Brooklyn Nets 2012 Summer League Roster: Complete Breakdown and Predictions

With the Summer of 2012 firmly underway and the sun as hot as ever, it's hard to imagine anything more soothing than a simple game of competitive basketball. While the NBA may have shifted its attention to the business side of things, there are a select few who have kept the value of the game in mind.

God bless the Summer League.

Rather than develop a sense of complacency, the youth of the NBA are looking to prove themselves worthy of greater recognition. One of the NBA teams looking for young pieces are the Brooklyn Nets who have deployed a 14-man roster for the Orlando competition.

The question is, who are these players and what do they bring to the table? Most importantly, what will this year's Summer activities do for their careers?

All of those questions and more will be answered in the following slides.

MarShon Brooks

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 23

Height & Weight

6'5" & 200 pounds

2012 NBA Season Averages

29.4 MPG, 12.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG

Player Profile

MarShon Brooks is a potentially-elite scorer at the NBA level. He has excellent length with the aggression necessary to put up big points. Tack on his smooth mid-range jump shooting and you've got yourself a true offensive star in the making.

Brooks' greatest areas of need come in the durability and defensive departments. Brook missed just 10 games but seemed to always have a nagging injury at some point in the season. His defense, meanwhile, saw him blow countless assignments.

The Summer League offers Brooks a great opportunity to build his confidence and develop a groove that he can enter the regular season with.

Prediction

There's really no question about this one. MarShon Brooks was the Nets' first round draft choice in 2011 and was clearly one of the Top 10 rookie performers of the past season. At the Summer League games, Brooks will be the star of the team.

Of course, Brooks will make the team.

Stephen Dennis

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 25

Height & Weight

6'6" & 198 pounds

2011 NBA D-League Averages

22.5 MPG, 10.5 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG

Player Profile

Stephen Dennis is a talented scorer whose frailty is overcome by his agility and adequate height. Although he lacks any form of an outside shot, he's an efficient scorer who can take over a game at any given moment.

Dennis is active in passing lanes but often overzealous, resulting in blown assignments and easy baskets by his opponents. He's also a solid slasher who finishes well around the basket, but he lacks the necessary power off of the dribble to get past quicker defenders.

Prediction

While Stephen Dennis may have impressive size and a scorer's instinct, he's not necessarily the best option for the Brooklyn Nets. With MarShon Brooks shining on this team and a handful of other guards vying for the spot, Dennis will simply be a victim of too many names in too few spots.

Stephen Dennis will make the team.

Bryant Dunston

Position: Power Forward

Age: 26

Height & Weight

6'8" & 233 pounds

Player Profile

Bryant Dunston is a local product who played his college ball at Fordham. He's not the biggest guy, but he is a powerful player in the paint who imposes his will. His physicality and ability to gain position on opponents bodes well for his NBA future.

If there is one.

Dunston is solid on the boards and plays well above the rim. Unfortunately, he's not the best athlete and will need to play a style similar to that of Brandon Bass to make it in the league. Fundamentals and physicality are the key to Dunston's success.

Prediction

Bryant Dunston's future with the Brooklyn Nets could hinge on the potential of a Dwight Howard deal. With Kris Humphries out of town, Dunston could be a valuable asset to offer high-quality minutes off the bench.

With both Humphries and Reggie Evans on the roster, however, Dunston may not be of great value. He'll play well but miss the cut.

Jeff Foote

Position: Center

Age: 24

Height & Weight

7'0" & 265 pounds 

Player Profile

Jeff Foote is a 7'0" center with a 7'4" wingspan with solid shot-blocking abilities. While he's far from the most polished low-post scorer, he's an intelligent player who rarely plays outside of his own abilities.

Foote scores a high-percentage of the shots he takes. He rarely backs down from opponents on defense, and will offer a high level of energy on both ends of the floor.

Prediction

Jeff Foote is a 7'0" body with solid mobility and top tier shot-blocking abilities. While he plays far too upright for his own good, his size and interior presence alone should be enough to help him make the cut.

Jeff Foote will join the Brooklyn Nets.

