NBA summer league 2021: 30 teams, 30 players you need to know

What should fans and teams be looking for from the most interesting prospects at the Las Vegas Summer League?

Following a 2020 hiatus due to COVID-19, the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2021 will take place Aug. 8-17 in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. The 75-game event will feature all 30 NBA teams, each playing five games apiece.

After the first four games are played, the two teams with the best record will play in the championship game on Aug. 17.

NBA Insiders Kevin Pelton and Mike Schmitz go team by team, giving one player to watch and why.

More: NBA Summer League scoreboard

Atlanta Hawks

Jalen Johnson | Small Forward

The summer league will be Johnson's first game action since February, when he decided to end his lone season at Duke with six games remaining in ACC play. That decision might have contributed to Johnson, who was once projected in the top 10, dropping to the Hawks at No. 20. We'll get a first look at what Johnson has added to his game in five months spent preparing for the draft. -- Kevin Pelton

Boston Celtics

Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith | Shoot Guards

Barely two months after getting regular minutes for the Celtics in their playoff loss to the Brooklyn Nets, former lottery picks Langford and Nesmith will be in action in Las Vegas. So too will Payton Pritchard, but this is a more important opportunity for Langford and Nesmith to prove they belong in Boston's 2021-22 rotation. With the addition of Josh Richardson, the Celtics have room for one, but maybe not both. -- Pelton

Brooklyn Nets

Cameron Thomas | Shooting Guard

The summer league style should be a good fit for Thomas' ability to get buckets. He averaged 23.0 PPG during his lone season at LSU, the most by a freshman in a major conference since Trae Young in 2017-18. I'd expect a 2-of-11 shooting night at some point, but also expect a game where he goes off for 30 points and leaves viewers wondering how he was still available at the 27th pick. -- Pelton

Charlotte Hornets

James Bouknight | Shooting Guard

Hey, did we mention that volume scorers can be fun in summer league? Bouknight, who averaged 18.7 PPG as a sophomore at UConn, certainly fits the bill too. He went for 40 points in an overtime loss to Creighton in December. I'm most curious to see how comfortable Bouknight looks from the NBA 3-point line after he shot just 29% from the shorter NCAA line last season, though he was reportedly more accurate in pre-draft workouts. -- Pelton

Chicago Bulls

Patrick Williams | Power Forward

Ordinarily, a rookie who saw nearly 2,000 minutes while starting 71 games would be excused from summer league, but Williams and fellow 2020 draft picks missed out on the experience last summer. Given that Chicago added Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan, this might be Williams' last opportunity to try handling the ball for a while. -- Pelton

Cleveland Cavaliers

Evan Mobley | Center

Isaac Okoro, last year's No. 5 pick, heads to summer league with more experience (2,173 minutes) than Williams. Still, all eyes will be on Mobley, drafted third overall last month. Although the Cavaliers have a couple of other bigs on the roster, most notably former Clippers first-round pick Mfiondu Kabengele, Mobley will likely play mostly at center -- a different role than he might play in the fall alongside Jarrett Allen. -- Pelton

Dallas Mavericks

Tyrell Terry | Point Guard

Terry had his ups and downs as a rookie, playing just 56 NBA minutes while showing both the good and the bad in 13 G League bubble games. We'll have a close eye on how he's evolved physically, as whether he can hold up defensively will go a long way in determining if he'll be able to show his sharpshooting and playmaking potential in Dallas this season. Josh Green's confidence from beyond the arc will also be a point of interest, as he's an impactful enough defender to earn minutes under Jason Kidd next season. -- Mike Schmitz

Denver Nuggets

Bol Bol | Center

The 21-year-old, 7-foot-2 unicorn was unable to build on his bubble brilliance last season with an accomplished Nuggets team, appearing in just 36 games while averaging just 4.4 minutes per game. Talent has never been the question for Bol, it's whether or not he has the physicality and motor to play a real role throughout an entire season. How he looks in Las Vegas should help determine if he'll be able to make a leap next season. In addition to Bol, Bones Hyland is the type of bucket-getting guard built for summer league. I'll also have an eye on Nigerian guard Caleb Agada, who led the Israeli League in scoring last year. -- Schmitz

Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham | Shooting Guard

The Pistons will have plenty of young talent during summer league: Cunningham and 2020 first-round picks Saddiq Bey and Killian Hayes. Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick, will be the marquee attraction not only for Detroit but for summer league as a whole, as we'll see how his versatile skill set translates to the NBA game for the first time. -- Pelton

Golden State Warriors

Jonathan Kuminga | Power Forward

Long considered the biggest wild card to hear his name called in the top 10, Kuminga will be watched closely by NBA scouts and executives in Vegas, especially considering that the Warriors front office faced tremendous pressure to nail both lottery picks. Will Kuminga look like the toolsy wing from the G League bubble, whom executives raved about as a potential No. 1 pick? Or will his streaky shooting, up-and-down motor and inconsistent decision-making show up? We'll learn more about just how ready the Congolese wing is to contribute alongside Steph Curry & Co. -- Schmitz

