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• Lawyer Michael McCann (of Sports Law Blog and Sports Illustrated) has published a draft of a fairly lengthy paper examining Judge Sonia Sotamayor and her record in sports law. McCann was on the legal team that represented Maurice Clarett when he sued to join the NFL. There is an interesting prediction in the paper: "In the near future, the NBA eligibility restriction is poised to trigger a 'Clarett-like' case, which could culminate in a Supreme Court review of professional sports eligibility rules ..." McCann continues that, had he not elected instead to go to Kentucky, John Wall would have been a candidate to file such a lawsuit: "Consider, for instance, North Carolina native John Wall, the nation's top-rated basketball prospect in 2009. During the spring of 2009, Wall, a fifth-year high school student, contemplated declaring for the 2009 draft. Had he done so, the NBA could have rejected the declaration on grounds that Wall had failed to satisfy the eligibility rule. Wall had met the 19-year-old age requirement, but due to assorted transfers between high schools, there was confusion as to when he 'would have graduated' from high school. Although some projected that he would have been among the first five players selected in the 2009 draft -- which would have meant securing a guaranteed contract worth at least $7.7 million over three years -- Wall instead accepted a scholarship to play at the University of Kentucky. His decision removed the possibility of a potential challenge to the eligibility rule, but revealed the type of fact-pattern that could induce such a challenge." Also interesting from the paper: The Collective Bargaining Agreement has nothing to say about players with G.E.D.s. In theory, a player could get the equivalent of a high-school diploma and a year later make a case they're NBA eligible.
• And as long as we're considering the merits of more or less insisting top players go to college, Basketbawful's Matt McHale continues his amazing series (names and identifying stuff mostly changed) on being the college roommate of an elite NCAA basketball player. A typical passage includes talk of McHale meeting with dorm honchos, trying to get assigned to a different room:  "I spilled my guts. I talked about the booze, the occasional drug use, the fact that he slept with a different woman every night. I told Chad that Mat never went to class, that he stayed up all night, that he ignored me when I asked for compromise. I didn't want to get Mat in trouble. I didn't want revenge. All I wanted was a new room assignment. And I really figured that what I told Chad would seal the deal ... and maybe even get Mat kicked out (even though I didn't want that to happen, if only so that I could avoid his wrath). 'Matt, there's something you need to understand,' Chad said. 'Student athletes are special people. They're under a tremendous amount of stress. It isn't easy balancing school work and classes and all their responsibilities to the team. We have to be patient with them, and very understanding. We have to make special allowances for them because student athletes make our lives better. They represent the university. They give of their bodies and minds so we can feel happy and excited about our teams. Don't you think that the least you can do in repayment is give Mat a little of that patience and understanding I was talking about?'"
• A little behind-the-scenes footage of Ron Artest's first visit to the Laker practice facility and corporate offices. He asks for a bunch of Artest jerseys, presumably for his friends, and there is talk he may have to pay for them.
• A tale of witnessing William Wesley introducing high-school junior LeBron James to Michael Jordan, who was reportedly there to sway James to sign with Nike.
• The game of chicken going on between Lamar Odom and the Lakers.
• Headed back to Greece: Josh Childress.
• John Hollinger (Insider) on Otis Smith's fancy footwork: By making Dallas believe that they wouldn't match the offer for Gortat, they were able to throw the Mavs off the scent of [Brandon] Bass. At the time, the Mavs were thinking letting Bass go to the Magic would eliminate any chance of losing Gortat. Here's what The Dallas Morning News reported at the time: 'The Mavericks stepped aside in negotiations for Bass, allowing him to sign with the Magic. His presence with the Magic virtually guarantees that Marcin Gortat will be a Maverick. He signed an offer sheet … and Orlando has until next week to match the offer … The Mavericks are no longer worried about that possibility.' Psych! This is Lucy pulling the football out from Charlie Brown, folks. Orlando created the impression that it was going to let Gortat leave, the Mavs fell for it hook, line and sinker, and as a result the Magic got to sign the player they coveted at power forward (Bass), in addition to keeping Gortat like they always knew they would."
• Kevin Arnovitz of Clipperblog on the idea of Allen Iverson as a Clipper: "The Clippers could conceivably plug him in as their backup point guard, run him out there with the second unit for 25 minutes a night, and have a potent starter when Baron Davis is afflicted with whatever it is that afflicts Baron Davis."
• Antoine Walker used to follow in Charles Barkley's footsteps as an apparently overweight guy who managed to produce in the NBA. Now he's following in his footsteps as somebody with a very public six-figure debt to a Las Vegas casino. The only difference is that Walker's debt comes with an arrest warrant.
  
