Wednesday News: 07/09/2025 - California and Utah Summer League Wrap
The 2025 NBA Summer League has been a showcase of the league’s future stars and hidden gems, giving dynasty managers a valuable glimpse into rookie upside, breakout candidates, and deep-league stashes. Across Utah and California, several young players have already made strong impressions, while others are still finding their footing. Below is a team-by-team summary of key performances and dynasty takeaways from the first week of action.
Early Breakouts
76ers
V.J. Edgecombe flashed franchise cornerstone upside with a dominant 28-point debut before sitting with a minor thumb injury. Johni Broome showed his stretch potential, rebounding and rim protection. Justin Edwards added efficient two-way play, and Adem Bona’s minutes were limited but promising defensively.
Dynasty managers should prioritize Edgecombe as a future star and keep an eye on Bona and Broome as deep-league sleepers with specialist upside. Overall, Philly’s young core looks like a strong foundation for both real-life and dynasty formats.
Grizzlies
GG Jackson showed star potential with a dominant 27-point performance on efficient shooting, proving he’s ready for more in Memphis. Cam Spencer lit it up from deep, going 7-for-10 from three and dropping 23 points, while Jaylen Wells matched him with 23 of his own in the same game. Cedric Coward sat out the week, leaving room for Jackson and Spencer to shine.
Dynasty managers should prioritize Jackson as a high-upside scorer and keep an eye on Spencer as a deep-league 3-point specialist. The Grizzlies’ young talent looks dynamic, but roles may shift when the full rotation returns.
Heat
Kel’el Ware has shown defensive versatility with blocks, steals, and rebounding, though his scoring efficiency remains a work in progress, making him a long-term dynasty stash. Kasparas Jakucionis struggled offensively in his debut but showed flashes on defense and at the line, hinting at deep-league intrigue as a developmental guard. Pelle Larsson has quietly been the Heat’s most consistent contributor, scoring 15 points with strong peripherals in his most recent game, suggesting late-round dynasty value as a glue guy, if he can find a role. Kira Lewis Jr. provided a team-high 16 in the Heat’s most recent outing, but his long-term role remains uncertain given Miami’s crowded backcourt.
Dynasty managers should prioritize monitoring Larsson and Ware while keeping Jakucionis on the radar as a high-upside stash if his offense comes around.
Jazz
The Jazz wrapped up a dominant Salt Lake Summer League run, led by Kyle Filipowski, who showcased his versatile big-man skill set with an 18-point, 15-rebound double-double on night four. Walter Clayton Jr. continued to shine as a dynamic scoring guard, pouring in 20 points on 14 shots and flashing secondary playmaking. Ace Bailey showed flashes of his elite athleticism and two-way upside earlier in the week, highlighted by an 18-point outing where he also displayed playmaking and perimeter shooting, cementing himself as a high-upside dynasty stash. Isaiah Collier is still settling in but contributed a balanced 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, showing flashes of his high-IQ game.
Dynasty managers should view Filipowski as a strong long-term frontcourt piece, while Bailey and Clayton offer intriguing upside as developmental wings and guards.
Lakers
The Lakers’ summer squad has been paced by veteran Cole Swider, who lit up the Warriors with 24 points on 6-of-8 from three, then followed it up with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, showing his elite shooting stroke and making a strong case for a roster spot. Former lottery pick Dalton Knecht has shown flashes of his all-around game despite cold shooting nights early, bouncing back against the Spurs with a stellar 25-point, 8-rebound, 4-three performance that reminds dynasty managers why he was a top pick. Bronny James made his much-anticipated debut, scoring 10 points in 10 minutes in his opener but just 2 points in 15 minutes against the Spurs, leaving his fantasy outlook as more of a wait-and-see stash in dynasty.
Dynasty managers should prioritize Knecht as a long-term piece with strong scoring upside, view Swider as a short-term streamer or deep-league stash, and keep Bronny on watch lists as developmental prospects.
Spurs
The Spurs have struggled to find their rhythm in Summer League play, with second overall pick Dylan Harper yet to make his much-anticipated debut. His absence has left a clear void, as the team has lacked a reliable offensive engine. Rookie Carter Bryant has shown confidence firing from deep, but his inefficiency has been evident - scoring 7 points on 8 shots in his debut and following up with 9 points on 2-of-7 shooting from three against the Lakers. No other Spurs players have stepped up with meaningful production, and the team has yet to showcase any breakout performances.
For dynasty managers, patience is key as Harper’s eventual debut will provide a better glimpse into his potential, while Bryant remains a deep-league stash with room to grow if he can improve his efficiency.
Thunder
Ajay Mitchell has been the breakout star for Oklahoma City, showing excellent all-around play highlighted by a 24-point debut and a strong 19-5-8 line on night four, cementing himself as a deep-league dynasty sleeper with guard versatility. Nikola Topic has struggled to find his rhythm, flashing playmaking with multiple games of 4–5 assists but also showing inefficiency and turnovers, finishing night four with just 7 points on 12 shots and 8 turnovers, a worrying but correctable trend for dynasty investors. Brooks Barnhizer continues to quietly impress, filling up the box score on both ends with a 12-6-3-2-2 line in 27 minutes, looking like a potential two-way contributor worth stashing in deeper formats. The Thunder’s depth remains evident, and players like Mitchell and Barnhizer are carving out buzz-worthy roles behind the team’s established core.
Dynasty managers should monitor Mitchell as a high-upside stash and remain patient with Topic despite early growing pains.
Warriors
The Warriors have relied on balanced team scoring rather than a single standout, with nine of ten players contributing at least seven points in their opening win. LJ Cryer has emerged as a deep-league dynasty name to watch, showcasing sharpshooting upside with games of 8 points (2/3 from deep) and later 19 points (5/7 from three). Will Richard made his summer debut with 16 points in 25 minutes, flashing a versatile scoring game that could earn him a longer look in Golden State’s developmental pipeline. Alex Toohey finally debuted but had a quiet night, posting 6 points and 6 rebounds, though his long-term potential remains intriguing in dynasty formats.
Overall, Cryer and Richard have shown the most fantasy-friendly skills so far, while Toohey is more of a stash candidate for patient dynasty managers.
Final Thoughts
Summer League is only a small sample, but it offers crucial insights into which players are ready to contribute now, who needs more time to develop, and who might emerge as a sleeper in deep formats. Dynasty managers should take note of trends but avoid overreacting to hot or cold starts - context and opportunity remain key. As rotations tighten and more prospects debut, the coming games will continue to shape the dynasty landscape heading into the 2025–26 season.
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