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By: Stephen Brotherston / HoopsWorld.com
After the draft and the trades, the most exciting summertime activity for the NBA fanatic is keeping up with all that goes on in the NBA's summer leagues. This year it looks like summer league activities will be restricted to Las Vegas and Orlando as the NBA has reported that "The Utah Jazz have cancelled this year's Rocky Mountain Revue summer league" and the idea of another summer league to be hosted by Chicago floated by Tim Grover, the host of the NBA Draft Combine, will not happen before next year.
Summer league rosters usually include a team's current draft picks and may include players already under contract that the team's coaches believe would benefit from playing, subject to the influence of player agents, contract issues, and injury concerns. The balance of the summer league roster is filled with this year's undrafted free agents, players from the development leagues, and sometimes even free agents trying to get back onto a NBA roster. There are always a lot of hopefuls looking for an invite to a NBA summer league team for a chance at an elusive invitation to training camp or just to be scouted by teams from the Euro leagues. Jason Fleming has identified an initial list undrafted free agents who have found a summer league team in Fridays' NBA PM.
Orlando Summer League
The 2010 NBA summer league activities will kick off with the Orlando Magic hosting the AirTran Airways Pro Summer League on July 5 at the RDV Sportsplex where eight teams will participate in a 20-game event over five days. A mere 11 days after the 2010 NBA Draft, members of the media will get to watch rosters representing the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic.
"Due to space limitations, the event is not open to the public and will be open only to the media and professional team/league personnel. Games will begin at 1 p.m. from July 5-8, and at 8 a.m. on July 9. Fans can follow the action, get box scores, game recaps and cumulative statistics by visiting www.orlandomagic.com. source: NBA.com
Unfortunately for the fans, five this year's top eleven draft picks will be playing in Orlando.
This event kicks off on Monday July 5 at 1 pm with all teams participating that day, but the game of the night will be Philadelphia vs. New Jersey at 7pm.
The 76ers headline this event with the second pick in the draft, shooting guard/small forward Evan Turner. The 6' 7" 214 lb junior from Ohio State averaged 20.4 points on 51.9 percent shooting, 9.2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks in his final college season and was literally Mr. Everything to his team, and everyone will be watching to see if can still do it here. If Turner is lucky, last year's rookie, point guard Jrue Holiday, will be asked to join him.
With the third pick in the draft, New Jersey selected Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors. This 18-year-old freshman is already 6' 10" 245 lbs and averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 2.1 blocks in college. With his long arms and excellent leaping ability, Favors has shown that he can make living under the basket at both ends of the floor. How he progresses in summer league should prove very interesting to watch.
The match-up for Turner could be small forward Damion James, acquired by Nets in a draft day trade. A senior from Texas, James is 6' 7" 225 lbs and averaged 18 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks last year. How Turner and James fair head-to-head should prove to be one of the better early tests.
New Jersey also has undrafted free agent center Brian Zoubek on their summer league roster. The 7' 1" senior from Duke's national championship team was a dominant per minute offensive rebounder.
On Wednesday July 7, there are two interesting match-ups, a contest between guards when Boston faces Charlotte at 1 pm, and a couple of small forwards face off when Indiana plays Utah at 7pm.
Charlotte without any pick in the draft will be featuring a couple of undrafted free agents from this year's draft, Sherron Collins and Mikhail Torrence. Collins, a 5' 11" point guard, was a senior from Kansas who had 18.9 points and 5.0 assists in his junior year, but a dip in production last season left him undrafted. Torrence, a senior from Alabama, is a 6' 5" combo guard who was on some mock draft boards late in the second round.
Boston selected guard Avery Bradley at 19 and it is assumed that the 6' 3" 180 lb freshman from Texas will need to find his game at the point in the NBA. Bradley is considered a defensive specialist and Collins provides a great summer league test of his abilities.
Also worth watching for Boston will be the play of 7' 268 lb center Artsiom Parakhouski. The senior from Radford put up 21.4 points and 13.4 rebounds in Big South play, but went undrafted. Watch for Parakhouski to eventually show up later in Las Vegas as well.