• Oklahoman writer Darnell Mayberry tweets: "Kevin Durant: 'I'm not leaving Oklahoma. What ya'll keep asking me for?'" (Via Daily Thunder)
• Conan O'Brien's show, with the videotape of LeBron James getting dunked on in a pickup game. The best part is when he says "hey, we've got more interns."

• Memphis owner Michael Heisley tells 3 Shades of Blue about his team's decision to pick Hasheem Thabeet over Ricky Rubio: "So when we finally got together the last week or so and started going over everything we began to lean more and more toward Thabeet and away from Rubio. We think both of them will be great players. It really got down to, from our point of view, where we felt we needed the help the most. Now you normally don't try to draft for position unless it is a pretty even toss up between which ones you want. I would say that as we got closer and we felt it was a pretty even toss up and we leaned toward Thabeet, that the more we got into it but we sent four people, I believe it was four people, over to Spain to watch Rubio that last series personally that Rubio played in the Spanish league. We had our international guy, who's seen him play almost every game, come in and even he started swing toward Thabeet so it was unanimous. Everybody wanted Thabeet ahead of Rubio so that is how it came out. I loved all the comments I am getting because the point is, and I would ask some people -- that will remain nameless -- I asked if they had seen Rubio play? How many games have you seen? How many tapes have you watched? The answer? Virtually none! [They would say] I do remember the Olympics. Well their recollection of what happened in that Olympic game is extremely faulty. So quite bluntly I think everyone including newspaper reporters, fans, everybody should be voicing their opinions at the draft time. I think it is healthy. It is great support but in the end we have to make the choice based on the professionals that are spending a big portion of their lives doing nothing but looking at these players."
• In a bad economy, cash is king. NBA Summer League in Las Vegas starts tomorrow, and unlike years' past, you can't watch for free online. It's $14.99 to see the 55 games.
• Jason Kidd says he took the idea of playing in New York seriously. And he says he has never been dunked on.
• Last summer the Nuggets lost Marcus Camby and nevertheless managed to dramatically improve. This summer, they're going to see how much better they can get losing Dahntay Jones.
• Here's Ron Artest on video on WorldStarHipHop.com, saying some memorable things. For instance, he can't help but demonstrate some of that motivates him when he says he's "one of the most interesting guys in the league with the least amount of endorsements." He says that early in his career, "nobody else had a chance against Kobe except Ron Artest." In crunch time he won't have conflicted priorities: "That's simple: Get the ball to Kobe." And there's a funny line about his agent telling him to stop Tweeting insider secrets, because it was hurting his ability to get a good new contract. Artest says his response was basically: Yeah, but look at how many new Twitter followers I'm getting! And did you realize his new number has the potential for special meaning? The reverse of his 37 would be, as has been discussed, Dennis Rodman's number with the Lakers -- but also a new record number of wins for an NBA team in a regular season, topping the Bulls' 72-10 record.
• Smart thoughts about how Allen Iverson would help or hurt the Bobcats. Believe it or not, he would be the team's fifth most efficient scorer.
• Tim Varner of 48 Minutes of Hell: "Antonio McDyess is the best big to flank Tim Duncan since David Robinson. That's not hyperbole."
• The new salary cap numbers contain hard lessons for Warrior fans. They could get Amare Stoudemire, have him opt out next summer, and still not have cap room to sign somebody.
• Liveblogging the press conference introducing the new head coach in Detroit, where John Kuester jokes that his wife said he was her sixth choice, too.

David Thorpe's Day 3 insights from courtside at the Orlando Pro Summer League (which you can also follow on Twitter).

His Day 1 coverage is here, Day 2 is here, and here's a preview, a schedule and results, and the address where you can watch the games for free online.