Houston Rockets

Alperen Sengun | Center

Jalen Green is the clear headliner here, but we know what he's capable of doing against NBA-caliber competition having watched him average an efficient 18.7 points per game in the G League bubble. I'm more interested in how Alperen Sengun's historic Turkish League production will translate to summer league. Will the 6-foot-10 Sengun be able to dominate the paint like he did in Turkey? Will he unleash the 3-point shooting and passing upside I saw in a practice setting? Will he look limited on the defensive end or were those concerns overblown? Given his status as the No. 1 prospect on Kevin Pelton's top 30 rankings, there's a lot of intrigue here. -- Schmitz

Indiana Pacers

Chris Duarte | Shooting Guard

It's unusual for a rookie to be among a team's older players in summer league, but that's the case with the 24-year-old Duarte, who's older than four teammates with NBA experience (Goga Bitadze, Jordan Bone, Oshae Brissett and Cassius Stanley). Given his age, the Pacers will expect Duarte to hit the ground running in training camp, making this an important development opportunity for the Oregon product. -- Pelton

LA Clippers

Brandon Boston Jr. | Shooting Guard

The Clippers took a talent swing with the No. 51 pick on the 6-foot-7 Boston, who was once a projected top-five pick, as the league will have an eye on whether the Clippers struck gold. Will he show us the glimpses of shot creation that had him so highly touted coming out of Sierra Canyon, or will he continue to struggle as he did at Kentucky with his shooting consistency, finishing and defensive toughness? Keon Johnson and Jason Preston are also ones to watch, but Boston is the most intriguing given the disparity between his ability, high school ranking and production last season. -- Schmitz

Los Angeles Lakers

Austin Reaves | Shooting Guard

I was shocked to see Reaves go undrafted after averaging 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists at Oklahoma last season, highlighted by a 27-point outburst against Jalen Suggs and Gonzaga. The 23-year-old, 6-foot-6 guard is a creative shot generator who brings confidence and toughness to a Lakers team that could use another youthful playmaker. Even with the additions of Kendrick Nunn and Malik Monk, it wouldn't surprise me to see Reaves parlay a strong summer league into a rotation spot. Keep an eye on Michigan wing Chaundee Brown, who signed an Exhibit 10 with the Lakers and can add much-needed defensive toughness and perimeter shooting (42% from 3) on the perimeter. -- Schmitz

Memphis Grizzlies

Ziaire Williams | Small Forward

The Grizzlies sent shockwaves through the league by selecting Ziaire Williams at No. 10, and I'm eager to see how he looks in his first 5-on-5 action since March 3. Williams started gaining traction in the pre-draft process after workouts and interviews that answered questions about his subpar season at Stanford, inching closer to where he was projected when he started college (RSCI No. 6 player in 2020). Was Williams' underwhelming freshman year a product of COVID-19 stipulations and deaths in his family? Will his game pop with NBA spacing and more talent around him? Or will Williams' slight frame, streaky shooting (47% true shooting) and lack of toughness limit him? -- Schmitz

Miami Heat

Max Strus | Shooting Guard

Strus and fellow Miami two-way player Gabe Vincent saw regular action last season and could be called on to play even bigger roles in 2021-22 with the Heat sacrificing depth in order to acquire Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade deal. Strus will be on a full NBA deal this upcoming season after the Heat agreed to re-sign him as a restricted free agent, as reported by my ESPN colleague Adrian Wojnarowski. -- Pelton

Milwaukee Bucks

Elijah Bryant | Shooting Guard

The Bucks signed Bryant just before the end of the regular season and he actually got 50 minutes of playing time during their championship run. Milwaukee has loaded up at guard in free agency, putting obstacles in Bryant's path to regular playing time, but the shooting ability he flashed in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv (42% in the Israeli Super League last season and 39% over the past two in EuroLeague) gives him a chance. -- Pelton

Minnesota Timberwolves

McKinley Wright | Point Guard

The Colorado guard was one of my favorite undrafted prospects from the 2021 draft thanks to his defensive toughness, floor game and all-around winning impact. He reminds me of a young TJ McConnell with his intangibles, midrange game and defensive smarts. Expect Wright to apply nonstop ball pressure, slice and dice through opposing defenses and lead Minnesota to a handful of wins. The organizational focus will be on the highly intriguing Jaden McDaniels, but the Timberwolves added a true winner in Wright, who is on a two-way contract. -- Schmitz

New York Knicks

Obi Toppin | Center

Of the four players drafted in the top nine picks not to reach 1,000 minutes as a rookie, Toppin was the only one not to miss extended time due to injury. He was simply stuck behind Julius Randle, who has now agreed to a four-year contract extension after emerging as an All-NBA starter. That makes this an important opportunity for Toppin to show the Knicks what he can do in a bigger role. -- Pelton

