NBA rookie rankings: An early look at the post-Summer League ROY race

The Las Vegas Summer League has concluded, with the Miami Heat winning the championship after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 120-118 in overtime.

Rookie forward K'rel Ware (15th pick) played every game for the Heat, finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds and a block in the final game. He seems like a perfect fit for Miami, providing added rim protection alongside Bam Adebayo and being fluid in pick-and-roll sets.

Unlike Ware, most of the top rookies retired early in the summer league and only played three games. Although the sample size was small, teams and fans should have high expectations for the new players. After the summer league, we will introduce the premature rookie rankings for the 2024-25 NBA season.

Draft slots: 3

Shepard appeared in four games for the Rockets and looked like a veteran guard with a knack for NBA spacing. He shot the ball well and showed great long-range shooting from the 3-point line. He was also solid in the mid-range and made jump shots in the lane off high ball screens.

A 6-foot-2 guard, Shepard uses his 6-foot-7 wingspan to his advantage defensively, finding gaps, taking deflections and blocking shots. Playing behind Ament Thompson and Fred VanVleet, he may not see immediate playing time on the court during the regular season, but he has demonstrated he can positively impact the game on both ends of the court. Shepard averaged 20 points and 5.3 assists per game in Summer League.

Draft slots: 4

Due to a wrist injury, Castle only played one game with Las Vegas, but it was enough to show he could play as a lead guard. In one Summer League game, Castle finished with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes of play and showed signs of improvement with his outside shooting, which looked promising.

Castle's defensive ability is what separates him from the other guards in this rookie class. He can get on the perimeter and keep opposing guards in front of him. It's easy to see him and Victor Wembanyama anchoring the Spurs defense this season. Meanwhile, Castle also has the speed and court vision to open up and give Wembanyama more touches.

Castle will play behind Chris Paul and get the opportunity to learn about different aspects of the NBA from the veteran.

Draft slots: 11

Buzelis entered Summer League somewhat frustrated after falling to 11th overall despite being projected much higher during pre-draft play. In his first few games, he showed the teams that passed on him what they were missing: improved ability to make plays above the rim and create shots off the bounce.

The 6-foot-9 hybrid forward One of the best dunks of the summer league Buzelis is confident in his 3-pointers, making four against the Warriors for 28 points. Buzelis appeared in all five games for the Bulls, averaging 16.4 points and 4.2 rebounds.

4. Kelel Ware, Miami Heat

Draft slots: 15

Three centers were taken ahead of Ware in the draft, but even though it's still early, Ware looks like one of the best big men in this class based on the way the NBA game is played. He's played seamlessly in high pick-and-rolls and has made some 3-pointers with pop. He's also proven he can switch-guard on the perimeter and is an elite rim protector.

The 20-year-old Ware is averaging 18.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks through eight games, but he still has plenty of room for improvement, especially off the dribble and his ability to quickly find teammates when double-teamed.

Draft slots: 14

The Wizards may have drafted Alex Sarr with the No. 2 pick, but their real star appears to be Carrington. The 6-foot-4 guard out of Pittsburgh is one of the youngest players in the rookie class, turning 19 on July 21, and has looked like one of the best guards on the court in five games in Las Vegas. A three-level scorer, Carrington averaged 15.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.

While there were periods of turnovers, Carrington cut down on his mistakes and became more comfortable with the speed of the game as the tournament went on. With the Wizards still in rebuilding mode, he'll get plenty of practice early on as the franchise's lead guard. There's a reason Sheppard and Castle were top-five picks, but Carrington is the dark horse for Rookie of the Year.

Draft slots: 1

No. 1 pick Lisacher only played in two Summer League games but was pretty solid, averaging 14.5 points and 5 rebounds. The 6'9″ wing played over 50 games under J.L. Buhl before entering the NBA, and his rest after those two games was likely a precaution as the Hawks wanted to avoid injury.

Pre-draft, Lisacher was known as a 3-point shot ace, but he struggled to adjust to the NBA 3-point line and pace of the game, making just 1 of 7 3-point attempts in his second game. If he can start making those shots consistently, Lisacher could be a great option for Trae Young on the wing.

Draft slots: 27

Shannon was one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball last season, and that momentum carried over to Summer League, where he averaged 22 points through his first two games. The left-handed slasher excels at downhill play and has looked great in the backcourt alongside Rob Dillingham (8th pick).

At 23 years old, Shannon is one of the older rookies on this roster, but his experience should help him make an early impact, and the 6-foot-6 guard is likely to come off the bench for the Timberwolves to start the season.

Draft slots: 7

Clingan took a few games to get used to the pace and physicality of the NBA game, but he led all players in blocked shots (4.2 per game) and was particularly impressive in rebounding (12.2 rebounds per game). He also messed up a few passes in crowded situations, but that will improve as he plays alongside Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons throughout the season.

Draft slots: 10

Williams, the younger brother of Thunder forward Jalen Williams, has improved as the season has progressed in Las Vegas, showcasing his playmaking talents and ability to get close to the basket through seven games. His best offensive performance came in a win over the Mavericks, when he recorded 21 points and four assists.

Going into the draft, teams knew it would take him a season or two to fully hone his game, but were encouraged to see he was ahead of his 19-year-old brother, who has drawn NBA comparisons to Jaden McDaniels for his length and defensive versatility.

10. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Draft slots: 9

Eddy only played one full summer league game due to injuries to both ankles. In his first summer league game in Salt Lake City, Eddy recorded 14 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.

At 7'4 and 300 pounds, his durability will be a concern during the season, but if he can stay healthy, his impact in the lane will be immediate for the Grizzlies. With both feet in the paint, Eddie is hard to contain, and defensively, he is a beast when teams aren't deployed beyond the 3-point line.