Pelicans: 3 players have helped themselves the most in Summer League

The New Orleans Pelicans have just one Summer League game remaining but there have already been some standouts on their squad.

Summer League is the time to see the development of rookies and second-year guys who figure to be part of the rotation, guys like Dyson Daniels, Trey Murphy III and Naji Marshall, but it’s also the time for fringe players to make their cases for an NBA roster, as they are trying out for everyone, not just the team they are playing for.

Though none of these guys may end up playing for the Pelicans, there are three players who have made a case for themselves.

New Orleans Pelicans’ Summer League standouts

Deividas Sirvydis

Deividas Sirvydis is a third-year guy who has played some in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons and also with their G-League affiliate.

He is a wing with good size at 6-foot-8 who moves well without  the ball and can score from all over. If the game were only about offense, he’d already be on a roster, as he can flat-out shoot it for his size.

But unfortunately for him, defense matters and he can’t do that yet, but in a league dominated by elite shooting, he’s going to get a chance at some point, possibly for the Pelicans, who definitely need 3-point shooters.

Sirvydis has had two big shooting games in a row, knocking down 10-of-17 from long range.

John Petty Jr.

Petty Jr. is another guy trying to shoot his way onto the roster. He took 10 from long range in yesterday’s loss to the Lakers, knocking down four of them.

He has shot 37.5 percent overall from long range on six attempts per game, the kind of accuracy and volume that could get him a job if he shows he can do anything else.

We know the Pels like players from the South, especially from Alabama, so I wouldn’t rule Petty Jr. out after a pretty strong Summer League.

Tyrique Jones

Jones is not only a fun player to watch, as he soars above the rim for dunks and huge blocks, but he is a hard worker with the type of defensive mindset that fits the Pelicans’ culture.

He is also a mad man on the boards, grabbing 10 boards per game in Summer League, building on what he has done for his entire career.

I love these types of scrappy guys who have overcome adversity to get into the league and am really cheering for Jones to find a spot somewhere. Will his defense, rim running and rebounding be enough to get him there?