Fryer Released by Suns, but May Join Them for L.A. Summer League

Jeff Fryer was officially released Saturday night by the Phoenix Suns, but the former Loyola Marymount University guard said he has an invitation to play with the team in the Los Angeles Summer Pro League July 30-Aug. 12.

At the conclusion of a three-day rookie and free-agent camp Saturday night, the Suns trimmed their summer-league roster to 12 players who will travel to Salt Lake City this week to play in the four-team Rocky Mountain Revue.

But because Fryer had a previous commitment to try out for the Houston Rockets this week, he was unable to accompany the Suns to Salt Lake City.

“They said tonight that I was cut, but (team Vice President) Dick Van Arsdale told me that I could play with them in Los Angeles if I wanted to,� Fryer said Saturday. “I’ll have to make a decision next week.�

Fryer, a former Corona del Mar High School standout who wasn’t selected in the NBA draft, impressed Suns coaches with his long-range shooting skills during the tryout. He said he was asked Thursday night if he would like to play in Salt Lake City.

“Things went real well--I was hitting the three-pointers, and that’s what they’re looking for,� Fryer said. “I’m a shooter, and the shots were falling.�

Fryer was a late addition to the camp--Van Arsdale called him on July 13--and was really hoping to use the experience as a tuneup for Houston, a team Fryer believes he has a much better chance of making.

“I was just supposed to come here as a warmup to Houston and wasn’t expecting anything,� Fryer said. “But I got a little more than I expected.�

The Suns’ camp consisted of 18 players, most of them free agents. After Saturday night’s final session, 12 players, including former Cal State Fullerton forward Cedric Ceballos, were selected to play in the summer leagues.

Ceballos scored a game-high 26 points in Saturday night’s final scrimmage.