• I have to go home to see my family. Sorry to cut this short. Tune in Friday for Vegas action.
• I see Bill Walker make amazingly athletic plays. On offense.
  Westbrook could be a very skinny guy. He's not. That should be a lesson to other guys with similar builds.
• Good defense always starts with great starting positions, both individually and with all 5 guys. The Thunder, collectively, get that.
• I think they struggle most with when to call blocking falls on bigs who aggressively hedge ballscreens.
• Fans think the block/charge call is the hardest to make. Refs say officiating the post is toughest. Know what I think?
• Swift and Fazekas just can't move.
• The Celtics, in season, give clinics with their big men showing and recovering on screens. This week, not.
• Livingston can be terrific on defense. He was for LA.
• Hudson has been a steals leader in college for 2 years. It's because he hounds the hell out of the ballhandler. I love that.
• Swift deserves credit-he's worked hard at building up his body.
• Westbrook always has to be accounted for on the offensive glass. Lester Hudson must not have been keeping track of my rookie reports.
• Shaun Livingston is back. He's playing every other day since they are playing in Vegas too.
• Robert Swift does not.
• Westbrook has a chance to be a all-defenive team guy.
• OK city vs. Celtics.
• I think Hibbert can be a starter for a good team if only he could move better in tight spaces. I'd try anything I were him to get quicker.
• Especially if Roy could only eat what he catches.
• Remember how Mickey had Rocky chasing chickens to prepare for Apollo's speed? I'd do that with Hibbert. His nimbleness would improve a ton.
• Izzo is a genius because he helped Suton look terrific. He needs Izzo now. He is a scrappy guy though.
• Hansbrough is tough to guard on the perimeter, if pressured. He takes big steps and eats up space fast. At the rim sooner than you'd think.
• I like seeing Hibbert extend his defense when necessary, but I know why he likes to stay inside. He is a formiddable presence.
• Suton has a lot of holes in his game. Izzo is a genius.
• Hansbrough is simply too anchored to the floor to be a good rebounder. But he can train to get better at being a "quick jumper".
• Eric Maynor, like most guards, keeps his hands too low when defending the ball. He'd be more of a pest with hands wide. Deflections!!
• Tyler just got a steal off a post denial. Smart!
• Josh Duncan is such a solid defender.
• Derek Brown has the ability to be a great help blocker. Think Josh Smith (lite version).
• But I don't think he knows that yet.
• It will be interesting to see if NBA players will foul Hansbrough often as a rookie. He's a foul magnet, but will he be as a rookie?
• Maynor just learned a big nba lesson; "drivers must always account for shot blockers". And Hibbert is the blocker in this equation.
• Hibbert is moving better, without doubt. He has to keep "valuing" that, and not just focus on skill.
• Hansbrough plays behind his man in the post. Poor decision now. Worse during the season, unless it's part of a bigger plan.
• Hibbert would be an immeasurably better defender if he would work on sliding faster on d. I think he can get better there.
• So it's not going to be a good "tweet" day for Goran Suton.
• Today is all about defense and rebounding. Hope it's not boring.
  

• Phil Jackson on Ron Artest's campaign to join the Lakers, which began in the showers more than a year ago, where Artest went to find Kobe Bryant to tell him he could help his team. And another Ron Artest video diary (with a little PG013 language near the end).
• A reaction to "hot hand" research, showing shooting is essentially random, from James Kwak on Baseline Scenario: "When it comes to stock prices, there is a very persuasive theory of why you can't beat the market consistently; beating the market requires information, and if you have the information, then the people you are trading with already have that information, too. When it comes to basketball, it strains belief to think that your ability to shoot the ball is a constant, day after day, play after play, all the time. For one thing, sometimes you are tired, or sick (and few of us can replicate Michael Jordan's 'flu game'), or injured, or distracted; the idea that this wouldn't affect your shooting seems preposterous. If your actual field goal attempts end up looking like random patterns, then I think that's more likely a result of the complex and un-modelable way in which you, your team, and the other team adapt to each other."
• Rodney Stuckey tries on the idea of Avery Johnson as Pistons coach, as has been rumored.
• The best moments of the past NBA season. A puke makes the list.
• In the early going from Orlando Summer League, Indiana's Josh McRoberts has a beard, a huge dunk, and a behind-the-back dribble. (As for the dunk, one of the commentators on OrlandoMagic.com says: "He's been saving that up his whole life!") Marreese Speights is killing.
• When you think about Rasheed Wallace playing Big Baby's minutes in Celtic green, two main thoughts come to mind for me: Big Baby's two-pointers could be Wallace's 3-pointers, and he's a better defender.
• What does Portland do now that they don't have Hedo Turkoglu? My main hope, as a Blazer fan, is that they don't spend the money just to spend the money. Rather have the cap space for lop-sided trades at the deadline.

