问题中恢复，预计不会参加比赛，霍兰德很可能会在活塞队的夏季联赛阵容中扮演重要的角色。这将是自拇指受伤导致他在 1 月下旬结束 NBA 发展联盟点燃队的赛季以来的首次亮相。看看霍兰德将如何被活塞队教练组使用将是非常有趣的，因为他之前在 NBA 发展联盟点燃队中扮演了过重的角色，导致他在失误和效率方面表现不佳。在上赛季三分球命中率只有 26% 的情况下，霍兰德能否持续拉开场上空间，将决定他能在活塞队的首发阵容中扮演什么样的角色。 – 吉沃尼
金州勇士队
凯文·诺克斯二世 (Kevin Knox II) | 前锋
诺克斯上一次参加夏季联赛是在 2019 年，当时他是尼克斯队的主力球员，刚刚打完作为 9 号秀的新秀赛季。现在，下个月就将年满 25 岁的诺克斯在上赛季被裁掉两次后，正试图重振自己的职业生涯。对于职业生涯三分球命中率只有 34% 的诺克斯来说，展示出有所提高的三分球能力将是关键，他在 2023-24 赛季为活塞队出战的 31 场比赛中，三分球命中率为 33%。 – 佩尔顿
休斯顿火箭队
里德·谢泼德 (Reed Sheppard) | 后卫
火箭队带回了去年的 NBA 夏季联赛 MVP 凯姆·惠特莫尔 (Cam Whitmore)，并在选秀大会上通过交易得到了 2022 年的首轮秀 AJ·格里芬 (AJ Griffin)。然而，所有的目光都将集中在 2024 年选秀大会的探花秀谢泼德身上。我们将拭目以待，看看谢泼德在肯塔基大学大一赛季 52% 的三分球命中率能否转化到 NBA 的三分线上，并衡量他在面对职业球员时的运动能力。 – 佩尔顿
印第安纳步行者队
贾里斯·沃克 (Jarace Walker) | 前锋
对于 2023 年选秀大会的 8 号秀沃克来说，这是重要的一周，因为他上赛季在步行者队只打了 371 分钟，而且大部分时间都是垃圾时间。随着帕斯卡尔·西亚卡姆 (Pascal Siakam) 和奥比·托平 (Obi Toppin) 的续约，步行者队的大前锋位置在未来很长一段时间内都将得到保障，他们希望让沃克打小前锋，并让他承担大量的持球任务，让他证明自己不仅仅是一名精英防守者，在上赛季的 NBA 和 NBA 发展联盟中，他的三分球命中率也达到了 38%。年仅 20 岁的沃克如果不能在步行者队的轮换阵容中找到自己的位置，那么他在 NBA 肯定会有相当大的市场，但如果他在夏季联赛中的表现比去年更好，那将是一个鼓舞人心的信号。 – 吉沃尼
洛杉矶快船队
科比·布朗 (Kobe Brown) | 后卫
尽管九届全明星球员保罗·乔治 (Paul George) 离开了球队，但布朗在二年级的上场时间可能会更加艰难，因为快船队增加了前锋德里克·琼斯和尼古拉·巴图姆 (Nicolas Batum)。布朗在新秀赛季曾短暂地进入过快船队的轮换阵容，但由于三分球命中率只有 29%，他最终还是被淘汰出局。提高投篮命中率是布朗获得更多上场时间的最重要技能。 – 佩尔顿
洛杉矶湖人队
布朗尼·詹姆斯 (Bronny James) | 后卫
说实话，尽管首轮秀道尔顿·克内希特对 2024-25 赛季的湖人队来说重要得多，但吸引人们关注湖人队夏季联赛的将是詹姆斯。
詹姆斯在加州精英赛的前两场比赛中并没有表现出比他在南加州大学的唯一一个赛季有多少进攻上的进步。
他 12 投 3 中，得到 7 分。詹姆斯在防守端更加出色，他贡献了 3 次抢断和 3 次盖帽。 – 佩尔顿
孟菲斯灰熊队
扎克·埃迪 (Zach Edey) | 中锋
埃迪加入了一支在 2021-22 赛季和 2022-23 赛季都赢下了 50 多场比赛的灰熊队，但在经历了一个饱受伤病困扰的赛季后，他们最终跌入了乐透区，埃迪很可能会成为所有新秀中对竞争激烈的球队发挥最重要作用的那一个。埃迪不仅填补了孟菲斯队在中锋位置上的一个重要空缺，而且他还做好了现在就做出贡献的准备，他是一位四年级的大学生球员，并两次获得奈史密斯奖，成为全美最佳球员。埃迪已经在盐湖城夏季联赛的首秀中展现了自己的实力，他得到 14 分、15 个篮板、4 次盖帽，并在比赛最后时刻完成了一次扳平比分的补篮。 – 佩尔顿
