9 Players with Most to Prove at 2015 NBA Summer League

Nearly everyone has something to prove in the 2015 NBA summer league. Each competitor is trying to improve his stock and earn a roster spot or bigger role entering the new season.

But for a handful of players, there's something extra at stake and a different sense of urgency.

There are a couple of journeymen who are trying to make their way back to the NBA after a hiatus or jaunt around Europe. Some second-year pros are also scrapping to keep their careers on the right track after turbulent rookie seasons. And lastly, several undrafted free agents will try to use summer league as their steppingstone to the Association.

Among the multitude of contestants in Orlando, Utah and Las Vegas, which ones enter July's skirmishes with the most to prove?

James Young

Aaron Gash/Associated Press

Summer League Team: Boston Celtics

2014-15 Stats (BOS): 10.7 MPG, 3.4 PPG, 1.4 RPG, .353 FG%, .258 3FG%

The Boston Celtics don't have a bunch of wings locked up long term, so the 2015 Utah Jazz Summer League is a prime opportunity for the 6'7" gunslinger to escape mediocrity.

He split time between the Shamrocks and their D-League affiliate Maine Red Claws last year. While Young scored and shot efficiently against minor league challengers, he shot just 26 percent from distance for the C's.

Young had trouble consistently creating and sinking shots off the bounce in the NBA during 2014-15. He hit just 26 percent of all pull-up jumpers, according to NBA.com SportVU. In addition, he had trouble pulling his weight on the defensive side, which isn't exactly shocking considering he was a 19-year-old rookie.

As a mid-first round pick in 2014, Young was selected as a potentially explosive scorer with length to compete on both ends. He needs to use summer league as a springboard toward that dynamic ceiling.

In order to solidify his spot in Boston's rotation and avoid another year of bouncing back and forth from the D-League, he must use his shooting stroke and physical tools to stand out in Utah.

Cliff Alexander

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Summer League Team: Brooklyn Nets

2014-15 Stats (Kansas): 17.6 MPG, 7.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.3 BPG, .566 FG%, .671 FT%

After dominating the high school ranks, Kansas' Cliff Alexander delivered an underwhelming freshman campaign. NCAA eligibility issues sidelined him at the end of the season and essentially forced him to turn pro.

His stock was already iffy entering the predraft process, and then his workouts, measurements and health weren't convincing. Alexander registered a 6'8.5" stature at the NBA combine, and he hardly showed the skill set required of undersized power forwards. Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports discussed the freshman's workouts:

"He suffered a knee injury that hampered him during workouts and he failed to prove to skeptical scouts that he had good enough footwork, outside shooting or athleticism to make up for being undersized."

Those factors all led to Alexander going undrafted, which was a seemingly unthinkable outcome a year ago.

Alexander's path to redemption begins with the Brooklyn Nets' summer league squad. In order to carve out a role in the Association, he must prove he can hang with NBA athletes and overcome his below-average size with skill.

Royce White

Rocky Widner/Getty Images

Summer League Team: Los Angeles Clippers

2014-15 Stats: N/A

When versatile forward Royce White joined the Houston Rockets out of Iowa State in 2012, his anxiety disorder was already well publicized. But he never stuck in H-Town after disagreements over their handling of his disorder.

Over the past couple of seasons, he's tried unsuccessfully to latch on with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2013 and Sacramento Kings in 2014. White encountered some traveling issues with the Sixers and was waived before the regular season, and he played just three games for Sac-Town later that spring.

He's coming off a full year away from pro hoops. Does White have what it takes to shine in summer league and finally carve out an NBA roster spot?

There will be concerns about his anxiety disorder, but more importantly, White will have to show the Los Angeles Clippers he's polished and prepared enough to compete in their rotation. D.J. Foster of Fox Sports explains:

"

...Summer league has become the land of second and third and fourth chances. That's not to insinuate that a comeback would be easy for the now 23-year-old forward. It may not be entirely fair, but if White wants to make it back to the NBA, he'd have to demonstrate the kind of ability that justifies both his actual and perceived level of maintenance.

"

Christian Wood

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Summer League Team: Houston Rockets 

2014-15 Stats (UNLV): 32.7 MPG, 15.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, .497 FG%, .284 3FG%

During his two years at UNLV, Christian Wood showcased more than enough raw potential to be drafted. His sophomore season was particularly productive, as he averaged a double-double and delivered a promising inside-out offensive repertoire.

Unfortunately the 6'11" forward didn't impress enough decision-makers during predraft workouts. His work ethic came into question by at least one NBA scout.

"When you’re that skinny and have 15 percent body fat (Wood registered 14.7 percent at the combine), it just tells me that you don’t work," the scout told Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis.

Wood now joins a Houston Rockets summer league squad that includes Clint Capela, Sam Dekker and Glen Rice Jr. It won't be easy for Wood to earn a spot in Houston's big league rotation this fall, but an energetic summer league could earn him favor from multiple suitors.

His talent isn't really in question. Wood just needs to show that he can sharpen his strengths, work tirelessly to address his weaknesses and do the little things that help teams win.

Rodrigue Beaubois

Jack Arent/Getty Images

Summer League Team: Washington Wizards

2014-15 Stats (France): 26.7 MPG, 13.5 PPG, 2.8 APG, .478 FG%, .326 3FG%

At 27 years old, Rodrigue "Roddy" Beaubois should ideally be enjoying the prime years of his career in the NBA.

