Each offseason, we are able to learn insights about which players could have breakout seasons based on how they were used during NBA Summer League.
Just a few years ago, it was obvious that the Memphis Grizzlies wanted to use Desmond Bane as an on-ball initiator in Las Vegas. Then, the following year, he took a massive leap forward with his role in his offense for the team on the court.
Based on what we saw during NBA 2K24 Summer League, we used some data points to observe which players could have a similar jump for next year.
We used Synergy Sporch Tech data to track which players had the largest increase in their percentage of total offensive possessions, when including passes, as the ball handler in pick and roll or in isolation.
1
Keegan Murray
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Sacramento Kings
2022-23 NBA: 7.1 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 24.6 percent
Keegan Murray only played two games for the Kings, but based on HoopsHype’s Global Rating, he was the top overall performer at the California Classic Summer League.
Here is what we wrote after his 41-point performance for Sacramento:
“When including his passes, per Synergy, he finished 17.9 percent of his possessions as the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets. That was well above his rate (5.1 percent) during his first professional campaign.
This allowed some more on-ball creation opportunities for Murray, which is typically a great indicator of increased offensive usage to follow.
Also noteworthy: 45.8 percent of his jumpers were off the dribble and he was 7-for-11 (63.6 percent) during these opportunities. That is significantly more frequent than when he was a rookie (13.2 percent) and more efficient than his numbers last season (46.8 percent) as well.”
Murray was 3-of-3 (100.0 percent) when attacking out of the high pick-and-roll, connecting on three of his 3-pointers, via Synergy. He was also 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) as the ball handler in transition.
There is a reason why some within Sacramento’s organization reportedly believe that he could become their “franchise player” moving forward.
Murray (+3000) is a sneaky intriguing candidate to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player next season.
2
Shaedon Sharpe
(AP Photo/John Locher)
TEAM: Portland Trail Blazers
2022-23 NBA: 32.4 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 57.6 percent
It is fairly obvious that if the Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard, they’re going to build their future around Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
All seven of his career-high-scoring performances came during the final ten games of his rookie season. The only players who scored more points during that stretch were Joel Embiid, Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram.
Sharpe, who averaged 1.77 dribbles per touch during his first 72 games of the season, was given a much bigger opportunity playing on the ball once Lillard was shut down in 2022-23. He averaged a whopping 3.26 dribbles per touch for the final stretch of the campaign.
His usage rate was much higher with Lillard off the court (20.8 percent) relative to when the seven-time All-Star played (14.7 percent) last season, according to PBP Stats.
Sharpe was reportedly considered “off limits” in all trade conversations, per Yahoo reporter Jake Fischer. He was given the keys to the offense for Portland during NBA 2K24 Summer League, especially after Henderson was hurt, and scored 26 points during a victory over the Hornets on July 11.
Depending on the return in a trade for Lillard, it could make sense to place a bet on Sharpe (+2200) to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player for next year.
Grab Your BetMGM Bonus Code Offer Now
3
Jaden Hardy
(Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
TEAM: Dallas Mavericks
2022-23 NBA: 50.8 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 61.1 percent
During his rookie campaign, former G League Ignite guard Jaden Hardy had some brilliant scoring stretches for the Dallas Mavericks.
He continued some of that momentum heading into the offseason, too. Hardy played in three games during NBA 2K24 Summer League, scoring at least 20 points in each of the performances.
There were still massive efficiency concerns for Hardy, however, while on the court. He was 1-of-9 (11.1 percent) on 3-pointers against the Warriors on July 12 and 2-of-8 (25.0 percent) from beyond when facing the 76ers in the previous game.
But as a scoring threat in the second unit, he should provide tremendous help for Dallas as they look to make a run in the postseason.
4
Ochai Agbaji
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
TEAM: Utah Jazz
2022-23 NBA: 19.2 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 26.8 percent
Last season, per veteran reporter Marc Stein, the Utah Jazz reportedly considered Ochai Agbaji as “untouchable” in trade conversations.
They entrusted him more as the season progressed on the court, too. He averaged 0.80 dribbles per touch before the NBA All-Star Game and 1.54 dribbles per touch after the mid-season break.
Among the 311 players in the league who averaged at least 13.0 minutes per game in both segments of the season, only one player saw a larger percentage increase (92.5 percent) in their dribbles per touch.
Here is more on Agbaji from Jazz head Will Hardy (via KSL.com):
“I think we all saw him take on a different role in those last 10 games, and so we want to try to build on that this offseason.”
Agbaji played well during NBA 2K24 Summer League, too, scoring at least 14 points in all five of his appearances. He also eclipsed 20 points in back-to-back performances.
Even if the offense never runs entirely through Agbaji, he showcased some upside as a secondary creator on the offensive end of the floor.
5
Dyson Daniels
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: New Orleans Pelicans
2022-23 NBA: 42.8 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 52.7 percent
During his rookie season for the New Orleans Pelicans, Dyson Daniels averaged 2.19 dribbles per touch before the NBA All-Star Game and 3.34 dribbles per touch after the mid-season break.
Among the 311 players in the league who averaged at least 13.0 minutes per game in both segments of the season, only two saw a larger increase in their dribbles per touch.