With the ninth pick in the draft, the Utah Jazz took 6' 8" Gordon Hayward. Hayward was the high basketball I.Q. small forward who led his Butler bulldogs to the NCAA Finals. How Hayward's heady college play translates in summer league is the first of many tests he will face this year. The Jazz's late second round pick Jeremy Evans, a 6' 9" 190 lb senior from Western Kentucky, is a long shot prospect, but he is athletic and can block shots.
Indiana used the tenth pick to select small forward Paul George. The 6' 9" Fresno State sophomore is known for his leaping ability and his athleticism. Indiana also took a 6' 5" shooting guard in 19-year-old Lance Stephenson from Cincinnati at 40.
Thursday July 8 at 1 pm will showcase a battle of the bigs between Orlando and Oklahoma.
The Orlando Magic selected Daniel Orton at 29 and Stanley Robinson at 59 as they went big in this year's draft. Orton is the 6' 10" 269 lb freshman center from Kentucky who backed-up the number 5 pick DeMarcus Cousins. After playing just 13 minutes per game for Kentucky, what Orton will do at the next level remains to be seen. The Connecticut senior Robinson is a 6'9" forward with a 37.5" vertical leap.
Oklahoma managed to trade up to grab Cole Aldrich at 11 and then managed another trade to acquire Tibor Pliess at 31. The Kansas junior Aldrich is a 6' 11" 236 lb center who averaged 3.5 blocks per game last year and Pliess is a 7' 20-year-old who has been playing in Europe.
Update from ESPN Boston:
"Bradley detailed how he injured his ankle June 13 while working out for Oklahoma City, which forced him to miss four workouts with other clubs. Bradley will require a scope on the ankle, and thus he will not play on the Celtics' summer league team."
Las Vegas Summer League
Everything changes for NBA fans at the Thomas & Mack Center and the COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
"NBA fans have the chance to get a sneak peek at the league's newest stars in an up close and family-friendly venue at NBA Summer League," said Gail Hunter, NBA Senior Vice President of Events and Attractions on NBA.com
The Las Vegas Summer League features between four and seven games each day, so there is a lot to keep up with, a total of 22 NBA teams will play a 58-game schedule that will tip off on Friday, July 9 at 1pm. In a TV schedule yet to be released, games will be available on NBATV, and tickets to the live event can be purchased for a modest $25 per day.
Participants in this event include the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and a NBA D-league select team.
Atlanta plays their first game on Monday July 12 at 7:30 pm against Memphis with later games against San Antonio, Milwaukee, NBA D-league, and Minnesota.
The Hawks traded their pick at 24 to obtain Jordan Crawford at 27. The 6' 4" sophomore from Xavier is a shooting guard who averaged 20.5 points on 46.2 percent shooting last season. Atlanta also has the 6' 11"undrafted free agent center from Saint Mary's, Omar Samhan, who averaged 21.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks last year.
Chicago starts on Tuesday July 13 at 1 pm against Denver with additional games against the LA Clippers, Cleveland, Sacramento, and Portland.
The Bulls have a trade pending that will send their draft pick Kevin Seraphin to the Wizards for cap relief, but Chicago has two undrafted free agents who will be on their summer league team. Matt Bouldin, a senior from Gonzaga, is a 6' 5" combo guard who averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4 assists last year, and Samardo Samuels, the sophomore from Louisville is a 6' 8" 240 lb big man.
Cleveland opens against the NBA D-league team on Tuesday July 13 at 3 pm and then plays Phoenix, Chicago, Miami, and Milwaukee. The Cavaliers traded away their first round pick in the Antawn Jamison deal. They'll need to find some bodies soon.
Dallas plays the initial game of the event against Denver at 1 pm on July 9 followed by games against Houston, Milwaukee, Washington, and Sacramento.
The Mavericks purchased pick number 25, Dominique Jones, a 6' 5" shooting guard who averaged over 21 points per game for South Florida as a junior last season. They are also considering undrafted free agent Jeremy Lin, a 6' 4" senior from Harvard who averaged 16.4 points last year.
The Denver Nuggets kick off the event against Dallas before playing the LA Lakers, New York, Chicago, and Houston. Denver had no picks in this year's draft; perhaps last year's pick Ty Lawson will represent the Nuggets?