迈阿密热火队
海梅·哈克斯 (Jaime Jaquez Jr.) | 前锋
消息人士告诉 ESPN，哈克斯刚刚打完了一个出色的赛季，并入选了 NBA 最佳新秀阵容一阵，尽管他没有出现在热火队的夏季联赛名单上，但他将在拉斯维加斯打两场比赛。热火队希望看到哈克斯与新秀凯莱布·沃尔 (Kel’el Ware) 和佩莱·拉尔森 (Pelle Larsson) 以及双向合同球员凯肖恩·约翰逊 (Keshad Johnson) 和扎恩·普林 (Zyon Pullin) 并肩作战时的表现。科尔·斯威德 (Cole Swider) 和阿朗多斯·威廉姆斯 (Alondes Williams) 上赛季都是双向合同球员，他们也将是值得关注的球员。 – 吉沃尼
密尔沃基雄鹿队
2024 年选秀球员（AJ·约翰逊 (AJ Johnson) 和泰勒·史密斯 (Tyler Smith))
雄鹿队显然处于赢在当下的模式，他们用第 23 和 33 顺位选中了两名十几岁的球员约翰逊和史密斯，这出乎了一些人的意料，因为主教练道格·里弗斯 (Doc Rivers) 历来不愿将年轻球员纳入轮换阵容。对于约翰逊和史密斯来说，在夏季联赛中有一个好的开始将非常重要，因为已经超过奢侈税第二层的雄鹿队没有多少方法来补充天赋。雄鹿队夏季联赛名单上的其他年轻球员也是如此，包括安德烈·杰克逊 (Andre Jackson Jr.)、克里斯·利文斯顿 (Chris Livingston)、AJ·格林 (AJ Green) 以及双向合同球员瑞恩·罗林斯 (Ryan Rollins)、斯坦利·乌穆德 (Stanley Umude) 和杰林·加洛韦 (Jaylin Galloway)。 – 吉沃尼
明尼苏达森林狼队
罗布·迪林厄姆 (Rob Dillingham) | 后卫
毫无疑问，迪林厄姆可以在进攻端得分，他在肯塔基大学的唯一一个赛季里，场均每 40 分钟可以得到 26.1 分。在交易得到 8 号签选中迪林厄姆之后，森林狼队肯定想更多地了解他组织球队的能力。这可能会决定迪林厄姆在新秀赛季能打多少时间，他将加入一支上赛季打进西部决赛的球队。拉斯维加斯也将是 2023 年二轮秀杰伦·克拉克 (Jaylen Clark) 重返赛场的地方，他在 2023 年 3 月代表加州大学洛杉矶分校比赛时遭遇了跟腱撕裂。 – 佩尔顿
纽约尼克斯队
泰勒·科利克 (Tyler Kolek) | 后卫
尼克斯队岌岌可危的奢侈税状况意味着在阵容边缘的球员身上获得小的收获变得越来越重要。这就是为什么他们在选秀大会上选中的四名球员中，如果能有一些人打出来，将会产生很大的影响。在夏季联赛中，最值得关注的是科利克，他非常符合主教练汤姆·锡伯杜 (Tom Thibodeau) 的选材标准，他意志坚定、球商高、竞争性强。同样有趣的是，看看 18 岁的一轮秀帕科姆·达迪特 (Pacome Dadiet) 距离能够在防守端帮助尼克斯队还有多远。 – 吉沃尼
新奥尔良鹈鹕队
伊夫·米西 (Yves Missi) | 中锋
考虑到鹈鹕队失去了上赛季的两名中锋——首发球员约纳斯·瓦兰丘纳斯 (Jonas Valanciunas) 成为自由球员，拉里·南斯 (Larry Nance Jr.) 则在德章泰·默里 (Dejounte Murray) 的交易中被送走——而他们只增加了老将丹尼尔·泰斯 (Daniel Theis)，米西有机会马上获得重要的上场时间。为了让新奥尔良相信他配得上这个机会，米西需要在这个夏天证明他能够在防守端保护篮筐，并且在挡拆战术中发挥作用。 – 佩尔顿
俄克拉荷马雷霆队
狄龙·琼斯 (Dillon Jones) | 前锋
