The NBA Draft is in the books, and the next wave of attention shifts to the undrafted names trying to turn a strong July into something bigger. With Summer League set to begin July 9, a few players who missed draft night still have a real chance to force their way into the conversation.
That’s the fun part of this stretch every year: the lottery picks get the spotlight, but the hidden gems often make their case in Las Vegas. Three of the most interesting undrafted players to keep tabs on are Houston’s Emanuel Copeland, Golden State’s John Boyd and LA Clippers signee Fletcher Loyer.
Copeland landed a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets right after the draft, which fits the way his final season at NC State unfolded. The 6-foot-6 guard took a clear step forward, putting up 13.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game while leading the conference in assists.
His game drew strong reactions in ACC play for a reason. Copeland brings edge, energy and a little bit of chaos in the best possible way, with a style that shows up on both ends.
He hit 39.7% of his threes, though the volume was low, and that’s the swing skill here. If he starts letting it fly more often and keeps making shots, there’s a path to him carving out a real 3-and-D role.
Boyd was never really projected to go deep into the draft conversation, though his name could have surfaced near the back end of the second round. Even so, the former Wisconsin guard has plenty of game. At 6-foot-2, he scored 20.7 points per game and added 3.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 48-37-83.
The Warriors signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract, and Summer League gives him a stage to show how much of that production can carry over. At Wisconsin, Boyd operated as the lead guard alongside John Blackwell, now at Duke, and helped steer one of the nation’s most productive offenses.
The questions are pretty straightforward: can he hold up defensively at the next level, and how much will a reduced role change his output? Boyd won’t have the same freedom to attack in transition, and his size is a tougher sell in the NBA. Still, the 25-year-old has the kind of experience and poise that can matter when he’s asked to organize the floor and keep an offense moving.
Loyer comes in with a different calling card entirely. The Purdue wing was one of college basketball’s best shooters, and he closed his career by leading the Big Ten in three-point percentage at 43.2% while averaging 14.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
The Clippers gave him an Exhibit 10 deal for a reason. Loyer’s path is tied to whether the shot keeps falling against better competition, and Summer League should give him those chances. He’ll be on the floor next to fellow Big Ten star Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 pick, as a spacing guard trying to prove his shooting can travel.
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