Summer Pro League Gets a Boost From the Lottery

To answer your question: No, LeBron James will not be there.

The 34th annual Summer Pro League, a prelude to the pro game for recent draft picks and an opportunity to chase fleeting fantasies for fringe free agents, begins a two-week run today at the Pyramid at Long Beach State.

Among the NBA teams participating (Clippers, Grizzlies, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Raptors, Rockets, SuperSonics and Warriors), the Lakers play first, tipping off today against the Canadian National team at 3 p.m. Expect to see the team’s draft picks, Illinois’ Brian Cook and Arizona’s Luke Walton, as well as second-year player Kareem Rush.

The Lakers aside, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, who averaged 22 points in leading Syracuse to a national championship as a freshman before being selected third in the draft, will be a premier attraction.

Cleveland, which drafted James first, and Detroit, which selected Darko Milicic second, do not send teams to Long Beach.

League organizers expect lottery picks Chris Bosh (picked fourth by Toronto), Chris Kaman (sixth by the Clippers), Mickael Pietrus (11th by Golden State) and Nick Collison (12th by Seattle) to play. Luke Ridnour, picked 14th by the Seattle, might play, although he reportedly is slowed because of a fracture of his pelvic bone.

The Pro Summer League also fields a free-agent division. The SFX team is expected to include former UCLA Bruins Earl Watson, Ed O’Bannon, Charles O’Bannon, Matt Barnes and Darrick Martin.

“[The players] realize there is no tomorrow because there really isn’t,” former Laker A.C. Green said Thursday, overseeing a workout of free agents. “There are no 10-year contracts for these guys. Only five-minute contracts.”

NBA TV holds rights to eight games, two apiece Wednesday and Thursday and four on Friday. Telecasts include Lakers-Warriors and Clippers-Raptors on Wednesday, Clippers-Warriors and Lakers-Rockets on Friday.

League president John Younesi expects scouts from about 60 countries to come through Long Beach during the league’s run.

“They love American players in other countries,” Younesi said. “They have skills they don’t often see over there, like the ability to really jump out of the gym. And, instead of working in fast food restaurants or car washes, [players] can go abroad and fulfill their dreams.”

The games at the Pyramid begin the first of four NBA summer leagues.

The Magic will play host to the six-team Pepsi Pro Summer League, Tuesday through Saturday at two Orlando, Fla., sites. Other teams entered are the Cavaliers, Pistons, Timberwolves, Heat and Bucks.

The 10-team Pro Summer League at the University of Massachusetts runs July 14 through 20. James and the Cavaliers highlight that event, joined by the Bucks, Celtics, Hawks, Knicks, Mavericks, Nets, Spurs, Wizards and 76ers.

Utah’s Rocky Mountain Revue at Salt Lake Community College begins on July 18 and features the Jazz, Bulls, Knicks, Mavericks, Nuggets, Spurs, Suns, Trail Blazers and a combined Pacer-76er squad.