While former Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie is hoping to become the school’s 19th first-round NBA pick Thursday night, teammate Ben Lammers is hopeful for a spot on an NBA summer-league team. Former guard Tadric Jackson has a chance to be on a summer-league team as well, coach Josh Pastner said.
“Some NBA teams have called about him and asked about him,” Pastner said of Lammers.
Lammers has worked out for a number of teams, including the Hawks and Portland, but the chances of Lammers getting selected in Thursday’s two-round draft (60 players) are not good. But, as the draft plays out Thursday night, team officials will be trying to fill summer-league teams with undrafted players. Lammers’ potential was identified in his invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in April.
Playing in a summer-league – teams typically play three games in less than a week – can lead to an invitation to a team’s preseason camp. It’s also another opportunity to audition for G-League (formerly D-League) and international teams.
“Ben has some great opportunities for great money overseas,” Pastner said. “I think he’ll have an opportunity to play summer league, but he’ll have opportunities to play G-League and things like that. He’ll have to make a determination, does he give up the money or play overseas, and that’ll have to be his own personal decision.”
Pastner said that Jackson will also opportunities to play internationally. A number of former Tech players, including B.J. Elder, Lewis Clinch, Gani Lawal and Daniel Miller, have made careers playing overseas.