Starting July 3 in Sacramento and Salt Lake City, every NBA fanatic will look on at their prized possessions with bated breath.
It is a time when hoop dreams become reality for young rookies. And it is a time the players trying to get more than their cup of coffee in the league will hold on for dear life. Not to mention a mix of second-year players hell-bent on dominating the relatively easier competition they have faced compared to the previous year in the NBA
It is a batch of guys who fans have scouted since draft season to players whose names will not be remembered fast enough.
Summer League offers a unique glimpse into the ground level of an organization. It brings speculation, way-too-early predictions and verdicts, as well as fanbases ready to crown their next franchise player.
But while it is a fun and ever-changing two weeks, it usually does not amount to much.
And the impact on the coming season comes after the raggedy practice jerseys are taken off and put back on for actual practice leading up to the season opener.
The Orlando Magic are a little more than a week away from suiting up for Summer League and showcasing their new rookies while evaluating players trying to make their name on the roster.
But while we are here, in the midst of our own self-admitted excitement, we cannot help but fall into the trap when looking at the Orlando Magic summer league roster.
And who can blame us? A team on the rise and full of youth, like the Magic, should be cared about to a certain extent.
Some of the players on the court in July are going to be in that real uniform come October so it would behoove us to tune in.
On Thursday morning the 22-man roster for the Magic released their Summer League roster and that is certainly a lot of names to learn.
https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/1674419507392299017
So here are the top 5 players to watch over the next couple of weeks in what is the most important, high-stakes basketball you will ever watch.