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Georgia Tech #ProJackets Basketball Report

Young and Raptors set for playoffs, Alvarado gets birthday love

THE FLATS – Mid-season trade gives Thaddeus Young a certain playoff berth … Birthday wishes pour in for Jose Alvarado … Derrick Favors says he will exercise option for 2021-22 … Michael Devoe and Jordan Usher participating in Portsmouth Invitational … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.

PLAYOFF PICTURE – Josh Okogie and the No. 7-seed Timberwolves were knocked out of the play-in tournament by the No. 8-seed Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday night … Alvarado and the No. 9-seed Pelicans won their first play-in game, 113-103, over San Antonio Wednesday night (read AJC recap here) and will take on the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night in L.A.  … Young and the No. 5-seed Raptors will take on the No. 4-seed Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs when they begin April 16.

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YOUNG KNEW RAPTORS WAS SPECIAL GROUP FROM DAY ONE

Newest Raptor Thaddeus Young discusses what makes this team special and unique, says we’re all interchangeable and versatile, and we figure out a way to wreak havoc on the other team and win games.

Listen on Sportsnet.ca

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MEET THAD YOUNG, THE NEWEST (AND OLDEST) RAPTOR

Thaddeus Young had his career-high in Toronto, dropping 32-points on the Raptors as a member of the Brooklyn Nets in 2010. But Young doesn’t remember that.

The 33-year-old veteran with 14 years of NBA experience across seven teams doesn’t worry about individual accolades. Instead, “the biggest thing I pay attention to is wins and losses,” Young says. “At the end of the day, are we winning basketball games? Are we losing basketball games? And if we are losing, how can we win basketball games?”

In other words, Young already has the Raptors’ mindset. And one look at his 6-foot-8 frame, 7-foot wingspan, and versatile style of play, it’s clear that he has the Raptors’ look as well.

That stylistic and cultural fit is why Young was so excited to learn that the Raptors had acquired him (and the Detroit Piston’s 2022 second-round pick) from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Goran Dragic and the Raptors’ lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick on the NBA’s Feb. 10 trade deadline. The trade represented a change of scenery for the Louisiana native, who had only appeared in three games for the rebuilding Spurs since the start of the new year. But more than that, it represented a unique opportunity for Young to join a team built around players similar to himself.

More from Complex.com

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WHY SIGNING JOSE ALVARADO WAS A GREAT MOVE FOR THE PELICANS

If you are wondering why Jose Alvarado is smiling, it’s because his pockets just got a whole lot fatter. The New Orleans Pelicans announced they were signing the undrafted guard to a four-year contract reportedly worth $6.5 million.

The energetic guard has been one of the Pelicans’ most reliable bench players, averaging 6.1 points, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game for New Orleans.

But numbers don’t really quantify his impact on the game, as his relentless defense, hustle and pace have been propelling the Pels’ bench for weeks and are things that don’t always show up in the traditional stats.

It may seem an odd move to sign another small guard to a roster that already has two (Kira Lewis Jr. and Devonte’ Graham) but keeping Alvarado for the foreseeable future was a smart move by the New Orleans Pelicans for several reasons.

More from PelicanDebrief.com

Pelicans post-season profile: Jose Alvarado

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BIRTHDAY TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR ALVARADO

His 24th birthday may wind up being the fondest one in the life of Jose Alvarado, as it comes on the heels of earning a four-year contract from the New Orleans Pelicans after going undrafted and beginning his professional career with a two-way contract from the organization. How well-liked has Alvarado become on his team and across the NBA? Take a look at the birthday wishes.

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FAVORS INDICATES HE’LL EXERCISE PLAYER OPTION WITH OKC

At Tuesday’s Thunder exit interviews, Derrick Favors announced his plans to exercise his player option and stay with the team for another season.

Favors is currently amidst a three-year, $29 million deal. His player option is worth around $10 million.

