This is it, the last day of Vegas Summer League. It has been a great week, hasn't it? So let's go out in style, shall we? I've been trying to name different players to watch each day (which, if I can be honest, has been tough for a few rosters), but today I'm offering the best non-NBA roster player each team has to offer. Some of these players will be around a little longer as they get invited to NBA training camps and hopefully find a roster spot somewhere; others will play overseas next year. Regardless of where they end up, all of these players have some good performances this week to hang their hat on, and are worth watching one more time.
The majority of these games will be shown on NBA TV (I know not all of them will be live, but they all eventually will be shown), and those that don't have access to NBA TV can watch all of the Summer League games online for $14.95 either live or on demand. The "what to watch for" notes are after the jump (all times are Eastern).
4 p.m. - Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Cavaliers Free Agent to Watch: Pooh Jeter
Jeter has been a solid Summer League player for a few years now, and I believe he could contribute to an NBA team. He runs an offense pretty well as a point guard, and has averaged close to seven assists and under two turnovers a game. He's also scoring fairly efficiently, making 51.5 percent of his field goals. His shooting appears to have improved over the last year, and he'd be a smart, cheap option for a team looking for a third point guard.
Bucks Free Agent to Watch: Dominic James
The Bucks have seemingly been interested in James for a few years, since he was invited last season as well but didn't participate due to injury (well, either that or someone in the front office is buddies with his agent). James is averaging three and a half assists per game, though that has pretty much been the extent of his contributions. He hasn't scored much, as he doesn't have much of an outside shot (and seems to know it). He's quick and athletic, though, and still has some intriguing talents.
4:30 p.m. - San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Spurs Free Agent to Watch: Tyler Wilkerson
Wilkerson put up pretty decent numbers last year playing next to Hassan Whiteside at Marshall, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and a block per game. He's leading the Spurs' team in both offensive and total rebounding per game (three and seven, respectively), though they don't have a ton of great rebounders on the roster so Wilkerson might be the best by pseudo-default. He does have some talent, though, runs the floor decently for a guy his size and had a few pre-draft workouts, so NBA teams are keeping an eye on him.
Grizzlies Free Agent to Watch: Jeff Adrien
Adrien has been solid both in here and at the Orlando Summer League. With the Grizzlies, he's averaging 7.5 rebounds per game, second only to Hasheem Thabeet; when you consider that Adrien is playing half as many minutes as Thabeet, and actually is beating the former number two pick in offensive rebounding, he's been pretty impressive in that area. He's also averaging less than one foul per game, which perhaps indicates that he's playing smart defense. Adrien really has made a case for himself over the last two weeks to at least receive a training camp invitation.
6 p.m. - Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Bulls Free Agent to Watch: John Lucas III
Point guard Lucas hasn't gotten a ton of assists, averaging just 2.7 per game (really in 27 minutes per game), but he's shooting the lights out. He's made a fantastic 71 percent of his three-pointers and 54 percent of his shots overall to lead the team in scoring. He's also averaging two steals per game, and he's not turning the ball over, averaging less than one per game. Lucas has been the Bulls' most consistent performer this week, and even though he tends to be more of a scorer he can run an offense decently and isn't a complete liability on defense despite being roughly 5'9".
Trail Blazers Free Agent to Watch: Demetris Nichols
I think Ekene Ibekwe has had a slightly better week, but I just talked about him yesterday, so I'm going to go back on what I said earlier and mention someone different, namely Nichols. He hasn't shot the ball all that well this week, but Nichols has demonstrated his athleticism both on the offensive end and in getting rebounds and steals. Nichols was in the NBA for a few years so GMs know his name, which probably is more important than it should be but could help Nichols try to make it back into the league.
6:30 p.m. - Atlanta Hawks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Hawks Free Agent to Watch: Richard Hendrix
Hendrix really should have a place on someone's NBA roster. He's a bit undersized, true, but he's an excellent rebounder and an efficient scorer, and once again he's doing well at Summer League. As I write this he's leading the Hawks team in rebounding, is third in scoring and is averaging two steals and a block per game, outperforming a number of big men here who have guaranteed contracts. He apparently already has signed a contract to play in Israel this season, so this will be your last chance to see him play for awhile.
Timberwolves Free Agent to Watch: Jeremy Pargo
Pargo hasn't had the best week, averaging almost as many turnovers per game (four) as assists (4.3) and shooting just 30.8 percent from the field, but he was a big better in Orlando Summer League and he's a decent defender, which doesn't usually get showcased in this setting. He's also a point guard, which is just what Minnesota needs.
8 p.m. - Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings
Mavericks Free Agent to Watch: Jeremy Lin
(Yes, that Minnesota/point guard was a joke. Not a very interesting one, either.) I've talked about Lin a lot this week, so apologies if I'm repeating myself, but it's deserved. He has played off the ball more often this week after being a point guard in college, but when he's gotten the ball in his hands he's shown an explosive first step that helps him get to the rim pretty easily, as well as smart use of his body to shield the ball from defenders and convert layups plus fouls. He also has been a hound on defense, using his size and intelligence to harass everyone from point guards to small forwards. Lin has reportedly drawn interest from at least three teams with his play this week, so he's a lock for training camp somewhere.
Kings Free Agent to Watch: Wayne Chism
Chism already has an overseas contract, so he's pretty much just playing out the string here, but he has shot the ball very well this week (68 percent) and is third on the Summer League Kings in rebounding, second in offensive rebounding. Chism likely will need to diversify his offensive skills in Europe before being seriously considered for an NBA job, but the first step is always performing well with the talent one has, and Chism has done that here in Vegas.
8:30 p.m. - Los Angeles Clippers vs. D-League Select
Clippers Free Agent to Watch: Marqus Blakely
Normally I would've named Rod Benson, but he only played five minutes in the first game and not at all since, for reasons I haven't been able to discover (maybe someone out there knows?). Instead, then, I'll mention Blakely, even though I also talked about him yesterday so I'm contradicting myself again, which means I'm back to do what I originally said I'd do. Blakely continues to rebound the ball well, and while he hasn't contributed much on offense (attempting 14 field goals through four games), he also hasn't done anything to hurt his team on that end, either. He has a good defensive reputation from college, and while it's even harder to judge defense in Summer League than it is in the regular season, Blakely is leading the Clippers' team in steals. Blakely is a very intriguing player to watch going forward.
D-League Player to Watch: Russell Robinson
I could've named a few people here, as I think several players on th D-League Select team deserve NBA chances, but Robinson has been playing the best overall this week. He's leading the team in scoring and assists, is shooting 50 percent from the field and has kept his fouls and turnovers down. He's only averaging three assists per game (21 minutes), but that number likely would be higher if a few of his teammates hadn't been struggling with their own shots this week. Robinson has gotten training camp invites the last few seasons, and he certainly has shown that he deserves one this year.