NBA Summer League 2013: Players Who Must Use Slate to Begin Bounce-Back Year

While the bulk of the attention of NBA Summer League games falls on the highlighted rookies, it's always fun to keep an eye on the more veteran players who are trying to impress their way into a career.

Obviously, it is not a good sign for an older player to be in the summer league. We won't be seeing LeBron James dunking or Dwight Howard endlessly waiting for James Harden to pass him the ball in summer league play.

However, we will get players looking to resurrect their careers. Here are three players who have to use the summer league to start turning their games around. 

Jonny Flynn (PG, Indiana Pacers)

After a bizarre start to his NBA career, Jonny Flynn has already found himself on the outside of the NBA looking in.

Flynn's career got off to that strange beginning in 2009 when the Minnesota Timberwolves took him the selection directly after taking Ricky Rubio. It also happened to be one spot ahead of Stephen Curry.

After averaging 13.5 points and 4.4 assists per game in his rookie season, Flynn did nothing but take steps back in the NBA.

Last season, Flynn played with the Melbourne Tigers in Australia, and he played well, averaging 17.4 points and 5.9 assists per game. That alone won't be enough to get Flynn back into the NBA. 

Flynn has to exhibit that same level of play in the summer league if he wants to make it back. 

Austin Rivers (SG, New Orleans Pelicans)

Things did not go well in Year 1 of the Austin Rivers experiment. 

After being the 10th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft, Rivers was thrust into the starting lineup when Eric Gordon was injured. He wasn't ready for it.

The game was too fast for him, and he had to juggle playing both shooting and point guard.

He showed signs of improvement after the All-Star break, but then he broke his shooting hand in March and his season was over. 

Rivers must continue to show the signs of improvement he was displaying prior to the injury, and the Pelicans would be wise to give him one position and let him stick to it...at least for the foreseeable future. 

Alec Burks (PG-SG, Utah Jazz) 

Alec Burks' career is rapidly sinking. The former lottery pick is getting ready to enter his third year, and he is barely justifying his slim minutes. 

Over his two years, he is averaging 16.9 minutes and 7.1 points per game on 42 percent shooting. Even more alarming is the fact that Burks was showing no signs of development. However, late last season, Burks was forced to play point, and he showed some promise. 

Burks is 6'6" and has good length. He needs to develop his ball-handling, but he is an interesting matchup piece. 

Also, if he looks good in the summer league, there is a chance he will have an expanded role next year. Randy Foye has already defected to Denver, and Mo Williams is a free agent.

This is a huge opportunity for Burks to show he can handle big minutes in the NBA.