Trail Blazers, Knicks and Pistons favored to win NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

NBA Summer League kicks off in Las Vegas Sunday, August 8 with teams looking to get an early evaluation of their draft picks and young talent while some players are hoping to catch the eyes of a franchise and land on a roster before the preseason.

The Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons are co-favorites to win Summer League at +500, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Orlando Magic are next at +850 and the Denver Nuggets check in at +1000. The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, heavily favored to meet in the 2021-22 NBA Finals, are not among the picks to win Summer League. Both teams are listed at +7000.

The Pistons will feature No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham, who hopes to boost a franchise stuck in mediocrity. He’ll join Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart on one of the most loaded Summer League rosters. Luka Garza and Sekou Doumbouya. Detroit will be hoping this core group of youngsters can mesh well together and build up chemistry before the regular season.

The Pistons will also monitor how Cunningham and Hayes fit together on the floor, a concern for some when the team took the Oklahoma State star No. 1.

NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

The Trail Blazers are in the running largely because the team features veterans Kenneth Faried and Michael Beasley. Emmanuel Mudiay is also on this roster. The big names for Portland as far as development is concerned are Nassir Little and Greg Brown.

The Knicks have a core group of players worth monitoring, similar to Detroit. This group includes Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, Miles McBride, Immanuel Quickley and Rokas Jokubaitis. Toppin and Quickley impressed last season, while Grimes is a potential rotation player from the jump depending on how Summer League pans out for him.

NBA Summer League 2021: Previewing Biggest Games on Las Vegas Schedule

NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

The NBA Summer League is underway, but not for every team quite yet. There is some action taking place in Sacramento and Salt Lake City, though not every NBA organization is represented in these early games.

However, things will be picking up soon, because the NBA Summer League will be heading to Las Vegas beginning Sunday. All 30 franchises will send players to the league, which will run through Aug. 17, and there will be plenty of talent in action.

NBA Summer League in Las Vegas

You won’t get to see the big-name stars in Vegas, as most top players don’t participate. But there will be incoming rookies and other youngsters looking to prove themselves while trying to make the roster for the 2021-22 season. And there will be a few veterans looking to do the same, too.

Here’s a look at a few Summer League matchups you’re going to want to catch over the next couple weeks

Refer from dknation.draftkings.com

Also from bleacherreport.com