Milwaukee Bucks: Schedule released for 2017 Las Vegas Summer League

Jul 8, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Larry Drew II (7) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russel (1) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Larry Drew II (7) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russel (1) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the Milwaukee Bucks set to return to Summer League in Las Vegas early in July, their initial opponents have been revealed as a part of the schedule release.

While the focus of many Milwaukee Bucks fans at present will be the search for a general manager, identifying draft talent, and picking out potential free agent additions, in little over a month’s time all of that will likely be resolved and a Bucks team will be back on the court.

Although you’re not going to see the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, some of the team’s younger players will likely make their way to Las Vegas for the league’s annual Summer League, and now we know who their inital opponents will be.

The schedule for Summer League was released by the NBA on Thursday morning, and Milwaukee’s confirmed games are as follows:

Friday, July 7 – 5.30pm CT

Milwaukee vs. Cleveland (ESPN2)

Sunday, July 9 – 5pm CT

Milwaukee vs. Brooklyn (NBA TV)

Monday, July 10 – 9pm CT

L.A. Clippers vs. Milwaukee (ESPN2)

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Following on from those games, the Bucks and the rest of the teams in attendance will be seeded, and tournament play will officially begin.

Tournament play will run from July 12-17, and with a winners and a consolation bracket, all teams will be guaranteed at least five games over the course of the entire event.

Summer League continues to grow in size, and profile, as highlighted by the record number of games and the new broadcast details noted in the league’s release:

"“A record 24 NBA teams will participate in a tournament-style format that culminates with a Championship Game on July 17 at 10 p.m. ET, broadcast for the first time on ESPN. Last year’s event, won by the returning champion Chicago Bulls, set records for total attendance, single-day attendance, combined viewership across ESPN and NBA TV, and traffic to the NBA’s social media platforms.ESPN will present all 67 games from Las Vegas across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and the ESPN App, including 35 on its linear television channels. NBA TV will air 28 games, starting with the league’s opener on July 7, when the Toronto Raptors meet the New Orleans Pelicans at 6 p.m. ET. In total, 63 games from Las Vegas will air across ESPN and NBA TV’s linear channels – a Summer League record.”"

Of existing Bucks players, Thon Maker, Rashad Vaughn and Malcolm Brogdon would all seem like possible contenders to be a part of a Bucks team in Vegas. Also likely to feature on the roster would be the players selected by the Bucks at 17 and 48 on draft night.

With a G-League roster to be built too, the Bucks will also be looking for players who could be able to spend next season in Oshkosh with the Wisconsin Herd. As such, Summer League should take on greater meaning as a whole for the Bucks’ organization this year.

Next: Win In 6 Podcast #129: Bucks guard options in the upcoming NBA Draft

As a reminder, Summer League starts on July 5, and we’ll have all your Bucks coverage here at Behind the Buck Pass.