2009 Summer League Scoop - Day Three

Russell Westbrook, Thunder
94-82 win vs. Celtics
26 pts, 9-16 FG, 8-8 FT

Kasib Powell, Magic
108-86 win vs. Nets/Sixers
19 pts, 7-10 FG, 4-5 3-pt FG

Maurice Ager, Magic
108-86 win vs. Nets/Sixers
21 pts, 6-12 FG, 8-9 FT

A.J. Price, Pacers
95-79 win vs. Jazz
14 pts, 6-9 FG, 2-3 3-pt FG

By Josh Cohen
There are always certain players you can’t help but cheer on because of a past incident.

More than two years ago, Shaun Livingston suffered a tear-jerking knee injury. Some medical experts wondered if he would ever play again. But with a great deal of heart and determination, Livingston is back and playing extremely effectively.

The former high school McDonald’s All-American posted 10 points and six rebounds to help the Thunder charge past the Celtics on Wednesday.

"It was a victory in itself (to make it back from injury), but it's not over," he said.

Gabe Pruitt, Celtics
94-82 loss vs. Thunder
7 pts, 3-11 FG

Eric Maynor, Jazz
95-79 loss vs. Pacers
5 pts, 2-9 FG

Goran Suton, Jazz
95-79 loss vs. Pacers
4 pts, 2-8 FG

Robert Vaden, Thunder
94-82 win vs. Celtics
2 pts, 1-7 FG

By Josh Cohen
One of the main purposes of summer leagues is to allow coaches, scouts and front office personnel to examine all of the young talent circulating around the nation. Especially in today’s economy, teams are hoping to land gems without spending the big bucks on marquee names.

The summer is the perfect opportunity for franchises to study which prospects can immediately augment their championship goals. After three days of competition, you can be sure teams are already starting to mull over their options and narrow down their favorites.

Take time out for a moment and pretend you are an NBA general manager. Who would you give a chance to? Would you heavily consider guys who spent valuable time in the D-League or would you prefer signing guys based solely on raw talent without much experience?

Keep watching all the webcasts broadcasted on OrlandoMagic.com to expand your knowledge of each competitor.

By Dan Savage
There's no question that the Orlando Magic are still in search of a few bodies to fill our their 2009-10 roster.

And while there's still plenty of time for General Manager Otis Smith to swing a few free agent deals, his eyes are also fixated on the team's summer league roster in search of a diamond in the rough.

With Orlando's frontcourt in need of a big man or two, you can be sure this team is taking a good look at Richard Hendrix. Magic Basketball Operations compared him to Jason Maxiell prior to the commencement of the summer season and he's started to live up to the billing.

The former D-League All-Star and second round draft pick of the Golden State Warriors notched 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Magic to a dominating 108-86 victory over the split Nets-Sixers squad on Wednesday.
Afterwards, he spoke to OrlandoMagic.com.

By Josh Cohen
The 2009 Orlando Pro Summer League isn’t over yet, but if it was, the Indiana Pacers’ monster duo of Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough would likely be All First-Team performers.

It’s been nearly impossible for opponents to contain them in the paint. Hibbert and Hansbrough, who clashed against each other when Georgetown defeated North Carolina in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, combined for 45 points and 13 rebounds as the Pacers remained perfect (3-0) at the RDV Sportsplex practice facility with Wednesday’s impressive 95-79 triumph over the Utah Jazz.

It won’t be this easy for Hibbert and Hansbrough, understandably, to flourish like this during the regular season when they compete against much more experienced veterans. But, it is evident they have the potential to blossom into dangerous NBA players.

If you are a Pacers fan, fear no more. You have size, skill and high basketball IQ coming your way to the Hoosier State.

By Dan Savage
The Orlando Magic are set at the starting point guard position for the foreseeable future with All-Star Jameer Nelson piloting the ship.

But they are still looking for depth at that spot behind their captain and veteran Anthony Johnson.

And while free agency might end up being the ultimate solution for their vacancy, Maurice Ager and Russell Robinson are making their cases heard during the 2009 Orlando Pro Summer League.

Ager – a five-year veteran, who's played for the Nets and Mavericks – demonstrated how valuable NBA experience can be by dropping a game-high 21 points in Orlando's lopsided victory. Robinson, on the other hand, continued to live up to his reputation as a tenacious on-the-ball defender and unselfish player by dishing out five assists in just over 14 minutes of action for the Magic on Wednesday.

Ager Interview | Robinson Interview