Cedric Jackson battling for NBA attention

Image: Zimbio

CEDRIC Jackson has landed himself a spot on the Miami Heat Summer League roster. At 27, it might be his last chance to crack the NBA having dabbled in short experiences in the past.

The ANBL MVP faces tough competition from teammates and opponents, but the positive could be the fact Miami only carried two active PG's (Chalmers and Cole) into last year playoffs and do have a roster space.

During Summer League he could see minutes against: Utah's Trey Burke, Brooklyn's Tyshawn Taylor, Detroit's Peyton Siva or Orlando's A.J Slaughter (who spent last year playing Cholet Basket in the French league)

Orlando's Victor Oladipo and Detroit's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will also appear in their first NBA action against Jackson's Heat.

Jackson's Miami schedule in Summer League, Orlando (NZ times)

vs Utah - Monday 8th, 5am
vs Brooklyn - Tuesday 9th, 9am
vs Orlando - Wednesday 10th, 9am
vs Detroit - Friday, 7am
Games can be watched live or On Demand via NBA.com (an account costs NZD $19.30)

Jackson's biggest fight could be making a statement on his own team, though. Highly-rated Texas PG Myck Kabongo went undrafted in a twist that had some draft experts confused.

I'm still surprised that Myck Kabongo went undrafted. He has so much talent. In a few years, we might look back on that and laugh.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 28, 2013

Considered a potential first round pick after the 2012 season, Kabongo was suspended for 23 games last season for accepting impermissible benefits and then providing false statements about the situation.

Kabongo is a quick guard with a great first step that can leave defenders reeling. He can penetrate the lane and does well to find open teammates. He's a pass-first PG, but that might be because he lacks a jump shot. He can dictate the speed of a game, but sometimes can be guilty of trying to do to much himself.

Kabongo is friends with LeBron James (from sharing agent Rich Paul) and many believe that's the reason Miami picked him up for SL.

UNLV undrafted senior Anthony Marshall has also signed onto the Miami Heat's Summer League team (although for the later Las Vegas tournament it appears). Marshall likes to attack the basket and is athletic enough to compete in the NBA, but the left-hander has received criticism for his slow jump shot.

We'll continue to post updates on Jackson's Summer League as progress happens.