NBA Summer League: Five Players Who Have Become Draftable in NBA Fantasy Leagues
Waiting for a new season to start can be excruciating. While the NBA Summer League gives fans something to watch and enjoy during the summer, it doesn’t do much for NBA fantasy players. However, there is value in the NBA Summer League for those eager to play fantasy games again.
What could that value be? Let’s talk about it.
Fantasy Takeaways From NBA Summer League
Summer league rosters consist mainly of rookies, G-League players, and guys hoping to prove they are worthy of a spot on the roster. Sometimes an assistant coach will take the reins, but you’ll also see G-League coaches and various execs take on the role.
Some teams take it more seriously than others, but the ultimate goal is to prepare players for the regular season. So, the best players often don’t finish the summer league off. But just like teams want to learn about players, fantasy players can do the same.
You have to take what you see in Summer League games with a grain of salt due to the level of competition. By no means am I saying these players should be early-round draft picks, but if you think you can wait to pick them up in free agency, you’ll be disappointed:
Cooper Flagg, Forward, Dallas Mavericks
Shocker, right? While we saw a lot to like from Flagg in limited minutes, he’s got plenty to learn, and he may frustrate you some in the early weeks/months of the season. But if you hold onto him, Flagg will help your team make the playoffs.
Jaylen Wells, Forward, Memphis Grizzlies
After trading Demond Bane, the Grizzlies knew they’d need someone to step up and help fill the void. If his Summer League play is any indication, it looks like Wells may do just that after a solid showing.
Alex Sarr, Center, Washington Wizards
Please don’t count on him to score much on any given night, but anyone who can break the Summer League record for blocks in a game (eight) may do enough on the defensive end to give you a decent number of fantasy points. But draft him as a reserve and bench him until he proves himself in the regular season.
Yang Hansen, Center, Portland Trail Blazers
Folks thought the Trail Blazers took him way too early in the Draft (No. 16), but if Yang Hansen picks up where he left off in the Summer League, he could be a fantasy-friendly player as a rookie. But what makes me more excited to see him play is the return of Damian Lillard.
Playing with a player like Lillard will take some defensive pressure off Hansen, making it a little easier for him to produce.
Jase Richardson, Guard, Orlando Magic
What intrigues me the most about Richardson is not the stats he produced during summer league games. No, what I’m looking forward to seeing is what the talented young guard can do when he is in the same lineup as Demond Bane, Paolo Banchero, and Franz Wagner.
