LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 12: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers prepares to shoot a free throw against the Golden State Warriors during the 2016 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 12, 2016 at The Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

The NBA Summer League is mostly meaningless, with mostly being the key word. Sure, the majority of the players who show up in Las Vegas will never step foot on an NBA floor. But that doesn’t mean we can’t mine the sloppiness for some interesting takeaways.

This year, for example, there were a number of sophomores who showed up boasting improved skills. A few rookies also made it clear that they’re ready for the NBA.

Below are the five players whose respective stocks rose the most over the two weeks of play in Las Vegas.

Devin Booker

Booker only played in three games in Vegas — but that was more than enough for him to prove that he was the best player there. The Phoenix Suns’ second-year guard put up gaudy numbers (26 points and 6.5 assists per game) while finding the balance between poised and aggressive. He still has that gorgeous stroke, but it was his creativity and comfort level running the offense that was most noteworthy.

Remember, Booker is just 19 years old. He averaged 14 points and three assists per game last season as a teenage rookie and appears ready to take the next step. It’s been a tough couple of years for the Suns. But with Booker looking like a budding star, things might finally be on the right track. Don’t be surprised if his stellar play becomes an early season storyline this year.

 

D’Angelo Russell

It was a rough rookie season for Russell. On the court, he often looked overmatched and confused (the 13 points and three assists he averaged are misleading). Off the court, he became the first rookie to lose the trust of his teammate because of a Snapchat video gone wrong.

But now the full rebuild is, finally, on in L.A. Kobe is gone. Luke Walton is in. The Lakers want Russell to become their franchise point guard. It’d be crazy to say that because he played well in Vegas he’s now ready to justify the No. 2 pick the team used on him last year. But he certainly looked better in Vegas than he did for the majority of last season.

In Vegas, Russell averaged 21.3 points, six rebounds and four assists. He was effective running the pick-and-roll, crafty in the lane, and even hit a game-winning shot.

Russell has the passing gene; his success in the NBA will depend on his ability adapt to the NBA’s size and speed. With Kobe now out of the picture, Russell is going to find the ball in his hands a lot this year. Based on his Summer League, it looks like he might be ready for some of that responsibility.

Now if only he could learn to avoid cursing on live TV.

 

Ben Simmons

This is an obvious one, but also necessary. Simmons wasn’t perfect in Vegas. He shot just 32 percent from the field and is afraid to launch from the outside even though those are the very shots opponents are conceding to him.

But honestly, who cares about field goal percentage when you’re a 6-foot-9 forward with court vision like Steve Nash.

Here’s the thing with Simmons: he’s not perfect. His shot is flat and his decision-making isn’t great. But, man, there’s just so much to like. He’s already one of the best passing forwards in the league. His body is NBA-ready, too. The jump shot will come. For now, just sit back and enjoy watching a 20-year-old dish out Larry Bird-like passes.

Oh, and because of him, the Sixers might actually win a few games this year.

 

Norman Powell

Powell is the rare Summer League star who could very well wind up having an impact come playoff time. The second-year Raptors guard averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and two assists per game. He also shot 46 percent from deep, which is why you can expect to see him on the floor in some big games this year. (He did play 11 minutes per game for the Raptors in last year’s playoffs; not bad for a second-round pick.)

3-and-D guys are always useful. Powell fits that bill, but he’s also got some more pop to his offense. He’s only 6-foot-4, so can’t be used as a floor-stretching big. But you can never have enough two-way players on your bench. Powell certainly seems like one. Don’t be surprised when he gets some run in some big games this year.

 

Trey Lyles

 

We’ll stick with another playoff-bound team. Lyles was selected by the Jazz No. 12 overall last year, but spent the majority of the season on the bench. When he did get minutes, he struggled to make much of them. Lyles finished the season averaging just six points and four rebounds in just over 17 minutes per game.

He did flash an impressive shooting stroke, though, and given he’s 6-foot-10, the Jazz were certainly hoping that he could morph into a stretch forward who could come in for either Rudy Gobert or Derrick Favors and create a little more space on offense.

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: Trey Lyles #41 of Utah Jazz shoots a free throw during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2016 Las Vegas Summer League on July 12, 2016 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 12: Trey Lyles #41 of Utah Jazz shoots a free throw during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2016 Las Vegas Summer League on July 12, 2016 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Lyles certainly did so in Vegas, where he averaged 29 points per game and shot a scorching 47 percent from deep.

He obviously isn’t going to shoot at that clip during the regular season. But there’s a reason Utah drafted him so high last year. The dude’s got talent and the required physical gifts. If his impressive Summer League performance was, indeed, the result of him working on his game in the offseason, then Utah — a team that looks primed for a playoff run — might have a stud reserve forward on its bench.

About Yaron Weitzman

Yaron Weitzman is a freelance writer based in New York whose work frequently appears on The Comeback, SB Nation and in SLAM Magazine. He's also been published on SB Nation Longform, The Cauldron, Tablet Magazine and in the Journal News. Yaron can be followed on Twitter @YaronWeitzman