Notes on everyone who participated in Summer League from the 2025 NBA Draft class.

• Having Tre Johnson and Will Riley as young role players who could emerge into starters/Sixth Man of the Year candidates one day should help the Washington Wizards this upcoming season. These two know how to get a bucket. Johnson mixed up his drives, mid-range, and three-point shots quite effectively during his one Summer League game (28 points vs. the Utah Jazz/only made two threes but attempted eight). As for Riley, a comment summer league head coach TJ Sorrentine made about the way Will moves on the court really stuck with me, saying he’s like a Manu Ginobili type. His hesitation, stop-and-go moves, euro step, and ball fakes were on full display in Las Vegas (25.0 PPG/two games played).
• Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin definitely got stronger, as that was noticeable when he attacked the basket. However, Demin took a bunch of threes like he did last season (26.7% 3-PT on 7.5 attempts per game at the California Classic/30.0% 3-PT on 10.0 attempts per game in Las Vegas). I’d like to see him become more of a three-level scorer (next step is mid-range).
• Minnesota Timberwolves big man Joan Beringer only played one game, but he was super impressive (18 points/12 rebounds/4 blocks). He doesn’t have a three-point shot right now, but runs the floor, blocks shots, catches lobs, sets quality screens, and rolls to the basket for strong finishes. Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach was even more versatile than Beringer, as he shot 40.0% from three in four games played.
• I could see Javon Small (Memphis Grizzlies) being a backup point guard in this league for a long time. He knows how to run an offense, can create his own shot, push the pace, and picks up full court on defense. Don’t sleep on Small’s athleticism either (had some high-flying dunks).
• Yang Hansen’s scoring, rebounding, passing, and shot blocking abilities always leave me impressed, but we all saw that last year at Summer League. The Portland Trail Blazers big man turned the ball over/fouled at a high rate (4.3 TOV/4.0 PF in Las Vegas), which were areas I hoped he’d be better in. Another sophomore I have questions about despite having a solid summer league is Adou Thiero. The athletic Los Angeles Lakers forward definitely improved his playmaking skills, got on the offensive boards, and defended at a high level, but he only shot 18.2% from three in Vegas (also didn’t make a three on 1.5 3PA at the California Classic).
• Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies) wasn’t happy after losing to the Utah Jazz during the Salt Lake City Summer League, and I’m sure he felt the same way after falling to the Golden State Warriors in the Las Vegas championship game. His willingness to win every game/be a great teammate stood out (also shot 41.7% from three during Vegas summer league).
• Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Liam McNeeley could become one of the NBA’s best three-point shooters off the bench one day. He shot 52.6% in three games from deep. Although, I’m not sure how much McNeeley will play during the regular season with proven sharpshooters like Kon Knueppel, Grayson Allen, and Royce O’Neale.
• I’m a fan of the way that Hugo Gonzalez (Boston Celtics) plays, as he takes the right shots and makes great reads (got to his spots for threes and floaters/had many solid assists out of pick-and-rolls). Gonzalez was very inefficient from the field. However, he had the ball in his hands a lot more than last year and got to work on his overall skills in game settings.
• Ryan Kalkbrenner (Charlotte Hornets) truly is a special shot-blocker (3.7 BPG in three games played). The 7-foot-1 center also displayed his usual high offensive efficiency/rebounding and passing ability (57.1% FG/2.3 ORB/3.0 APG).
• It’s gotten to the point where you question if Brooklyn’s Ben Saraf & Drake Powell can consistently be efficient enough offensively. Saraf shot 31.0% from the field while Powell put up a 25.9% FG percentage (both played four games).
• Jase Richardson & Noah Penda have always brought winning attributes on both ends, but they’re improved three-point shooting is just what the Orlando Magic need. Richardson shot 50.0% from deep while Penda hit 47.1% of his threes (both played three games).
• Phoenix Suns forward Rasheer Fleming, New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Micah Peavy, and Golden State Warriors forward Will Richard continue to improve as winning role players. Their versatility allows them to fit with different lineups (not just 3-and-D guys). I would put Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Sanders in the same category as Fleming, Peavy, and Richard, but he didn’t shoot well enough from three in Las Vegas like those three did.