由于 12 号秀尼古拉·乔维奇 (Nikola Jovic) 因前交叉韧带撕裂而缺阵，琼斯将成为俄克拉荷马雷霆队夏季联赛名单上顺位最高的 2024 年选秀球员。在曾让他声名鹊起的犹他州，琼斯在盐湖城夏季联赛的首秀中险些拿下三双，他得到 9 分、10 个篮板和 7 次助攻。如果琼斯的表现优于参加了三届夏季联赛的 2022 年首轮秀奥斯曼·吉昂 (Ousmane Dieng)，那么他作为一名新秀为雷霆队做出贡献的机会就会增加。 – 佩尔顿
奥兰多魔术队
安东尼·布莱克 (Anthony Black) | 后卫
2023 年选秀大会的 6 号秀布莱克在为魔术队出战的 71 场比赛中场均上场 17 分钟，但随着首发控球后卫马克尔·富尔茨 (Markelle Fultz) 成为不受限制的自由球员，他在二年级的角色可能会更加重要。魔术队肯定会密切关注这位 20 岁的后卫，看看他会取得怎样的进步，而这一切将从夏季联赛开始，他将在那里成为一支阵容强大的球队中的重要一员——2023 年的乐透秀杰特·霍华德 (Jett Howard) 和 2024 年的 18 号秀特里斯坦·达席尔瓦 (Tristan da Silva) 也将在新赛季争夺上场时间。 – 吉沃尼
费城 76 人队
杰瑞德·麦凯恩 (Jared McCain) | 后卫
在刚刚签下了九届全明星球员保罗·乔治以及凯利·乌布雷 (Kelly Oubre)、埃里克·戈登 (Eric Gordon) 和凯勒布·马丁 (Caleb Martin) 的 76 人队，麦凯恩想要在新秀赛季获得上场时间并非易事。麦凯恩拉开场上空间和与首发控球后卫泰瑞斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey) 配合的能力可能会让他成为这支仍在填补阵容空缺的球队的替补席选择，这使得他在拉斯维加斯的表现非常重要。瑞奇·康瑟尔四世 (Ricky Council IV) 也是如此，他上赛季签署了一份双向合同，并在加州精英赛中有一些令人印象深刻的表现。 – 吉沃尼
菲尼克斯太阳队
瑞安·邓恩 (Ryan Dunn) | 前锋
看看太阳队将如何使用他们在今年 6 月选中的两名球员邓恩和奥索·伊格霍达罗 (Oso Ighodaro) 将会很有趣。这两位大个子球员都以防守端的全面性而闻名，但他们的投篮范围并不广。伊格霍达罗在马凯特大学的四年里从未投进过三分球，而邓恩在弗吉尼亚大学的职业生涯中也只出手了 51 次三分球，命中率为 23.5%。如果太阳队在拉斯维加斯的比赛中，在邓恩和伊格霍达罗同时上场的情况下无法拉开场上空间，那么这对这两位新秀来说，他们想要立即获得上场时间就不是什么好兆头。 – 佩尔顿
波特兰开拓者队
多诺万·克林根 (Donovan Clingan) | 中锋
在面对夏季联赛的对手时，克林根应该能够凭借他的身高和臂展在防守端镇守篮下。更有趣的是看到克林根远离篮筐时的表现，无论是面对空间型 5 号位的挡拆防守，还是在进攻端拉开空间。克林根在选秀前的试训中展现出了令人印象深刻的投篮能力。我们还没有在比赛中看到过这一点，他在康涅狄格大学的两个赛季里 9 次出手三分球，只命中了 2 球。 – 佩尔顿
萨克拉门托国王队
基翁·埃利斯 (Keon Ellis) | 后卫
在自己的第二个 NBA 赛季首发了 21 场比赛（包括凯文·赫尔特 (Kevin Huerter) 因肩伤赛季报销后，他连续首发了最后 15 场比赛）之后，埃利斯已经不再适合参加夏季联赛了。国王队签下了德玛尔·德罗赞，这可能会让他们在 2024-25 赛季的首发阵容中更加需要埃利斯的持球防守。对于在 2023-24 赛季使用率只有 12% 的埃利斯来说，这是一个让他在进攻端更多地展现自己创造投篮能力的机会。埃利斯在加州精英赛的三场比赛中场均得到 20.3 分。 – 佩尔顿
圣安东尼奥马刺队
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) | 后卫
