The Summer League is usually reserved for the 1st and 2nd year draftees to show what they got and to improve for the upcoming season. There’s usually not to many spots open on teams but there’s always a few undrafted players that stand out and make a roster.
This year two players stood out to me for different reason and I expect both of them to make some ones squad. Malcolm Thomas and Kent Bazemore.
Malcolm Thomas is a 6’9″ power forward out of San Diego St. He was a big part of the recent resurgent of the Aztec program right along side of Kawhi Leonard. Thomas earned all conference 2nd team both years at San Diego St. and all defensive team in his senior season. Thomas went undrafted in 2011 and without a summer he didn’t have an opportunity to show his game and ended up signing an overseas contract. He was soon signed by the Lakers were he played for they D-League affiliate. He was next released and signed by the Spurs and he actually played a minute of mop up duty. He came into the 2012 Summer League as an unknown looking to make a name for his self and he accomplish just that. He was a member of the Bulls team an as a fan I tuned in to watch the rookie Marquis Teague and to see the improvement of Jimmy Butler. I had no idea I would be most impressed with Thomas. Don’t get me wrong Butler impressed as well but that was expected. I had no clue of who Thomas was but he just kept make plays. He was always in the right spot and when he caught it he finished it with authority. Dunk after dunk, baseline jumpers and rebounds in traffic. He plays good defense and not only do I see him making the Bulls team but he could be a contributor.
Kent Bazemore is a 6’5″ swingman out of ODU. He’s a former CAA conference defensive player of the year and a 2nd team all conference. He went undrafted in this years draft and came into the summer team without any expectations. Over the five games in Vegas he proved to be the most versatile player I saw. He shot the ball well spotting up and off the dribble. He was fearless going to the rim and he even handled the ball as a point guard at times. All the offensive things were great but its clear where he hangs his hat and that’s on the defensive end. I watched him guard everything from point guard to power forward. He slides his feet well and is strong enough not to be bullied in the post, but his most impressive stat was the seven blocks he had in a game. A 6’5″ guard had 7 blocks in a forty minute summer league game. Bazemore wants be a star in the NBA. He probably won’t get a lot of clock but he is just the kind of player all coaches want and need and you should be seeing him and Thomas in the League real soon.
