Five players to watch as NBA Summer League action heats up

NBA Summer League is underway in fabulous Las Vegas. The annual summer tournament features a collection of new draft picks, highly-touted European players, G League stars, and veterans trying to land a second (or third) chance. Here are five players we're most excited to watch.

1. Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)

The first overall pick of the NBA Draft wasted little time showing off his 3-point stroke in his Summer League debut on Sunday.

"Motor Cade" demonstrated why scouts thought so highly of him, and the Big 12 Player of the Year should be a treat to watch as we see how his game translates against fellow professionals.

2. Devin Vassell (San Antonio Spurs)

Devin Vassell was the 11th overall pick two years ago and entered the league with all sorts of hype. In his first year he averaged just 17 minutes and 5.5 points per game, but he's an elite defender and heady baller that has the look of a player Gregg Popovich can mold into a dangerous NBA wing.

Entering his second year in the league, fans should expect Vassell to make the customary sophomore leap and for Summer League to be his first opportunity to take that next step forward. Vassell can score from anywhere on the court, and will be given plenty of opportunities to prove it in Vegas.

3. Bol Bol (Denver Nuggets)

The son of Manute Bol, Bol Bol is a former Oregon Ducks star that stands 7’2” and has a 7’8” wingspan. Despite his height, he has the ability to step outside and hit down unblockable 3-point shots.

Bol plays for the Denver Nuggets, where he has yet to make a major impact, but is obviously an intriguing player due to the versatility and the potential he possess. The 21-year-old is in the final year of his contract, and will need to show some consistency this season to stick around the league.

4. Obi Toppin (New York Knicks)

The Dayton Flyers product entered the national scene as a high-flying dunker and joined the Knicks as a lottery pick. In his first Summer League game he dominated for the Knicks, scoring 24 points and snagging eight rebounds. However, In his 62-game career thus far with the Knicks he has averaged just 4.1 points per game, too little an impact for a lottery pick but one that isn’t surprising given fellow power forward Julius Randle’s ascension.

Toppin will likely use Summer League to prove he can be a significant contributor in hopes of seeing his number called a bit more often in New York this season.

5. Michael Beasley (Portland Trail Blazers)

Arguably the most surprising name to crop up on any Summer League roster is Michael Beasley. The well-traveled vet has played in over 600 games, and has averaged 12.4 points per game over the course of his 10-year career.

During his collegiate career at Kansas State, Beasley was a walking bucket, and he averaged a career-best 19.2 points per game during his third season in the league with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The now 32-year old might get a chance to fill the vacancy left by Carmelo Anthony, but before he does, Beasley has to prove he still has tread on his tires after being out of the league for the past two seasons.