在加州精英赛的两场比赛中，卡斯尔场均得到 15.0 分和 4.0 次助攻。马刺队签下了克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 与特雷·琼斯 (Tre Jones) 搭档后场，这让卡斯尔在新秀赛季的组织压力减轻了不少，他可以专注于自己的二次传球和无球跑动，这正是我们在康涅狄格大学看到过的。同样有趣的是，在周日马刺队对阵老鹰队的比赛中，看到卡斯尔与状元秀里萨谢的对决。– 佩尔顿
多伦多猛龙队
格雷迪·迪克 (Gradey Dick) | 后卫
2023 年选秀大会的 13 号秀迪克在新秀赛季开始阶段表现缓慢，但随着赛季的进行，他逐渐找到了状态，从 1 月到 4 月，他的三分球命中率达到了 40%。随着首发侧翼球员加里·特伦特 (Gary Trent) 成为自由球员，并且似乎不在猛龙队的计划中，迪克有机会在二年级成为一名重要的轮换球员。有趣的是，看看他将在今年夏天扮演什么样的角色，因为猛龙队的阵容中还有前 20 顺位新秀奥查伊·阿巴基 (Ochai Agbaji) 和贾科比·沃尔特 (Ja’Kobe Walter)，他们在侧翼也有类似的机会来打动教练组。 – 吉沃尼
犹他爵士队
以赛亚·科利尔 (Isaiah Collier) | 后卫
去年夏天，犹他队的首轮秀基翁特·乔治 (Keyonte George) 的表现超出了他的选秀顺位（第 16 顺位），他看起来更像是一名五星级高中生球员，而不是那个在贝勒大学一年级就陷入挣扎的球员——预示着乔治在新秀赛季首发了 44 场比赛。科利尔在进入南加州大学之前曾被预测为前五顺位的新秀，但最终一路下滑到第 29 顺位，他希望在今年复制乔治的表现。科利尔在盐湖城夏季联赛中场均得到 11.3 分，但如果乔治在主场球迷面前的两场比赛中场均得到 30.5 分后选择休战，那么科利尔在拉斯维加斯将获得更多机会。– 佩尔顿
华盛顿奇才队
阿莱克斯·萨尔 (Alex Sarr) | 前锋
作为选秀大会的榜眼秀，萨尔将成为拉斯维加斯最受关注的球员之一，他将在第一个周末先后迎战状元秀里萨谢（周五，美国东部时间晚上 9:30，ESPN）和阵容强大的火箭队（周日，美国东部时间下午 6 点，ESPN2）。萨尔在拉斯维加斯能否在攻防两端应对身体对抗、拉开场上空间以及在持球时做出正确的决定，将有助于我们了解他新秀赛季的表现。同样的话也适用于 2024 年的另一位乐透秀鲍勃·卡林顿 (Bob Carrington)，他似乎也将在重建中的华盛顿队获得更多的上场时间。他能否做好准备，在早期就为球队做出贡献将是关键。 – 吉沃尼
点击查看原文：2024 NBA summer league: The top players to watch on all 30 teams
2024 NBA summer league: The top players to watch on all 30 teams
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Jonathan Givony
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Kevin Pelton
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Kevin Pelton
ESPN Senior Writer
- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
Jul 12, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
Both the California Classic and Salt Lake City summer leagues have wrapped up, so it’s time to focus on the main event of the NBA offseason: Las Vegas Summer League.
