The NBA’s annual Las Vegas Summer League tips off Friday, bringing all 30 clubs to the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion for a 10-day audition of rookies, second-year players and free-agent hopefuls. The Miami Heat, who captured last year’s title, begin their defence at 4:30 p.m. Eastern against the Atlanta Hawks. Assistant coach Eric Glass will again lean on forward Keshad Johnson, wing Pelle Larsson and centre Kel’el Ware; the trio practised on Thursday and are expected to play in the opener. Several rivals have also loaded their summer rosters with experienced prospects. The Toronto Raptors are fielding recent first-rounders Ja’Kobe Walter and Gradey Dick alongside this year’s No. 9 draft pick Collin Murray-Boyles, while the Phoenix Suns aim to establish a new on-court identity under assistant DeMarre Carroll with lottery selection Khaman Maluach supported by returnees Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro. The Brooklyn Nets’ highly touted rookie class takes the floor Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. No. 8 overall pick Egor Dëmin and 19th selection Nolan Traoré headline the lineup, though No. 22 pick Drake Powell will sit out as a precaution because of a minor knee issue. Each team will play four preliminary games between 11 and 17 July; the top four advance to single-elimination semifinals on 19 July, with the championship game set for 20 July. Clubs that miss the playoffs will play a fifth consolation contest.