THE FLATS – Thaddeus Young apparently a quick learner of the Toronto Raptors’ system … Is Derrick Favors on the move? … 25 things to know about Iman Shumpert … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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THADDEUS YOUNG PLAYS LIKE HE’S BEEN A RAPTOR FOREVER
Thad Young’s arrival on the Toronto Raptors seems to have been preordained, predicted, and prepared by a Missionaria Protectiva of his own. The Raptors have been trying to add him for so long — perhaps he did plant the cultural seeds that eventually grew into this Raptors’ system. He’s sure playing like it.
The Raptors are supposed to have a complex system, a difficult scheme that requires work and study and head-scratching nights filled with chewed pencils and microwaved coffee to understand. The complexity of the system has been cited repeatedly in cases made in defense of the slow learning by newcomers to the team as varied as DeAndre’ Bembry, Stanley Johnson, Precious Achiuwa, and others. In his first game after the trade, Young didn’t check in for the Raptors, as Nick Nurse opted to keep the rotations the same — the team was, after all, riding an eight-game winning streak. The Raptors lost. Young spent the next two days “in a heavy classroom-type atmosphere.”
He’s played for the Raptors in following last two games. It did not take him long to learn the Raptors’ system. After all, at six foot eight with a seven-foot wingspan, he fits in physically. As a defense-first player who prioritizes forcing turnovers, he fits in philosophically. As a finisher who is more of a shooter by necessity than by trade, he fits in aesthetically. But he’s also an intellectual, reportedly with a 4.3 GPA at Mitchell High in Tennessee: that helps a player to learn a system, no matter how complex. Most of all, he’s an experienced veteran who knows what needs to happen on the basketball court at any given moment.
More from the Raptors Republic
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COULD DERRICK FAVORS BE A TARGET OF SIXERS?
Could Derrick Favors be a member of the Philadelphia 76ers before March 1st? Potentially so. Should he be the team’s buyout market target? That, my friends, is much less clear.
Do the Philadelphia 76ers really need another center more than a shooter?
The third-overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets, Favors is in the middle of his 12th NBA season and, at 30-years-old, has appeared in 789 regular season games plus 42 more in the playoffs as a member of the Nets, Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, and OKC Thunder. He’s been traded three times, played alongside multiple All-Stars, and is currently signed to a three-year, $29.16 million contract with a $10.18 million player option for the 2022-23 season.
Could Favors reject a buyout offer from the Thunder and declare his desire to opt into his option for the 2022-23 season? Sure, while Favors has earned north of $120 million in his career thus far, his current contract is likely his final opportunity to earn more than the veteran minimum/part of a mid-level exception moving forward, and that financial opportunity may prove more valuable than a shot at returning to the playoffs for the second-straight season.
#Sixers All signs point to Derrick Favors. Agreed to buyout this morning and looks like he’s the favorite 👀pic.twitter.com/NPCxKbLPKe
— Paul C (@HurtsyIvania) February 19, 2022
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SHUMPERT: 25 THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME
A pro on the courts and in the ballroom! Iman Shumpert first made a name for himself when he was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2011 before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Amid his successful athletic career, the Teyana & Iman alum briefly traded his basketball sneakers for a pair of dancing shoes while competing on season 30 of Dancing With the Stars with his partner, Daniella Karagach. The duo went on to win the Mirrorball Trophy.
While on tour with the Dancing With the Stars: Live cast, Shumpert, 31, took a break from the spotlight to exclusively share 25 fun facts about himself with Us Weekly.