Instead, he'll be fighting just to get back into the Association after injuries derailed his past couple of seasons. From 2010-2013, he underwent two different foot surgeries and a hand surgery during his time with the Dallas Mavericks.

He spent the last couple of seasons in Belgium and France trying to work his way back into top form. Unfortunately, his 2014 summer-league run with the Los Angeles Lakers was not impressive, as he didn't quite uncork the shiftiness and burst that made him a promising young prospect years before.

After a solid year for French squad Le Mans Sarthe, Beaubois will have another crack at the NBA. He'll run with the Washington Wizards' summer-league squad. The Wiz could use some backcourt insurance, but Beaubois must assure them he's ready for the speed and rigors of the big leagues.

Aaron Harrison

Randy Belice/Getty Images

Summer League Team: Charlotte Hornets 

2014-15 Stats (Kentucky): 25.7 MPG, 11.0 PPG, 1.4 APG, .395 FG%, .316 3FG%

Kentucky's Aaron Harrison offers size (6'6" in shoes), aggressive instincts and big-game experience as a potential NBA off-guard. The sophomore shooter entered his Kentucky career as a top-tier recruit, but his path to the big stage won't be easy.

Harrison's shaky shot selection and unreliable accuracy dissuaded teams from picking him in last week's draft.

At a position where perimeter production and efficiency is cherished, he was unable to connect efficiently from deep or mid-range last year. Harrison shot just 32 percent from three-land and 35 percent on two-point jumpers, per Hoop-math.com.

The Charlotte Hornets' roster isn't exactly loaded with backcourt shooters, so there's an outside chance he could latch on. During the Orlando Pro Summer League, he needs to assure coaches that he can find high-percentage opportunities and bury them.

It doesn't matter if he's improved in every other area—outside shooting is ultimately what will make or break his pro career.

Nik Stauskas

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Summer League Team: Sacramento Kings

2014-15 Stats (SAC): 15.4 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 0.9 APG, .365 FG%, .322 3FG%

Last year Nik Stauskas was a top-10 pick coming off a brilliant sophomore season at Michigan. He had a chance to establish himself in the Sacramento Kings' rotation, but inconsistency and coaching changes didn't help his quest.

Now he enters his second summer league still trying to prove he deserves a substantial role.

Stauskas not only struggled to create and make shots last year (37 percent from the field), but he also performed poorly on defense. The 6'6" wing regularly allowed slashers to get into the lane, yielding 70.8 percent shooting within six feet of the hoop—that's 12.2 percent worse than the average NBA defender, per NBA.com SportVU.

Stauskas told Cowbell Kingdom's James Ham that adding more muscle should help his overall game:

"Going through the whole season I realized that I’ve got to get a lot stronger," Stauskas said. "That’s kind of the one thing at this point that’s holding me back from being the player I want to be. That’s the one thing I’m going to attack in the offseason."

When he arrived in Sac-town in 2014, Stauskas was regarded as one of the most pro-ready players in his draft class. It's time for him to put the shooting talent and high-level instincts together and show that he's polished enough to produce next year.

Adreian Payne

Scott Threlkeld/Associated Press

Summer League Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

2014-15 Stats (ATL-MIN): 23.1 MPG, 6.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, .414 FG%, .111 3FG%

The clock is ticking for Adreian Payne to demonstrate that he can execute and live up to his No. 15 draft status.

We're not talking about a one-and-done teenager who gets a pass for two-plus years while developing. Payne is already 24 and he'll turn 25 during the 2015-16 campaign.

In order to earn decent minutes with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Payne must supply drastically improved defense while knocking down open shots. Flip Saunders traded for the Atlanta Hawks draftee last winter, but the 6'10" power forward hasn't panned out yet.

When Payne was on the floor, Minny surrendered a whopping 119.5 points per 100 possessions (per 82games.com). Ben Beecken of Dunking With Wolves lamented the rookie's failures: 

"...The most concerning aspect of his game has been his overall understanding of concepts on both ends of the floor. He’s hard to watch when it comes to defending the pick-and-roll, which is a real shame considering just how formidable his wingspan could be if utilized properly."

Can Payne show Saunders and Co. that he hit the film room and learned from his mistakes? Or is his subpar awareness not fixable?

James Anderson

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Summer League Team: Sacramento Kings

2014-15 Stats (Lithuania): 25.2 MPG, 13.7 PPG, 2.4 APG, .439 FG%, .332 3FG%

After shuffling between the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers from 2010-2014, former Oklahoma State wing James Anderson is aiming to return to the NBA.

He posted a productive year for Lithuanian club Zalgris Kaunas in 2014-15, and he apparently wants to rejoin the world's best league. There were reports that he would play for CSKA Moscow in 2015-16, but those were later denied by his agent, according to E. Carchia of Sportando.

During his stint with the Sacramento Kings summer league team, Anderson will have to show that he can be more than an NBA benchwarmer or Euroleague standout.

The 6'6" slasher has offered stretches of scoring prowess and deep range throughout his career, but he didn't efficiently move the needle in his most recent NBA season (with the Philadelphia 76ers). He enters the Vegas League with plenty to prove.

If Anderson doesn't shoot better than 32 or 33 percent from three-land and show he'll enhance Sac-Town's wing corps, he could end up back in Europe for good.