THE FLATS – Jose Alvarado (Pelicans), Josh Okogie (Suns) and Thaddeus Young (Raptors) open the 2022-23 season NBA rosters … Derrick Favors opens 2022-23 season as a free agent after being released by the Rockets … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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ALVARADO CHANNELS TONY PARKER
Jose Alvarado topped 20 points just once in 54 games during his NBA rookie season, dropping a career-high 23 against the San Antonio Spurs last March.
In his four years at Georgia Tech, Alvarado amassed 29 points on three separate occasions, once as a sophomore and twice as a senior.
In the Pelicans second pre-season win, Alvarado came within a bucket of breaking into the 30-point plateau, finishing with 28 points on a stellar 12 for 18 shooting performance from the field.
The New Orleans Pelicans hung on to beat a Detroit Pistons team determined to eke out a victory by a final score of 107-101, but it was Alvarado’s play that had his coaches and teammates buzzing in postgame.
“Jose is hard to describe, but you just know he’s going to bring that passion and energy to the game that you would want to see from anybody,” Zion Williamson said. “He knows how to make himself a threat. Don’t let him fool y’all, he just had 28 (points) and how many rebounds? Five? He’s doing this off the bench. We have a special group.”
Alvarado’s incredible shotmaking from among the trees clearly stood out in New Orleans second preseason win. The 6’0 point guard connected on nine of 12 shots inside the lane, beating Piston defenders with a dizzying array of spins, floaters and just some good old-school savviness.
Knowledgable fans might say that this type of display is reminiscent of Tony Parker. Well, that’s precisely who played at least some part in making Friday night a reality.
Jose Alvarado was getting to the cup in the @PelicansNBA #NBAPreseason win!@AlvaradoJose15: 28 PTS, 5 REB 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4ddWkMImkt
— NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2022
Jose said he DM’d @TonyParker during the summer to ask about working out with him. Parker responded right away, and they met up in San Antonio.
“If the year keeps going like this, I will definitely be hitting his phone next year.” pic.twitter.com/GvoykxESTf
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 8, 2022
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ALVARADO ON STARTING THE SEASON IN NEW YORK
Jose Alvarado begins his second season with the New Orleans Pelicans in New York. He talks about it following practice Tuesday.
Alvarado October 18 media availability
https://youtu.be/GtARvRk6qSw
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FAVORS WAIVED BY HOUSTON ROCKETS
Former Oklahoma City Thunder center Derrick Favors will seek a new home to continue his career after he was waived by the Houston Rockets, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Favors was sent to the Rockets in the massive eight-player trade in late September. The 31-year-old was owed $10.2 million this season after picking up his player option during the offseason.
The move comes hours after former Thunder guard Theo Maledon, who was also part of the eight-player trade, signed a two-way deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
Favors is entering his 13th season in the league and spent last season with the Thunder, where he averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 39 games.
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YOUNG FINISHES PRE-SEASON STRONG
Thaddeus Young had four points (2-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt), eight rebounds, one assist and one steal in 19 minutes during Friday’s 137-134 victory over Boston.
Young signed a two-year contract with the Raptors during the offseason, a strange move in the eyes of many. The team certainly has a plethora of options in the frontcourt, meaning Young is unlikely to play more than about 18 minutes per night. While he has very little chance of putting up fantasy-relevant numbers, he is a name to tuck away should a larger role open up at some point.
Young October 18 media availability
2022-23 RAPTORS
THADDEUS YOUNG@yungsmoove21
“THA-GIC JOHNSON” pic.twitter.com/X3v2gZ5HUt— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 16, 2022
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OKOGIE SUITS UP IN PRE-SEASON FINALE AFTER INJURY
Monday night’s clash against the Denver Nuggets saw Josh Okogie in a Phoenix Suns jersey for the first time. The defensive-minded wing was signed to a minimum deal in free agency, before battling a slight hamstring issue early in training camp.
Okogie joins the Suns having had a strange opening four years in Minnesota, with his production levels decreasing almost season on season. Clearly Phoenix believe they can provide a tweak to his horrific three-point shooting, while utilizing the defensive attributes that have kept him in the league.
Devin Booker and Josh Okogie working out of the post. #Suns pic.twitter.com/gE0ecLq4OK
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 15, 2022
Devin Booker, Josh Okogie and Cameron Payne working.
Remember, Payne is a lefty with the right finger sprain. #Suns pic.twitter.com/jQ7wviABA0
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 15, 2022
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