THE FLATS – Josh Okogie re-signs with the Suns for two years … Thaddeus Young remains with Raptors, who guarantee salary for 2023-24 … four former Jackets playing in NBA Summer League … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
*****
OKOGIE RE-SIGNS WITH THE SUNS
The Phoenix Suns and guard Josh Okogie have agreed to terms on a two-year deal, per Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
The terms of the new contract were not disclosed by Haynes.
The 24-year-old averaged 7.3 points on 39.1% shooting and 33.5% from long range to go along with 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 72 games played (26 starts) after coming to Phoenix from the Minnesota Timberwolves as a free agent last year.
He signed a one-year, $2 million deal on a veteran’s minimum contract.
Despite only playing 18.8 minutes per game in the regular season, he did see an increase during the first round of the playoffs last season, playing 20 minutes per contest against the Los Angeles Clippers. His time on the court regressed following the round behind 15 minutes per contest across five games played against the Denver Nuggets.
Josh Okogie’s return is something of a surprise. He’s likely worth near the full mid-level exception on the open market, but chose to return to the Suns for the vet minimum. Some of this may be loyalty to the club after they gave him a real shot after picking him up on a minimum contract as an unrestricted free agent from Minnesota.
Okogie is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and one of the best rebounders and shot blockers for his position. He generates a ton of steals and deflections and can do all of this at three positions. Okogie is only 24 and could still bring his shooting up from last year’s 33.5%. His value during a championship run depends on this. If he somehow manages to bring his 3-point percentage into the upper 30s, this becomes an A+.
- More from Arizona Sports
- More from Bright Side of the Sun
- Suns off to historically great start in free agency – Inside the Suns
Free agent guard Josh Okogie has reached an agreement to return to the Phoenix Suns, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 30, 2023
*****
YOUNG GIVEN SALARY GUARANTEE FROM RAPTORS FOR 2023-24
Veteran forward Thaddeus Young got good news on Friday when the Raptors opted to keep him on their roster rather than waiving him. Because he’s still under contract, Young’s $8MM salary for the 2023/24 season has become fully guaranteed, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). It was previously only partially guaranteed for $1MM.
Young didn’t initially look like a great bet to earn that full $8MM, since Toronto was facing a cap crunch and he didn’t play a major role in 2022/23. The 35-year-old, who appeared in 54 games for the Raptors last season, averaged just 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per night — all three numbers were career lows.
However, the Raptors gained significant cap flexibility when Fred VanVleet opted to leave Toronto for Houston in free agency. With no risk of surpassing the luxury tax threshold, the team opted to hang onto Young, whose expiring salary could come in handy in a trade at some point during the 2023/24 league year.
*****
FOUR FORMER JACKETS ON NBA SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTERS
While he did not get drafted, former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Ja’von Franklin finds himself in a favorable situation to start his NBA career, playing for the Miami Heat in the NBA’s Summer League this year. The Heat made their second NBA Finals appearance in four years and lost in five games to the Denver Nuggets.
Meanwhile, Jordan Usher landed a spot on the Phoenix Suns’ summer league roster following a successful first professional season in Turkey. Teammates Michael Devoe, who played for the Los Angeles Clippers’ G League team last season, and Moses Wright, who enjoyed a solid season in the Chinese Basketball Association, are competing in the NBA Summer League for Portland and Toronto, respectively.
