Rasheed Wallace, Brandon Roy among names attached to new league

A new summer pro basketball league was formally announced Tuesday, and former NBA players like Rasheed Wallace, Keyon Dooling, and Al Harrington are on board to suit up.

The Champions League is scheduled to begin play next July, the major hook being all teams will feature a former NBA All-Star, league CEO Carl George told USA Today's Sam Amick.

Sixteen teams would ultimately be placed in cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, and Cleveland and play a 30-game season. In addition, offseason charity games will be held, with the first scheduled for Jan. 29 in St. Louis and broadcast on digital platform ESPN3. Other former NBAers such as Richard Hamilton, Brandon Roy, and Josh Howard are scheduled to participate.

Players could make up to $200,000 per year, according to George, and ticket prices would average about $25.

In addition to playing, Dooling is helping with recruiting efforts, and said the league can also serve as a transition from the NBA to post-playing days.

"I know that guys have not transitioned as smoothly as I have," said Dooling, who played for six NBA teams from 2000 to 2013. "I know the impact this is going to have on my brethren. That's why I'm so passionate about it."

There may be a market for professional basketball between July and September, when only the NBA's Summer League and periodical international tournaments provide hoops-heads with their fix. Other attempts have fizzled, however, including most recently the Las Vegas-based AmeriLeague, which appears to be a non-starter after allegations the founder falsified his identity.