Detroit plays the LA Lakers on Friday July 9 at 5 pm followed by Golden State, Sacramento, Miami, and New York.
The Pistons got Georgetown sophomore Greg Monroe with the seventh pick. The 6' 11" 247 lb center averaged 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks for the Hoyas last year. The Pistons also have Terrico White from pick 36. White is a 6' 5" guard who averaged 15 points as a sophomore for Mississippi.
Golden State starts Friday July 9 at 7 pm against New Orleans, and then they play Detroit, Washington, Miami, and Phoenix.
At pick number 6, the Warriors added 6' 10" big man Ekpe Udoh, the 23-year-old junior from Baylor averaged 9.8 boards and 3.7 blocks last year. They have also added undrafted free agent Jeremy Wise, a 6' 2" guard, and 24-year-old junior from Southern Mississippi who averaged 16.6 points and 5.1 assists.
Houston plays Phoenix on July 9 at 3 pm and then faces Dallas, Portland, Toronto, and Denver.
The Rockets have the number 14 pick Patrick Patterson, a 6' 9" 240 lb junior from Kentucky. Considered a "glue-guy" Patterson personal statics dropped from his sophomore season as his team added significantly more talent last year.
Los Angeles Clippers start play on July 12 at 7 pm against Washington, and then play Chicago, Portland, San Antonio, and the NBA D-league.
At pick number 8, the Clippers landed the 6' 8" small forward Al-Farouq Aminu, the sophomore from Wake Forest averaged a rare double-double with 15.8 points and 10.7 boards. Then they acquired freshman point guard from Kentucky, Eric Bledsoe who had been drafted at 18 by the Thunder, for cash.
Joining the Clippers this summer will be undrafted free agent Vermont senior Marqus Blakely. A 6' 5" forward, Blakely averaged 17.3 points, 9.3 boards, and 1.9 blocks last season.
It has been reported that last year's first overall pick, Blake Griffin will not be participating in summer league play.
Los Angeles Lakers open on Friday July 9 at 5 pm against Detroit and then face Denver, New York, Sacramento, and San Antonio.
Without a first round pick, the Lakers picked up a first round talent in sophomore Devin Ebanks at 43. This 6' 8" small forward from West Virginia averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds. Then the Lakers grabbed a junior from Utep at 58; Derrick Caracter is a 6' 9" big man that averaged 14 points and 8 boards.
Memphis starts on Monday July 12 at 7 pm against Atlanta before facing Milwaukee, Minnesota, Portland, and San Antonio.
The Grizzlies kept a couple of first round picks; at 12, the Kansas freshman Xavier Henry, and at 28, the Maryland senior, Greivis Vasquez. Henry is a 6' 6" athletic, long-armed wing player who can defend and Vasquez is a 6' 6" guard who averaged nearly 20 points per game.
Miami faces New Orleans on Sunday July 11 at 7pm before playing Golden state, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland.
The Heat has almost no players left on their roster, but they did pick up three second round picks. A 6' 11" 300 lb center, Texas senior, Dexter Pittman, a 6' 10" power forward, Mississippi State senior Jarvis Varnado, and a 6' 7" forward, West Virginia senior Da'Sean Butler.
Milwaukee opens on Monday July 12 at 5pm against Dallas and then plays Memphis, Atlanta, Miami, and Cleveland.
At 15 the Bucks drafted 6' 10" power forward Larry Sanders. This junior averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks at Virginia Commonwealth University last year. The Bucks have four picks from this draft, but watch for the 6' 9" 300 lb Keith "Tiny" Gallon to do something in summer league.
Minnesota starts Monday July 12 at 3:30 pm against San Antonio before playing Sacramento, Memphis, Portland, and Atlanta.
The Timberwolves have the number 4 pick Wesley Johnson and the number 30 pick Lazar Haywood. A junior from Syracuse, the athletic 6' 7" Johnson does everything well and should dominate summer league play. Haywood, a Marquette senior, is a 6' 6" small forward who averaged 18 points and 1.9 steals last year.
New Orleans starts opening day July 9 at 7 pm against Golden State and then plays Miami, Portland, Washington, and Toronto.
