What is the purpose of NBA Summer League? Prospects and more explored

The NBA Summer League season is upon us, with the California Classic tournament tipping off on Saturday. The annual offseason tournament will let fans witness their team's young prospects in action for the rest of the month, as the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas editions will follow the California Classic until Jul. 22.

Almost all rookies, two-way contracts and undrafted players will take to the floor and make their case for a spot in their team's rotations.

What is the purpose of the NBA Summer League?

The NBA Summer League's purpose, from the league's perspective, is to give the fans some on-court action to follow amid a quiet offseason. With marquee rookies on display playing against each other, the NBA has a chance to spike interest among viewers for the season, especially for the small-market teams expected to finish in the lottery.

The key purpose of the NBA Summer League is associated with the players in action. The Summer League tournament allows rookies to show they belong in the league in a competition that's a level higher than college basketball. It also gives them a brief idea of what they could expect during the season.

A bunch of two-way players and undrafted rookies also participate in the tournament. They get the opportunity to show coaches and team brass that they deserve a standard deal or the chance to remain in long-term plans on a potential yearly two-way contract with minutes split across the G League and the team's rotation.

While Summer League exploits don't necessarily translate to NBA success, it gives the decision-makers something to think about and gauge their prospects, assess the developmental plan required, and proceed with roster construction for the rest of the offseason.

Sophomores from various teams also participate in the summer showcase. It's viewed as a second opportunity in case they didn't get much playing time as rookies or were not living up to the hype in their debut seasons.

Several players have made the most of these opportunities. Lakers' Austin Reaves is a solid example of it. He was among the most impressive undrafted players on a two-way contract in the 2021 NBA Summer League. Reaves remained in the team's long-term plans and secured decent playing time in the regular season.

He became a permanent part of their rotation in his sophomore season, which was also a breakout year. Reaves signed a four-year, $56 million contract last summer and cemented his spot as a starter on the team. Reaves also made Team USA's 2023 FIBA World Cup roster and was arguably their second-best offensive player last year.

The Summer League didn't dictate his career path, but it helped him earn a significant role in the regular season, which he capitalized on.