Speeding Bullets: The cap also rises

Marc Stein of ESPN reported earlier today that the NBA 2010-11 salary cap will be about $2 million higher than anticipated. That's good for the super-team the Miami Heat are putting together [more money to split between the 3 superstars] and it's also good news for the Wizards. The cap was expected to be about $56 million, but it will be just over $58 million. The luxury tax threshold will be $70.3 million, a modest increase from last year.

This is good news for the Wizards, as it gives them about $9 million to spend to fill out their roster, particularly their need for a quick forward so the team doesn't have to rely on Al Thornton as a starter.

Former Wizards point guard [and University of MD alum] Steve Blake signed a 4-year deal worth $16 million with the 2-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. Don't be surprised if Blake is a key part of the team's rotation next year. Kobe Bryant, in particular, will appreciate Blake's keen sight for the game and unselfish habits.

Wizards Summer League minicamp starts tonight, with the three newest Wizards, John Wall, Trevor Booker and Hamady N'diaye all present and accounted for. The NBA Summer League kicks off this weekend in Las Vegas and the Wizards will be there. The roster for the Summer League team looks like this:

G-F Cartier Martin

F Mike Sweetney

G Sun Yue

G Lester Hudson

F Raymar Morgan

G-F Kevin Palmer

G Kyle Spain

F J.P. Prince

G Jerome Handle

G Abdulai Jalloh

F Aaron Pettway

The Wizards will play all five of their Summer League games, starting Sunday, at the UNLV campus.

Wizards first overall pick John Wall was at the recent Wizards camp for kids at Archbishop Spalding High School in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Here's some video of it.