Summer League

[George O'Brien]

East Valley Tribune

18 Players Invited to Summer Rookie Camp

By Matt Paulson
East Valley Tribune
June 30, 2006

The Suns will invite 18 players to next week's rookie camp — including a rehabbing Amaré Stoudemire — and will cut that group to 11 that will represent the team in the Las Vegas Summer League beginning July 7.

Former Arizona State player Tommy Smith (2000-03) and former Phoenix Brophy Prep star Nick Lewis (who played college ball at the University of San Diego) will be among the players vying for positions.

Also invited is 29-year-old Italian guard Massimo Bulleri, who plays for Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano. He was part of coach Mike D'Antoni's two Italian League championship teams with Bennetton Treviso (2001-02, ’02-03). Bulleri averaged 13.2 points a game last season and made over 41 percent of his 3-pointers.

I copied this over from the Sato thread.

This is from today's Caro article:

Nikoloz Tskitishvili was waived and picked up by Portland on Friday. Eddie House opted for free agency Friday, but both he and the Suns say he may return. Without them and Thomas, Phoenix has nine players under contract. That will give the members of Phoenix's Vegas Summer League team, especially Romain Sato, better shots at roster spots.

This suggests they have added him to the Las Vega roster.

 

[sunsfn]

I used to go watch these but they do not let people in anymore....bummer!

 

[George O'Brien]

I don't know exactly what the deal is with summer leagues, but I get the impression the Suns move to the Las Vegas league means they have more flexibility as to who they can play than the Rocky Mountain Review.

 

[Chaplin]

Summer League rosters won't be finalized until next week sometime, maybe Wednesday. We can't take 18 players to Vegas.

 

[George O'Brien]

Summer League rosters won't be finalized until next week sometime, maybe Wednesday. We can't take 18 players to Vegas.

11 is it.

With only 9 guys under contract, I'd think this is a place rookie free agents would flock to.

BTW, has anyone heard if Taj Gray has signed with anyone. I'm not sure he's got what it takes, but I love the idea of having a team with Raja and Taj at the same time.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Suns used to have their player workouts open to the public (twice a day), before going to the summer league and then a scrimmage before the summer league roster was chosen.

I attended nearly all of them and seen a lot of Suns players on their way up (or out).

This is when I really became an avid Suns fan. It was terrific. Those were good times.

I think it was about the time when Paul Westphal became the Suns coach it all changed and the public was not invited. If I recall correctly, Cotton enjoyed the public participation.

 

[sunsfn]

The Suns used to have their player workouts open to the public (twice a day), before going to the summer league and then a scrimmage before the summer league roster was chosen.

I attended nearly all of them and seen a lot of Suns players on their way up (or out).

This is when I really became an avid Suns fan. It was terrific. Those were good times.

I think it was about the time when Paul Westphal became the Suns coach it all changed and the public was not invited. If I recall correctly, Cotton enjoyed the public participation.

I was thinking the change came when they moved to the new place.?
Maybe it was before that.

We used to park on the side of the old purple palace and get autos and talk to the players before and after practice and workouts.
Fun times!

 

[JCSunsfan]

Westy had em too. I think it was Skiles that closed the door.

 

[DeAnna]

We're going to be in Vegas next weekend - so the games are not open to the public then? I would be cool to catch a game while there.

 

[Mainstreet]

Westy had em too. I think it was Skiles that closed the door.

You may be right. I'm not sure. I remember it occurred when there was a change in the head coach and the last time I attended regularly was at the old Veteran's Memorial Colosseum on McDowell Road.

I did attend some Nike type workouts at AWA, but it was not the Suns players preparing for summer league.

I'm going to date myself, but I even used to watch Coach MacLeod and the Suns team workout regularly at the small Jewish Community Center gym many years ago. You talk about an intimate setting, that was it. For some reason, Kyle Macy in particular sticks in my mind from those days and Coach MacLeod would even have his family show up.

These type situations really made Suns basketball personal.

 

[AmareFan]

I am headed up to Vegas to watch the Friday and Saturday games this upcoming weekend. Stoudemire is playing and I will tape all the games via my camcorder...I will post the clips upon my return. My wife and I are headed up there on Friday, booked rooms at Monte and will hit the games all day Friday and Saturday. I will keep everyone posted....let's hope Amare looks good. Let me know if any of you plan to attend. I would love to buy a fellow fan a beer or two.

 

[sunsfn]

We're going to be in Vegas next weekend - so the games are not open to the public then? I would be cool to catch a game while there.

DeAnna,
The vegas games are for the public to see. Not sure they charge.?