It has been three weeks since we had NBA basketball to watch, and in a certain sense (does Michael Sweetney count?) it's back today. At 3 p.m. Eastern you can start watching the Orlando Pro Summer League for free online. Schedule and results, when available, are here.

Here is a quick an unscientific run-down of the teams and a few notable players:

Boston Celtics

• Coby Karl George Karl's son, trying again to stick in the NBA.
• Bill Walker Once one of the most gifted players in the nation, batting a reputation as injury-prone and emotional.
• Gabe Pruitt He has been a regular-season Celtic for some time, but never seems to have earned Doc Rivers' trust as a backup guard.

It has been three months since Tyler Hansbrough played competitively. It ended well last time. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Sport)

Indiana Pacers

• Tyler Hansbrough His first chance to show what he can do on the court, after all the talk of "doubters" surrounding the draft.
  
• Roy Hibbert He started for half the season in the NBA. This is his chance to show if he can continue to add skill and polish.
• Brandon Rush His family produces a lot of elite basketball players, including Kareem and JaRon. Brandon helped Kansas to a national title, and has the potential to become a 6-6 athlete who can shoot the NBA 3.

New Jersey Nets/Philadelphia 76ers (combined team)

• Chris Douglas-Roberts Everyone's favorite feisty forward, and Derrick Rose's former college teammate, has a lot to prove, and this is his chance.
• Jrue Holiday Widely seen as one of the best point guards in the draft, Holiday fell out of the lottery on word of a shoulder injury. He also played out of position in college -- so he probably feels ready to surprise some people with his skils.
• Dionte Christmas One of those players you have to root for, Christmas did not get drafted and is trying to make an NBA team.
• Marreese Speights Speights is very effective offensively against regular season competition, and could do a ton of damage here.
  

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Russell Westbrook He's a fantastic NBA player who needs no introduction. I imagine he's here because his shooting percentage is low, and this might be a chance to work on ways to get it higher.
• James Harden The Thunder are counting on great things from their lottery pick.
  
• Serge Ibaka Many articles have been written about the Thunder's many young players with potential. Most forget to mention the African big man who has been playing in Europe. He gets a chance to make an American name for himself this week.
• Shaun Livingston The former lottery pick who played well for the Thunder last year gets to continue re-inventing himself after a devestating knee injury while playing for the Clippers.

Orlando Magic

• Ryan Anderson Until recently, he was always referred to as a talented Nets big man with potential, but he got a new uniform in the Vince Carter trade.
• Jeremy Pargo Jannero's little brother, who made a name for himself at Gonzaga, gets to try his hand playing against NBA talent.
• C.J. Giles Giles has long been considered a player with NBA potential, but he has had a disappointing string of off-court trouble.
  

Utah Jazz

• Kosta Koufos He's one of my favorite young NBA big men in the regular season, and ought to do very well here. UPDATE: Koufos is injured, and reportedly won't play.
  
• Eric Maynor The Jazz are high on their new point guard, who will need to demonstrate that he can thrive in the Jazz' disciplined offense.
• Goran Suton Remember in the NCAA tournament when the Michigan State center was hitting 3s? That looked unstoppable. But NBA GMs have judged Suton to be wholly stoppable, as he was drafted 50th overall.