Wishing our guys luck in NBA Summer League! 💪@Callmeush@mant12_@javonhooping@mdevoe0#ProJackets | #TogetherWeSwarm 🐝 pic.twitter.com/g3cYHERwiX
— Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball (@GTMBB) July 3, 2023
#𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐬 🎲
Catch our guys in action ⬇️🍿 pic.twitter.com/lih6VBvAel
— Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball (@GTMBB) July 7, 2023
#ProJackets on Social Media
FEAR is a CHOICE pic.twitter.com/9kHBA3apS8
— Michael Devoe (@mdevoe0) July 1, 2023
Seni seviyorum! tüm büyük beşiktaş taraftarlarına… salonu harika enerjinizle doldurun! yakında tekrar görüşebilir miyiz! https://t.co/FUhEhPclTu
— Jordan Usher (@Callmeush) July 3, 2023
Ja’von Franklin F
Georgia Tech24 yrs
6’7 215 lbs
Good passer for size
Not a shooter
Lengthy & bouncy
Energy/hustle
Played the 5
Catch and finish guy
4.7 ORB per 40 min
11.9 rb per 40 min
2.1 stls 2.4 blks per 40
Active and disruptive defensively
Highlight reel pic.twitter.com/r8HHpTezfo— COACH LU (@SaucyTakez) June 26, 2023
With Chimezie Metu’s recent commitment, Lakers guard Gabe Nnamdi Vincent & Suns guard Josh Okogie are considering joining Metu next month in Lagos for the Pre-Qualifying Olympic Tournament pic.twitter.com/UMqWSK2N6r
— D’Tigers | Nigeria Basketball (@NigeriaBasket) July 4, 2023
Now ,Travis Best is my heart! I love my guy ,He was the first that came and visited me when I came home from the hospital, @GTMBB He is a great 👍 pic.twitter.com/YJI7tUVhFA
— Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) July 5, 2023
A bad man ! With that basketball 🏀! @Mark25Price @cavs pic.twitter.com/rZmLOBM1dn
— Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) July 5, 2023
Another bad man ! @StarburyMarbury @GTMBB pic.twitter.com/xwWI37GhLs
— Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) July 5, 2023
Eurobasket #ProJackets Report
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-1993, played in 2014-16, plays pro in Uruguay) led Urunday to a victory over the league outsider Verdirrojo (0-6) 79-67 in a derby game in the Uruguayan Metropolitan (second division) on Tuesday night. He was MVP of the game. Mitchell scored 22 points, had 9 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 27 minutes. Urunday Universitario Montevideo (5-1) is placed second in the Metropolitan. It was his team’s third consecutive victory in a row. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Mitchell has relatively good stats this season 15.0ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.8apg and 1.8bpg.
Robert Sampson (6’8”-F-1992, played in 2013-13, plays in Vietnam) was the major contributor in a Nhatrang Dolphins’ victory against the league outsider Dragons (0-6) 88-77 in the Vietnamese VBA in Wednesday night’s game. He had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 12 rebounds. Sampson also added 4 blocks. Nhatrang Dolphins (4-2) is placed second in the VBA. The Regular Season already ended. Sampson has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages 22.3ppg, 17.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.7bpg and 1.7spg in six games he played so far. Sampson is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top summer league for players who want to play basketball overseas..
Other former Georgia Institute of Technology players, who play in pro basketball:
- Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-1995, played in 2014-18) plays for ALBA Berlin in German BBL
- Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-1992, played in 2015-16) plays for Bilbao in Spanish Liga Endesa
- Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-1998, played in 2016-18) plays for Phoenix Suns in the NBA
- Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-1988, played in 2006-07) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
- Jose Alvarado (6’0”-PG-1998, played in 2017-16) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
- Jordan Usher (6’7”-SF-1999, played in 2019-22) played for Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in Turkish BSL
- Avi Schafer (6’8”-C-1998, played in 2017-19) played for SeaHorses Mikawa in Japanese B1 League
- Moses Wright (6’9”-F-1998, played in 2017-21) played for Zhejiang Golden Bulls in Chinese CBA
- Joshua Heath (6’1”-PG-1994, played in 2014-17) played for Stella Artois Leuven Bears in Belgian Pro Basketball League
- James Banks III (6’10”-F/C-1998, played in 2018-20) played for Texas Legends in the NBA G League
- Trae Golden (6’3”-PG-1991, played in 2013-14) played for Beijing Royal Fighters in Chinese CBA
- Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-1995, played in 2017-19) played for Batumi in Georgian Superleague
- Anthony McHenry (6’8”-SF-1983, played in 2001-05) played for Shinshu BW in Japanese B1 League
- Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-1994, played in 2012-16) played for Kuwait in Kuwaiti D1
- Tadric Jackson (6’2”-G-1994, played in 2014-18) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Evan Jester (6’7”-F-1999, played in 2017-19) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-C-1994, played in 2014-15) signed for Sigortam.net in Turkish TBL
- Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-F-1991, played in 2009-12) plays for Power in the Big3
- Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-1988, played in 2007-10) played for Runa Basket in Russian Superleague 1
- Michael Devoe (6’5”-G-1999, played in 2018-22) played for Ontario Clippers in the NBA G League
The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Georgia Tech basketball alumni.
#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 |