• Ryan Nembhard (Atlanta Hawks/played summer league with the Dallas Mavericks before getting traded/undrafted in 2025), Chaney Johnson (Brooklyn Nets/undrafted in 2025), LJ Cryer (Golden State Warriors/undrafted in 2025), and John Poulakidas (Dallas Mavericks/undrafted in 2025) ended 2025-26 on a high note, which translated to Summer League. As for Dylan Cardwell (Sacramento Kings/undrafted in 2025), his rebounding, passing, and shot-blocking certainly carried over from a strong rookie season (3.5 ORB/2.5 APG/2.8 BPG in four games played).
• We haven’t seen Noa Essengue play much yet in his career, but it’s clear that he’s a defender trying to figure it out offensively (only appeared in 2 games as a rookie due to season-ending left shoulder surgery). Essengue remains one of the biggest mysteries from the 2025 NBA Draft (selected 12th by the Chicago Bulls).
• Detroit Pistons sharpshooter Chaz Lanier found a rhythm this summer from deep (51.1% 3-PT in five games played). He has a chance to let the whole league know his name soon if the minutes/efficient three-point shooting are there during the regular season.
• It’s been obvious since last year that Sacramento Kings big man Maxime Raynaud needs to keep improving his defense. We know that the 2025-26 All-Rookie Second Team member can score, pass, screen, and rebound, but for someone who is 7-foot-1, Raynaud isn’t much of a shot blocker at all (0.5 BPG as a rookie/0.0 BPG at 2026 Summer League). Also, he could be better guarding quicker guys after switches.
• Despite flashes here and there, I didn’t really see that much development from Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs), Kasparas Jakucionis (Milwaukee Bucks), Asa Newell (Atlanta Hawks), Nique Clifford (Sacramento Kings), Danny Wolf (Brooklyn Nets), Sion James (Charlotte Hornets), Kam Jones (Milwaukee Bucks), Johni Broome (Los Angeles Clippers/played summer league with the Philadelphia 76ers before getting traded), Koby Brea (Phoenix Suns), Jahmai Mashack (Memphis Grizzlies), and Rocco Zikarsky (Minnesota Timberwolves). As for Ace Bailey (Utah Jazz), he definitely got stronger, but saw limited action due to back spasms.
• Brooks Barnhizer (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Amari Williams (Boston Celtics) are underrated to me. You don’t have to worry about them defending, hitting the glass, or taking bad shots. Obviously, the three-point shooting isn’t there for both, but you’ve got to love Barnhizer’s motor and Williams’ rim protection.
• Jamir Watkins (Washington Wizards) apparently went so hard during his one game in Las Vegas that he tweaked his left knee. Watkins had nine fouls vs. the Utah Jazz, but still disrupted 2026 No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson enough on defense to get the win.
• John Tonje went 45.2% on threes in Las Vegas, which helped him land a two-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers (played summer league with the Boston Celtics). Hopefully, he can earn some NBA minutes in 2026-27 (6 games played as a rookie).
• I’d be surprised if former Chicago Bull Lachlan Olbrich isn’t on a two-way deal by the start of the season. He looked like an NBA player at the California Classic for the Golden State Warriors Gold squad (13.3 PPG on 76.2% shooting from the field in three games/18.7 MPG). 
• I question if former Boston Celtic Max Shulga will be back in the NBA. He only played 25 total minutes/appeared in one game for Warriors Gold (1-4 FG/4 assists/-9 +/-).
• New York Knicks forward Mohamed Diawara made just one shot in Las Vegas (1-14 FG in 2 games played). Offensive efficiency was an area he struggled in last summer/season as well. 
• I know he’s not a sophomore, but I wanted to mention the potential of 2025 No. 47 pick Bogoljub Markovic. The Milwaukee Bucks rookie isn’t very athletic. However, Markovic’s versatile offense and rebounding skills at 6-foot-11 looked quite intriguing.
• Unfortunately for Taleon Peter, he was waived by the Indiana Pacers on July 20th. Although, I thought that he showed enough this summer to be in the mix to make an NBA roster this upcoming season.
• Lastly, I’ll be interested to see if Vlad Goldin (Miami Heat/undrafted in 2025) and Jayson Kent (Portland Trail Blazers/undrafted in 2025) see more NBA action in 2026-27. Summer league showed that they’re ready to contribute more than last season.