Toshiba NBA Vegas Summer League Notable Players

Cleveland Cavaliers

Ø      Shannon Brown: good sized combo guard with sufficient PG skills.  Extremely strong and well built.  An amazing athlete with the ability to penetrate and finish in traffic or pull up and hit a three pointer.

Ø      Daniel Gibson:  A nice point guard prospect that controls the offense and plays with poise beyond his experience level.  His scoring was better than expected and he knows how to play the Point Guard position.  He definitely played well enough to earn a roster spot with the Cavs this season.

Ø      Martynas Andriuskevicius:  He has developed quite a bit in one year and appears to have gotten more of a handle on the NBA game.  I almost couldn’t believe the physical difference in his body from last summer, as he looks much more like a human than a Muppet.

Dallas Mavericks

Ø      Maurice Ager: slightly undersized two guard with athletic ability and a nice outside shot.  Not a great ball handler, but he does a lot of things well.

Ø      Pops Mensah-Bonsu:  A terrific athlete who hustles and works very hard every minute he is on the floor.  He is undersized as a power forward and doesn’t have the skills to play the three, but he can affect the game with his energy.

Denver Nuggets

Ø      Kelenna Azubuike:  Seems to be recovering from his poor decision to leave school early, but is only starting to scratch the surface of his potential after playing a year in the developmental league.  He had a nice camp and should get a training camp invitation from some NBA team. 

Ø      Yakhouba Diawara:  Could be a surprise sleeper pick out of Pepperdine.  A nice sized prospect for the small forward position.  Another French player with the ability to play the complete game.  He is a gifted scorer and defender.

Ø      John Gilchrist:  A good sized point guard with a lot of ability and a questionable work ethic.  He is strong and definitely has an NBA body.  He makes pretty good decisions with the ball and is a gifted scorer and average defender.  Could be a good backup in the league if he can maintain his focus.

Ø      Casey Jacobsen:  He is a journeyman type of NBA off guard.  Not athletic enough to really guard anybody at his position, but a gifted offensive player with no conscience in terms of launching shots from any spot on the floor.  Basically a one dimensional player with the ability to shoot and score, but if you are in need of a shooting specialist, you could do worse than Casey.

Detroit Pistons

Ø      Jason Maxiell:  An undersized but physically intimidating low post presence, an absolute beast finishing in the painted area and owns the offensive and defensive glass.  Should be able to step right into Ben Wallace’s shoes and provide toughness, rebounding and interior scoring for the Pistons.

Ø      Cheikh Samb:  A very intriguing prospect from Senegal.  A very long, lean and wiry frame.  Almost looks like a shorter version of Manute Bol, but he is deceptively strong and has very fluid movements and a soft mid range jump shot.  He is one of the best shot blockers I have seen at this camp with great timing and natural shot blocking instincts.

Ø      Alex Acker:  A second year player drafted in the second round last year from Pepperdine.  Acker is a 6’5 shooting guard with a high Basketball IQ and good feel for the game.  He can score in a variety of ways and is a good defender.  He is a good enough ball handler to play the PG.  Similar player to Brandon Roy.

Ø      Amir Johnson:  Tall slender and wiry body similar to Samb, but without the soft touch or the shot blocking ability.  Better overall basketball skills and a ferocious finisher around the rim as he pretty much tries to rip the basket down every time he goes up.  He is young and inexperienced, but has a lot of upside potential.  If he can get stronger and play a little smarter within the flow of the game he could be a force in the league in a few years.

Golden State Warriors

Ø      Patrick O’bryant:  Big and athletic back to the basket center with good hands and nice offensive touch around the rim.  A finesse player that doesn’t like to mix it up or dunk the ball.  He will need to get stronger and develop a mean streak in order to succeed at the next level.

Ø      Steven Smith:  A college power forward making the transition to three at the NBA level appears to have the skills to make an NBA roster due to his ability to put the ball in the basket and play tough defense.  He is a smart player and does the little things that it takes to be successful at the next level.

Ø      Jose Juan Barea:  JJ is a very talented and pure point guard with the ability to make his teammates better and get everybody involved in the offense.  The ball moves very well when he is in the game and he is a crafty player that uses his quickness and hustle to beat his opponent.  The only two things that will hold him back from being able to transition into the NBA are his lack of size and ability to guard bigger Point Guards and his inconsistent outside shot.

