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 dibble 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 18ft 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 3pt 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 3pt 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 2 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 3pt 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 3pt 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