Standing at 6-foot-9, Favors has been a starter for the majority of his career, spending nine of the last ten seasons with the Utah Jazz, and arrived in OKC last summer.

Favors averaged 5.3 PPG and 4.7 RPG for Oklahoma City for the 2021-22 season. The 30-year-old played just 16 minutes per game in 39 games this season.

More from SI.com

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BANKS, WRIGHT LEADS LEGENDS INTO G LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

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DEVOE, USHER TAKING PART IN PORTSMOUTH INVITATIONAL

Michael Devoe and Jordan Usher accepted invitations to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a prominent pre-draft showcase event. The tournament is taking place April 13-16 in Portsmouth, Va.

The event typically draws players who likely won’t be drafted but who have the potential to make it to the NBA. For instance, of the 64 participants in the 2019 PIT (the event was not held in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19), four were drafted (all in the second round), but at least 16 have reached the NBA.

Devoe earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2021-22, finishing as the ACC’s third-leading scorer at 17.9 points per game while also averaging 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Usher averaged 14.8 points, a team-high 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Yellow Jackets this season.

In his first game for Norfolk Sports Club, a 78-67 win over Jen-King, Usher produced an Usher-like stat line with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal in 21 minutes.

Full team rosters


#ProJackets on Social Media

#PROJACKETS IN THE NBA/G LEAGUE IN 2024-25

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PLAYERDATANUMBERSTEAM
JOSE ALVARADO
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Number: 15
NBA Experience: 4th season
Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Status: Active		6-0, 179 lbs
2024-25 Stats
9.8 ppg
2.0 rpg
4.9 apg
39.4% FG
40.9% 3pt FG		Record: 12-32
Standing: 14th place, -24 GB
Streak: W4
Last 10: 7-3
JOSH OKOGIE
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Number: 12
NBA Experience: 7th season
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-18
Hometown: Snellville, Ga.
Status: Active		6-4, 213 lbs
2024-25 Stats
6.0 ppg
2.9 rpg
0.6 apg
47.5% FG
37.8% 3pt FG		Record: 11-28
Standing: 13th place, -23.5 GB
Streak: W3
Last 10: 4-6

Georgia Tech #ProJackets Eurobasket Report

Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC

Josh Heath (6’1”-PG-1994, graduated ‘2017, plays pro in Belgium) was the major contributor in a Stella Artois Leuven Bears’ victory against the closely-ranked Groningen (2-4) 88-83 in the BNXT League last Saturday. He scored 21 points, had 7 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 38 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Stella Artois Leuven Bears (5-1) is placed third in the BNXT League. It was his team’s fourth consecutive victory in a row. There are only four games left until the end of the BNXT League Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Heath has relatively good stats this year 14.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 6.3apg and 1.8spg in 24 games he played so far.

Experienced Alade Aminu (6’10”-F/C-1987, graduated ‘2009, plays in Iran) could not help Chemidor (18-2) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Aminu’s good performance the first-placed Chemidor (18-2) was edged85-84 on the road by the leading Gorgan in the Group E. He recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting 11 rebounds. Aminu also added 3 blocks and 3 steals. Aminu has relatively good stats this season 15.0ppg, 9.7rpg, 1.2apg and 1.6spg.

Avi Schafer (6’8”-C-1998, graduated ‘2019, currently in Japan), who plays in the Japanese B1 League was not able to help SeaHorses Mikawa (23-18) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the fourth-placed SeaHorses Mikawa (23-18) lost 84-90 in Shimane to the second-ranked Shimane SM in the West group. Schafer had a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 3 assists in 43 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only Schafer’s third season in pro basketball. This year Schafer averages 7.6ppg and 5.8rpg in 41 games. He is a naturalized Japanese.

Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-1988, graduated ‘2007, plays pro in the NBA) led Toronto Raptors to a 2-point victory against the Houston Rockets (20-62) 117-115 in the NBA last Friday. He recorded 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. The Toronto Raptors have 48-34 record this season. It was his team’s consecutive victory in a row. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. This season Young averages 6.1ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.7apg and 1.2spg.

Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-1988, graduated ‘2010, plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket (7-20) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the bottom-ranked Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket was badly defeated96-76 on the opponent’s court by the leading Gravelines-Dunkerque. Lawal was the top scorer with 23 points. He also added 7 rebounds in 21 minutes. It was Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket’s eighth consecutive loss in a row. Lawal has relatively good stats this year 13.7ppg and 6.2rpg in 27 games. He is a naturalized Nigerian.

Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-1998, graduated ‘2018, currently in the NBA), who plays in the NBA couldn’t help the Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his good performance the Minnesota Timberwolves were defeated 124-120 in Chicago by the Bulls. Okogie scored 13 points. This season Okogie averages 2.8ppg and 1.5rpg. He is a naturalized Nigerian.

Moses Wright (6’9”-F-1998, graduated ‘2021, plays pro in the NBA G League) couldn’t help the Texas Legends in their game against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League, despite his very good performance on Thursday night. He was the second best scorer with 25 points. Wright also added 7 rebounds in 30 minutes. But his team were badly defeated by 17 points 120-103 in the NBA G League. Wright has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages 22.2ppg, 9.9rpg, 1.6apg and 1.1bpg in 14 games.

Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-1992, graduated ‘2016, plays in Israel) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked SIG Strasbourg 93-75 in the Basketball Champions League on Wednesday night. Smith recorded 10 points. Smith has relatively good stats this season 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg and 2.7apg.

Jose Alvarado (6’0”-PG-1998, graduated ‘2021, currently in the NBA) couldn’t help the New Orleans Pelicans in their game against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA, despite his good performance on Sunday night. Alvarado scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 22 minutes. But his team were crushed by 21 points 128-107 in the NBA. This year Alvarado averages 6.1ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.8apg and 1.3spg in 54 games.

Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-1994, graduated ‘2016, plays pro in the NBA G League) couldn’t help the College Park SkyHawks in their game against the Capital City Go-Go in the NBA G League. Despite his very good performance in Tuesday night’s game He recorded 18 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals (made all of his six free throws). Georges-Hunt has relatively good stats this season 13.4ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.0apg and 1.1spg. He is a naturalized Virgin Islander.

Other former Georgia Institute of Technology players, who play in pro basketball:

  • Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-1995) plays for ALBA Berlin in German BBL
  • Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-1991) plays for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
  • Iman Shumpert (6’5”-G-1990) played for Brooklyn Nets in the NBA few months ago
  • Trae Golden (6’3”-PG-1991) plays for Fujian Sturgeons in Chinese CBA
  • Zachery Peacock (6’8”-F/C-1987) plays for FOS Provence Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
  • Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-F-1991) plays for M.Haifa in Israeli National League
  • Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-1995) plays for Decin in Czech Republic NBL
  • James Banks III (6’10”-F/C-1998) plays for Texas Legends in the NBA G League
  • Kammeon Holsey (6’8”-F-1990) played for College Park SkyHawks in the NBA G League
  • Daniel Miller (6’11”-C-1991) plays for Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo in Japanese B1 League
  • Anthony McHenry (6’8”-SF-1983) plays for Shinshu BW in Japanese B1 League
  • James White (6’9”-F-1993) played for Mauricio Baez in Dominican Rep. TBS last year
  • Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-1993) plays for Chihuahua Dorados in Mexican LBE
  • Will Bynum (6’0”-PG-1983) played for Bivouac in the Big3 last year
  • Shembari Phillips (6’3”-G-1997) plays for EPG Baskets Koblenz in German ProB
  • Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-F-1994) plays for I.Ramat Gan in Israeli National League
  • Robert Sampson (6’8”-F-1992) plays for Yamaguchi in Japanese B3 League
  • Evan Jester (6’7”-F-1999) plays for New Bayazet in Armenian Caucasus BL
  • Jarrett Jack (6’3”-G-1983) played for Trilogy in the Big3 last year