Ø      Curtis Stinson:  A tough nosed point guard that really defends the position well.  He is good size for a point and strong enough to finish with contact and hold his position in the NBA.  He plays within the framework of the offense and doesn’t force shots.  His outside shooting is streaky, but he has a scorer’s mentality and can put up points by getting into the lane and finishing with a variety of offensive moves.  He is a very confident and determined player that will not back down from a challenge.

Ø      Mo Charlo:  An extremely active and aggressive player on the defensive end of the floor.  His performance against the Clippers Shaun Livingston appears to have earned him an invite to Warriors training camp as they think he has the potential to be a lock down type of defensive presence.  He needs to get stronger and more consistent on the offensive end and really work on his outside shooting touch.

Los Angeles Clippers

Ø      Daniel Ewing:  A very good second year player from Duke University.  Has adapted to the Point Guard position much quicker than expected and is one of the most consistent scorers, passers and defenders in this camp.

Ø      Shaun Livingston:  Unbelievable basketball skills, a 6’7 point guard with the ability to play three positions.  Tremendous ball handler and passer and has a nice outside shot out to three point range.  His only weakness is he is a bit fragile and has been hurt quite a bit for such a young player.

Ø      James Singleton:  A very talented scorer and rebounder from the small forward position.  Perfect size and strength to guard the position.  Smart player and a leader on the floor.  Plays within his abilities and has improved every year.

Ø      Yari Korolev:  Long and athletic small forward with unbelievable basketball skills.  He is able to dribble like a point guard and set up teammates as well as slash to the basket and score on his own.  Not as good of a shooter as some of his European counterparts, but his shot has improved.  Needs to work on his strength and confidence, but he is a very nice prospect.

Ø      Boniface Ndong:  I am starting to think Senegal is a Center factory for the NBA…Another very talented and well put together big man project with the ability to catch it, finish in the painted area and defend the rim.  He doesn’t block as many shots as his counterparts but he has a fuller frame and takes up a lot of space in the lane.  Seems like he is still learning the game, but the raw skills are there for him to help a team like the clippers as a backup Center.

Minesota Timberwolves

Ø      Randy Foye:  The leading scorer in the TVSL and by far the most dynamic and highly skilled basketball player to come out of the 2006 NBA draft.  Foye is a dynamic scoring point/combo guard who can put the ball on the floor, slash to the basket or pull up for a jump shot.  He has tremendous lift on his jumper and can stop on a dime.  He sees the whole floor and has great anticipation.  He is already strong enough to finish at the rim with contact and will lead all rookies in 3 point plays.  Doesn’t force his shots, but rather plays within the framework of the game and waits for the right opportunity to strike.  He can change gears like D. Wade and is like a coach on the floor with his ability to direct traffic and set up teammates.  Easily my pick for Rookie of the Year in the NBA.

Ø      Bracey Wright:  An undersized shooting guard with a good ability to score the ball.  Can put up points in bunches and has a variety of ways to hurt you on the offensive end.  He is too small to play shooting guard in the NBA and doesn’t have the handles or defensive ability to play Point Guard.  He needs to work on his shot selection and ball handling to make it at the next level.

Ø      JP Batista:  A big strong man with a calm demeanor.  He kind of reminds me of Felton Spencer in terms of his on court demeanor, although Felton was a more imposing figure.  Batista can be a very good rebounder at the next level because of his size and strength and he seems to be a smart player with good fundamentals.

New Orleans Hornets

Ø      Hilton Armstrong:  May be the steal of the draft in terms of big man talent.  We already knew he could rebound and block shots, but his offensive game is much more polished than I was lead to believe.  He has very nice touch around the basket and even has a decent mid range game.  He is a complete package in terms of NBA ready big man and should compliment Tyson Chandler well in New Orleans/OKC.

Ø      Cedric Simmons:  Good size for a Power Forward and has a lot of tools to work with.  He is raw in terms of his offensive game however he is a smooth athlete with a big wingspan.  He has good footwork and soft hands and appears to be further along that I expected in terms of development.  Looks a little confused and timid on the court, but that is pretty common with young big men prospects.

