The New Season Has Arrived... Kinda

Having a such a stacked draft class has numerous ramifications: widespread tanking last season, a too-important lottery, a thrilling draft night, and tectonic shifts of the near-term NBA landscape. Here's one more: Summer League is going to be awesome.

Most (23) of the league's teams are playing in the adidas Las Vegas Summer League, which kicks off Friday. Team China, minus Yao Ming, is also competing. The Long Beach league lost its primetime draw in the Lakers, and the Rocky Mountain Revue in Denver SLC is on its last legs. So from the beginning, Vegas is stronger than usual.

But look at some of these rosters. Seattle, for instance: Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Zabian Dowdell, Mickael Gelabale, Saer Sene, Johan Petro, Julius Hodge. That team might win the Atlantic division. Portland: Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Sergio Rodriguez, Martell Webster, Petteri Koponen, Josh McRoberts.

The Kings have invited Daniel Artest, Ron's 'little' brother, but don't have a coach for the team... which means Ron might show up with a clipboard and a whistle. The Bucks are going to get to watch Yi Jianlian play for the first time (only he won't be having anything to do with the Bucks). Tyrus Thomas might kill Joakim Noah. The best new wrinkle: every game will be broadcast on NBA.com. And we have our first must-watch of the 2007-08 campaign, via Dan Shanoff: Oden and Durant facing off on July 15.

You know, Summer League could be better than this past regular season...