HoopsHype.com Rumors

A rugged rookie season might be over for Mavericks’ first-round draftee Jared Cunningham. The No. 24 overall pick said today he’s suffering from tendinitis in his right knee and is going to be out “for a while.” He said his sights already have been set toward the 2013-14 season. “My goal is to be completely ready for summer league,” Cunningham said after the Mavericks’ shootaround. “I want to get my body back to the way it was in college so I have my athleticism.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Summer League, Injuries, Jared Cunningham 

It was a big week for former Sixers general manager Brad Greenberg. Coaching Maccabi Haifa in Israel since leaving the college ranks, Greenberg and NBA prospect Gal Mekel had Haifa leading mighty Maccabi Tel Aviv with six-plus minutes to go in the fourth quarter of Thursday night's State Cup final before the perennial European powerhouse with the far bigger budget rallied to pull out a 76-68 triumph. Mekel had 28 points on the big stage and remains on course to get his NBA shot in summer league. ESPN.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Summer League, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Gal Mekel 

Chris Forsberg: Maine Red Claws announce they’ve added 7-footer Garrett Stutz, who spent some time with Celtics’ summer league team. Twitter @ESPNForsberg

Boston Celtics, Summer League 

But not long after the high of being invited to Jazz camp, which officially began Tuesday, Mekel quickly learned that he would have to turn down the opportunity because he would not be able to secure the required working visa for several days, likely forcing him to miss at least a week of practices. "Although the lack of an American work permit ruled me out for Utah's training camp, I feel good about my future," Mekel told Eurobasket. "It's very likely I'll play in Europe this year. Armed with all this new knowledge about how I can better my game, my goals are to keep improving my game, help my new team win and be prepared for possibly coming back to the United States next summer for either the NBA summer league or training camp in October." Eurobasket.com

Utah Jazz, Free Agency, Summer League, Training Camp, Gal Mekel 

A Heat official said the team was disappointed in Dexter Pittman’s summer league work and “this is a crucial training camp for him. But the slate is clear.” Pittman has a guaranteed contract ($854,389) and seems likely to stick but has been assured nothing. Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Summer League, Dexter Pittman, Training Camp 

If you ask Dion Waiters a question on Twitter, he will answer it. This was never more apparent than it was on Wednesday night. I'm not sure exactly how many fans tweeted at the Cleveland Cavaliers rookie guard yesterday, but it's reasonable to assume he answered just about everyone. When I first met Dion at Vegas Summer League, I asked him about why he's so willing to engage fans through social media. He told me, "I just try to show everybody love, talk to them as much as I can, interact with them, and just be a regular person". Stepien Rules

Cleveland Cavaliers, Summer League, Dion Waiters 

Sacre, who averaged about 11 points and six rebounds at Gonzaga, showed up at the 2012 NBA rookie photo shoot on Tuesday with no number on his jersey. "Dwight took my No. 12 that I was wearing in the Summer League. I can't argue with that. That's what happens when you have seniority," said Sacre, who has agreed to switch to No. 6 for the Lakers. "I'm OK with all of this. I just want to get back on the court." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Summer League, Dwight Howard, Robert Sacre 

Malcolm Thomas is on the verge of signing a contract with either an NBA or overseas club, agent Aaron Mintz told RealGM on Tuesday. “He’s close to a deal right now,” Mintz said. “There are a few different options.” Thomas was named to the Vegas Summer League All-Star team last month as a member of the Chicago Bulls, averaging 11.4 points and 12.4 rebounds over five games. Thomas, who played collegiately at San Diego State, showed that he could provide a high motor and sharp instincts offensively. RealGM

Chicago Bulls, Summer League, Malcolm Thomas, Aaron Mintz 

Marc J. Spears: Forward Malcolm Thomas, the only free agent on the All-Summer League team, getting solid interest primarily from ATL, CHA, CHI and LAC. Twitter

Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Summer League, Malcolm Thomas 

Memphis finished the summer league with a 2-3 record. Selby had 11 points in the finale but he lit up the scoreboard in the Grizzlies' first four games. The 6-2 guard was as efficient and electrifying scoring the basketball over the past week as Memphis' recent free-agent acquisition Jerryd Bayless, who won the 2008 summer league MVP. "We are very happy for Josh being named co-MVP of The NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He was extremely productive offensively," Griz general manager Chris Wallace said. "Hopefully he can gain momentum for the remainder of the offseason from his performance." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Summer League, Josh Selby 

"I never lost my confidence whether I was on the bench or not," Selby told The Commercial Appeal last week. "I had guys on the team telling me to just stay ready. I'm young and I have a lot to learn. I feel like I'm showcasing my game and I just have to try to bring it to the season next year." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis Grizzlies, Summer League, Josh Selby 

Eric Patten: Adam Morrison: "I realized this was going to be the last time somebody would be able to see me play for a chance to make an NBA roster." Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Free Agency, Adam Morrison, Summer League 

KC Johnson: Jimmy Butler sat out Bulls' summer-league finale with a minor undisclosed injury, not by coach's decision. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Summer League, Injuries, Jimmy Butler 

Chris Haynes: #Blazers G Damian Lillard has been named co-MVP of the 2012 NBA Summer League. He shares the award with Memphis' Josh Selby. Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Summer League, Josh Selby, Damian Lillard 

Justin Verrier: And your Las Vegas Summer League "All-Stars": Josh Selby, Damian Lillard, Malcolm Thomas, Bradley Beal, Tobias Harris, John Henson (1/2) Twitter

Summer League, John Henson, Tobias Harris, Bradley Beal, Malcolm Thomas, Josh Selby, Damian Lillard 

Justin Verrier: Vegas Summer League All-Stars con'td: Jeremy Lamb, Dominique Jones, Cory Joseph, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker, Donatas Motiejunas, Jae Crowder Twitter

Summer League, Dominique Jones, Kemba Walker, Donatas Motiejunas, Jimmy Butler, Jeremy Lamb, Cory Joseph, Jae Crowder 

A brief summer league chit-chat with Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. On the addition of Lamar Odom to Clippers: "Lamar and I actually worked out [Wednesday]. It was good. Lamar is a huge threat offensively and defensively at different positions. He's gonna help us out a lot this year. He can handle the ball, me and him and Blake in the pick-and-roll with [Chris Paul], it's going to be good. He's an all-around great player, so it's going to be good for us. "Last year, we're not really worried about that. We're just about him, with the Clippers, and how much he's going to help us. Not just Lamar but we just signed Chauncey, we just got Grant Hill. That's a lot of veterans [to add to the mix]." ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Chris Paul, Lamar Odom, Los Angeles, Summer League, Grant Hill, DeAndre Jordan 

Joel Brigham: Bulls summer leaguer Malcolm Thomas has had a double-double in all 4 games so far and looks great. Camp invite seems inevitable. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Free Agency, Summer League, Malcolm Thomas 

Eric Patten: Robert Pack said he felt like Eric Bledsoe did "the right things" in 3 games with LAC #SummerLeague team. Bledsoe will not play SAT or SUN. Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Eric Bledsoe, Summer League, Robert Pack 

Jeff McDonald: Vaughn will coach Spurs summer leaguers in their Vegas finale this afternoon, I'm told. Twitter

Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Summer League, Jacque Vaughn