NBA Player News

Watson hasn’t truly shined as the starter in place of Aaron Gordon, but he has been able to consistently provide numbers. During his seven starts, Watson has averaged 13.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.4 blocks and 1.7 triples per game. That well-rounded production has allowed him to provide top-100 value during that stretch. It’s unclear how much longer Gordon will be sidelined, since the initial diagnosis had him missing “multiple weeks”. Until he’s back, Watson should be streamed with confidence.

Walsh started well on Monday, but the 2023 second-round pick could not keep his cool, resulting in a premature trip to the showers. He picked up two technical fouls during the first half, the second after shoving Pelle Larsson out of bounds. With his contract for the 2025-26 season only partially guaranteed, Walsh can’t make his case from the locker room. He finished with 12 points, three rebounds, one steal and one three-pointer, shooting 5-of-8 from the field.

Having already agreed to a two-way contract with the Mavericks, Nembhard knows he’ll be in training camp with the team this fall. However, his performances in Las Vegas have likely opened some eyes within the organization and throughout the league. Nembhard was the lone Mavericks player to score in double figures against the Hornets and was also responsible for eight of the team’s 15 assists. Nembhard won’t be worth the risk in fantasy drafts, but he could be an intriguing option for the future based on how he’s played in Las Vegas.

Simpson cleaned some things up after shooting poorly in Saturday’s win over the 76ers. In addition to improving his shooting, the point guard committed just one turnover on the evening. Due to Charlotte’s depth at the point, Simpson’s chances of entering next season as a fantasy-relevant player are slim. However, due mainly to LaMelo Ball’s injury history, there may be opportunities throughout the season for Simpson to step into a larger role.

Knueppel was far more impactful Monday evening after a pedestrian performance in his summer league debut on Thursday. The fourth overall pick in last month’s draft shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and was solid defensively, which likely mirrors what the Hornets will ask of Knueppel once the regular season begins. He’ll be more valuable to dynasty league managers than those competing in redraft leagues, but Knueppel possesses a relatively high floor in his new home.

If Monday’s game was the last of the summer for Furphy, he finished with a flourish. The Pacers wing produced one of the highlights of summer league with his second-quarter dunk over Chicago’s Noa Essengue, and he was impactful on both ends of the floor. According to Pacers team president Kevin Pritchard, Furphy has added 20 pounds since the end of the 2024-25 season. He clearly needed to get stronger after playing limited minutes as a rookie, and he appears to have done that. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle does not hesitate to go deep into his bench, so Furphy will have opportunities to earn more playing time.

After mediocre performances in Indiana’s first two games of the summer, Jones was more productive against the Bulls. The second-round pick out of Marquette shot 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and recorded a complete stat line in Monday’s defeat. Jones’s ability to defend may improve his chances of earning playing time next season, especially with Tyrese Haliburton already ruled out with a ruptured Achilles tendon. That isn’t enough to make Jones a player worth selecting in standard leagues, but he’s worthy of consideration in deeper formats.

Despite suffering a right quad contusion during Saturday’s loss to the Kings, Essengue was in the starting lineup on Monday. And the first-round pick played well against the Pacers, shooting 50 percent from the field overall and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. With Matas Buzelis likely done for the summer, there may be an opportunity for Essengue to show what he can do as the top scoring option. That is, if he isn’t also sidelined for the rest of the week.

Buzelis was sensational on Monday, making routine and spectacular plays throughout the Bulls’ victory. During his postgame interview, the second-year forward said he was likely done for the remainder of Summer League. Given how well Buzelis played, the Bulls have likely seen all they need from the 2024 lottery pick. Buzelis’ status as a starter should not change once the regular season begins, and he’s worthy of a late-round flier in standard leagues.

For some NBA teams, the end of the first weekend of Summer League leads to “known quantities” being shut down for the rest of the event. The Rockets have decided to take that approach with Reed Sheppard, which resulted in even more opportunities for Chandler. Chandler, the 38th overall pick in the 2022 draft, appeared in 36 games with the Grizzlies during the 2022-23 season and has not been back in the NBA since. Performances like the one he produced on Monday may increase the point guard’s chances of receiving a training camp from someone, whether it’s Houston or another team.

Newell’s production took a hit after a stellar performance in Sunday’s win over the Suns. However, the reps are more important than the numbers, as the first-round pick won’t turn 20 until early October. With the Hawks among the teams still in contention to reach the semifinals of the NBA 2K26 Summer League, Newell does not appear to be a shutdown candidate. If so, that would mean more opportunities for Jack McVeigh. He shined against the Rockets, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in 27 minutes off the bench.