Las Vegas Summer League guide: Fox-Ball matchup on the schedule

A 24-team field full of former University of Kentucky players starts play Friday in the NBA’s summer league in Las Vegas.

That includes the summer league debut of De’Aaron Fox, who was drafted fifth overall by the Kings.

Sacramento, which also has ex-Cats Skal Labissiere and Dominique Hawkins on its summer roster, opens Friday night against the Phoenix Suns and also plays the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.

But it is the Kings’ third game, against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, that could be the most intriguing if both teams don’t decide to rest their star players.

Fox could be matched up against former UCLA star Lonzo Ball, who was the second overall pick in June’s draft.

Ball was selected earlier despite Fox’s 39-point star-turn against UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.

The Kings, meanwhile, have eight players from their anticipated regular-season squad playing in Las Vegas.

“That’s crazy,” Fox told The Sacramento Bee after Monday afternoon’s practice. “It just shows how young we are but the game is faster, a lot more physical. Something I feel I’ll get used to over time.”

Summer league results usually mean nothing, but with eight players from next season’s roster, it would be encouraging to see some success on the court. The Kings are especially interested in how the second-year players look and expect them to show progression.

“We’re definitely trying to win every game that we go out there and play in,” Labissiere said. “But it’s all about us getting comfortable for next year.”

▪  The New Orleans Pelicans’ summer roster includes James Young, who spent the past three seasons with the Boston Celtics.

He’ll be auditioning for a role as an outside shooter in an offense expected to be dominated by former Kentucky big men Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.

But making New Orleans’ roster in that fashion was made a bit tougher after reports Wednesday had the Pelicans agreeing to a free-agent deal with ex-Cat Darius Miller.

▪  Recent Cats Isaac Humphries and Mychal Mulder will be making their NBA summer league debuts with the Washington Wizards and the Toronto Raptors, respectively.

▪  Kyle Wiljter, who was recently traded from the Houston Rockets, will be playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kentuckians in Vegas

Brooklyn Nets: Archie Goodwin (UK)

Chicago Bulls: Cameron Payne (Murray State)

Houston Rockets: Chinanu Onuaku (Louisville)

Los Angeles Clippers: Kyle Wiltjer (UK)

Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo (UK)

New Orleans Pelicans: James Young (UK)

Philadelphia 76ers: Las Vegas roster not yet announced. Alex Poythress (UK), Aaron Harrison (UK) and Isaiah Briscoe (UK) played for the Sixers in the Utah Summer League.

Phoenix Suns: Tyler Ulis (on roster but not playing after minor ankle surgery in May)

Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox (UK), Skal Labissiere (UK) and Dominique Hawkins (Madison Central, UK)

Toronto Raptors: Mychal Mulder (UK)

Utah Jazz: Donovan Mitchell (Louisville)

Washington Wizards: Isaac Humphries (UK)

Rosters without players with Kentucky ties: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs

This story was originally published July 6, 2017 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Las Vegas Summer League guide: Fox-Ball matchup on the schedule."