Vegas Summer League 2013: 1st-Round Picks That Will Exert Preseason Dominance

While the bulk of the high-profile selections from the 2013 NBA draft are either playing in Orlando or injured, there's still plenty of talent to keep track of in the Las Vegas Summer League. Summer league play marks the first opportunity to prove their worth at the NBA level, so expect the incoming rookies to be up for the challenge.

At the same time, there will be plenty of undrafted and unheralded rookies out there looking to make a name for themselves against their highly touted counterparts. This year's first-rounders can't expect to just show up and dominate, but as long as they put in the necessary work they should be just fine.

Here are three top prospects who will be playing in Vegas and will also exert their dominance as they head into their first NBA season.

Ben McLemore

Some expected Kansas guard Ben McLemore to be selected among the first two or three picks in this year's draft, but he slipped down the board, much to the surprise and delight of the Sacramento Kings. With Tyreke Evans being dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans, McLemore will likely be expected to carry much of the offensive burden for Sacramento from day one.

He proved to be a quick learner at Kansas, as he was the Jayhawks' best offensive player as a freshman last year. He averaged nearly 16 points, five rebounds and two assists per game while shooting a shade under 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from downtown. Those shooting percentages suggest that McLemore's offensive success is sustainable at the next level, as he doesn't take many bad shots.

He'll have an opportunity to settle in during the Las Vegas Summer League, where he'll play against mostly similarly aged players. Summer league play always tends to be more up-tempo than actual regular-season NBA games, so the pace should play right into McLemore's hands. He's a guy who likes to run and gun, so he is bound to stand out.

The Kings certainly hope that's the case, as he'll be put in position to be the NBA Rookie of the Year this season provided he adapts quickly enough.

Shabazz Muhammad

Forward Shabazz Muhammad was one of the hottest prospects to enter the college ranks last season. But while he had a solid freshman campaign at UCLA, his draft stock still slipped.

Muhammad flashed his offensive ability all season long with the Bruins, averaging 18 points per game. But the issue was that he didn't offer much more than that. His five rebounds and less than one assist per contest were low for a small forward, and there was some concern about how good of a teammate he could be.

Even so, the Minnesota Timberwolves had to love the fact that he fell to them at No. 14 in the draft. The small forward position has been a bit of a problem for the T'Wolves in recent years, but Muhammad could rectify that. At 6'6" and 222 lbs, he is a physical force and he already has an NBA body.

He also landed in an ideal situation, as Minnesota will only look for him to provide an offensive spark.

He should be able to do that immediately, as the Las Vegas Summer League is tailored to his skill set. There isn't much emphasis on defensive play in Vegas, so Muhammad will be in his element. He won't necessarily play a starring role for the T'Wolves during the regular season this year, but he will during summer league play. All he has to do it is play his game and the points will be racked up.

Cody Zeller

Aside from the Cleveland Cavaliers' selection of UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett first overall, the Charlotte Bobcats taking Indiana big man Cody Zeller at No. 4 may have been the biggest surprise of the 2013 NBA draft.

Zeller was expected to be a top-10 selection, but few could have predicted that he would be taken ahead of centers like Alex Len and Nerlens Noel. That is what happened, though, and now he has to prove his worth.

It's tough to say if Zeller's play will translate to regular-season success in the NBA, but he should be fantastic in the summer league. He is a rare breed, as he is a seven-footer with great post moves who can run the floor like a gazelle. 

Zeller's numbers last season were fantastic for the Hoosiers. He averaged 16.5 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting better than 56 percent from the field.

Thanks to his height and athleticism, he is a very intriguing NBA prospect.

With guys like Zeller, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Kemba Walker in the fold, it seems like the Bobcats intend to employ an up-tempo style of play. They'll have an opportunity to test that out in Vegas, with Zeller being the focal point. If he fails to play well in the summer league, there will definitely be some concern about his NBA viability. Everything should play into his favor, though, so expect a strong summer league showing from Zeller.

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