THE FLATS – Jose Alvarado earns rave reviews for his rookie season … Thaddeus Young has earned respect in Toronto, but will new contract come … Michael Devoe invited to G League Elite camp … What’s next for Derrick Favors in OKC? … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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PELICANS ROOKIE REVIEW: RISING STAR ALVARADO
Jose Alvarado can do more than shoot. In fact, Alvarado’s value to the team and effect on the crowd goes well past what is happening on the court. That’s why the New Orleans Pelicans converted his two-way contract into a four-year, $6.5 million deal. They believe Alvarado can be the supporting guard CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson need in the NBA Playoffs.
Alvarado’s confident competitiveness is infectious. He led the Birmingham Squadron before moving to the end of the Pelicans’ bench. His energy and positive attitude were obvious even during games in which he did not play. It did not take long for Willie Green to put that energy to good use, unleashing Alvarado’s full-court press on the NBA in January.
The hope is the playoff series against Phoenix Suns was Alvarado’s star turn. He was closing out playoff wins and even snuck up for the ‘GTA’ steal in Game 4 after Paul waved him off in Game 1. Alvarado hounding Chris Paul into 8-second violations and a flagrant foul for lashing out. Alvarado made Paul, one of the greatest ever, that uncomfortable in a first-round series.
Love & Gratitude ❤️#PelsOnSocial 📲
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) May 5, 2022
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ROOKIE MOTHERS REFLECT ON YEAR 1
Odilia Martinez was only 16 when she had Jose Alvarado.
She wasn’t about to let him become a statistic.
He beat all the odds, going from undrafted player out of Georgia Tech to a fan favorite in the Big Easy almost overnight.
“I’m super proud of him,” Martinez said. “He fulfilled everything I couldn’t. I paused after having him.”
Martinez saw a lot of the same things in her son that Pelicans’ fans have seen all season. He was just as wired up as a kid as he is now on the court. He would stand up in class while doing his schoolwork because he just didn’t like sitting down in a desk. She became president of the PTA to make sure she was more involved.
“He was so fidgety and just couldn’t be at a place too long,” she said with a laugh. “He hasn’t really changed much, other than his persona. I’m proud of the gentleman he has become.”
More from NOLA.com (subsciption required)
Alvarado talks championship if Zion Williamson returns (Pelicans Scoop)
“Grand theft Alvarado!”@AlvaradoJose15 got the steal on @TheJetOnTNT in Studio J 🤣 pic.twitter.com/potDB1PTvC
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 10, 2022
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ALVARADO VOWS TO WIN DPOY HONOR
All Jose Alvarado did during his first season in the NBA is go from undrafted free agent playing on a two-way deal to someone with a four-year contract hounding Chris Paul in the playoffs.
The New Orleans Pelicans guard isn’t setting limits on what he can do as his career continues, as one of his goals is to win the Defensive Player of the Year award:
Anyone who watched the Pelicans push the top-seeded Phoenix Suns to six games in the first round would be hard-pressed to argue with him. He came off the bench in all six contests and consistently changed the energy with full-court pressure and persistent defense on Paul and Co.
Speak it into existence 🗣 @AlvaradoJose15 pic.twitter.com/STjLCd221h
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 5, 2022
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YOUNG HAS EARNED MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT WITH RAPTORS
The Toronto Raptors raised some eyebrows when they acquired Thad Young from the San Antonio Spurs right before the trade deadline. Giving up a first-round pick for a 33-year-old power forward on a team loaded with power forwards caught some fans a bit off-guard.
After just a few months in Toronto, Young has quickly become one of the most beloved players on the team. Providing an excellent veteran component to a squad that doesn’t have anyone else older than 30, Young’s sagely advice has played an enormous role in getting Toronto prepared for the postseason.
Young came to play in two of his more critical games against the Philadelphia 76ers, as he recorded 13 points in a Game 4 victory and made some big defensive stops in Game 5. He was one of Toronto’s primary weapons when it came to making sure that Joel Embiid was kept in check.
#21 Thaddeus Young⁰⁰
A late season addition, was interesting to see and photograph how he became a key member of the rotation.⁰ The way he defended earned him a lot of fans! pic.twitter.com/DGBO1fZeUt— Steve Russell (@SteveRussell) May 7, 2022
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WHAT’S NEXT FOR FAVORS IN OKC?
Derrick Favors was having fun in Las Vegas last summer when he got a call from his agent around 11 p.m. or midnight. Favors, who had spent parts of 10 seasons with the Jazz, had been salary dumped in a trade to the Thunder.
“At first it was kind of a tough thing to deal with,” Favors said before the season, “but right now I’m all in on it … I just want to help them out as much as I can, for however long I’m here.”
Favors stuck to his word.
The 30-year-old center, who played a contributing role on good Jazz teams, was used intermittently on a rebuilding Thunder squad before he was shut down for the last month-plus of the season with lower back soreness.
What’s next for Derrick Favors after first season with OKC Thunder? ‘I enjoy being in this atmosphere’ https://t.co/n9t7Xl21ic
— ThunderXtra (@ThunderXtra) May 6, 2022
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FAVORS-INGLES TWITTER EXCHANGE LEAVES JAZZ FANS EMOTIONAL
Joe Ingles and Derrick Favors were undoubtedly two fan favorites during their years together with the Utah Jazz, and their pick-and-roll combination was incredibly effective on the court.
Those two things collided Monday night during a Twitter exchange that ended up leaving a bunch of Jazz fans emotionally longing for the past.
It all started Monday morning when the Oklahoma City Thunder, Favors’ current team, posted a video of Favors breaking down a pick and roll involving him and Australian rookie teammate Josh Giddey, which gave the Thunder their first win of last season.
More from the Deseret News
I would agree @dfavors14!! 😂🤝 https://t.co/uAD0etnDVA
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) May 10, 2022
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DEVOE GETS G LEAGUE ELITE CAMP INVITE; USHER IN L.A.
Life is getting busier for Michael Devoe. Since being named the MVP if the Portsmouth Invitational in April, the senior guard has worked out for the Atlanta Hawks and gone through Georgia Tech commencement with his bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Now, he has the same opportunity that his teammate Jose Alvarado received to bolster his pre-draft exposure with an invitation to the NBA G League Elite Camp. He is one of 44 draft prospects who will attend the same May 16 and 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Alvarado benefitted from the opportunity to sign a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, and later, receive a four-year contract from the club.
The 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp gives draft prospects an opportunity to display their skills in front of NBA and NBA G League scouts, coaches and front-office executives over the course of the camp by playing in five-on-five games and participating in strength and agility drills.
Based on performance, select players from the NBA G League Elite Camp will be invited to participate in Microsoft Surface NBA Draft Combine 2022, which will be held May 18-22 at Wintrust Arena.
NBA players that have participated in past NBA G League Elite Camps not only include Alvarado, but also Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett, LA Clippers guard Terance Mann and Miami Heat guard Max Strus.
NBA Draft Room has Devoe listed No. 61, on the bubble, in its draft projection.
More from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Working out for the #LakeShow today: Jordan Usher@Callmeush x @GTMBB pic.twitter.com/RwMC0TWtAZ
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 10, 2022
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