D.J. Augustin (photo. Texas)

As the Orlando Pro Summer League comes to a wrap today, the Vegas Summer League gets started. For the next week and a half, 21 teams will go at it, giving us a first look at some of the ‘08-09 rookies, NBA hopefuls and up-and-coming youngsters.

Here’s Part 2 of the Vegas league Players To Watch. Click HERE for Part 1:

BOBCATS
* Alexis Ajinca — All that terrible casino food in Vegas might help him put on some weight. Chicken tenders for DAYS.
* D.J. Augustin — The Top-10 pick facing the least pressure this season. Augustin isn’t expected to start (like Acie Law was) or play a role on a good team (Rodney Stuckey), so he can just get used to the NBA.
* Jared Dudley — Will have to fight off Adam Morrison for minutes in the regular season. Morrison has been working out with Charlotte’s summer team for his knee rehab.
* Mustafa Shakur — Yet another overhyped Arizona guy.
* Kyle Weaver — Second-round pick can give the ‘Cats some defense and play up to three positions, provided he can get on the court.

GRIZZLIES
* Darrell Arthur — The draft night drop cost him some money, but this is actually a great spot for Arthur to get some real playing time.
* Steve Burtt Jr. — Former Bounce cover guy was an NYC playground superstar last summer, dropping 68 in one game at Rucker. Relentlessly attacks the paint, but has a solid jumper as well.
* Mike Conley Jr. — Point guards need time to “get it” and adapt to the NBA game, but Conley has Kyle Lowry nipping at his heels, so he needs to accelerate the learning process.
* Javaris Crittenton — One of the last hopes Memphis has of not looking completely foolish in the Pau Gasol trade.
* O.J. Mayo — He was supposed to be the #1 pick in the draft and the best player in his class going back to his seventh grade year. Think he has a little chip on his shoulder after “slipping” to the third spot?
* Brent Petway — Stromile Swift without the size. Reigning D-League dunk champ.

LAKERS
* Cedric Bozeman — Once upon a time he was getting Magic Johnson comparisons coming out of high school and going to UCLA. Playing for the Lakers summer league team is the closest he’ll ever get to Magic’s throne.
* Joe Crawford — Kentucky’s ‘04 recruiting class included Crawford, Randolph Morris and Rajon Rondo. Crawford and Morris were both projected to be stars before Rondo. Funny how life works out.
* Davon Jefferson — Left USC after his freshman year and didn’t get drafted.
* Coby Karl — Just picking up League experience until his inevitable turn as a coach.
* Thomas Kelati — When I covered the Washington State hoop team a few years ago, Kelati was their best player but the rare shooting guard (who could really shoot) that had to be constantly begged to look for his shot more often. Former high school cross country runner never seems to get tired on the court.
* Brian Roberts — Thrived in hostile environments while playing at Dayton (18.2 ppg) but is basically an undersized two-guard in a world full of them.
* James White — Can we get him and Petway in a VSL dunk contest?

CLIPPERS
* Eric Gordon — If Baron is still around and productive when Gordon hits his prime, the Clippers will have the League’s highest-scoring backcourt.
* DeAndre Jordan — Second-round picks get no love. Jordan’s name appears as “DeAndrew” on the VSL website.
* Al Thornton — Think he’s not confident? Last year he told us that scoring in the NBA seemed easier than scoring in college.
* Marcus Williams — The one who left Arizona too early, not the one who left UConn too early.

ROCKETS
* Aaron Brooks — Got some valuable playoff experience last year. Should stick around in the League for a while.
* Joey Dorsey — Houston is stockpiling tough guys to compensate for Yao.
* Donte Greene — The Syracuse fans in the Dime office sincerely think Greene will eventually be the 5th-best (or better) player from the ‘08 draft.
* Russell Robinson — Mario Chalmers has done a lot to make everyone forget that Robinson was actually Kansas’ starting point guard last year.

WARRIORS
* Marco Belinelli — He was lighting everyone up in last year’s summer league, then disappeared once Don Nelson was doling out playing time.
* C.J. Watson — Highlight of his season was a pre-game ceremony honoring him as the NBA’s 100th D-League call-up. At least he got to meet Mitch Richmond.
* Brandan Wright — Showed some promise when he got on the court last year, but it (getting on the court, that is) didn’t happen often.
* Anthony Randolph — Over/under on how many times Nellie gets him confused with Wright this season: 285.
* DeMarcus Nelson — The opposite of Alexis Ajinca; he got too jacked to play effectively. Word is he had sleeping quarters in Duke’s weight room.

PISTONS
* Arron Afflalo — Totally overshadowed by the emergence of Stuckey in their respective rookie seasons. With Jarvis Hayes having signed with the Nets, some PT could open up for Afflalo.
* Amir Johnson — Still waiting for him to begin realizing the potential everyone sees in him. Moving Rasheed Wallace would open up more time for Amir, but doesn’t necessarily make the Pistons better.
* Cheikh Samb — Last I checked he was no longer painfully skinny, having bulked up from 195 pounds to 230. So apparently he logged some time in the weight room when he wasn’t sitting behind the Pistons’ bench looking half-asleep.
* Rodney Stuckey — Could start for a few of NBA teams.
* Deron Washington — Add Deron to that VSL dunk contest.

NUGGETS
* Taurean Green — Given the Nuggets’ point guard situation, he could very well make the team in training camp.
* Dahntay Jones — They already have J.R. Smith to do the things Dahntay does.
* Chris Lofton — Tennessee star could catch on with a team looking for a shooter, but most likely ends up overseas.
* Sonny Weems — 2008 NCAA dunk champ will create some highlights.

MAVERICKS
* Shan Foster — 2008 NCAA Senior of the Year put up 20.3 ppg at Vanderbilt.
* Gerald Green — Hopefully he learned about the right work ethic (and how to dribble) in his time away from the League.
* Yaroslav Korolev — The #12 pick in the ‘05 Draft was one of the quickest busts ever.

CAVALIERS
* Romel Beck — Famously crossed up Kobe and stuck a J in his eye while playing for Mexico in the ‘07 FIBA Americas tourney.
* J.J. Hickson — Raw talent, but enough to take an on-the-cusp Cleveland team over the top? Do they have time to develop him when LeBron’s free agency is getting closer and closer?
* Dru Joyce — The point guard from LeBron’s high school team and one of his best friends growing up. Exhibit A of summer league nepotism.
* Romeo Travis — And here’s Exhibit B. Another of LeBron’s buddies from Akron and a high school teammate.
* Wayne Simien — As always the question is whether he can stay healthy.
* Robert “Tractor” Traylor — Can probably set a hell of a pick.