Donovan Clingan is 1 of 3 lottery picks to make the All-Summer League teams.
Anyone with a 401(k) account or a long-shot bet at their favorite sportsbook knows (or should know) this qualifier: “Past performance is not an indicator of future results.” It’s a warning not to assume that an investment will continue to do well just because it’s done well in the past.
Fortunately, when it comes to the NBA Summer Leagues, the label often applies more encouragingly. The early play of the most promising prospects can sometimes be unimpressive without rendering judgment on the level of contributions they’ll eventually make.
The Draft Class of 2024 was saddled all season with the reputation of being among the most underwhelming in recent memory. Their performances in July, mostly at the NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas but also in Salt Lake City, Sacramento and San Francisco, tended to back that up.
Consider the 14 lottery picks from this year’s rookie crop: Only three ranked in the top 30 in points per game in Vegas. And just one averaged enough rebounds to rank among the top 15.
Only Memphis’ Zach Edey finished in the top 50 in field goal percentage among lottery guys who averaged at least three shots per game. And Edey did it by taking three shots and making three in his only LVSL appearance.
From the arc? Utah’s Cody Williams, the No. 10 pick, hit 37.5%. That was best among the lottery selections but ranked 87th among all Vegas participants who took at least two 3-pointers per game.
Let’s face it, the focus this summer on NBA newcomers largely has been on the No. 55 pick, Bronny James. But the payoff for teams and the stars of tomorrow still predominantly comes from the top half of the first round. Since the lottery began in 1985, 41 of the 39 Rookie of the Year award winners (with two ties) have been lottery picks.
Here is a rundown of how pick Nos. 1 through 14 did this month:
(Statistics are based on NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas unless otherwise noted)
No. 1 pick: Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
• 14.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg
Summer play is notorious for having too many players trying too hard too often to make an impression on future or potential employers. That doesn’t always serve a top pick well. In Atlanta, Risacher will only have guard Trae Young dominating the ball, and it behooves the Hawks to find opportunities for the No. 1 pick’s versatility.
No. 2 pick: Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
• 5.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.3 apg
Alarms sounded early for Sarr, the 7-footer from France who had been an early favorite in Rookie of the Year predictions. His shooting was the trigger, with an 0-for-15 game, a 1-for-6 performance and overall inaccuracy of 19.1% and 11.8% on 3s. But his defense, particularly his mobility and blocking shots, suggested ways he can help the Wizards this season.
No. 3 pick: Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
• 20.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.3 apg
In the scrambled play of summer, Sheppard did try to impose order on the Rockets squad’s offense, even while contributing to it with 4.8 turnovers and 2.8 steals per game. The Kentucky product even got a shout-out on X from Mark Price, a consummate classic point guard. Carving out minutes in Houston’s crowded backcourt will be the challenge.
No. 4 pick: Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
• 20.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg
• 15.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg (California Classic)
A wrist injury ended Castle’s Vegas stint after one appearance in which he shot 8-for-21. But he had encouraging moments in California. The 6-foot-6 UConn guard’s development will hinge on his play alongside 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, so July wasn’t going to tell us much anyway.
No. 5 pick: Ron Holland II, Detroit Pistons
• 18.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
No. 6 pick: Tidjane Salaun, Charlotte Hornets
• 9.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.3 apg
Another Frenchman, the 6-foot-9 forward had eight points and seven rebounds in less than 15 minutes against the Knicks’ entry, then a double-double in 19 against Denver. He missed the California games with a cut on his left knee but showed flashes of why the Hornets snagged him so high.
No. 7 pick: Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
• 9.0 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 2.0 apg
Clingan’s size – a broad-shouldered 7-foot-2, 280 pounds – translated well to this pro toe-dip, and his game should be able to make a successful transition from UConn to NBA. He dominated the lottery picks in rebounding (Sarr was a distant second) and averaged 4.3 blocks. A fair target for Clingan? Utah’s Walker Kessler, who averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 2022-23 while making All-Rookie first team and finishing third in ROY balloting.
No. 8 pick: Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves
• 13.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 7.6 apg
Dillingham wrestled with his shot in Las Vegas but showed plenty to excite the Wolves and their fans. The team traded for this pick in hopes of adding a point guard capable of splitting time with veteran Mike Conley, who offered some defensive tips via text to the newbie. The native of North Carolina also got some advice from fellow UK alum John Wall.
No. 9 pick: Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
• 6.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.0 apg
• 14.0 ppg, 15.0 rpg, 1.0 apg (Salt Lake City)
Sample size was the only thing small about Edey, the 7-foot-4 Canadian from Purdue who turned an ankle in one partial game in Vegas. Questions arose heading toward the Draft on how his two-time College Player of the Year credentials would translate to the NBA, but his unique size and Memphis’ need upfront could mean early impact.
No. 10 pick: Cody Williams, Utah Jazz
• 15.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.3 apg
• 5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg (Salt Lake City)
Comparisons to his brother, OKC’s Jalen Williams, might not be fair, but one thing the Jazz hope is that Cody shows the same knack for improving year by year, regardless of level. He did that within the context of two summer leagues and demonstrated abilities and effort at both ends.
No. 11 pick: Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
• 16.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.8 apg
Buzelis, the much-traveled 19-year-old, showed enough in Las Vegas to boost himself into the top 5 ROY speculation. He’ll need to get stronger but he has the frame for it. He’s plenty feisty now, turning in the best sit-down stare-down of the games.
No. 12 pick: Nikola Topić, Oklahoma City Thunder
Did not participate
The reason Topic slid to No. 12 overall was the same reason he didn’t make his NBA debut in Vegas. The 6-foot-6 playmaker has a partial ACL tear that is expected to keep him on the Thunder’s sideline this season, with hopes of a Chet Holmgren-like apprenticeship that pays off in 2025-26.
No. 13 pick: Devin Carter, Sacramento Kings
Did not participate
Carter, 22, missed summer ball after having shoulder surgery to repair a torn left labrum. With a rehab projected to last until January or beyond, the Big East Player of the Year from Providence will do most of his rookie work on the side.
No. 14 pick: Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards
• 15.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 5.2 apg
One of only three lottery picks to land on the first or second NBA 2K25 All-Summer League team (Sheppard and Clingan were the others) this 6-foot-4 guard with the jaunty nickname – “Bub” vs. first name of Carlton – picked up Wizards fans who might have worried about Sarr’s play. He was the only lottery pick in Vegas to finish in the top 5 in scoring, rebounding and assists, and he shot 35.9% from deep.
* * *
Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
