THE FLATS – Josh Okogie continues to earn respect and playing time with the Suns … Thaddeus Young thinks now is a good time for a toad trip for the Raptors … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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OKOGIE CONTINUES EARNING RESPECT, PLAYING TIME IN PHOENIX
Josh Okogie isn’t the most notable name on the Phoenix Suns. but he’ll be damned if he won’t hustle harder than anybody on a basketball court.
The fifth-year veteran averages a mere 6.1 points per game and has started a combined seven games since the beginning of the 2021-22 season. He was acquired via free agency this past offseason after four years with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Okogie joined a rather deep roster that was entering this season two years removed from a 2021 NBA Finals run and fresh off a 64 win season, yet fast-forward to present day: The Suns have had damn near everybody hurt through a season that has tested everybody through the organization.
Okogie’s known for his defensive tenacity and hustle, yet it was his scoring output off the bench that helped Phoenix propel themselves to a 112-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
“It’s always been a dream since I was a little kid. And now that I’m here, you know, I never take it for granted.”
🗣️ Josh Okogie reflects on his time in the league following his big game tonight. pic.twitter.com/AMQhYVUVg6
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 22, 2023
Josh Okogie tonight:
24 points
10 rebounds
4 assists
4 blocks
54% FGMasked Okogie is different 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0vOnq8HD5Y
— Soap (@NBASoap) January 22, 2023
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RAPTORS SHOULD NOT TRADE YOUNG
Writes Mike Luciano of Raptors Rapture…
These three assets should consider themselves safe, as there is no way that the Raptors can get good future value back for them in a trade. This trio still has a part to play as Toronto looks to either finish out the year on a high note or tank for the best pick available.
If the Raptors want to sell off some of the “Vision 6-9” assets and retool to a less power-forward-oriented approach, trading Chris Boucher might be a better way to accomplish that goal. Not only will he recoup more assets in a potential trade, but Young has proven to be the type of experienced glue guy this team needs.
Young has been absent from the rotation in the last few games, but he had some very nice moments against Minnesota and was held in such high regard earlier in the season that Nurse was starting him at center. Are we supposed to believe that he has forgotten how to play basketball and make winning plays in that span?
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YOUNG: IT’S A GREAT TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP
Raptors forward Thaddeus Young discusses the state of the team, why he thinks the timing of Toronto’s longest road trip is good and more.
THADDEUS YOUNG: What’s up, y’all? What’s up, what’s up?
– You’ve been on a few of these long trips over the years. How much do you think you guys can learn about yourselves on a tough, long West Coast trip like this?
THADDEUS YOUNG: I mean, we can learn a lot, you know, just from the simple fact of it’s such a long trip– we’re going to spend a lot of time together. We get a lot of chances to fight through adversity together without all of the extra distractions of being home and stuff like that. So for us it’s obviously a business trip. We just watched a film session of basically, like, you know, how well we were playing defensively last year and some of the effort plays and stuff like that, and we bring that same intensity that we had in that tape to each and every game. We put ourselves in a position to win this whole trip.
Thaddeus Young wants the Raptors to find their identity again. It starts on the defensive end 😤 pic.twitter.com/ybHhnOPMoK
— Yahoo Sports Canada (@YahooCASports) January 25, 2023
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DERRICK FAVORS RETURNS TO FREE AGENCY
Center/forward Derrick Favors has returned to free agency following the expiration of his 10-day contract last weekend with the Hawks, per the RealGM transactions report.
Favors, 31, is 6-foot-9 and signed his 10-day deal with the Hawks back on Jan. 11, but did not appear in a game.
He was waived by the Rockets back in October, after being acquired in a trade with the Thunder — who acquired him early in the offseason from the Jazz.
Derrick Favors Returns to Free Agency https://t.co/shFcjdAMJy pic.twitter.com/SYaPxih00Y
— Hoops Wire (@WireHoops) January 24, 2023
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ALVARADO GOES FOR 17 OFF THE BENCH
Jose Alvarado finished Tuesday’s 99-98 loss to the Nuggets with 17 points (8-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt), one rebound and three assists over 27 minutes.
Alvarado bounced back with an extremely efficient performance Tuesday following a 1-for-8 outing in his previous appearance. The backup point guard has now scored in double figures in four of his past five games and is averaging 11.6 points, 2.8 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 27.6 minutes during that stretch. However, with Brandon Ingram (toe) set to return Wednesday, Alvarado could see his role slightly decrease moving forward.
Jose Alvarado is so much fun to watch. Bonus points to Nance Jr for the mini Gortat screen on the roll. pic.twitter.com/fRNYRwK0Xk
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) January 25, 2023
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