<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Summer league is where NBA hopefuls learn to play without any training wheels. It only took a game before Trevor Ariza began to emerge a year ago, he was fearless in the air. Now the Knicks are turning loose three rookies; all of whom were picked in the first round. Team president Isiah Thomas needs this week to go well in Las Vegas. Channing Frye, Nate Robinson and David Lee will get a chance to show off in the Reebok Vegas Summer league, which tips off today at Cox Pavilion. They spent the holiday weekend practicing alongside free agents and undrafted rookies to get ready for a five-game schedule against the Trail Blazers, Magic, Wizards, Nets and Bulls. Ariza is back for a little more seasoning. Jackie Butler and Bruno Sundov are coming along, too. Another week for most of the group at the Minnesota summer league follows immediately. Thomas will also be working the phones looking to recruit help and speed the rebuilding process. He's already courting Memphis free agent Stromile Swift, who's a pogo-stick frontliner capable of stepping in and blocking shots. The market price hasn't been set, but it's likely to surpass the $5.1 million salary-cap exception the Knicks are holding. Another creative sign-and-trade deal would solve the problem, but there isn't a player left on this roster who's considered a bargain. Washington's Kwame Brown and Seattle's Jerome James are on the radar as well.</div> Source