• Trevor Ariza's agent is making noises about leaving the Lakers, but he has made noises before. The Cavaliers are said to be suitors -- and I'm of the opinion the Cavaliers need to add an active-bodied perimeter player like Ariza.
• Allen Iverson, on Twitter, saying cryptic things about wanting to play for a coach who knows he'll bring it every night.
• Steve Blake can hit the open jumper, and lead your children through the harsh wilderness to safety. (Via John Canzano)
• Jerry Sloan and the Jazz were surprised to learn that the father of their prized new rookie, Eric Maynor, was once cut by Jerry Sloan.
• Down at the bottom of this post you'll see speculation about Joakim Noah's playing on the French national team.
• How the Jazz became a luxury tax paying team. Ross Siler of the Salt Lake Tribune says that's bad: "When the Jazz push their payroll past $70 million -- and maybe even $80 million -- it becomes much more difficult for Greg Miller to someday sit at a league meeting and advocate for more protections for small-market teams. Why would the owner of a big-market team make concessions in terms of revenue sharing and luxury tax when his team is being outspent by the Jazz in the first place?"
• Rob Kurz is on the loose. Just be warned.
• Hope in Clipperland, a rarity.
• Candidate for Minnesota's head-coaching job: Portland assistant Monty Williams.
• Josh Childress is visiting the Bucks today. Remember, though, he has a very nice contract waiting for him back in Greece, and this is the year of the opt-in. Who would turn down a contract based on sunny 2008 projections for a contract based on dour 2009 projections?
• Very interesting little legal debate surrounding Michael Jordan, Nike, and Michael Jordan gear with Hall-of-Fame logos.
• Ben Gordon on leaving the Bulls.
• You know how Twitter can seem kind of big-time and futuristic? Other times it can seem much more down home and pedestrian, even. For instance, from the Bucks' official Twitter feed: "Luc Mbah a Moute will B @ Pick 'N Save in Burlington from 5:30-7pm 2nite! Its the Pick 'N Save nxt 2 Kohl's on 1008 Milwaukee St. C U 2nite!" Everybody got that? Luc Mbah a Moute, in the canned goods aisle.
• Does Rasheed Wallace have the right temperament for the San Antonio Spurs? If I were to hesitate, his technicals wouldn't be the main reason. It would be because he has often shown a poor ability to handle big pressure games, with blown defensive assignments, disappearing acts on offense, and meltdowns. If things go well for the Spurs, they'll be in a lot of big games.
• Getting harder to stick up for the Grizzlies, as they acquire Zach Randolph. I don't know how the decisions get made in Memphis, but I feel bad for Chris Wallace. He has to go out there and defend all these moves, but you know owner Michael Heisley must be playing a part.
• The internet, where mistakes are well-documented, and sloppy work can haunt you.
• Some insight into the Rockets' love of Marcin Gortat. Is he worth the full mid-level exception. Normally, a mobile, strong and tough big man who keeps improving would be worth more, but I suspect he'll get less.

Already it seems a thousand articles have been written about the intricate dance unfolding between Ricky Rubio and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

One thing that really impresses me: Minnesota GM David Kahn has skillfully removed the Rubio camp's biggest threat. In any normal situation they would have said give us what we want or we'll stay in Europe. But before the music even really started, right there on draft night, Kahn was assuring everyone that Rubio might stay in Europe and that's just fine. The Timberwolves, he said, are more than willing to wait.

That sends the message to everyone that the Timberwolves are ready for good offers, but not bad ones.

The Rubio camp does still have a big hammer, though, and it's one that has almost never been used.

Rubio can sit out a year, and re-enter next year's draft.

The way the collective bargaining agreement works, the Timberwolves hold Rubio's NBA rights so long as they make him an offer, and he plays professional ball in some FIBA-sanctioned league, which is just about all of the leagues he'd consider playing in.

But if he doesn't play professionally anywhere, then he can be right back in next year's draft.

You can only do this once -- no one can be drafted more than twice.

Clearly, this is an illogical move. To leave his Spanish team, he'd still have a buyout, only now coupled with almost no income at all. (Barnstorming Nike tour, anyone?)

But he could certainly get himself some elite basketball training, maybe a year of being a college student, followed by a career with a team more to his liking. It might at least be worth threatening that, as a way to imbue the Timberwolves with some urgency.

You know what would be just hilarious, though? If Rubio actually did sit out the year, and somehow or another the Timberwolves drafted him again.