Notes from NBA Vegas Summer League

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to take in some of the summer league games, while attending a terrific NBA conference (sponsored by SMWW) in Las Vegas.

Let me tell you, for a serious NBA fan, it’s quite an event. NBA coaches, GMs and players all co-mingling with spectators right off the Vegas strip. I’m already planning my trip for next year. 

In any case, here are a few notes I took on some players that caught my eye. Some you’ve heard of, and few you may not.

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Golden State Warriors	Stephen Curry	G	6′ 3″	185	2009 7th overall pick

-          Exclusively an inside dribble move

-          Can finish with either hand in the air on either side of the basket

-          Good but not great distributor. Makes the simple pass but doesn’t quite have the anticipation or court vision to make the spectacular pass

-          Good off-the-ball defender. Is able to play the passing lanes to deflect and steal passes.

-          Doesn’t have the foot speed to consistently stay in front of PGs

-          Sometimes commits silly fouls

-          Not strong enough to take a high volume of shots.  Gets tired at the end of games, which effects his shooting

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Golden State Warriors	Anthony Randolph	F	6′ 10″	210	2008 14th overall pick

-          Can hit from range. Automatic from 18 feet and in.

-          Violently attacks the basket but is sometimes out of control

-          Ability to start the fast break and go coast to coast

-          Starting to grow into his body and is using it more effectively

-          Good offensive rebounder

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Sacramento Kings	Tyreke Evans	G	6′ 6″	220	2009 4th overall pick

-          Questionable shot selection

-          Works hard on the defensive end of the court. Can smoother ball handlers from end to end and plays through screens set on him

-          Good rebounding guard

-          Poor shot mechanics

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
San Antonio Spurs	George Hill	G	6′ 2″	190	2008 26th overall pick

-          Freakishly gifted athlete

-          Plays above the rim

-          Deceptively good/explosive ball handler

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
New Orleans Hornets	Darren Collison	PG	6′ 0″	160	2009 21st overall pick

-          Solid PG

-          Finds teammates for easy catch and finish opportunities

-          Able to get into the lane and break down defenses

-          Has a nice floating jump shot

-          Nice pick and roll game

-          Able to split double teams

-          Is extremely quick particularly with the ball

-          Instinctive defensive player/good footwork on defense

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
New Orleans Hornets	Marcus Thornton	G	6′ 4″	194	Traded to New Orleans Hornets From Miami Heat - 2009 43rd overall pick

-          Great transition player

-          Gets into passing lanes and creates deflections and steals

-          Extremely active (block, offensive rebound/put back)

-          Good crossover

-          Able to get into the lane and break down defenses

-          Finds teammates for easy catch and finish opportunities in the lane

-          Can shoot from range

-          Aggressive will attack opposing players both offensively and defensively

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Golden State Warriors	Cartier Martin	G/F	6′ 7″	220	2007 Undrafted

-          Hard worker

-          Fills in gaps

-          Plays good defense

-          Good defense

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Dallas Mavericks	Aaron Miles	G	6′ 1″	175	2005 Undrafted

-          Works hard on the defensive end of the court.

-          Vocal leader

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
San Antonio Spurs	Romel Beck	G/F	6′ 7″	185	2005 Undrafted

-          Can shot from range

-          Active on the offensive boards

-          Good athlete able to get into the lane

-          Can draw fouls in the lane

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
New Orleans Hornets	Brian Cusworth	C	7′ 0″	255	2007 Undrafted

-          Big man who can score around the basket with either hand

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
San Antonio Spurs	Dejuan Blair	F	6′ 7″	265	2009 37th overall pick

-          Great leverage/position player (able to grab rebounds below the rim because of it)

-          Hard worker

-          Can defend and challenge the shot of taller players

-          Able to carve out space on the court

-          Extremely strong hands

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Houston Rockets	Mike Green	G	6′ 1″	184	2009 Undrafted

-          Pesky defender but lacks elite foot speed

-          Great court vision

-          Good anticipation

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Houston Rockets	Jermaine Taylor	G	6′ 4″	210	Traded to Houston From Washington Wizards - 2009 32nd overall pick

