Evans makes a splash

Tyreke Evans looked right at home today as the rookie guard from Memphis had a strong NBA Summer League debut for Sacramento against Detroit at Cox Pavilion.

Evans, the fourth overall pick in last month’s draft, scored 15 points in the Kings’ 86-77 loss to the Pistons. More important, he showed an ability to get to the foul line as he attacked the basket relentlessly and was 7-for-10 from the stripe.

Omri Casspi, the Kings’ other first-round pick, didn’t look nearly as good. The 6-foot-9 forward from Israel seemed to have trouble finding a rhythm on the court, didn’t really look for his shot and did little defensively. Casspi, who was taken at No. 23 and is looking to be the first Israeli-born player to play in the NBA, finished with just six points in 23 minutes.

PETE’S BACK

Nice to see the legendary Pete Carrill back and more active with the Kings. The former Princeton coach is coaching Sacramento’s summer league team. Paul Westphal, the Kings’ new coach, will keep Carrill on his staff.

ONE MALOOF

Of the four Maloof brothers, only Phil came to Cox Pavilion to watch his Kings today. Joe, Gavin and George were all absent.

OPENING SOME EYES

It’s only one game and he probably is a long shot to make the Detroit Pistons, but Michael Bramos caught some people’s attention with his 13-point performance off the bench in the Pistons’ win over the Kings. A 6-foot-5-inch rookie free agent shooting guard from Miami (Ohio), Bramos was 5 of 6 from the floor in 15 minutes. He keeps that up, somebody will give him a shot if Detroit doesn’t.

LAKERS UP NEXT

The Cox is filling up as the Los Angeles Lakers tip off against the Toronto Raptors. While everyone is going to be tracking Adam Morrison, keep an eye on Chinemelu Elonu, the 6-10 center from Texas A&M who was the Lakers’ lone draft pick last month.