Exclusive: Iman Shumpert is a pro on the courts and in the ballroom!https://t.co/EFXuFJippM
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) February 19, 2022
#ProJackets on Social Media
Ball movement on point 🏀
Everybody gets a touch for the @TexasLegends as James Banks III finishes off your @Microsoft Team Play of the Week pic.twitter.com/vaElrnz5Bo
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 23, 2022
Josh Okogie Optic Rookie Numbered #/249
Take For $4 pic.twitter.com/7ZQ9pkf8Eb— CaracoCards (@CaracoCards) February 22, 2022
Our second guest this weekend will be Josh Okogie (@CallMe_NonStop). Josh comes through to chat about @untilfreedom, and the work they do. He’ll also speak to the importance of #BlackHistoryMonth, & what #AllStarWeekend means to him. Tune in at 4pm ET on IGTV. pic.twitter.com/xgyvexw76j
— jdsportsus (@jdsportsus) February 20, 2022
Moses Wright has a reason to be PUMPED UP! 😤 @ACClippers
He already has 22 points and 8 rebounds entering the 4th quarter on ESPN+. pic.twitter.com/584SRMwjp8
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 17, 2022
The grind never stops. Best part is TJ and Taylor working in tandem to rebound for Popz… 🤝🏾👏🏾🔥 https://t.co/nXzBiBNI9m
— Thad Young (@yungsmoove21) February 21, 2022
My whole heart🤎
— Iman. (@imanshumpert) February 16, 2022
#PROJACKETS IN THE NBA/G LEAGUE IN 2023-24
| PLAYER | DATA | NUMBERS | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
 | JOSE ALVARADO Team: New Orleans Pelicans Number: 15 NBA Experience: 3rd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. Status: Active | 6-0, 179 lbs 2023-24 Stats 7.1 ppg 2.3 rpg 2.1 apg 41.2% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 7th place, -8.0 GB Streak: L1 Last 10: 5-5 |
 | JAMES BANKS III Team: Maine Celtics Number: 5 G League Experience: 3rd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-20 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Status: Active | 6-10, 250 lbs 2023-24 Stats 5.3 ppg 4.7 rpg 1.5 bpg 54.2% FG | Record: 21-13 Standing: 2nd place, -1.0 GB Streak: W1 Last 10: 8-2 |
 | MICHAEL DEVOE Team: Memphis Hustle Number: 10 G League Experience: 2nd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Hometown: Orlando, Fla. Status: Active | 6-4, 183 lbs 2023-24 Stats 13.9 ppg 3.9 rpg 3.1 apg 47.4% FG | Record: 15-19 Standing: 12th, -9.0 GB Streak: W1 Last 10: 3-7 |
 | DERRICK FAVORS Team: Windy City Bulls (G League) Number: 14 NBA Experience: 12 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2009-10 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Status: Active | 6-9, 265 lbs 2023-24 Stats 6.2 ppg 4.7 rpg 0.7 bpg 66.7% FG | Record: 15-19 Standing: 13th place, -7.0 GB Streak: L1 Last 10: 4-6 |
 | JOSH OKOGIE Team: Phoenix Suns Number: 2 NBA Experience: 5 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-18 Hometown: Snellville, Ga. Status: Active | 6-4, 213 lbs 2023-24 Stats 4.6 ppg 2.6 rpg 1.1 apg 41.7% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 6th place, -8.0 GB Streak: W3 Last 10: 7-3 |
 | THADDEUS YOUNG Team: free agent Number: 30 NBA Experience: 16 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2006-07 Hometown: Memphis, Tenn. Status: Active | 6-8, 235 lbs 2023-24 Stats 4.2 ppg 3.0 rpg 1.7 apg 60.2% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 6th place, -8.0 GB Streak: W3 Last 10: 7-3 |
Georgia Tech Eurobasket Report
As of February 18, 2022
Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-1991, graduated ‘2010, plays pro in the NBA) could not help the Oklahoma City Thunder (18-40) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the Oklahoma City Thunder (18-40) lost100-87on the road to the Philadelphia 76ers. Favors was the top scorer with 16 points. He also added 9 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 28 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only Favors’ first season in pro basketball. This year Favors averages 5.3ppg and 4.7rpg in 38 games he played so far.
Joshua Heath (6’1”-PG-1994, graduated ‘2017, plays in Belgium) was not able to help one of league’s weakest teams Stella Artois Leuven Bears (9-8) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite his very good performance Stella Artois Leuven Bears was defeated 92-87 in Charleroi by the higher-ranked Spirou (#5). Heath was the top scorer with 24 points. He also added 4 passes. Heath’s team will play only one more game in the BNXT League Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Heath has relatively good stats this season 13.8ppg, 2.5rpg, 5.9apg and 1.3spg.
Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-1995, graduated ‘2018, currently in Germany) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked Hakro Merlins (12-7) crushing them 106-74 in the German BBL on Sunday night. Lammers scored 9 points in 22 minutes. ALBA Berlinis placed first in the BBL. This year Lammers averages 7.4ppg, 3.7rpg and 1.1bpg in 12 games.
Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-1994, graduated ‘2016, plays pro in the NBA G League) was not able to secure a victory for the College Park SkyHawks (8-9) in their last game on Monday. Despite Georges-Hunt’s very good performance the College Park SkyHawks (#10) were defeated 137-128 in Fort Wayne by the Mad Ants. He recorded 22 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Georges-Hunt has relatively good stats this season 10.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.1apg and 1.1spg. He is a naturalized Virgin Islander.
Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-1988, graduated ‘2007, plays in the NBA) contributed to a Toronto Raptors’ victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-28) 103-91 in the NBA last Wednesday. He scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 21 minutes. The Toronto Raptors have 32-25 record this season. This year Young averages 7.0ppg and 4.5rpg in two games.
Jose Alvarado (6’0”-PG-1998, graduated ‘2021, currently in the NBA) helped New Orleans Pelicans win their game against the Toronto Raptors crushing them 120-90 in the NBA on Monday night. He scored 6 points and added 4 assists. This season Alvarado averages 5.1ppg, 1.5rpg and 2.0apg.
Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-1988, graduated ‘2010, plays pro in France) couldn’t help Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket in their game against Le Mans in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. He scored 8 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 22 minutes. His team lost 64-79. Lawal has relatively good stats this year 13.7ppg and 6.4rpg in 20 games. He is a naturalized Nigerian.
James Banks III (6’10”-F/C-1998, graduated ‘2020, plays in the NBA G League) helped Texas Legends win their game against the Santa Cruz Warriors 112-97 in the NBA G League last Thursday. He recorded 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. This season Banks III averages 4.7ppg, 4.0rpg and 1.3bpg.
Anthony McHenry (6’8”-SF-1983, graduated ‘2005, currently in Japan) helped Shinshu BW win their game against the fourth-ranked Hiroshima Dragonflies 86-72 in the Japanese B1 League on Saturday night. He recorded 9 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 21 minutes. McHenry has relatively good stats this year 11.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.6apg and 1.5spg in 35 games.
Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-F-1994, graduated ‘2019, plays pro in Israel) led I.Ramat Gan to an easy victory against the league outsider M.Hod Hasharon crushing them 90-56 in the Israeli National League (second division) in Tuesday night’s game. Gueye recorded 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. It was his first game for I.Ramat Gan this season.
Other former Georgia Institute of Technology players, who play in pro basketball:
- Alade Aminu (6’10”-F/C-87) plays for Chemidor in Iranian Superleague
- Moses Wright (6’9”-F-98) plays for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
- Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-98) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
- Trae Golden (6’3”-PG-91) plays for Fujian Sturgeons in Chinese CBA
- Joshua Heath (6’1”-PG-94) plays for Stella Artois Leuven Bears in Belgian BNXT League
- Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-F-91) plays for M.Haifa in Israeli National League
- Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-95) plays for Usti n/Labem in Czech Republic NBL
- Daniel Miller (6’11”-C-91) plays for Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo in Japanese B1 League
- Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-93) played for Dorados de Chihuahua in Mexican LNBP last year
- James White (6’9”-F-93) played for Mauricio Baez in Dominican Rep. TBS last year
- Evan Jester (6’7”-F-99) plays for New Bayazet in Armenian Caucasus BL
- Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-F-94) plays for Konyaspor in Turkish TBL
- Robert Sampson (6’8”-F-92) plays for Yamaguchi in Japanese B3 League
- James Banks III (6’10”-F/C-98) plays for Texas Legends in the NBA G League
- Shembari Phillips (6’3”-G-97) plays for EPG Baskets Koblenz in German ProB
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Georgia Tech basketball alumni.
