The point guard that was passed over sixty times just two weeks ago is back in action in just a few hours, and if his performance in college was any indication, the professional ranks may not have any idea of what is about to hit them.
Tonight, Scott Machado makes his debut for the Summer League team fielded by the Houston Rockets when he faces the Toronto Raptors' summer outfit in Las Vegas. The game will be televised on NBA TV at 6pm Eastern and will re-air at 1am for those of you unable to see it live. It will be Machado's first official action since leading Iona to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006, where the Gaels were defeated by Brigham Young. For the point guard who has spent seemingly a lifetime overcoming the critics, tonight represents yet another chance to do the same.
"I was very disappointed," Machado told Sean Brennan of the New York Daily News shortly after not hearing his name called in last month's NBA Draft. "I heard a bunch of stuff about where I might get drafted, but then nothing happened."
Upon conclusion of the draft, a handful of teams were immediately in touch with Machado's agent about signing the guard. Machado suddenly was able to pick his own destination as an undrafted free agent rather than be locked into a contract right away with a team that would have drafted him, and settled on Houston because there was, in his words, "opportunity there." Such opportunity became a reality when the Rockets lost incumbent point guard Goran Dragic to Phoenix in free agency, and followed it up by trading Kyle Lowry to Toronto before signing Jeremy Lin to an offer sheet that will almost certainly be matched by the New York Knicks.
Machado, who led the nation in assists last season with an average of nearly ten helpers per game, intends on making the most of his five-game tryout. "I know I can play at this level," he said, "and this will give me a chance to show teams what I can do. It's five games to show everybody what I can do, and I'm ready." Scott will wear No. 15 this week, a change from his standard No. 3 at Iona, and will have all three of Houston's first-round draft picks as teammates, as Jeremy Lamb, Royce White and Terrence Jones will be on the squad as well.
It is normally said that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but don't be surprised to see Scott Machado hit the jackpot this week in Sin City and hopefully cash out with an NBA contract.
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