Vegas Summer League 2012: Undrafted Players to Keep Your Eye on

Rookies such as Bradley Beal and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will assuredly hog the spotlight when the Las Vegas Summer League gets kicked off on Friday, but that's not the entire story.

These pre-training camp games are more than a look at the star rookies or even young studs who have already made an impact in the NBA. They also provide a chance for young players who have previously been overlooked to show what they are made of. 

Whether it's a D-League veteran who is giving it one last shot in the NBA, a bench warmer who is trying to prove he deserves more minutes or a rookie who went undrafted, the opportunities are endless.

What follows is a look at the most intriguing undrafted rookies who will be taking part in the Vegas Summer League.

Scott Machado, PG, Houston Rockets

It was fairly surprising when Machado's name wasn't called during June's draft, but the Rockets were smart to quickly snatch him up for their Summer League team. 

In terms of the 2012 draft, Machado is similar to North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall in that he is a distributor first. 

The Iona product averaged 9.9 assists per game during his final year with the Gaels to go along with terrific accuracy from the outside. He isn't necessarily a top-notch scorer, but Machado is a smart point guard with a good head on his shoulders. He will make everyone around him better.

Houston's Summer League team will be stacked with young, talented players looking to steal the show, but don't be surprised if Machado is the director of that show. 

Drew Gordon, PF, Dallas Mavericks

For a while, I had Gordon as a late first- or early second-round pick in my mock drafts, so the fact he went undrafted was quite a shock to me. 

The New Mexico big man has great size and athleticism to fit the mold of new-age power forward in the NBA. He's 6'9", 240 pounds and has a 6'11" wingspan, but he combines those measurements with freakish athleticism and quickness. 

Gordon's offensive game could use some work, but it's unquestionable that he can make an impact by crashing the glass (11.1 rebounds per game as a senior), getting put backs and beating slower big men down the floor. 

Gordon was literally one of my favorite prospects coming into this draft. I can't wait to see him try to prove NBA general mangers wrong in Vegas. 

John Shurna, SF, Atlanta Hawks

There are questions about which position Shurna will truly fit. He has the height (6'10") of a power forward, but his weight (212 pounds), wingspan (6'8.5") and game point more to a wing player.

That's what makes the former Northwestern star so intriguing. 

Shurna is one of the best pure scorers you'll see in Vegas. What he does isn't always pretty, but he has an array of old-school moves that help him put the ball in the basket at a fantastic rate, as evidenced by the fact he is the Wildcats' all-time leading scorer.

There are certainly holes in Shurna's game, but, if teams are looking for a power forward who can stretch the floor, they should look no further than this kid.

Imagine Steve Novak with the ability to drive and make plays from inside the arc. That's what Shurna's ceiling is, and that piques my interest. 

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