The 11-day tournament will begin Friday with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic (4 p.m. ET) kicking things off at the Pavilion in Vegas and run through July 22, with a champion crowned at the end.
The event will be headlined by several recent draft picks, including Atlanta Hawks’ No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher and the Washington Wizards’ No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, second-year players and aging veterans looking for open spots on rosters across the league. The Charlotte Hornets’ Brandon Miller and Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. will both be in action after making the 2023-24 NBA All-Rookie first team.
After each team plays four games, the top four teams will then advance to the playoffs. The two semifinal games will take place July 21, with the championship game July 22. The other 26 teams will play a fifth game on either July 20 or July 21.
With the tournament schedule out of the way, it’s time for ESPN Insiders Jonathan Givony and Kevin Pelton to look at the top players to watch on each summer league team.
Atlanta Hawks
Zaccharie Risacher | Forward
Risacher will have plenty of eyes on him every time he suits up in Las Vegas, as he begins the onerous task of showing why he was the draft’s No. 1 pick in a class lacking star power. Losing second-year guard Kobe Bufkin to injury might make things difficult with a lack of quality playmaking on the roster, as Risacher is not known for his ballhandling or shot creation and will likely have to adjust to the NBA 3-point line. Atlanta’s matchup on summer league opening night with No. 2 pick Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards (ESPN 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) will be highly anticipated. – Jonathan Givony
Boston Celtics
Baylor Scheierman | Forward
The Celtics were thrilled to see Scheierman fall to them at No. 30 and will be watching intently to see how close the nearly 24-year-old wing is to playing rotational minutes in the NBA. Scheierman’s shotmaking and passing are easy fits in Boston’s offense, but his ability to hold his own defensively will ultimately determine how much he can help the defending NBA champs in the short term. The front office will be paying close attention in early summer league matchups with Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Dalton Knecht (Monday, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Keep an eye on second-year forward Jordan Walsh (No. 38 pick in 2023), who will also be trying to prove the same and is 3½ years younger than Scheierman. – Givony
Brooklyn Nets
The 2023 first-round draft picks (Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead)
Brooklyn’s two first-round picks in 2023, Clowney (No. 21) and Whitehead (No. 22), will be at the forefront for the Nets, who didn’t have a draft pick in the 2024 draft. Both are still teenagers and have room to become key parts of the Nets’ rebuilding process, which is fully underway in the wake of the Mikal Bridges trade with the Knicks. After extensive G League action last season, Brooklyn’s front office and coaching staff will likely be keeping a close eye on their prized youngsters to see how they are developing and determine how much playing time they can realistically be expected to shoulder in the upcoming season. – Givony
Charlotte Hornets
Brandon Miller | Forward
Fresh off an appearance with USA Basketball’s select team, Miller will be the most accomplished player competing at summer league, after finishing third behind Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren in rookie of the year voting. It’s likely we see Miller participating for only a game or two, making the Hornets’ opener against the Knicks (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2) one of the best games of opening weekend. It will be interesting to see what kind of jump the nearly 22-year-old wing is ready to make as a sophomore after such a promising rookie campaign. After Miller is shut down, the Hornets’ focus will likely shift to No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaun, who should be cleared to play after missing the California Classic because of a minor injury. – Givony
Chicago Bulls
Matas Buzelis | Forward
On a roster with limited playmaking options, it looks like Buzelis could be asked to shoulder a pretty significant role. This should give us good insight into how ready he is to play a major role for the Bulls as a rookie and in what position. The Bulls took a clear step back this summer, trading Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan, and Buzelis’ ability to develop into a centerpiece of their rebuilding efforts will surely play a role in determining their long-term outlook. Knocking down shots consistently and making good decisions with the ball this summer will be a good start for him. – Givony
Honorable mention: Julian Phillips