Phoenix Suns

Ø     Amare Stoudemire:  Needs to develop physically, he doesn’t appear to have the size or strength to compete at the next level.  I would love to see this guy try to match up with a physical player like Paul Shirley.  Thank god the Warriors took Mike Dunleavy Jr.  Over this bust! 

Sacramento Kings

Ø     Louis Amundson:  Local Boy Makes Good!  The UNLV Rebel product was extremely active and tough on the glass.  He plays hard nosed defense, gives up his body for loose balls and hustles every minute he is on the court.  He showed enough for the Maloof’s to sign him to a guaranteed contract.

Ø     Francisco Garcia:  Garcia pretty much dominated the Summer League averaging 22.8 points per game and has established himself as a legitimate perimeter scorer in the NBA.  He is very confident and simply makes shots.  Kind of a poor mans Reggie Miller.

Ø     Ron Artest:  An undersized power forward that won’t be able to make the transition to small forward.  Terrible defender, but at least you won’t have to worry about off-court problems with this prospect as he seems like a model citizen.

Ø     Quincy Douby:  I heard his Jersey’s are a big time seller already in Humboldt County and the folks in nearby Chico California are really loving Douby already.  But seriously, he is a good scorer and a good sized NBA combo guard.  His ball handling skills and playmaking ability aren’t quite as good as advertised which could hurt him because the Kings are kind of stocked with good young two guards.

  Toronto Raptors

Ø     Andrea Bargnani:  The Italian big man is a very good prospect.  Is he worthy of the number one pick in the draft…Probably not, but he has the potential to develop into a very special player due to his size and skill.  He is an excellent outside shooter and has a good feel for the game.  He seems to have a similar skill set to Zarko Cabarkapa, but the difference is that he has refined his skills and has the confidence to utilize those skills at the next level.  I don’t see him being as good as Dirk and he has a different game than Gasol, but he will be a good player.

Ø     Kris Humphries:  Humphries is a big athletic power forward with tremendous rebounding skills.  He can be an effective pick and pop four with the ability to use his superior athletic ability and strength to get to the free throw line.  He is a bit of a coaster and doesn’t appear to have the killer instinct, but the raw material is there for him to be a good player in the league.

  Washington Wizards

Ø     Andray Blatche:  This is one gifted young man.  He reminds me of a young Chris Webber, but has even better size.  He is a nearly 7 footer with the ability to put it on the floor, create for teammates and score in a variety of ways.  He is definitely a face up big man that probably relies on his perimeter abilities too much, but he is highly skilled enough to be effective in this manner.  You hate to compare him to Garnett, but that is what his game is probably closest too.  If he would have gone to College for one year, he probably would have been the first pick in the draft.

Ø     Oleksiy Pecherov:  A typical European seven footer with a nice outside shot and good offensive repertoire.  No back to the basket game to speak of, but he has good size and is not clumsy.  He has a lot of basketball skills and appears to be more mature in terms of his physical development than some of the other European prospects that have come out in previous years.

  Portland Trailblazers

Ø     LaMarcus Aldridge:  Even though he didn’t do that much in terms of production here in Vegas, you can definitely see the upside potential with this young man.  He is very long and athletic and has the type of size and skill that all NBA teams covet.  That being said, he was pretty disappointing in terms of where he was selected in the draft and I would have some concerns about his competitiveness at the next level.  He can certainly block shots and finish in the paint, but it seems like he might want to be a Kevin Garnett type of face up big man and I don’t believe he is skilled enough to be successful if that is the direction he decides to go with his development.

Ø     Brandon Roy:  The second best player in Vegas and a can’t miss prospect.  Roy is a big guard that can handle it and make decisions like a Point Guard.  He has a variety of offensive moves and can finish at the rim.  He is a good outside shooter and works hard on defense.  The game comes very easy to him and he doesn’t have to score to be effective.  While it’s true that he doesn’t really jump out at you in terms of being a superstar type player, he does so many things well, that he would be the perfect compliment to a superstar player.

Ø     Martell Webster:  Martell is going to be a very good offensive player in the league.  He is a very young man with a fully developed NBA body.  He has improved his ball handling in year two and appears to have more confidence taking the ball to the basket and finishing.  His perimeter skills are above average and he is a tough guard due to his size and strength.  He needs to work on his defense, but he has the potential to be a superstar if he continues to develop.

