NBA Player News

Pippen may not have led his team to the win on Monday, but the Grizzlies had to be pleased with his overall performance. The point guard was efficient offensively, finishing at a solid clip while also setting up his teammates for quality looks. Due to the Grizzlies being hit hard by the injury bug, Pippen played far more last season than anyone expected him to. With Ja Morant and Marcus Smart healthy again, Pippen’s chances of cracking the opening night rotation are slim. However, he is on a two-way contract, which gives Pippen a little more security than last season.

Holland made strides throughout his time in Las Vegas, and Sunday’s performance may have been the rookie’s best. The fifth overall pick shot over 50% from the field, leading the Pistons in scoring. Holland scored 20 points or more in his last two games in Las Vegas, and he shot 2-of-6 from three on Sunday. The rookie’s development as a shooter will significantly impact his fantasy value. Still, Holland won’t lack opportunities to show what he can do, as Detroit is in the midst of a rebuild.

After struggling during Utah’s summer league games in Salt Lake City, Filipowski looked more comfortable in Las Vegas. The role likely had something to do with that, as Walker Kessler’s absence led to the rookie being moved from power forward to center. While Filipowski did encounter some issues defensively, he has the offensive skill set needed to force mismatches on the other end. With Utah appearing to be all-in on the 2025 draft class, playing time may not be hard to come by for the rookie. And if the Jazz were to trade Lauri Markkanen, Filipowski’s fantasy ceiling would increase significantly.

Dowtin and 76ers coach Nick Nurse have been connected since their time in Toronto, and that will continue into the 2024-25 season. Dowtin played well for the 76ers in summer league and has earned the right to return after joining the team on a two-way in March. Philadelphia has Tyrese Maxey and Kyle Lowry at the point guard position, and first-round pick Jared McCain is also capable of filling that role. Dowtin’s signing will not impact fantasy basketball.

Walsh’s final action in Las Vegas was good overall, as the 2023 second-round pick shot 50% from the field and made more than half of his seven 3-point attempts. Add in the rebounds and blocked shots; this was a solid way for him to head into the offseason. The turnovers (six) were problematic, but that isn’t something to be too concerned about. Walsh’s role in summer league did not align with his likely role once the regular season begins, as Boston will have most of its rotation from last season’s title team back in uniform. Walsh’s best path to consistent playing time is to defend his position well, as the Celtics have more than enough scorers.

Knox was sensational before fouling out of Sunday’s semifinal defeat, leading all scorers with 31 points. This was a needed performance for the 2018 lottery pick, as he entered Sunday averaging 13.0 points per game on 33.3% shooting from the field. Efficiency had been an issue for Knox, who’s looking to catch on somewhere after being waived by the Jazz after they acquired him from Detroit in February. Whether or not he can earn an opportunity in some team’s training camp, there’s no need to consider selecting Knox in fantasy drafts.

Larsson has agreed to a three-year contract, so he’ll have every opportunity to compete for playing time when training camp begins. The second-round pick out of Arizona has played well in Las Vegas, making positive strides after uneven performances at the California Classic. Given Miami’s depth and experience on the wings, it will be difficult for Larsson to get the minutes needed to be fantasy-relevant as a rookie. But he’s made a good impression on his employer in summer league.

Dillingham, whose rights Minnesota acquired from San Antonio on draft night, looked like a steal for most of summer league. While he did commit five turnovers in Sunday’s finale, the positives far outweighed the negatives. Dillingham displayed a proper balance of getting his shot and setting up his teammates, a big reason why Minnesota ended its summer on a high note. Serving as Mike Conley’s backup would limit Dillingham’s fantasy upside in the short term, but the Timberwolves may have a future star on their hands.

Jackson had another productive day offensively, scoring 20 points to help propel the Grizzlies into Monday’s championship game. While the turnover (six) count wasn’t great, this has been a summer of immense growth for the 2023 second-round pick. Primarily a scorer last season, Jackson has been tasked with expanding his game on both ends of the floor. He’s taken on some difficult defensive assignments but has not backed down from the competition, which is a good sign for the Grizzlies heading into next season. Jackson’s fantasy upside on a healthy Grizzlies team will be limited, but he’ll be worth a late-round roll of the dice in many leagues.

Pippen had a tough afternoon shooting the basketball from two, making just two of his ten attempts inside the 3-point line. But he frequently got to the foul line, and the overall production was enough to help push the Grizzlies into Monday’s championship game. Last season, he benefitted from the Grizzlies’ many injuries to earn credible rotation minutes. This summer, the goal has been to show Taylor Jenkins and the rest of the coaching staff that he can handle the backup point guard responsibilities. That isn’t a spot of excellent fantasy value with a healthy Ja Morant in the lineup, but Pippen would be worth streaming on occasion if he can secure that job.

Christie saved his best summer league performance for last, hitting six 3-pointers and scoring 22 points in the one-point semifinal defeat. In four games, the rookie averaged 8.8 points on 31.6% shooting from the field, with 3-point production (2.3 per game) being where he provided the most value. While he faces longer odds of cracking the Clippers’ regular season rotation than Jordan Miller, who scored 28 on Sunday, Christie is an intriguing prospect for the future. He turns 19 on July 24, making him one of the youngest rookies in this class. Fantasy managers should not expect too much from Christie as a rookie, but he’s worth selecting in dynasty leagues.