THE NBA Summer League is underway, and the big news of the day is that Jonah Bolden is headed to Las Vegas.

News overnight, confirmed by his agent, was that Bolden was granted his release by Maccabi Tel Aviv, meaning he’ll join the Philadelphia 76ers for this year’s Summer League.

Bolden was the 76ers’ No. 36 overall selection at the 2017 NBA Draft, and emerged as a player who could earn a roster spot, after impressing at last year’s Summer League, averaging 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

The 6’10 forward just completed a stellar year in Israel, averaging 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds a game over EuroLeague play, and is hoping to earn a spot on Brett Brown’s roster for the 2018-19 season.

From what then-president of basketball operations, Brian Colangelo, said in May, there’s a good chance Bolden earns one of the team’s final roster spots.

“The one that is most likely to join this team, if at all, is Jonah Bolden,” Colangelo said.

“Some of that’s being discussed and talked about right now. He’s got an option, an NBA-out in his contract to come if it works out favourably for him and us. And that’s part of a negotiation. But the team, Maccabi, has his rights for next year in the event that he does not take advantage of his opt-out.”

The Las Vegas Summer League begins on Saturday (AEST), with the 76ers’ first matchup set to be against the Boston Celtics.

LANDALE IMPRESSES FOR HAWKS
While people descend on Vegas, the 2018 Utah Jazz Summer League is already in full swing, and Melbourne’s Jock Landale has already showed some flashes.

In the Atlanta Hawks’ first game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Landale put up six points and nine rebounds, playing 21 minutes in a 103-88 loss.

The following day, in a 103-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Hawks centre posted five points and eight rebounds, in 18 minutes of action.

Xavier Cooks, the Wollongong-native on the Golden State Warriors’ Summer League roster, has yet to see the floor in his team’s two games.

***