Load management is ruining NBA Summer League

The Dallas Mavericks shut down the biggest attraction at Summer League when they announced that No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg wouldn't play another game in the desert. At least he played his first two games. Some of the top selections in the draft have been playing only sporadically, leaving some fans confused and disappointed.

No. 2 pick Dylan Harper sat out the San Antonio Spurs' first game out of caution for a groin injury, delaying his debut until Saturday's clash with Flagg and the Mavericks. No. 3 pick V.J. Edgecombe hasn't played in Las Vegas while nursing a thumb injury suffered in Salt Lake City last weekend. When Edgecombe's Philadelphia 76ers played Kon Knueppel's Charlotte Hornets, the no. 4 pick sat out for injury management.

No. 5 pick Ace Bailey hasn't played for the Utah Jazz due to hip flexor soreness. Utah also rested No. 18 pick Walter Clayton, Jr. No. 9 pick Collin Murray-Boyles missed the Toronto Raptors opener. Even some 2024 lottery picks like Matas Buzelis of the Chicago Bulls sat out his team's second game.

To a degree, it's understandable for teams to be cautious with their newest players. But it makes the product borderline unwatchable. Many games were nationally-televised, and ESPN's audience ended up watching the Spurs blow out the Sixers Thursday night with neither of the main reasons to tune in sitting out. Upon learning both Harper and Edgecombe were in street clothes, fans began streaming out of the arena, with one fan asking, "Why else would I be watching this game?" as he headed up the stairs.

It's a similar problem that the NBA faces in the regular season. Fans and TV networks don't know which stars are going to play on a given night. The NBA has tried to encourage more player participation, but last season, less than 19 percent of NBA players suited up for 72 of the 82 games.

Summer League is still growing as a tourist destination and a showcase for the league, but the product is getting worse. Prices are going up, but the facilities on the UNLV campus don't reflect this. It's usually over 100 degrees in July, the food at the Thomas & Mack Center is underwhelming and getting to and from the arena is difficult. The reason people come to Summer League is to see future stars, in spite of the location.

If even rookies are load managing in Summer League, the NBA is going to wreck the quirky appeal of Summer League. Cooper Flagg should be playing more than two games, or the whole purpose of Summer League is inherently flawed.