THE FLATS – Player review for restricted free agent Thaddeus Young… Jose Alvarado continues media tour during NBA playoffs … Jordan Usher, Michael Devoe continue pre-draft workouts … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
*****
PLAYER REVIEW: THADDEUS YOUNG
It only took 15 years — an eternity in the NBA landscape — but Thaddeus Young (overwhelming positive) finally found his way to the Toronto Raptors via a perfect trade with the San Antonio Spurs that saw the much maligned Goran Dragic (gaping negative) finally shipped out to a Texas locale that wasn’t on his list of choices. This isn’t about Masai Ujiri, but wow, shoutout to Masai forever.
Though I loathe to digress when it comes to ragging on Dragic or praising Masai, this is all about Thad, who comported himself immaculately and seemed to relish in the role of “Ultimate Veteran Presence”, the UVP as it were. Having said that, the Toronto Raptors were not short on strong voices in their locker room during the 2021-2022 season. They featured recent graduate of the Kyle Lowry School of the Absolute Hardest Knocks, Fred VanVleet and the fearless, lead by example, multiple All-NBA wunderkind, Pascal Siakam. Rambunctious Rookie of the Year, Scottie Barnes was no doubt a “heard commodity” in the locker room as well, but there is something to be said for the quiet, sage-wisdom of the “old head,” hard knocks, seen it all, been-there-before leadership of a guy like Young. A guy who Raptors fans have been clamouring to have on the squad since his early days in Philly.
Daddy ❤️ @yungsmoove21 pic.twitter.com/jbdNnt0F7D
— Shekinah Young (@Mrs___Young21) April 8, 2022
*****
THADDEUS YOUNG IN RESTRICTED FREE AGENCY
For all but two teams, the 2021-22 NBA season is over, which means two of the biggest dates on the calendar are coming up. The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23, and, a week later — June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, to be exact — marks the official beginning of free agency.
Cap space has gone out of style recently, as more stars have changed teams via trade rather than hitting the open market. There will still, however, be some signings (or sign-and-trades) that qualify as game-changers. Thaddeus Young is reviewed among 45 players who might be available:
“The Raptors moved down in the draft in order to get Young and his Bird rights at the deadline. At 6-9, with length and the ability to guard multiple positions, he is their type. He both contributed to and was harmed by their poor spacing, though, and this resulted in him struggling to finish around the rim. Still a smart passer and cutter, and still making those little flip shots.”
*****
ALVARADO RESPONDS TO CLAIM THAT HIS STYLE IS RUINING GAME
Jose Alvarado is apparently the next Stephen Curry. Just like the superstar from the Golden State Warriors, the New Orleans Pelicans rookie is having an impact on how young hoopers play the game. Instead of doing it with shooting, he did it with his defense.
Jeff Willis, an assistant coach from the University of Northwestern Ohio men’s basketball team, tweeted that he saw dozens of AAU players try Alvarado’s trick of hiding in the corner and stealing the ball on the inbounds pass before it was even the late afternoon. He suggested that it had ruined AAU basketball but the Pelicans guard suggested otherwise.
Alvarado’s propensity for stealing the ball earned him the nickname “Grand Theft Alvarado” and made him a favorite among Pelicans fans. His staunch defense made him a pest to play against, as Chris Paul certainly learned during the NBA playoffs. The Pheonix Suns’ star was hounded relentlessly and agitated by Alvarado’s defensive intensity. New Orleans was a major beneficiary of his willingness to do the dirty work.
Not ruined 😂😂😂 https://t.co/DdwumhvKfl
— Jose Alvarado (@AlvaradoJose15) May 29, 2022
*****
ALVARADO CONTINUES MEDIA TOUR DURING PLAYOFFS
The New Orleans Pelicans will be well-represented in this year’s NBA Finals coverage. CJ McCollum is joining ESPN and Jose Alvarado will get to continue his NBA Playoffs media tour by appearing on Stadium’s NBA Final preview show with Shams Charania.
Alvarado’s star turn has captured the attention of the hoops world. He fought through four years of ACC ball then went undrafted. Alvarado’s rookie season began in Birmingham but he ended the year closing out NBA Playoffs games.
His efforts did not go unrewarded. His two-way contract was converted to a full four-year deal and he ended the year averaging 15.4 minutes, 6.1 points, and 2.8 assists in 54 regular-season games. His play against Chris Paul earned him All-Rookie Team votes. He plans on winning Defensive Player of the Year awards someday.
“One day I think he’ll win MVP.”@AlvaradoJose15 gave @ShamsCharania his thoughts on teammate Brandon Ingram pic.twitter.com/fqYHKXrNKe
— Stadium (@Stadium) May 31, 2022
Our @ATT NBA Finals Preview did BIG numbers on Twitter this year with nearly 600k viewers, up from 44k the previous year.
What a lineup! @Stadium pic.twitter.com/ZpUp8R5jsR
— Anthony Mazzuca (@Mazzuca87) June 3, 2022
*****
USHER BRINGS “CRAZY ENERGY” TO JAZZ PRE-DRAFT WORKOUT
The afternoon workout featured Michigan guard Eli Brooks, Illinois guard Austin Hutcherson, Miami (Fla.) guards Kameron McGusty and Charlie Moore, Bowling Green State wing Daeqwon Plowden, and Georgia Tech wing Jordan Usher.
As a senior, he averaged 14.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He’s also made substantial progress in his shooting, going from 20.5% on 3s as a redshirt sophomore to 34.2% as a senior.
He also brought some off-the-charts energy to his media session.
Asked if he felt like he was being overlooked in the draft process, he replied: “I mean, yeah. I’m from Atlanta, I’m from the South — I got a chip on my shoulder all the time! I’ve always been underestimated. I wasn’t the highest-touted kid coming out of middle school, high school, college, whatever, but I stayed down for a long time to come up in a great way. God’s gonna shine his light on me on the right time!”
Jordan Usher’s desire shines through after Jazz host two pre-draft workout sessions https://t.co/NJRDIwNYZD pic.twitter.com/eyhFxjR03I
— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) June 2, 2022
*****
DEVOE WORKS OUT FOR UTAH JAZZ, LAKERS
Sunday morning saw the Utah Jazz host their second session of pre-draft workouts, with six more players visiting Zions Bank Basketball Campus.
This latest group was composed entirely of guards and wings: BYU’s Gideon George, Jules Bernard of UCLA, Michael Devoe of Georgia Tech, Omari Moore of San Jose State, Malachi Smith of Chattanooga, and Donovan Williams of UNLV.
The Jazz do not presently have a pick in the 2022 NBA draft (to be held June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn), but are doing their usual due diligence, in the event that they should acquire picks, or simply sign some undrafted rookie free agents.
Footage of Georgia Tech’s Michael Devoe from the Excel Pro Day. Devoe, an All-ACC player, was named MVP of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament last month. Has great size for the guard spot at 6’5 with a 6’7 wingspan. pic.twitter.com/5NS17F535z
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 23, 2022
