THE FLATS – Jose Alvarado is a one-of-a-kind menace … Thaddeus Young remains engaged despite lack of playing time … Josh Okogie and Suns’ off-season additions grade out well … Chris Bosh rolls off the Heat payroll … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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JOSE ALVARADO – ONE OF A KIND MENACE
The New Orleans Pelicans have started the 2022-23 season extremely well. While they were an offseason pick to surprise the established order by some, they have already won over some of the more casual fans with their star power, depth and the perception that they look like they are having fun out on the court.
They may have lost Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019, but at this point, you can now make a strong argument in the Pelicans’ favor. Would you rather have the bubble championship that the Lakers do or the avalanche of young talent and exciting prospects that the Pelicans boast? Only one of these options is set up for the next five years.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado will get his dues before long.
This writer is here to establish his spot on the Jose Alvarado bandwagon nice and early. If you’ve watched him play this season, you will know exactly what we’re talking about. Alvarado is a blur of speed, steals, solid defensive decision-making (despite usually giving up size) and severely underrated drives to the rim.
He’s been so good that the Pelicans have kept it rolling, despite missing the wrecking ball Williamson and Ingram for some of their wins so far. This isn’t all down Alvarado of course. General Manager David Griffin has done an exceptional job of turning a franchise that was viewed as a laughing stock at drafting players, into one that suddenly sees it as a strength.
Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones and this year’s lottery pick, Dyson Daniels are all steady contributors and provide real depth in New Orleans. Back to Jose Alvarado though, and he’s looking more and more like a real one-of-one player in the league. Just listen to this from teammate Murphy III;
JOSE ALVARADO PICKED LEBRON’S POCKET 🍪 pic.twitter.com/6m7tFp9N4x
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 3, 2022
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ALVARADO READY TO TAKE THINGS UP ANOTHER LEVEL
Not too long before New Orleans Pelicans fans started calling him “Grand Theft Alvarado,” Jose Alvarado found himself up against some immeasurable odds. The Brooklyn native was on a two-way deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and wasn’t seeing much action on the floor.
After going undrafted in 2021, the 6-0 guard out of Georgia Tech, who was splitting time between the Pels and their G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, kept telling himself that if he wasn’t going to play, just make sure that it felt like he was out there playing.
Do something that makes you impact the day, he’d say. Not just the game but the day.
That meant learning how to be impactful in other ways, even if he wasn’t on the court. Not only would he watch the game, but he’d study it, thinking critically about ways he would attack the defense if he was out there. Teammates like Brandon Ingram took notice and would ask him for his perspective.
lol Jose Alvarado. pic.twitter.com/BFkvsWM1X9
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) October 21, 2022
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RAPTORS’ YOUNG STAYING PROFESSIONAL DESPITE LACK OF PLAYING TIME
Like the rest of us, Thaddeus Young is a bit confused by his sporadic early-season usage.
After being acquired from San Antonio at last February’s trade deadline, the veteran forward was excited about what he could bring to the Raptors in his first full season with the club, and so was the team. In training camp, just a few weeks ago, the sense was that he would play a key role coming off the bench. That was his expectation when he re-signed with Toronto as an unrestricted free agent over the summer.
However, 10 days into the new campaign, that hasn’t been the case. Through the team’s first six games, Young has totalled 32 minutes. He’s yet to log more than 11 minutes in any contest and has played just five minutes over the last three games – a stretch that included two DNP-CDs (did not play – coach’s decision).
Young averaged 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds in 18.3 minutes over 26 games with the Raptors last season. His addition, along with the second-half emergence of Precious Achiuwa and Chris Boucher, helped stabilize Toronto’s bench, which had struggled early in the year. The plan was for Young to reprise the role he played late last season and into the playoffs, with him, Achiuwa, Boucher and off-season signee Otto Porter Jr. – who has been out with a hamstring strain and is yet to make his debut – forming the nucleus of the second unit.
Young pre-game interview before Raptors-Spurs 0n Wednesday
After signing a 2-year/ $16.3 million contract in the off-season, Thaddeus Young is averaging only 8 mins of play time this season
Young averaged 18.3 mins with 6.3 pts, 4.4 rebs, and 1.7 assts in 26 games with the Raptors last season
How do we feel about this Raps Nation? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/LsP2FuoZK2
— Toronto Raptors Reviewer Jake (@RaptorsComment) November 3, 2022
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SUNS OFF-SEASON PICKUPS GRADING OUT WELL
The Suns made a handful of low-key moves that have quietly paid off through their 5-1 start.
Phoenix picked up Josh Okogie and Damion Lee via free agency while also adding Jock Landale via trade.
None of those guys exactly grabbed headlines upon arrival, but Bleacher Report says they’ve done their job well through the early stages of the season, giving the Suns a B- for how their new additions have played thus far.
From Bleacher Report: Okogie has appeared in every game thus far but played more than four minutes just once. He’s an insurance option who will be called upon in defensive situations or if there’s an injury ahead of him on the depth chart.
Bismack Biyombo and Josh Okogie still getting work in over an hour after practice has ended pic.twitter.com/9VrY7MGtDV
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) October 29, 2022
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BOSH RECEIVES FINAL PAYMENT FROM HEAT
Former Miami Heat All-Star Chris Bosh received the last of his salary payments Tuesday.
Bosh had been receiving payments of $434,393 twice-monthly since Nov. 15, 2017.
NFL insider Adam Schefter reported this information, comparing it to the New York Mets paying Bobby Bonilla after his retirement.
A Bobby Bonilla-type deal ends: Former Miami Heat standout Chris Bosh will be paid the last of his 120, twice-monthly, $434,393 installments that started being paid to him Nov. 15, 2017 and are scheduled to end today, Nov. 1, 2022. Bosh last played in the ‘15-‘16 season. pic.twitter.com/S26vgqn6T0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2022
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