After covering the top rookies and sophomores among Pacific Division teams, it’s time to cover the Northwest Division. Which also has excellent rookies and Sophomores to highlight. Here are the top rookies and sophomores from each of the Northwest Division teams and what to expect from each of them at Summer League.
Summer League: Top Northwest Division Rookies And Sophomores
Team: Utah Jazz
Rookie: Cody Williams
Cody Williams, the younger brother of Jalen Williams, is the rookie to watch on the Jazz Summer League roster. Fans should expect a Swiss-army knife of a player in Williams as he has an extremely balanced skill set. Williams can do a little bit of everything at a decent level and the hope is that he can continue that at an NBA level. Ultimately, the expectation for Williams during his first Summer League experience is to be steady and prove he can be a versatile piece on the court.
Sophomore: Keyonte George
The sophomore to watch for on the Jazz Summer League roster is Keyonte George. George highly impressed in his rookie season as a talented scorer and playmaker for the Jazz. Due to his efforts, he received an All-Rookie Second Team selection for his efforts. By and large, George has already proven to be an NBA player with tremendous upside. Therefore, fans should expect that George has improved even further as a player. Specifically, George needs to show further improvements as a shooter, playmaker, and defender. Though, most importantly, George needs to remain healthy. Particularly because he has already demonstrated his ability to be a quality NBA player.
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Rookie: Dillon Jones
Among the rookies that the Thunder drafted on draft night, Dillon Jones is the most intriguing player to watch for. Specifically, Jones and his skill set fit exactly what the Thunder want out of a player. Fans should expect to see Jones be a good finisher, playmaker, and defender. Furthermore, as an older player, the expectation for Jones is that he is more polished than the average rookie. Ultimately, the main expectation of Jones is that he proves he deserves time in the main rotation for the Thunder.
Sophomore: Keyontae Johnson
As far as sophomores go, Keyontae Johnson is the one to watch on Thunder. During the past season, Johnson spent much of his time in the G-League and had an excellent season there. Two of the biggest skills that fans should expect to see are Johnson’s shooting and defensive ability. The main expectation placed on Johnson is proving that he is too good for Summer League and is ready for rotational minutes. Specifically, Johnson needs to show that he has improved his overall game and how that warrants a chance in the rotation for the Thunder.
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Rookie: Rob Dillingham
As one of the most exciting prospects in the draft this year, Rob Dillingham is the player on the Wolves Summer League team to keep an eye on. Dillingham is an electric scorer and talented playmaker who can knock down shots from deep. Fans should expect to see Dillingham score points in bunches and be an offensive threat overall. Furthermore, the overall expectation for Dillingham to meet is that he can translate his scoring over from college to the NBA. Given his height, that may not be so easy, so Dillingham must demonstrate that he can. Additionally, it is important for Dillingham to show off that he is deserving of rotational minutes with the Timberwolves. There is an opening at backup point guard for the Wolves and Dillingham can realistically fill it if he shows out.
Sophomore: Leonard Miller
The main sophomore to watch for on the Wolves Summer League roster is Leonard Miller. He did not see much time on the court for Timberwolves last season, mainly playing in the G-League. Miller had a productive season in the G-League, where he improved from beyond the arc while averaging 20 points per game. Thus, one of the main expectations placed on Miller is that he can show that his shooting has improved. Miller has already shown that he can be a good finisher, defender, and rebounder, but the shooting is the most important thing that needs to come around. It is easily the swing skill that could see him some playing time. Also, despite the possibility that Miller may not be a rotational player for the Wolves due to the abundance of frontcourt depth, he needs to show that he is too good for Summer League.
Team: Denver Nuggets
Rookie: DaRon Holmes II
DaRon Holmes II is one of the best center prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft, and thus the one to watch for the Nuggets. Fans should expect an impressive player on both sides of the floor in Holmes. He is a great interior defender and can guard multiple positions. On offense, Holmes is a good finisher around the rim and has shown himself to be able to provide floor spacing. The main expectation of Holmes is that he shows that he can translate his game to an NBA level. Holmes can realistically play as the backup center behind Nikola Jokic, so it is important for Holmes to meet or exceed expectations during Summer League.
Sophomore: Julian Strawther
The Nuggets sophomore to watch for during Summer League is Julian Strawther. He played a very limited role for the Nuggets this past season, though he had a good stint in the G-League. The main expectation of Strawther is to show that he doesn’t need to be at Summer League and is ready for an expanded role with the main team. Particularly, Strawther is expected to show that he has continued to improve on his shooting and his defense. With the departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic, Strawther has an opportunity to show that he can fill some of what Caldwell-Pope was for the Nuggets.
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Rookie: Donovan Clingan
Alongside Holmes II, Donovan Clingan is one of the best centers in the draft class. He won two national championships at UConn and is a formidable defensive talent at the center position. The expectation for Clingan is to show he can bring his defensive prowess to the NBA. Additionally, Clingan needs to prove that he can keep up to the speed at which NBA-level players compete. However, there is no doubt that Portland fans will see Clingan’s ability to alter shots at the rim. Regardless of what the future may hold, Portland fans should be excited for Clingan can be to the Trail Blazers.
Sophomore: Kris Murray
The sophomore to watch for on the Blazers roster is Kris Murray, twin brother of Keegan Murray. Murray has had a quiet and unimpressive rookie season with the Blazers. At Summer League, the main expectation placed on Murray is to show that he has improved since then. Mainly, Murray needs to show that he has improved his three-point shooting and its consistency. He was inconsistent knocking down shots from deep, which limited his effectiveness as a three-and-D wing. He needs to show to the fans and the Blazers that he has shown improvement going into his sophomore year.
