Baylor forward Perry Jones III could be the steal of the 2012 NBA draft. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones III gave a sneak preview of what they could do at the pro level with solid first games at the Orlando Summer League.

Jones, the 28th overall selection in the 2012 NBA draft, looked very comfortable at power forward for Oklahoma City’s summer league squad that also featured Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward, and Reggie Jackson. PJ3 hit the floor running — literally. He scored 16 points, making four of his first eight shots, and even knocked down a 3-pointer from the wing. He ran the floor well, set good screens, played within himself and didn’t force anything. He looked like a NBA starter, and easily the best player on the court.

When the Thunder selected Jones late in the first round many experts immediately pointed out that the former Baylor star could be the steal of the draft. After watching PJ3 hit face-up jumpers, grab rebounds in traffic, and handle the ball on the break, it’s hard to fathom how this 6-foot-11, 222-pound talent could fall that low in the draft. The Thunder are extremely grateful he did.

The other player who had a disappointing draft was Sullinger. The former Ohio State standout wasn’t even invited to New York to sit with his peers and then the night got worse when he dropped to the No. 21 spot in the first round.

Sullinger and Jones were matched up a few times in Monday’s OKC-Boston summer league action, each winning some battles. We already know about Sullinger’s power game inside, but he also showed an ability to get to absorb contact and get to the free throw line and make free throws. He was 7-for-7 from the line and finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. The Celtics won 73-65.

“I can play. I can handle the ball, I can shoot the ball, I can pass the ball. Everybody thinks I’m overweight. I just want to prove people wrong,” said Sullinger, who has hired a personal chef and reportedly shed 15 pounds since his last college game. He is listed at 266 pounds, but appears to be in decent shape for his first pro game.

Aside from the weight issues, one big question scouts had about Sullinger is how he’ll be able to shoot over length. Sullinger says he can hit the face-up 18-20 footer, and he showed that ability against Jones and the Thunder Monday. He even buried a 3-pointer from the wing just prove to everyone he can extend his range. The face-up midrange shot is a big part of Boston’s offense, so if Sullinger wants to earn minutes behind Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass he’ll need to consistently make that shot.  If he continues to progress he could fill the Glen “Big Baby” Davis role for the Celtics.

Another rookie who had a solid debut was Andrew Nicholson of the Orlando Magic. The 19th overall selection out of St. Bonaventure had 24 points on 8-of-16 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets.

Turner’s Philadelphia 76ers and Favors’ New Jersey Nets anchored the first day of the 2010 NBA Summer Pro League season as the featured game at Orlando’s RDV Sportsplex Center on Monday, mainly because the game boasted two of the first five selections in last June’s NBA Draft.

Turner, the second overall pick, finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, but was just 2-for-5 from the field. Favors, the third overall selection, made just two of his eight shot attempts and finished with eight points. He did grab nine rebounds and had two blocked shots in a losing effort. The Sixers won, 84-74.

“It was just a learning experience, learning all the NBA rules,” Favors told NBATV’s Steve Smith. Favors, who played only one season at Georgia Tech, also struggled with the way the game was being officiated as the 18-year-old power forward was called for seven personal fouls. No player can foul out in the summer league.

Favors, listed at 6-foot-9 and 246 pounds, looked strong at times but also looked tentative. He is not an explosive leaper, so he gobbled up most of his rebounds on sheer upper body strength. He definitely has a long ways to go, especially on offense, but he should thrive under new Nets coach Avery Johnson, who knows how to develop young players.

Turner started off slow and didn’t make his first field goal until very late in the second quarter. He was just 1-for-4 from the field and had four points and four fouls in the first half, playing mostly at the shooting guard.

“I thought I did all right. [Playing shooting guard] is something I have to get used to,” said the Ohio State first-team All-American. “My first couple of years in college I was off the ball. Last year, I was on the ball so I just have to learn on how to read things.”

Turner showed flashes of brilliance, especially when he was given space near the free throw line. He got the majority of his points at the free throw line, where he was a perfect 8-for-8, and did not shy away from contact. At 6-7 and 210, Turner used his size and strength to get to the rim against shooting guards, and took the small forwards off the dribble, displaying a nice spin move.

The Sixers made a strong run in the fourth quarter when they went with a smaller lineup with Turner at small forward. He made a nice end-to-end play in the fourth quarter when he grabbed a rebound, went behind his back twice before finishing with his left hand over two defenders to tie the game at 64.

“As the game worn on, I got a little bit more comfortable. It’s fun out there after a while,” said Turner, who deferred to last year’s first-round pick, Jrue Holiday, to do most of the ball-handling.

Holiday was easily the Sixers’ best player on the floor, as he finished with a game-high 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting. The former UCLA standout has greatly improved his handles, and his game-high eight assists showed new Sixers coach Doug Collins, who was in attendance, that he is capable of playing point guard full time.

Second-year pro Terrence Williams led the Nets with 23 points, including two powerful dunks.