The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas is well under way and the Tar Heels are well represented. The NBA's mini season will run until July 22nd and showcases 13 of the top 14 picks (Anthony Davis is with team USA). While former Carolina players have returned to Chapel Hill to play in pickup games, there are six former players that are playing in Las Vegas:
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| (Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images) |
Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors): Barnes has helped the Warriors go a perfect 3-0 so far in summer league. His outside shooting has been key as he is 7-10 from beyond the arc. Barnes is averaging 17 points 5 rebounds and 2 steals a game. Barnes however is shooting below 40% from the field as he struggles to finish when he drives to the basket. I still feel like Barnes is going to be a steal at number seven and a Golden State starting lineup consisting of: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Barnes, David Lee and Andrew Bogut has a lot of potential.
Ed Davis (Toronto Raptors): Davis is nearly averaging a double-double with 16.5 points and 9 rebounds in four games. Davis is another NBA player that was drafted on "potential". Davis will be entering his third season as he showed promise last season but still needs work on his offensive game.
John Henson (Milwaukee Bucks): Some NBA draft experts said Henson would be the best pro of the four Tar Heels drafted this year. Henson missed the Bucks first game due to the flu but had a nice debut Wednesday night. Henson had 20 points, 9 rebounds, a block and was a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.
Kendall Marshall (Phoenix Suns): Like Henson, Marshall missed a game in the summer league but that was due to not being under contract when the summer league started. Marshall has played in two games and has played the role of a facilitator as he has five assist in each game. Marshall said via twitter that the trainer has him wearing an elbow pad precautionary reasons. Hopefully this was the reason for his 1-10 shooting night Wednesday.
Deon Thompson (Memphis Grizzlies): Last I reported Thompson had just won MVP in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague tournament. He has started both games for Memphis and is averaging 24.5 minutes a game. This is a great opportunity for Thompson to show off his skills for NBA scouts and coaches.
Tyler Zeller (Cleveland Cavaliers): Zeller was the last Tar Heel picked in this years draft but is having the best Summer League of the four. Zeller has started all three games averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds and almost 2 blocks a game. He is shooting over 50% from the field and 88% from the free throw line. Cleveland has emerged as a possible destination for center Andrew Bynum to help the Lakers land Dwight Howard. If Bynum does end up in Cleveland, the Cavs will have a seven footer that runs the floor coming of the bench.
**Justin Knox played in the Orlando Summer League for the Utah Jazz but was let go before Las Vegas Leagues started.
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