The Hornets have two first round picks; at 21, the junior from Iowa State Craig Brackins, and at 26, the senior from Washington Quincy Pondexter. Brackins is a 6' 10" power forward with a 35" vertical leap and Pondexter is a 6' 6" small forward who scored 19.3 points per game on 52.8 percent shooting last year.
New York opens against Denver on Sunday July 11 at 1 pm before facing the Lakers, Toronto, Detroit, and Washington.
The Knicks don't have many players left on their roster, but they picked up a pair of suspects with back-to-back picks in the second round. Andy Rautins, the Syracuse senior is a 6' 5" shooting guard and the 6' 7" Stanford senior Landry Fields.
Phoenix plays opening day July 9 at 3 pm against Houston and then plays Toronto, the NBA D-league, Cleveland, and Golden State.
The cash-conscious Suns have a couple of second round picks; Gani Lawal is a 6' 9" junior from Georgia Tech, and Dwayne Collins is a 6' 8" senior from Miami.
Portland starts off against Houston on Sunday July 11 at 3 pm before playing New Orleans, the Clippers, Minnesota, and Chicago.
Trail Blazers feature draft picks at 16, 22, and 34 who will be worth watching this summer. Thought to be a possible top 10 pick, the 6' 8.75"small forward and Nevada sophomore Luke Babbitt scored 21.9 points per game last season. At pick 22, Elliot Williams, a Memphis sophomore, is a 6' 4" shooting guard who averaged almost 18 points per game, and at pick 34, the Nevada junior Armon Johnson is a 6' 3" guard with a 6' 8" wingspan and a 38.5" vertical leap.
Sacramento opens against Detroit at 3 pm on Monday July 12 before playing the Lakers, Minnesota, Toronto, Chicago, and Dallas.
The Kings will feature the fifth pick in the draft, freshman DeMarcus Cousins from Kentucky. This 6' 11" 292 lb center has a 7' 5.75" wingspan and averaged 15.1 points, 9.8 boards, a steal, and 1.8 blocks in just 23.5 minutes. The Kings second round pick Hassan Whiteside was projected by many to go in the first round. This 6' 11.5" big man with a 7' 7" wingspan blocked 5.4 shots per game as a freshman at Marshall.
The Kings also have a couple of undrafted free agents ready to go; Tennessee senior Wayne Chism and Virginia sophomore Sylven Landesberg.
San Antonio starts on Monday July 12 at 3:30 pm against Minnesota and then plays Atlanta, the Lakers, Clippers, and Memphis.
The Spurs drafted Oklahoma State junior James Anderson at 20, and the 6' 6" wing player averaged an impressive 22.3 points per game last year. Also available will be the 19-year-old 6' 11.75" Ryan Richards from Kalise Gran Canaria who is a virtual unknown in North America.
Toronto gets under way against Phoenix on Saturday July 10 at 1 pm and then faces Houston, New York, Sacramento, and New Orleans.
The Raptors obtained the North Carolina sophomore Ed Davis at 13, and the 6' 10" power forward has a 7' wingspan and a 36" vertical leap. Last season, he averaged 12.9 points, 9.2 boards, and 2.7 blocks for the Tar Heels. The Raptors purchased the rights to the 7' 1" Florida State sophomore Solomon Alabi from Dallas. The recent tweets box on Draftexpress.com explains why we should be watching this prospect.
"My man Masai Ujiri made a trade and got his boy Solomon Alabi sent to him in Toronto. I bet he's gonna spit blood for them in training camp. 2010-06-24 22:52:00"
Washington Opens Sunday July 11 at 5 pm against Golden State before playing the Clippers, Dallas, New Orleans, and New York.
With the first pick in the 2010 NBA draft, the Wizards selected Kentucky freshman point guard John Wall. Sure to be the most followed player in summer league, the 6' 4" point guard with a 6' 9" wingspan and a 39" vertical leap averaged 16.6 points, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals last season.
The Wizards have three more draft picks to bring to Las Vegas but it's the undrafted free agent senior Jon Scheyer from the National Championship Duke team that beat Kentucky last year who adds the most interest. The 6' 6" shooting guard scored 18 points per game last season.
Be sure to check out the full NBA Summer League schedule at NBA.com
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