​The NBA Summer League is officially underway, with the league’s newest talents taking the floor and competing for roster spots, while others aim to prove why they earned their high draft status. With higher draft picks carrying bigger expectations, the early action is revealing both the players who meet those hopes and those who fall short. After just a couple of games, a handful of rookies are already turning heads, prompting teams to wonder whether they might have missed out on value on draft night. Here are three players teams might come to regret passing on in this year’s draft.
Wilson, selected fourth overall, has already turned heads, even though three teams passed on him. His Summer League debut came against Cameron Boozer, who was picked third overall. Many expected Boozer to outshine him, but Wilson delivered what might be the most impressive rookie performance of Summer League thus far, dropping 35 points and draining seven three-pointers. To put that in perspective, Wilson hit seven threes all of last season in college. He outplayed each of the players chosen ahead of him, yet he was viewed as a “raw” prospect, which is why he slid. Even if two of those players go on to have stronger careers, one franchise could spend years wondering what might have been.
In a draft crowded with talented freshmen, Baylor sophomore Carr slid to No. 24, where the Knicks selected him before trading him to the Lakers. Carr has wasted no time making an impact, posting 26, 19, and 18 points in three of his four Summer League appearances. He has also established himself as one of the most explosive players on both ends of the floor. The question remains: how did Carr fall to No. 24? Los Angeles may have landed one of the biggest steals of the draft.
Okorie entered draft night with plenty of buzz, yet he still slipped to No. 17, where Oklahoma City drafted him and then traded him to Detroit. Through two Summer League games, he has outperformed his draft position. He opened with 20 points and two steals, showcasing his scoring ability and defensive prowess. In his second game, his shot wasn’t falling, but he still finished with 14 points, six assists, and an impressive seven steals. Okorie is already making an impact on both ends of the floor, and Detroit may have found a contributor who can contribute right away.
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