New Orleans Pelicans

Kira Lewis Jr. | Point Guard

With Lonzo Ball off to Chicago, the door is open for 20-year-old Kira Lewis to prove he should be viewed as the team's lead guard of the future. Lewis had bright spots down the stretch last season, and his stellar open-court speed, scoring instincts and evolving floor game should shine in a summer league setting. Although it came in limited action, Lewis was the only rookie to post better than a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio last season, which wasn't considered a strength of his in college. Even with the addition of Devonte' Graham, Lewis is the most dynamic guard on New Orleans' roster, and that should come to light in Vegas. -- Schmitz

Oklahoma City Thunder

Josh Giddey | Shooting Guard

All eyes will be on the 6-foot-8 Aussie playmaker, especially since the Thunder brass selected him over highly touted prospects like Kuminga, Davion Mitchell and James Bouknight. Given how comfortable he looked against Nigeria in an Olympic exhibition, the 18-year-old Giddey should have no problem standing out with his passing and all-around basketball IQ. We'll have a close eye on how Giddey looks as a shooter, perimeter defender and his ability to get to his spots against rangier defenders like he did in the NBL last season. -- Schmitz

Orlando Magic

Jalen Suggs | Shooting Guard

The Orlando Summer League roster is stacked in the backcourt with Suggs and 2020 first-round picks Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton. The last time we saw Suggs, he and his Gonzaga teammates fell just short of an undefeated season when they lost in the title game to Baylor after Suggs' game-winning 3 in the national semifinals against UCLA. Because of that run, Suggs might enter the NBA with more name recognition than any other rookie. -- Pelton

Philadelphia 76ers

Paul Reed | Small Forward

A contender for summer league MVP, Reed has produced everywhere he's gone. That was mostly in the G League last season, where the 2020 second-round pick won both MVP and Rookie of the Year honors. "B-Ball Paul" averaged 22.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I'll be curious how Reed's 3-point form looks after he made them at a 44% clip in the G League on 54 attempts. -- Pelton

Phoenix Suns

Jalen Smith | Power Forward

Smith logged just 169 NBA minutes and 98 G League minutes last season, making this an important summer for the former No. 10 overall pick. Smith's length and floor spacing potential make him a great candidate to emerge as a rotation player for a competitive Suns team looking to tinker with last year's conference championship formula. We'll have a close eye on how his frame has developed, how his perimeter game has evolved and his ability to process the game quickly on both ends. -- Schmitz

Portland Trail Blazers

Nassir Little | Small Forward

With the Blazers in dire need of length and shooting around Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, this is an excellent opportunity for 21-year-old Little to prove he's worthy of a spot in the rotation after appearing in 51 games (12.4 minutes) last season. At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Little was always more of a long-term prospect when the Blazers selected him No. 25 overall in 2019. As he enters his third year in the NBA, Little needs to show more promise as a shooter (35% from 3), defender and decision-maker. -- Schmitz

Sacramento Kings

Davion Mitchell | Point Guard

If Mitchell can get to the rim at will, knock down pull-up 3s with range, dissect pick-and-roll coverages and defend with energy as he did at Baylor, executives who elected to pass on him might start to feel uneasy about their decision. Given his age and experience, don't be surprised to see Mitchell turn in a dominant Vegas performance. -- Schmitz

San Antonio Spurs

Devin Vassell | Shooting Guard

The Spurs are hoping to answer questions about Vassell during summer league. What type of player is the 20-year-old rangy wing? How has his body developed? Is he more comfortable with the NBA 3-point line after shooting just 34.7% from 3 last season? If the Spurs can truly pencil in Vassell as a 3-and-D wing alongside Keldon Johnson, Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, San Antonio's future becomes much more interesting. We'll also have a close eye on Josh Primo, the youngest player in the draft who crashed the lottery as the No. 12 overall pick. -- Schmitz

Toronto Raptors

Scottie Barnes | Small Forward

Summer league will be our first look at how the Raptors might use the versatile Barnes, who played point forward at Florida State and averaged 4.1 assists per game. The 6-foot-9 Barnes won't likely be a primary playmaker for a Raptors summer squad with second-year point guard Malachi Flynn, but the No. 4 pick will get plenty of opportunities to handle the ball and lock down on defense. -- Pelton

Utah Jazz

Elijah Hughes | Small Forward

After being hobbled by an ankle injury last season and shooting just 26% from 3 in 196 combined G League and NBA minutes, the No. 39 pick in the 2020 draft has an excellent opportunity to prove he's worthy of rotation minutes this upcoming season. Hughes is a big-bodied 6-foot-6 wing who led the ACC in scoring at Syracuse and could settle into a 3-and-D-style role if he's able to evolve into a knockdown shooter, while continuing to improve defensively. -- Schmitz

Washington Wizards

Corey Kispert | Small Forward

The depth the Wizards have added in the past eight days makes them less reliant on immediate contributions from Kispert, the No. 15 pick, but he'll surely get an opportunity as a rookie. The three-year starter at Gonzaga will be one of the best shooters in Las Vegas after making 91 3-pointers at a 44% clip as a senior. -- Pelton

Mike Schmitz is an NBA Draft expert and a contributor to DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and International teams.