Ashton Gibbs

Position: Point Guard

Age: 21

Height & Weight

6'2" & 190 pounds

Player Profile

Ashton Gibbs is an intelligent player who contributes in every facet of the game. While he won't blow you off the court with anything he does, he is good at everything he does.

Consider Gibbs to be this year's Jameer Nelson.

Gibbs is a very intelligent player who thrives in the clutch. His decision-making is on par with some of the best at his age and will certainly make for a valuable asset at the point. This should make for a clear path to the NBA.

Whether or not Brooklyn will be his home, however, is a reasonable question.

Prediction

Ashton Gibbs deserves to make an NBA team. Unfortunately, he's potentially entering a situation in which Deron Williams runs the point and Tyshawn Taylor is his highly-touted backup. While Gibbs will end up in the NBA, he will not make the Brooklyn Nets.

Taurean Green

Position: Point Guard

Age: 25

Height & Weight

6'0" & 177 pounds 

Player Profile

Taurean Green is the lost name from the 2006 and 2007 Florida Gators' National Championship teams. The 25-year-old was the MVP of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and the SEC Tournament in 2006.

Unfortunately, he's only played 16 games in the NBA and spent most of his time overseas in Georgia, where he is now a citizen.

As for what Green brings to the table, he's a solid scorer, excellent passer and steal maestro. This all comes with risk, however, as his court vision must improve, and he must stop gambling on the passing lanes.

Prediction

The difference between Taurean Green and Ashton Gibbs is a simple matter of experience. The simple fact that Green has two National Championships and the slightest time spent in the NBA will force the Nets' hand here.

With Jordan Farmar gone and Sundiata Gaines potentially on the move, Taurean Green will make the team.

Adam Morrison

Position: Small Forward

Age: 27

Height & Weight

6'8" & 198 pounds

Player Profile

Yes, that Adam Morrison.

The third overall draft choice in the 2006 NBA Draft has been one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history. His skills have not translated to the NBA level, and the burden of being a Top 5 draft choice has clearly taken it's toll.

Nevertheless, the abilities are there. Morrison uses his height well at the small forward position, although he is far too frail to play physical against the likes of Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James. His jump shot is solid enough to warrant attention though, so the value is there.

Prediction

As inspiring as it might be to see Adam Morrison make his way back into the NBA, he just won't be doing it in Brooklyn. Apologies, Mr. Morrison, but you will miss the cut.

Carleton Scott

Position: Forward

Age: 24

Height & Weight

6'8" & 218 pounds

Player Profile

Carleton Scott is a sound interior defender whose strength and physicality exceed the average Notre Dame alum. Much like your quintessential Notre Dame player, however, Scott is sound in the fundamentals but simply needs to maintain a more consistent motor when it comes to banging in the paint.

Playing a "once in a while" styles of play works for no one.

Scott will bring decent rebounding skills and a solid mid-range jump shot to the Summer League team. He's also a sound shot-blocker whose presence on the interior will offer him a legitimate chance at turning some heads.

Prediction

Carleton Scott is an impressive player whose youth and effort offer him a legitimate shot at making the NBA. Unfortunately, he's undersized in both height and build and will not crack the Nets' roster which will see both Kris Humphries and Reggie Evans receiving major playing time.

Carleton Scott will miss the cut.

Tornike Shengelia

Position: Power Forward

Age: 20

Height & Weight

6'9" & 228 pounds

Player Profile

Tornike Shengelia is a long, athletic big man who is very active on the offensive and defensive glass. He does well to create second chance opportunities for himself and others which suggests he'll find success in the NBA.

Between the fact that he's tougher than the average European player and has excellent motor, Shengelia is ready for the NBA. His solid ball-handling skills and high-effort defense should be enough to land him a starting role at some point in his career.

Prediction

The Brooklyn Nets traded to acquire Tornike Shengelia at the NBA Draft, which makes it rather obvious what their intention is. While many had speculated that Shengelia would play overseas, his involvement in the Nets' Summer League should suggest otherwise.

As long as he remains in the U.S., Tornike Shengelia is going to make the Brooklyn Nets.

