THE FLATS – Chris Bosh earned raves reviews for his enshrinement speech Saturday at the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony … James Banks III gets invite to Pelicans’ training camp … What’s in store for Thaddeus Young and Derrick Favors with their new teams? … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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CHRIS BOSH HOF SPEECH WAS MASTER CLASS IN CLOSURE
Chris Bosh stole the show Saturday at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony, though it was hard to shake the thought that he shouldn’t have been there at all.
Of course, the Olympic gold medalist, two-time champion and 11-time all-star was a deserving selection. While Bosh was subjected to mockery and nitpicking throughout his prime — chatter that was largely influenced by his decision to team up with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the Miami Heat — there was no debating his worthiness. The Texas native averaged 20 points per game six times, served as a franchise player for the Toronto Raptors and made an effortless transition to become an ideal third wheel for the Heat.
Read more in the Washington Post
- Respect the name: Why soon-to-be Hall of Famer Chris Bosh is Dallas’ best basketball player ever – Dallas Morning News, September 10, 2021
- A man for all seasons: Chris Bush was everything and anything he needed to be – Heat.com, September 10, 2021
- Chris Bosh took unique path to Hall of Fame, but he arrives at peace – Miami Herald, September 9, 2021
Chris Bosh spoke on turning setbacks into strengths during his @Hoophall induction speech! 💯 pic.twitter.com/aYcok6vy7Y
— NBA (@NBA) September 14, 2021
A new ring and jacket for a Georgia Tech great, Chris Bosh as he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. 🐝🏀 #21HoopClass pic.twitter.com/HCbZQSkPuB
— Georgia Tech (@GeorgiaTech) September 14, 2021
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JAMES BANKS III INVITED TO PELICANS TRAINING CAMP
The Pelicans signed free agent guard Jared Harper and big man James Banks III to training camp deals (Twitter link), according to Hoops Rumors.
Banks went undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2020 after making the ACC All-Defensive Team in both his junior and senior seasons. The 6’10” center spent his first professional season in Israel with Hapoel Be’er Sheva, then suited up for the Cavaliers at the Las Vegas Summer League last month.
Both Harper and Banks will be on Exhibit 10 deals, which will make them candidates to join the Birmingham Squadron – New Orleans’ G League team – if they don’t earn spots on the Pelicans’ 17-man regular season squad. In that scenario, they’d be eligible for bonuses worth up to $50K in addition to their NBAGL salaries.
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THE ARGUMENT FOR TRADING THADDEUS YOUNG
Veteran forward Thaddeus Young was recently acquired by the San Antonio Spurs in the sign-and-trade that sent DeMar DeRozan to the Chicago Bulls. While his inclusion was necessary in addition to Al-Farouq Aminu and draft picks due to his salary, Young is also a valuable asset. The 14-year NBA veteran played well last season, providing the Bulls with both offensive and defensive versatility.
The Spurs appear to finally be in a full rebuild, and while having a veteran like Young can certainly help a young team win, it can also be counterproductive. San Antonio should look to focus on developing their young talent and less on wins this coming season. While they aren’t going to “tank” next season, winning fewer games would help the Spurs get a higher pick in next year’s draft. Trading Young would be a quick way to accomplish both of these tasks.
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FAVORS SET TO SEE EXPANDED ROLE WITH THUNDER
One of Oklahoma City’s most senior players, Derrick Favors is yet again set to see plenty of starts, this time in a bit of a different role.
At 6-foot-9, Favors primarily plays power forward, but will be used as a center for the upcoming season by the Thunder.
At 30-year-old Favors was acquired along with a future first-round draft pick from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a 2027 second-round draft pick and cash considerations. He spent nine of his last ten seasons with the Jazz.
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