That trend continues for New Orleans while in Las Vegas. Here is more from Pelicans summer league coach Casey Hill (via The Bird Writes):
“He’s not thinking quite as much. He’s being aggressive. One of the things he was doing early on was he wasn’t looking to score. He was looking to make plays for others. He’s got to get downhill. He’s got to be a scoring threat because that’s what opens everything else up.”
Although he struggled with his scoring efficiency as the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets, his overall productivity was still impressive.
Daniels had his hand on 36.3 percent of buckets when he was on the court for the Pelicans, per RealGM, fourth-best among all qualified players at the NBA 2K24 Summer League.
6
Ousmane Dieng
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
TEAM: Oklahoma City Thunder
2022-23 NBA: 28.5 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 39.0 percent
Ousmane Dieng is 6-foot-10 but is a true wing with on-ball ability.
He showcased as much as his rookie season progressed for Oklahoma City, too. Dieng averaged 1.71 seconds per touch before the NBA All-Star Game and 2.44 seconds per touch after the mid-season break.
Among the 311 players who averaged at least 13.0 minutes per game in both segments of the season, just four players showed a larger percentage increase (42.7 percent) in their seconds per touch.
Dieng was one of the best overall performers at the Salt Lake City Summer League based on HoopsHype’s Global Rating. He was legitimately efficient as the ball handler both in the pick and roll and in isolation.
He scored 22 points (9-11 FG, 3-4 3P) with nine rebounds and six assists in a victory over the Pacers on July 12. It was the perfect encapsulation of why he ought to have a role in the Oklahoma City rotation next season.
7
Max Christie
(AP Photo/John Locher)
TEAM: Los Angeles Lakers
2022-23 NBA: 30.7 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 63.6 percent
Los Angeles Lakers wing Max Christie was considered one of the best overall performers at the California Classic Summer League, based on HoopsHype’s Global Rating.
Among the 66 players who finished at least 75 offensive possessions across all games in NBA Summer League, per Synergy, Christie was one of the ten most efficient players.
Although he played on-ball for Los Angeles in Las Vegas, however, Christie knows he probably can’t expect that role to continue with the same level of responsibility during the regular season (via The Athletic):
“Obviously now I’m showcasing my ability to handle the ball, but at the end of the day, we have LeBron, DLo and Austin,” Christie said. “Those guys are going to handle the ball the most. I need to find my niche and I think that is 3-point shooting and defense like I did last year. I just need to improve on that.”
Even though the Lakers also added Gabe Vincent, though, it is helpful to know that Christie was able to play well when he did have the ball in his hands.
Christie had some impressive flashes during his rookie campaign with Los Angeles. But based on what he showed so far during the offseason, he may have earned a spot in the rotation for the Lakers.
8
David Roddy
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
TEAM: Memphis Grizzlies
2022-23 NBA: 12.6 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 25.6 percent
As the Grizzlies begin their season with Ja Morant suspended and his former backup Tyus Jones on the Wizards, they will look to find new players to find on-ball opportunities.
One of those players who could get a chance is potentially David Roddy.
During his final collegiate campaign at Colorado State, per Synergy, Roddy was one of just two prospects in his draft class with more than 30 possessions attempting to score as both the ball handler and as the screener in pick-and-roll sets.
9
MarJon Beauchamp
(Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
TEAM: Milwaukee Bucks
2022-23 NBA: 27.5 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 46.1 percent
Milwaukee Bucks wing MarJon Beauchamp flew under the radar a bit during his rookie campaign.
But he recently was entrusted with a bigger role during his time in NBA 2K24 Summer League. This could potentially help earn some playing time next season, per Eric Nehm (via The Athletic):
“With the Bucks’ best players on the floor, Beauchamp will likely not be given the chance to operate a ton with the ball in his hands as he did in Las Vegas, but there is no reason for him to stop aggressively attacking closeouts or working to the rim off of dribble handoffs. Being aggressive off the bounce and getting to the free throw line more often can help Beauchamp be more consistent in spot minutes and earn easy points at the free throw line.”
Beauchamp was fouled on 27.3 percent of his possessions as the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets, per Synergy, which was the second-most (minimum: 10 possessions) among all players at NBA 2K24 Summer League.
If he can keep that momentum into next season, Beauchamp should provide good value for Milwaukee.
10
Ryan Rollins
Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM: Washington Wizards
2022-23 NBA: 50.8 percent
SUMMER LEAGUE: 61.1 percent
Ryan Rollins, a former Toledo star, played just 62 minutes for the Warriors during his rookie season last year.
The guard was traded to the Wizards after his first professional season and once with Washington, he showed he has a chance to potentially make a big impact next season.
Rollins turned the ball over on just 7.7 percent of his possessions as the ball handler in pick-and-roll sets, per Synergy, which was one of the lowest rates among high-volume creators.
He reached double-digit scoring figures in each of his four appearances in NBA 2K24 Summer League, recording 17 points with nine assists and five steals during a win over the Celtics on July 9.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Dalano Banton (Celtics)
- Dalen Terry (Bulls)
- Julian Champagnie (Spurs)
- Wendell Moore Jr. (Timberwolves)
- Andrew Nembhard (Pacers)
