Vegas Summer League schedule released, Spurs open against Hawks
The NBA released the Las Vegas Summer League schedule today, noting that a record number of 24 teams will participate in the league and the San Antonio Spurs once again are one of them. The Vegas Summer League is an event many look forward too, mostly because, as the NBA noted in its release, it's rare to see any rookie skip out on it.
"Exciting games featuring the NBA's newest talent have always been a staple at NBA Summer League. Six of the last seven NBA Rookie of the Year Award winners have joined their teams in Las Vegas including: Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets, 2005-06), Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers, 2006-07), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City, 2007-08), Tyreke Evans (Sacramento, 2009-10), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers, 2010-11) and Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers 2011-12)."
The Vegas Summer League starts Friday, July 13th. The Spurs play their first game Sunday, July 15th "at" the Atlanta Hawks. They also play the LA Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks (full schedule listed below). That would be even an awesome preseason schedule, but it's a really boring summer league schedule because they aren't facing any of the top talent from this year's draft (or last year's). So the intriguing question is who will be on the Spurs' roster. Despite becoming the Spurs' starting small forward, I feel like Kawhi Leonard will play in Vegas mostly because it sounds like a very Kawhi Leonard thing to do. The rest of the team is wide open. I'd like to see Tiago Splitter play just to get as many reps with the Spurs offense as possible, but he'll be getting ready for the London Olympics. We should also know at that point if Danny Green and James Anderson will be added to the roster and if they are it would be good to see them participate. What about Erazem Lorbek? If he signs will the Spurs bring him in since Slovenia won't be competing for an Olympic spot? Will the Spurs find the next Gary Neal on their roster? These are the things to look out for in Vegas this summer.
San Antonio Spurs Summer League Schedule:
Sunday July 15
Cox Pavillion
3 PM – San Antonio vs. Atlanta (All times CST)
Tuesday July 17
COX Pavilion
Thomas & Mack Center
1:30 PM – San Antonio vs. LA Lakers
Wednesday July 18
COX Pavilion
5 PM – San Antonio vs. LA Clippers
Friday July 20
COX Pavilion
3 PM – Miami vs. San Antonio
Saturday July 21
COX Pavilion
1 PM – Dallas vs. San Antonio
Maybe by that time the Spurs have made the right thing to do, reloading and rebuilding. Hopefully the possible trade of Splitter to bring about drafting in the # 10 - 14 shall have been realized. Hopefully the Celtics shall have taken Green in exchange for draft # 21 or 22; hopefully Jackson by that time is traded in exchange for Terrence Ross?; hopefully by that time Blair is gone for a 2nd draft and hopefully Tony Wroten and Kyle O'Quinn have come on board, and Bonner amnestied.
@rtesoro440 The Splitter trade is an idea I had, but hasn't been floated anywhere past this site. The Spurs can't trade Green since he is a restricted free agent. Trading Stephen Jackson is tough because 90% of the league thinks only Pop can coach him, plus he was big for the Spurs in the playoffs and his expiring contract will give the Spurs cap space next summer.
