Summer league rosters are full of the unproven and unwanted, so not many players stand out as impact players in a projection system. Mostly, there are a lot of guys whose translated non-NBA performance marks them as fringe candidates (at best) to play in the league. In Las Vegas, a handful of standouts gained some attention, although no one really emerged in quite the way Portland's Damian Lillard did last season. Some players showed development over a previous weakness. Others showed some physical development, or suggested that they can fill a particular role for an NBA team.
Last week, I covered a handful of such players, and will go over a few more today. Although I'll be referring to several metrics, the key one to remember is individual winning percentage, which is the theoretical level of the team with the player, plus four average teammates. A team of .500 players could be expected to go 41-41. In the summer league, almost all players fall into a projected range from .300 to about .490.
Jeffery Taylor
Taylor was one of the most impressive players of the Las Vegas Summer League, showing a full array of skills that could portend a breakout sophomore NBA season. He led the Bobcats with 20.3 points per game and helped Charlotte to an appearance in the league semifinals, although Taylor and the team's other contract players sat out a loss to Golden State. Taylor's ability to create havoc in the lane off the dribble was the standout part of his performance, and although it won't be as easy against a regular NBA roster, it's progress. He's an excellent athlete and runs the court well, finishing breakouts with an array of highlight-reel dunks.