Cleveland Cavaliers
Jaylon Tyson | Forward
Tyson will likely play a significant role for Cleveland as its lone 2024 draft pick, along with 2023 second-rounder Emoni Bates. Tyson was a primary ball handler and playmaker for Cal this season and should shoulder plenty of on-ball reps in Vegas, giving us a chance to see the shot creation that enticed the Cavs to use the No. 20 pick on him. A matchup with Anthony Black and a stacked Orlando Magic squad (Friday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+) should prove a stern test right out of the gates, both for him and 20-year-old rising sophomore Bates, who showed promising flashes in the G League last season. – Givony
Dallas Mavericks
Olivier-Maxence Prosper | Forward
Prosper, the Mavericks’ second first-round pick in 2023, sat and watched as Dallas reached the NBA Finals with large contributions from lottery pick Dereck Lively II. The Mavericks still expect Prosper to become a 3-and-D player, which could be even more important with the departure of Derrick Jones Jr. in free agency. Dallas summer coach Jared Dudley told reporters that developing Prosper into a rotation player is the top goal in Vegas. – Kevin Pelton
Denver Nuggets
Julian Strawther | Guard
With the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, Denver is light on perimeter shooting beyond starters Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Strawther is the player best equipped to fill that void, having averaged more than two 3s per game on 41% 3-point shooting during his last season at Gonzaga. We saw only flashes of that from Strawther as a rookie, when he made 30% of his long-distance attempts, and the Nuggets will be hoping to see better shooting this summer. – Pelton
Detroit Pistons
Ron Holland | Forward
With 2023 No. 5 pick Ausar Thompson still recovering from blood clotting issues and not expected to participate, Holland will likely play a featured role for the Pistons’ summer league squad. This will be his first action since a thumb injury ended his G League Ignite season in late January. It will be very interesting to see how Holland is utilized by the Pistons’ coaching staff after he played an outsized role with G League Ignite, causing him to struggle with turnovers and inefficiency. After shooting 26% for 3 this past season, Holland’s ability to space the floor consistently will likely determine the type of role he can play with the Pistons’ starting lineup. – Givony
Golden State Warriors
Kevin Knox II | Forward
When Knox last played summer league in 2019, he was a featured player for the Knicks coming off his rookie season as the No. 9 pick. Now Knox, who turns 25 next month, is trying to resurrect his career after being waived twice last season. Demonstrating improved 3-point shooting will be key for Knox, a career 34% shooter who shot 33% beyond the arc in 31 games for the Pistons in 2023-24. – Pelton
Houston Rockets
Reed Sheppard | Guard
The Rockets bring back last year’s NBA summer league MVP, Cam Whitmore, and have 2022 first-round pick AJ Griffin on their roster after acquiring him during the draft. Yet all eyes will be on Sheppard, the No. 3 pick of the 2024 draft. We’ll be looking to see how well Sheppard’s 52% 3-point shooting as a freshman at Kentucky translates to the NBA 3-point line as well as gauging his athleticism against pro opposition. – Pelton
Indiana Pacers
Jarace Walker | Forward
This is a big week for Walker – the No. 8 pick in the 2023 draft – after seeing just 371 minutes for the Pacers last season, mostly in garbage time. With Indiana’s power forward position secured long term following extensions inked by Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, the Pacers want to play Walker at small forward while giving him significant on-ball reps, allowing him to show he’s more than just an elite defender who also hit 38% of his 3-pointers across the NBA and G League last season. At just 20 years old, Walker will certainly have a considerable market around the NBA if he can’t find his way into the Pacers’ rotation, but having a better showing in summer league than he did last year would be an encouraging sign. – Givony
LA Clippers
Kobe Brown | Guard
Despite the departure of nine-time All-Star Paul George, Brown might face a more difficult path to playing time in Year 2 because the Clippers added forwards Derrick Jones Jr. and Nicolas Batum. Brown was briefly in the Clippers’ rotation as a rookie but fell out by virtue of shooting just 29% on 3s. Improved accuracy is the most important skill for Brown to earn more minutes. – Pelton
Los Angeles Lakers
Bronny James | Guard
Let’s be realistic: Although first-round pick Dalton Knecht is far more important to the 2024-25 Lakers, it’s James who will draw the eyeballs to the summer Lakers.
James’ first two games at the California Classic did not demonstrate much offensive improvement from his lone season at USC.