Garrett Stutz

Position: Center

Age: 22

Height & Weight

7'0" & 255 pounds

Player Profile

Garrett Stutz is a high-energy big man who will contribute adequately on both ends of the floor. While he lacks the necessary fundamentals to produce the desired numbers, his size alone is worth attention. If only he wasn't so hesitant to take contact.

Stutz is a seven-footer with a well-built frame. He's better on the glass than the Nets' current center, and he improved as a shot blocker in each of his past three seasons.

While he may not be a star in the making, he's certainly a talented enough player to merit consideration for this team.

Prediction

Garrett Stutz has the adequate size and strength to make the team. Unfortunately, he's yet another big man with below average toughness in the paint. When compared with Jeff Foote, who has NBA experience, the decision is an easy one.

Garrett Stutz will miss the cut. Expect him to sign elsewhere.

Tyshawn Taylor

Position: Point Guard

Age: 22

Height & Weight

6'3" & 185 pounds

Player Profile

Tyshawn Taylor is an absolute burner in the open court and a defensive terror on the perimeter. His combination of size, strength and quickness enable him to overcome any opponent at his position on either end.

Whether you're trying to stop him from attacking the basket or attempting to attack yourselves, Taylor is the guy you want on your side.

Prediction

If you follow the Brooklyn Nets on Facebook or Twitter, you know how much hype Tyshawn Taylor has received. Many expect him to lead the Summer League team with MarShon Brooks and emerge as a legitimate backup point guard for the Nets come the regular season.

And that's exactly what he'll be. Tyshawn Taylor will clearly make the cut.

Al Thornton

Position: Small Forward

Age: 28

Height & Weight

6'8" & 203 pounds

Player Profile

Al Thornton was a popular choice for becoming the hidden gem in the 2007 NBA Draft. He's an outstanding athlete whose intensity on the court was admired by many. He had improved tremendously as a shot-blocker, rebounder and three-point shooter.

Unfortunately, Thornton's production never appealed much to those at the NBA level.

In 2009, Thornton broke out with 16.8 points per game and 5.2 rebounds. The following year, however, Thornton scored just 10.7 points per game and had a serious decrease in minutes. That trend continued in 2011 as he saw his lowest minutes and points-per-game averages.

Prediction

I, for one, have yet to understand why Al Thornton ever left the NBA. He's an incredible athlete whose scoring has consistently improved in terms of efficiency. For that reason, Thornton will be joining the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.

Al Thornton will make the cut.

Julian Wright

Position: Small Forward

Age: 25

Height & Weight

6'8" & 225 pounds

Player Profile

Julian Wright was once the star of one of the nation's most storied programs: the Kansas Jayhawks.

Wright led the team with his athleticism, defensive prowess and ability to finish in transition. These traits translated well to the NBA, but they did not present him with adequate playing time due to his passive nature and weak jump shooting.

Should Wright improve upon those areas, he could be a consistent rotational option at the NBA level.

Prediction

Julian Wright is actually a player who is easy to envision making the Nets' roster. He has NBA experience and a high level of intelligence on the floor. Unfortunately, his playing style is much more suited for a team such as the Los Angeles Lakers than that of the Nets.

Julian Wright will play in the NBA during the 2013 season, just not with the Brooklyn Nets. He will miss the cut.

Edwin Ubiles

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 25

Height & Weight

6'6" & 204 pounds

Player Profile

Edwin Ubiles is a 6'6" shooting guard with a massive 6'10" wingspan. He improved tremendously in all four years at Siena, even developing a pretty jumper from distance. What has always been Ubiles' bread and butter, however, is turning turnovers into scoring opportunities.

Ubiles has always had the "best player" mentality. In turn, he has never been afraid to put forth an all-out effort on either end of the floor. This has led to more than a handful of opportunities to impress scouts, which he has done in an admirable way.

Unfortunately, Ubiles is a lanky player whose upper body strength is questionable at best. Coming from a mid-major school didn't help him very much either.

Prediction

It's not hard to imagine Edwin Ubiles making the team. He is a respectable player who consistently improves. He's also a stout perimeter defender who can offer a decent three-point threat.

Unfortunately, he will not be contributing in this manner with the Brooklyn Nets. Ubiles will miss the cut.