-          Raw athlete

-          Can elevate and finish in traffic

-          Can block shots

-          Not afraid to challenge other players and mix it up

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Minnesota Timberwolves	Johnny Flynn	PG	6′ 0″	185	2009 6th overall pick

-          Good court vision

-          Not shy and will pull up and pop from anywhere given an open look

-          Has more of shooters mentality

-          Can create his own shot

-          Questionable shot selection

-          Explosive

-          Tendency to throw one-handed passes

-          Able to finish in the lane amongst bigger players

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Minnesota Timberwolves	Oleksiy Pecherov	F	7′ 0″	234	Traded to Minnesota Timberwolves From Washington Wizards - 2006 18th overall pick

-          7-footer with 3-point range

-          Finesse around the basket

-          Uses a lot of dribbles to get into post position

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Houston Rockets	Joey Dorsey	F/C	6′ 8″	268	Traded to Houston Rockets From Portland Trailblazers - 2008 33rd overall pick

-          Doesn’t give up on plays

-          Has hands of stone

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Minnesota Timberwolves	Wayne Ellington	G	6′ 4″	215	2009 28th overall pick

-          Not able to finish around the basket

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Houston Rockets	James White	G/F	6′ 7″	200	2008 Free Agent/2006 Draft Class

-          Has three-point range

-          Amazingly gifted athlete can literally jump out of the gym

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Houston Rockets	Maarty Leunen	F	6′ 9″	220	2007 Undrafted

-          Makes timely plays

-          Good footwork particularly around the basket

-          Gets offensive rebounds

-          Moves the ball well

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Houston Rockets	Chase Budinger	F	6′ 7″	218	Traded to Houston Rockets From Detroit Pistons - 2009 44th overall pick

-          Struggles to shoot when feet aren’t set. Has a tendency to float side to side on his jumper

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Oklahoma City Thunder	Russell Westbrook	G	6′ 3″	187	2008 4th overall pick

-          Basketball savvy is starting to catch up with his athleticism

-          Plays with a tempo two steps faster than everyone else; needs to slow down

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Oklahoma City Thunder	James Harden	G	6′ 5″	220	2009 3rd overall pick

-          Able to get in the lane and finish

-          Good stop and start game

-          Wide array of up fakes

-          Good mid post player

-          May be a liability at the end of the shot clock because he uses so many fakes to get open

-          More of a “counter puncher” as opposed to attacker

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Memphis Grizzles	Hasheem Thabeet	C	7′ 3″	267	2009 2nd overall pick

-          Great offensive rebounder

-          Needs to be able to power up and finish at the basket

-          Needs to work on conditioning

-          Good footwork and positioning on defense

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Oklahoma City Thunder	Kyle Weaver	G	6′ 6″	201	Traded to From Charlotte Bobcats - 2008 38th overall pick

-          Has worked on his range more confident in with his jumper

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Memphis Grizzles	Darrell Arthur	F	6′ 9″	235	Traded to Memphis Grizzlies  From Houston Rockets by way of Portland and New Orleans - 2008 27th overall pick

-          Not really a post up player/not a wing

-          Can face up and hit a jumper out to college three-point line

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Oklahoma City Thunder	BJ Mullins	C	7′ 0″	275	Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder From Dallas Mavericks - 2009 24th overall pick

-          Legitimate 7-footer able to bother shots

-          Has range out to the college 3-point line

-          good footwork actively on defense

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Memphis Grizzlies	Hamed Haddadi	C	7′ 2″	265	2008 Free Agent

-          Has a nice post hook shot

-          Brings the ball

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Memphis Grizzlies	Donta Smith	G/F	6′ 7″	215	2009 Free Agent/2004 Draft Class

-          Good energy off the bench

Team	Player	Position	Height	Weight	Team/How acquired
Memphis Grizzlies	Sam Young	G/F	6′ 6″	220	2009 36th overall pick

-          Good all-around game

-          Can come off screens and hit jumpers

-          Can get into the lane and score

-          Hustles after lose balls

-          Gets out in transition

Image Source: Probasketball.About.com