THE FLATS – Thaddeus Young signs two-year extension with Raptors … Josh Okogie inks one-year deal with Suns … Jose Alvarado lighting up FIBA qualifier for Puerto Rico … NBA Summer League news for Usher, Wright, Georges-Hunt … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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YOUNG SIGNS TWO-YEAR EXTENSION WITH RAPTORS
Free agent forward Thaddeus Young has reached an agreement with the Toronto Raptors on a two-year, $16 million deal with the addition of performance incentives, his agents Jim Tanner and Max Wiepking of Tandem told Yahoo Sports.
The 15-year veteran joined the Raptors midseason after being traded by the San Antonio Spurs at the deadline. The previous offseason, the Chicago Bulls sent Young to the Spurs in the DeMar DeRozan trade.
The 15-year veteran averages 12.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and is a career 50.2% shooter.
Raptors beat out a tough division dival to re-sign Thad Young (Raptors Rapture)
We know you were waiting for this one 👀
Welcome back, @yungsmoove21 #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/S6WftNF01v
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) July 1, 2022
Raptors management was clear when grabbing Thad Young they wanted him for more than a few months. Bird Rights were mentioned right away. A good fit on and off court.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) June 30, 2022
Congrats @yungsmoove21 on the new contract with the @Raptors ✍️💯#TogetherWeSwarm pic.twitter.com/loynlDplIw
— Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball (@GTMBB) June 30, 2022
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OKOGIE LANDING IN PHOENIX
The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent wing Josh Okogie, the team announced Tuesday. The news was first announced by The Athletic‘s Shams Charania on Saturday.
Okogie marks the second new addition on the day and the fourth acquisition overall for the Suns this offseason after Phoenix reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with wing Damion Lee, re-signed center Bismack Biyombo and traded for Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale.
The 6-foot-4, 213-pound Nigeria-born Okogie is a physical and tough defender that adds depth to a wing position that already features the likes of Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, who last season finished second in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting and in third place for the Sixth Man of the Year Award, respectively.
Okogie turns 24 years old in September and will spend his fifth season as a pro in the Valley after being selected No. 20 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Georgia Tech by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Big congrats to @CallMe_NonStop on heading to his new home in Phoenix!#TogetherWeSwarm pic.twitter.com/2cGQPvFXs7
— Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball (@GTMBB) July 3, 2022
thank you for everything, JO. pic.twitter.com/E8H1jOZvGG
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 5, 2022
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ALVARADO BUSY WITH SUMMER LEAGUE, FIBA QUALIFIER
Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans has had a busy offseason.
He went straight from trying to shut down Chris Paul in the playoffs to doing the media circuit and is now representing Puerto Rico in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Alvarado became a fan favorite because of his scrappy, energetic style of play, but this guy is more than just a defensive pest, he has a burgeoning offensive game as well and we are seeing it on full display in the FIBA qualifiers.
🇵🇷 @AlvaradoJose15 making it rain in San Juan! #FIBAWC | #WinForPuertoRico pic.twitter.com/x6PE8N9Byb
— FIBA Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWC) July 5, 2022
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USHER MAKING IMPRESSION FOR JAZZ IN SUMMER LEAGUE
Jordan Usher showed he’s the perfect vibe man on Tuesday.
He played just 14 minutes, but made the two most exciting plays of the game … He celebrated like he hit a game winner when one of his passes led to a three. Then he acted like he had won Utah a title when he forced an eight-second violation. He egged the crowd on and then ran all the way down the Utah bench high-fiving and screaming. It sure won over the crowd.
“I’m a blue collar dude,” Usher said. “I’m from the country; I’m from Canton, Georgia. I had to get out from the dirt from the beginning. So just being able to get out and get in someone shots and play hard basketball. … They let me go on defense. Let me run around, get some energy. So as long as I can do that, I’m having a great time.”
UTAH!!!!!!! Lets get the static up!!! https://t.co/CcU7S82Ehk
— Jordan Usher (@Callmeush) July 6, 2022
Jordan Usher battles Chet Holmgren for the rebound and finds Justin Robinson in transition with this slick feed pic.twitter.com/dxw5dxMcR8
— Zack Padmore (@ZP12Hoops) July 6, 2022
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WRIGHT HOPES TO “SPEED UP THE CLOCK” IN SUMMER LEAGUE
They say history is destined to repeat itself, and we’ve seen it happen many times.
Mavericks’ forward Moses Wright has lived through it. And he’s hoping for his own personal déjà vu moment starting with the Mavericks’ summer league action this week.
He’s just hoping it doesn’t take as long to duplicate his previous basketball success stories.
The Mavericks roster of 14 players looking to earn invites to fall training camp in September convened for the first time on Tuesday. They open summer play in Las Vegas on Friday against Chicago (3 p.m.). It will be the first of at least five games in the NBA Summer League 2022.
And for Wright, it’s the start of an important year in his professional life.
Wright is coming off a rookie season in which he played only three NBA games. That would be three more than he played for the varsity team in his first two years of high school.
Day 1 of Mavs’ summer league camp: second-round rookie Jaden Hardy and Moses Wright (two-way Mav last season) getting up shots after a live scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/h503IEF1Oq
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) July 5, 2022
Jaden hardy. 🎂
Moses Wright. 💪 pic.twitter.com/aLKlb8vPDN— Offseason- Dallas Mavericks Colombia (@ColMavs) July 6, 2022
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HAWKS ADD GEORGES-HUNT TO SUMMER LEAGUE TEAM
The Atlanta Hawks today announced their roster for the NBA 2K23 Summer League in Las Vegas, taking place from Thursday, July 7 through Sunday, July 17. This will be Atlanta’s 11th summer competing in Las Vegas. NBA veteran and former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, Marcus Georges-Hunt, will suit up for the Hawks. Georges-Hunt played 26 games for the Hawks’ G League team, the College Park Skyhawks, last season.
Summer Hawks ☀️ pic.twitter.com/nNxRw2sa8O
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 2, 2022
#ProJackets on Social Media
Someone had to crank the grill up today! 🔥🍗🍖@yungsmoove21 pic.twitter.com/iVuddET2TZ
— Shekinah Young (@Mrs___Young21) July 3, 2022
— Derrick Favors (@dfavors14) June 27, 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 |