He shot 3-of-12 from the field, scoring seven points. James is more advanced at the defensive end of the court, where he racked up three steals and three blocks. – Pelton
Memphis Grizzlies
Zach Edey | Center
It’s possible no rookie will play a more important role on a competitive team than Edey, who joins a Grizzlies team that won 50-plus games in both 2021-22 and 2022-23 before an injury-plagued season landed it in the lottery. Not only does Edey fill an important need for Memphis at center, he’s ready to contribute now as a four-year collegian who won a pair of Naismith trophies as the nation’s best player. Edey has already shown his skills with 14 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks and a game-tying tip-in during his debut at the Salt Lake City Summer League. – Pelton
Miami Heat
Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Forward
Fresh off an outstanding season that landed him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie first team, Jaquez will play two games in Vegas despite not being announced on the Heat summer league roster, a source told ESPN. The Heat will want to see how Jaquez looks in a featured role alongside rookie draft picks Kel’el Ware and Pelle Larsson, as well as two-way contract holders Keshad Johnson and Zyon Pullin. Cole Swider and Alondes Williams, who were on two-way deals last season, will also be players to watch. – Givony
Milwaukee Bucks
The 2024 draft picks (AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith)
In clear win-now mode, the Bucks surprised some by drafting two teenagers in Johnson and Smith with the Nos. 23 and 33 picks, despite the historic reluctance of head coach Doc Rivers to incorporate younger players into his rotation. Getting off to a good start in summer league will be important for Johnson and Smith, as the Bucks, who are over the luxury tax’s second apron, don’t have many ways to add talent. The same applies to the other young players on the Bucks’ summer league roster, which includes Andre Jackson Jr., Chris Livingston, AJ Green and two-way contract holders Ryan Rollins, Stanley Umude and Jaylin Galloway. – Givony
Minnesota Timberwolves
Rob Dillingham | Guard
There’s no question Dillingham, who averaged 26.1 points per 40 minutes during his lone season at Kentucky, can score. After trading for the No. 8 pick to take Dillingham, the Timberwolves surely want to learn more about his ability to run a team. That could determine how much Dillingham is able to play as a rookie while joining a team that reached last season’s Western Conference finals. Vegas will also mark the return to game action for 2023 second-round pick Jaylen Clark, who suffered an Achilles tear at UCLA in March 2023. – Pelton
New York Knicks
Tyler Kolek | Guard
The Knicks’ precarious luxury tax situation means hitting singles and doubles along the margins of their roster is increasingly important. That’s why nailing some of the four picks the team made in the draft could be impactful. The main one to watch in summer league is Kolek, who fits the mold of player coach Tom Thibodeau often gravitates to with his grit, smarts and competitiveness. It will also be interesting to see how far away 18-year-old first-round pick Pacome Dadiet is from being ready to help the Knicks defensively. – Givony
New Orleans Pelicans
Yves Missi | Center
Given the Pelicans lost both of last season’s centers – starter Jonas Valanciunas via free agency and Larry Nance Jr. in the Dejounte Murray trade – and added only journeyman Daniel Theis, there’s an opportunity for Missi to play key minutes right away. To convince New Orleans he deserves that opportunity, Missi needs to show he can protect the rim and be effective in the pick-and-roll game this summer. – Pelton
Oklahoma City Thunder
Dillon Jones | Forward
With No. 12 pick Nikola Topic sidelined by an ACL tear, Jones will be the top 2024 draft pick on Oklahoma City’s summer roster. Playing in the same state where he starred at Weber State, Jones threatened a triple-double in his debut at the Salt Lake City summer league, putting up 9 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. If Jones outperforms 2022 first-round pick Ousmane Dieng, who’s playing his third summer league, it improves his chances of contributing to the Thunder as a rookie. – Pelton
Orlando Magic
Anthony Black | Guard
Black, the No. 6 pick in the 2023 draft, played 17 minutes per-game through 71 games for the Magic, but he could be due for an expanded role as a sophomore with starting point guard Markelle Fultz still an unrestricted free agent. The Magic will surely be watching the 20-year-old guard closely to see what kind of jump he’s ready to make, which starts in summer league where he’ll be a featured option on a stacked roster – 2023 lottery pick Jett Howard and 2024 No. 18 pick Tristan da Silva will also be competing for playing time this upcoming season. – Givony
