"A couple of players weren't mentally tough enough. And we tried to get rid of them. They just didn't have the mental toughness."

To fill the roster spot vacated by West, New Orleans is signing Patrick Ewing Jr. from Sioux Falls in the NBA D-League to a 10-day contract, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.

"I wouldn't have a problem,'' Thabeet said about going back to the D-League. "I just want to play ... I don't want to be the guy that's hanging around. I want to play. So if they call me out there, I'll go out there. Now, I'm here so I've just got to do my work.''

I was spoiled with our relationship with the Jazz, how close we were. At the same time, I always felt that this was one of if not the best jobs in the D-League. As proactive as the Spurs have been in utilizing Austin, I was almost jealous that I didn't have what the Toros had.

The NBA Development League plans to alter its rules this season to incorporate the FIBA-like goaltending rules, meaning that once the ball strikes the rim, players will be allowed to either swat the ball off the rim or tip it in unlike the NBA's current rules that state that an imaginary cylinder exists that has the basket as its base and touching the ball while any part of it is in this cylinder -- and still has a chance to go in -- is a violation. The league will also institute a three-minute overtime as opposed to the current NBA-standard five-minute overtime, with the same rules being instituted that are currently used in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter.

Nothing against John Treloar. I'm sure he's a nice guy and all and it's perfectly understandable for new GM Lance Blanks to bring in his "own guys". But in a summer where the Suns had already replaced two staples of the front office -- Steve Kerr and David Griffin -- you would think that there might be some reservations about replacing former Director of Player Personnel Todd Quinter with an outsider who has absolutely zero NBA experience.

What if the D-League conducted its annual draft in the days immediately following Summer League?

Interest in Summer League is growing each year, and its significance to the NBA is increasing as well. The excitement surrounding Summer League is a natural extension of the excitement surrounding the NBA draft. If the NBA/D-League were to hold its draft in the days right after Summer League, they could extend this excitement by another month or two, bridging the time period between the end of the Summer League and beginning of NBA training camp with — wait for it — actual basketball.

Confirmed thru #Wizards PR that the team has indeed let Sun Yue switch to the Bucks in order to give Sun a chance to practice his PG skills.

Pacers coach Jim O'Brien has added Vitaly Potapenko to his staff.

Thunder holding serious talks with Pacers to trade Eric Maynor, 18th and 21st picks for Indy's 10th pick, sources tell Y!