THE FLATS –Derrick Favors signs a free agent contract with Utah, where he spent nine seasons … The NBA Draft has passed and free agency has begun with no movement for former Yellow Jackets Thaddeus Young and Josh Okogie with the Bulls and Timberwolves, respectively.
This week’s #ProJackets Report compiles more of the latest news, stories and social media posts on former Jackets and their activities of the past week.
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FAN FAVORITE FAVORS RETURNS TO UTAH
From The Athletic: Favors valued his time with the New Orleans Pelicans. He was traded there by the Jazz in the summer of 2019, when Utah went on a free-agency spree that included signing Bojan Bogdanovic and trading for point guard Mike Conley. He fit in well in New Orleans, as a starter on the floor and as a mainstay veteran in a youthful locker room. At the same time, Favors missed the Jazz. He missed the relationships he built over almost a decade. He missed being coached by Snyder, who had gained his respect and trust.
From UtahJazz.com: The 29-year-old rejoins the Jazz after spending nine seasons with Utah from 2010-19. During those years, he averaged 12.1 points on 52.6 percent from the field, 7.4 boards and 1.2 assists in 26.3 minutes per contest. The Atlanta native ranks fourth in all-time Jazz rebounds (4,250), offensive rebounds (1,448) and field goal percentage (.526), as well as fifth in defensive rebounds (2,802), seventh in blocks (772) and field goals (2,821) and 10th in games played (576).
From the Salt Lake Tribune: If it seemed like Derrick Favors’ decision to rejoin the Utah Jazz was a pretty instantaneous one after free agency opened up this past Friday, well, that’s just not accurate.
He and his agent talked it over for at least five minutes — maybe even 10.
Still, while a few other teams reached out to him both before and after Dennis Lindsey, Justin Zanik and Quin Snyder rang him up for a group confab, and while he did seriously consider their offers, there ultimately wasn’t too much thinking to be done about it on his end.
Happy thanksgiving!!! It’s a lot to be thankful about
— Derrick Favors (@dfavors14) November 26, 2020
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WHAT DO WOLVES DRAFTING OF EDWARDS AND SIGNING OF BEASLEY MEAN FOR OKOGIE?
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted former Georgia star Anthony Edwards No. 1 overall and signed free agent guard Malik Beasley, which adds to the Wolves perimeter depth with the team’s last two first-round picks, Josh Okogie and Jarrett Culver, still on the roster.
From Dunking with Wolves: None of those players stand above 6-foot-5, and it’s not realistic to play Edwards at the 4 right out of the gate in the NBA. Could this be an option for a closing lineup, or at least a five-man group that could run with the best small-ball lineups in the league? Absolutely, and that’s undoubtedly what Gersson Rosas and Ryan Saunders are thinking.
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OKOGIE SHOULD BE A BUILDING BLOCK FOR WOLVES
Jack Borman of Canis Hoopus makes the case that Josh Okogie should be a building block, not on the trading block, for the Minnesota Timberwolves, writing “ In his first two seasons in the NBA, he has struggled to find his footing on the offensive end of the floor, particularly from behind the arc. Through 136 games, the Lagos, Nigeria native has shot a meager 27.4 percent from downtown; last season, Okogie shot just 27.6 percent in unguarded catch-and-shoot situations, which entrenched him in the 13th percentile, among some of the league’s worst shooters. However, there is reason to believe that Okogie’s shooting will improve in his third season. In August, Okogie spent a week working with one of the NBA’s most sought-after private trainers, Chris Matthews, a.k.a “Lethal Shooter.”
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#ProJackets on Social Media
Happy Thanksgiving World!!!
— Thad Young (@yungsmoove21) November 26, 2020
PT Life!#GetBetterFeelBetterPlayBetter pic.twitter.com/0ZOSONKHGh
— Dennis 3D Scott (@Dennis3DScott) November 25, 2020
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Best performing former Georgia Tech players in pro basketball last week
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-95, graduated ’18, plays pro in Germany) led his German team ALBA Berlin to an easy victory against the league outsider Khimki (2-8) crushing them 100-80 in the Euroleague last Thursday. He scored 18 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 20 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only Lammers’ third season in pro basketball. ALBA Berlin (3-6) is placed 14th in the Euroleague. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. This year Lammers averages 9.2ppg, 4.4rpg and 1.2bpg in nine games he played so far.
Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-93, graduated ’16, plays in Uruguay) led Nacional to a victory against the leader Aguada (2-0) 97-91 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB on Tuesday night. Mitchell recorded 13 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Places 1-6. Nacional De Futbol Montevideo (3-2) is placed third. It was his team’s third consecutive victory in a row. This season Mitchell averages 8.8ppg and 5.6rpg.
Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-92, graduated ’16, currently in Greece) led Ionikos Nikaias to a victory over one of league’s weakest teams Lavrio (0-3) 91-81 in the Greek A1 in Sunday night’s game. Smith was MVP of the game. He scored 18 points and added 6 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) in 33 minutes. AO Ionikos Nikaias (1-4) is placed ninth in the A1. It was his team’s first victory after four consecutive loses. But the season just started, so everything may happen. Smith has relatively good stats this year 14.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 5.2apg and 1.4spg in five games.
Daniel Miller (6’11”-C-91, graduated ’14, plays pro in Japan) was the major contributor in a Sendai 89ers’ victory against the second-ranked FE Nagoya (9-7) 76-58 in the Japanese B2 League last Sunday. Miller scored 14 points, had 9 rebounds, passed 5 assists and added 2 blocks. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group East. Sendai 89ers (12-4) are placed second. It was his team’s fourth consecutive victory in a row. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Miller has relatively good stats this season 12.1ppg, 9.9rpg, 4.3apg, 1.3bpg and 1.2spg.
James Banks (6’10”-F/C-98, graduated ’20, plays in Israel) managed to help Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva in a victory against one of league’s weakest teams Ironi Nahariya (0-4) crushing them 104-80 in the Israeli Winner League on Saturday night. Banks scored only 2 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 22 minutes. Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (3-1) is placed fifth in the Winner League. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This year Banks averages 3.0ppg, 4.0rpg and 2.8bpg in four games.
Other former Georgia Tech players who play in pro basketball:
- Zachery Peacock (6’8”-C-87) plays for JL Bourg Basket in French Jeep ELITE ProA
- Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-91) signed for Utah Jazz in the NBA
- Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-98) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
- Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-88) plays for Chicago Bulls in the NBA
- Trae Golden (6’3”-PG-91) signed for Fujian Sturgeons in Chinese CBA
- Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-G/F-91) played for Juventus in Lithuanian LKL
- Avi Schafer (6’8”-C-98) signed for SeaHorses Mikawa in Japanese B1 League
- Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-94) signed for Jiangsu Nangang Dragons Nanjing in Chinese CBA
- Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-F-94) signed for Maccabi Ashdod/Be’er Tuvia in Israeli National League
- Kammeon Holsey (6’8”-F-90) played for Mykolaiv in Ukrainian Superleague
- Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-88) played for Fukuoka Rizing in Japanese B2 League
- Joshua Heath (6’2”-PG-94) plays for Stella Artois Leuven Bears in Belgian Euromillions League
- Anthony McHenry (6’8”-SF-83) plays for Shinshu BW in Japanese B1 League
- Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-95) played for Team Ehingen Urspring in German ProA
- Robert Sampson (6’8”-F-92) signed for Focsani in Romanian Liga Nationala
- Evan Jester (6’7”-F-99) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
Notice: 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 |
