Undrafted gem gives Rockets another reason to celebrate Summer League

Space City Scoop · Jul 21, 2026 14:00 · 2 min read

Undrafted gem gives Rockets another reason to celebrate Summer League — Syracuse's Quadir Copeland drives towards the basket at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Copeland Syracuse Vs Colgate | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Undrafted rookie Quadir Copeland exceeded expectations in Summer League and earned himself a place in the Rockets' long-term plans.

The Houston Rockets have officially wrapped up a very successful NBA Summer League, falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the semifinals. Top draft pick Bruce Thornton was outstanding throughout the tournament, but Houston may have also uncovered a gem in undrafted guard Quadir Copeland.

Quadir Copeland proved he belongs in the NBA

Copeland finished Summer League averaging 13.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 steals while posting eye-popping shooting splits of 57.9% from the field and 54.5% from three. He consistently produced on offense while hounding opposing guards on the defensive end.

Although Copeland's efficiency is unlikely to be sustainable, his offensive production is an encouraging sign. The biggest reason he went undrafted was his inability to consistently score in college, as he did not average more than 10 points until his senior season. If Copeland has developed a more reliable jump shot, his NBA ceiling suddenly looks much higher.

His most impressive performance came in the semifinals against Memphis. Copeland led the Rockets with 24 points while adding three assists and two steals. It was Bruce Thornton's only off game of the tournament, and Copeland stepped up in a big way. Houston ultimately fell short, but very little of the blame belonged to him.

What will Quadir Copeland's role be with Houston?

Even after an impressive Summer League, Copeland will most likely spend the majority of next season in the G League. He showed flashes of becoming an effective NBA player, but he is still a raw prospect with plenty of room to grow.

Before earning consistent minutes with the Rockets, Copeland will need to learn how to translate his physical tools into productive NBA basketball. As mentioned earlier, developing a reliable jump shot would go a long way toward earning rotation minutes.

Fortunately, Copeland has an excellent mentor in Fred VanVleet. Like Copeland, VanVleet entered the NBA as an undrafted guard after playing four years of college basketball.

VanVleet was not an immediate NBA contributor. Instead, he steadily developed into a winning player before eventually playing a key role on an NBA championship team, receiving a Finals MVP vote, and later becoming an All-Star. If Copeland is willing to be patient and follow a similar developmental path, Houston could eventually have another undrafted success story on its hands.