Philadelphia 76ers
Jared McCain | Guard
McCain’s pathway to rookie minutes won’t be easy on a 76ers team fresh off signing nine-time All-Star Paul George, along with Kelly Oubre, Eric Gordon and Caleb Martin. McCain’s ability to space the floor and play off starting point guard Tyrese Maxey could make him a bench option for a team that is still filling out its roster, which makes his performance in Vegas important. The same can be said for Ricky Council IV, who was on a two-way contract last season and had some impressive outings in the California Classic. – Givony
Phoenix Suns
Ryan Dunn | Forward
It will be interesting to see how the Suns use both Dunn and Oso Ighodaro, their two draft picks this June. Both big men are known for their defensive versatility but not their shooting range. Ighodaro never made a 3-pointer in four years at Marquette, while Dunn shot 23.5% on just 51 career attempts at Virginia. If Phoenix can’t space the court with Dunn and Ighodaro playing together in Las Vegas, it’s a bad sign for the rookies’ chances of finding immediate playing time. – Pelton
Portland Trail Blazers
Donovan Clingan | Center
Going against summer opposition, Clingan should have the ability to hang back near the basket and put a lid on it with his size and length on defense. It will be more interesting to see Clingan away from the hoop, whether it’s defending on pick-and-rolls against stretch 5s or spacing on the offensive end. Clingan impressed with his shooting in pre-draft workouts. We’ve yet to see that in games; he made two 3-pointers in nine attempts during two seasons at UConn. – Pelton
Sacramento Kings
Keon Ellis | Guard
After starting 21 games in his second NBA season, including the last 15 after Kevin Huerter was lost to shoulder surgery, Ellis is overqualified for summer league. The Kings adding DeMar DeRozan could create even more need for Ellis’ on-ball defense in their 2024-25 starting five. This is a chance for Ellis, who had a 12% usage rate in 2023-24, to stretch his wings more as a shot creator. Ellis averaged 20.3 points in three games at the California Classic. – Pelton
San Antonio Spurs
Stephon Castle | Guard
During two games at the California Classic, Castle averaged 15.0 points and 4.0 assists. The Spurs signing Chris Paul to team with Tre Jones at point guard takes the pressure off Castle to be a playmaker right away in the NBA, freeing him to focus on his secondary passing and his movement without the ball, something we saw at UConn. It will also be fun to see Castle match up with No. 1 pick Risacher when the Spurs face the Hawks on Sunday. – Pelton
Toronto Raptors
Gradey Dick | Guard
Dick, the No. 13 pick in the 2023 draft, got off to a slow start for the Raptors as a rookie but caught fire as the season moved on, hitting 40% of his 3-pointers from January through April. With starting wing Gary Trent a free agent and seemingly not in the Raptors’ plans, Dick has a runway to emerge as an important rotational player as a sophomore. It will be interesting to see what kind of role he plays this summer as the Raptors’ roster also features top-20 picks Ochai Agbaji and Ja’Kobe Walter, who have similar opportunities to impress on the wing. – Givony
Utah Jazz
Isaiah Collier | Guard
Last summer, Utah first-round pick Keyonte George outplayed his draft slot (No. 16) by looking more like the five-star prep prospect than the player who struggled as a one-and-done at Baylor – presaging George starting 44 games as a rookie. Collier, a projected top-five pick entering USC who ended up sliding all the way to the No. 29 spot, will look to do the same this year. Collier averaged 11.3 points in the Salt Lake City summer league but should have more opportunity in Vegas if George shuts it down after averaging 30.5 points in his two games in front of home fans. – Pelton
Washington Wizards
Alex Sarr | Forward
The No. 2 pick in the draft will be one of the most closely scrutinized players in Vegas, with matchups against No. 1 pick Risacher (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and a stacked Rockets squad (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2) during the opening weekend. Sarr’s ability to handle physicality on both ends, stretch the floor and make good decisions with the ball in Vegas will help shed some insight into what kind of rookie season we can expect to see from him. Much of the same can be said about fellow 2024 lottery pick Bub Carrington, who seems to have a similar pathway to extended playing time for a rebuilding Washington team. His readiness to contribute early will be key. – Givony
via ESPN