Ø     Joel Freeland:  This is a very young and inexperienced kid, but he kind of makes you take notice with some of the incredible raw ability that he possesses.  Almost like a young Tom Chambers with his leaping ability and he runs the floor like a guard.  He can shoot and block shots and seems like a smart young man.  Lot’s of upside here in this prospect. 

  Boston Celtics

Ø     Ryan Gomes:  Bruising small forward that combines toughness and intensity with developed basketball skills.  He has made the transition to the NBA game and appears to be poised to have a breakout year.  He was the fifth leading scorer at the TVSL averaging just under 20 points per game.

Ø     Gerald Green:  Green is progressing much quicker than anybody could have anticipated and it now appears that the T-Mac comparisons might not have been too far off-base.  Still has a long way to go to become a complete basketball player, but his offensive arsenal and athletic ability is jaw-dropping. 

Ø     Rajon Rondo:  Probably one of the most dominant players on the court in terms of controlling tempo, playing lock down defense and finishing difficult shots.  Rondo is one of the better defensive Point Guards I have ever witnessed live and his offense is way better than advertised.  I rank him as the third best prospect to come out of this years draft (that played in vegas).

Ø     Allan Ray:  Looks like another Danny Ainge sleeper.  He is undersized for the NBA shooting guard position, but he is a deadly shooter with great range and has better than advertised handles and a knack for getting to the foul line.  He seems to have the skill and desire to develop into a quality NBA combo guard.

  Houston Rockets

Ø     John Lucas:  Probably had the best individual performance of any player in the camp averaging 23.4 points and 7.4 assists per game.  John has earned multiple guaranteed contract offers based on his summer league play.  The living example of the importance of Summer League, Lucas has honed his skills over two summer appearances and has turned into a highly skilled playmaker with the potential to really make it big at the next level.

Ø     Steve Novak:  Simply a good basketball player with an outstanding outside shot.  He is not flashy, but he is effective at coming off screens and knocking down jumpers.  He seems to have some craftiness and can earn trips to the free throw line by effective use of the triple threat position.  Similar prospect to Troy Murphy, but he is a better shooter and doesn’t have the rebounding ability that Troy has. 

Ø     Matt Haryasz:  The Stanford product is a pretty skilled player for his size and if he can gain some strength to defend his position in the NBA, he could potentially be a nice pick and pop big man down the line.

  New York Knicks

Ø     David Lee:  Lee has continued to progress as a basketball player.  He has added some bulk to his frame without sacrificing his extreme hustle and desire.  He is an asset to any organization with his combination of basketball skill and athleticism.  He does all the little things that you look for in a role player coming off the bench.

Ø     Nate Robinson:  Nate was not as dominant as he was last year, but still managed to put up some big scoring games.  He appeared to be working on some specific things and trying to get his teammates involved more than he has in the past.  In a sense he was exposed a little bit as a one dimensional player, but he certainly is a dynamic enough offensive player to be a huge threat coming off the bench.

Ø     Channing Frye:  Had a pretty up and down Summer League and was not as impressive as he was last year; however he also didn’t have as much to prove.  He doesn’t appear to have made great strides physically and seems to be relying on his mid range game too much (Joe Smith?).  I would be a little nervous about him if I was a Knick fan, but he is still a very skilled big man that can score and block shots.

Ø     Renaldo Balkman:  As advertised, he affects the game in other ways than scoring the basketball.  A gifted rebounder who hustles for lose balls and plays hard nosed defense.  Pretty similar prospect to Ron Artest without the offensive scoring punch.  Will pick up a lot of garbage points and hustle plays for his team at the next level.

  Summer League Disappointments

• Sasha Pavlovic-Cavs
• Rick Rickert-Pistons
• Will Bynum-Warriors
• Paul Davis – Clippers
• Kirk Snyder-Hornets
• Taj Grey-Kings
• Joey Graham-Raptors
• P.J. Tucker-Raptors
• Donnell Taylor-Wizards
• Sean Dockery-Blazers
• Travis Outlaw-Blazers
• Al Jefferson-Celtics
• Leon Powe-Celtics
• Sebastian Telfair-Celtics
• Mardy Collins-Knicks
• Kenny Akedele-Knicks