Let us know how they look.!

 

[Mainstreet]

I am headed up to Vegas to watch the Friday and Saturday games this upcoming weekend. Stoudemire is playing and I will tape all the games via my camcorder...I will post the clips upon my return. My wife and I are headed up there on Friday, booked rooms at Monte and will hit the games all day Friday and Saturday. I will keep everyone posted....let's hope Amare looks good. Let me know if any of you plan to attend. I would love to buy a fellow fan a beer or two.

Thanks.

 

[AmareFan]

DeAnna,
The vegas games are for the public to see. Not sure they charge.?

Let us know how they look.!

Games are open to the public, $22 bucks for the whole day....see the UNLV website for more details....my wife and I will be there both Friday and Saturday....then we will hit the club Rain on Sat night at the Palms....we will be wearing our STAT for MVP shirts on Fri and Sat.....the MVP campaign starts early this year!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DieHardFromMO]

11 is it.

With only 9 guys under contract, I'd think this is a place rookie free agents would flock to.

BTW, has anyone heard if Taj Gray has signed with anyone. I'm not sure he's got what it takes, but I love the idea of having a team with Raja and Taj at the same time.

Taj Gray is Sacramento bound.

 

[NastyOne]

I read somewhere that Maciej Lampe was also invited to our summer league, can anyone confirm this?

I rather him take a roster spot on our team than Eric Piatkowski.

Atleast Lampe still has some potential.

 

[sunsfn]

From todays paper.
---------------------------------

Other summer Suns include former Suns reserve Maciej Lampe, former Clippers point guard Lionel Chalmers, former Washington State shooting guard Jeff Varem, former Magic and Pacers forward Britton Johnsen, former Texas wing Chris Owens, former Arizona and New Mexico guard Ruben Douglas, former Washington swingman Tre Simmons and Valley products Tommy Smith and Nick Lewis.

 

[George O'Brien]

Lampe has not shown much so far, but I agree he's worth looking at.

My feeling is that Lampe has never been in top condition and isn't agressive enough. He's got the size and sweet shooting stroke to be an impact player in the Suns system, but did not show much drive when he was here before.

 

[Chaplin]

Official Summer Roster:

Massimo Bulleri G 6-2 188
Lionel Chalmers G 6-0 180
Greg Davis G 6-1 186
Ruben Douglas G 6-4 195
Adam Hess F 6-7 225
Britton Johnsen F 6-10 210
Dalron Johnson F 6-9 215
Maciej Lampe F/C 6-11 275
Nick Lewis F/C 6-10 235
Boris Mesnager F 6-7 235
Chris Owens F 6-7 245
Romain Sato G 6-5 205
Tre Simmons G 6-5 200
Tommy Smith F 6-10 215
Amaré Stoudemire F/C 6-10 245
Jeff Varem F 6-6 245
Guillaume Yango F/C 6-9 240

 

[Alan]

Official Summer Roster:

Massimo Bulleri G 6-2 188
Lionel Chalmers G 6-0 180
Greg Davis G 6-1 186
Ruben Douglas G 6-4 195
Adam Hess F 6-7 225
Britton Johnsen F 6-10 210
Dalron Johnson F 6-9 215
Maciej Lampe F/C 6-11 275
Nick Lewis F/C 6-10 235
Boris Mesnager F 6-7 235
Chris Owens F 6-7 245
Romain Sato G 6-5 205
Tre Simmons G 6-5 200
Tommy Smith F 6-10 215
Amaré Stoudemire F/C 6-10 245
Jeff Varem F 6-6 245
Guillaume Yango F/C 6-9 240

Somebody sticks out like a sore knee ...

 

[Amare32]

LOL Amare on summer league team? bet every other team is pissing their pants

 

[nowagimp]

LOL Amare on summer league team? bet every other team is pissing their pants

They will be pissing their pants when he shows the knee is well and he hasnt lost that first step. A few nasty dunks off the dribble should help them all lose their bladders.

 

[Chaplin]

One thing I've been noticing is the similarities between Sato and Barbosa. Barbosa is a better offensive player, and Sato the better defensive one. Both players have extremely long arms. Barbosa obviously is a little quicker, but if you put the two of them together in one body, you'd have a perfect guard.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Hey guys, I have been on vacation the past couple days. Lots of catching up to do!

Anyways, I am here in Vegas all week working at the games. As I hear / see things of interest I will try and post them.

For those interested - summer league costs 22 bucks a day (usually 5 games). You can call and register with them, then come for the entire thing for 100 bucks. (They doubled their prices from last summer)