NBA Summer League Sets Final 4 as Lakers Lead 30-Team Las Vegas Field

Q: With top draft picks already shut down, which under-the-radar rookie is making the strongest case for a guaranteed NBA contract?

Meleek Thomas is making the strongest case. With marquee rookies such as No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa already shut down after two games, Thomas has become one of the clearest Summer League risers. The Cleveland second-rounder has averaged 28.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists through his first three Las Vegas games, the highest scoring average for any player with more than two appearances in 14 years. He has also added defensive activity and efficient perimeter shooting, which matters more than raw scoring in projecting an NBA role. What separates Thomas from other under-the-radar names is that his production has been sustained, not just a one-game spike. Reports around the event suggest Cleveland may already be considering shutting him down as well, a sign the Cavaliers believe he has shown enough. For a player drafted outside the first round, that is a strong indicator he is moving beyond two-way consideration and into the conversation for a standard roster spot. Bruce Thornton has also helped himself significantly. The Houston guard, taken 31st overall, has posted 22.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.0 steals per game while shooting 42.9 percent from three, and he looks close to NBA-ready. Arthur Kaluma, after a 34-point breakout for the Lakers, has strengthened his case for at least a two-way deal. But on total body of work, Thomas has been the most convincing under-the-radar rookie in Las Vegas.

Q: Is the NBA's experimental one-shot free throw rule proving successful enough to be adopted for the regular season?

No. It is too early to say the NBA’s one-shot free throw experiment has been successful enough for regular-season adoption. So far, the rule is still in a testing phase at Summer League, where the NBA often tries out possible changes. Its goal is clear: shorten dead time and improve game flow by replacing most two- and three-shot foul trips with one attempt worth the full value. The league has also had a longer runway in the G League, which has used the format since 2019-20. But there is no evidence yet in the available reporting that the NBA has judged the trial a success or moved toward formal regular-season approval. The coverage repeatedly describes the future of the rule as unclear, with no announcement of next steps from the league. Reaction has also been mixed rather than strongly positive. Some see the rule as a practical way to speed games up, but critics argue the time savings may be too small to justify changing a core part of NBA play. Former NBA guard Ron Harper publicly blasted the idea, and fan response has included skepticism about adding more pressure to a single shot. The Summer League sample has produced interesting anecdotes, such as No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa making 12 of 14 attempts under the format, but that is not enough to establish league-wide success. At this point, the experiment remains exactly that: an experiment, not a rule on the verge of regular-season adoption.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 17

Four teams had clinched the Las Vegas semifinals through July 16: the Lakers at 4-0, plus the Grizzlies, Rockets and Warriors at 3-1.
The 30-team event runs July 9-19, with each club guaranteed at least five games and the top four advancing after four games based on record and tiebreakers.
Semifinal play begins July 18, while the two winners will meet in the championship game on July 19.
The other 26 teams will play a fifth consolation game across July 17-19, with Friday's slate including Kings-Hornets, Pistons-Heat, Trail Blazers-Jazz and Timberwolves-Clippers.
Las Vegas play opened with added attention on the 2026 draft's top two picks, Washington's AJ Dybantsa and Utah's Darryn Peterson.