THE FLATS – The NBA and the players association having agreed to a start date of Dec. 22 for the 2020-21 season, and the NBA draft was held Thursday night with no trades occurring involving former Yellow jackets … Derrick Favors remains a free agent while his 2019-20 team in New Orleans has hired a new coach in Stan Van Gundy, Thaddeus Young and Josh Okogie have completed off-season workouts with the Bulls and Timberwolves, respectively.
This week’s #ProJackets Report compiles more of the latest news, stories and social media posts on former Jackets and their activities of the past week.
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FAVORS RATED HIGHER THAN MID-LEVEL EXCEPTION
According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, Derrick Favors is listed among Tier 2 free agent centers – more valuable than a mid-level exception, but less than a max contract – along with Hassan Whiteside, Christian Wood, Andre Drummond and Jakob Puetl.
“Favors remains a quietly productive player who would either be one of the best backup centers in the league or a good stopgap starter. That may or may not be in New Orleans, depending on the Pelicans’ other plans, but they can re-sign him without dipping into exception money and have plenty of room below the tax line to fit him in.”
Christian Clark writes in NOLA.com: “In Wednesday’s draft, Griffin, New Orleans’ lead basketball executive, green-lit the selection of Kira Lewis Jr. at 13th overall and then traded away his team’s other three picks for future assets … the Pelicans could bring back Favors, who will be entering his 11th season. There is nothing sexy about his game, but he is as low-maintenance of a player as they come. He was valuable last season, even while he dealt with injuries and the death of his mother. Favors would be open to playing for Van Gundy, sources have said. However, multiple teams will be interested in him.”
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OKOGIE PART OF THE SOLUTION IN MINNESOTA
Jack Borman in Canis Hoopus writes: “From the moment he came into the league in 2018, Josh Okogie has been a constant in Minnesota as an energizing presence on the court and as a leader, both in the locker room and in the greater Minneapolis community. There’s a reason that Okogie, who was drafted by the Thibodeau regime – a crew that Wolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas has not been shy about criticizing – is the only player outside of Karl-Anthony Towns to survive the roster metamorphosis that has played out since the Rosas was hired on May 1, 2019.”
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#ProJackets on Social Media
.@CallMe_NonStop reflects back on the day he was drafted by the @Timberwolves in 2018: “By far, the best day of my life.” pic.twitter.com/HuAtuuent7
— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) November 18, 2020
Like just about everything this year, the #NBADraft is happening on Zoom. But I hope that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to everyone involved. Tonight is a huge milestone for these young players, regardless. I know it was for me.
–> The Last Chiphttps://t.co/BTzBMYvyRG
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) November 18, 2020
2x-NBA champion and one of the best power forwards to play the game 🔥
Watch @chrisbosh on #AllTheSmoke: https://t.co/9GDUNqBAIv
Presented by @draftkings
🎶 @db_omerta “Up Off Me” pic.twitter.com/rEicdSChME— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) November 19, 2020
Regardless of how tonight turns out, I hope these future players know the dream starts here—no matter where they’re Zooming in from. Good luck to all the young fella’s tonight, you deserve it. pic.twitter.com/NEghKS8nbW
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) November 18, 2020
I saw it my people @GTMBB ! pic.twitter.com/Rja6bdSwSz
— Kenny Anderson (@chibbs_1) November 18, 2020
Welcome @patricklw4
— Thad Young (@yungsmoove21) November 19, 2020
Ahead of NBA Draft night we learn about the NBA mentality from #AAUAlumni @yungsmoove21 ! @AAU_Basketball
Do you have what it takes?!
Full Interview: https://t.co/dHSOxqLODh#AAUSports #WeAreAAU #AAUBasketball pic.twitter.com/np9Rgu8cVc
— AAU Sports (@TheRealAAU) November 18, 2020
Looking forward to speaking with the high schoolers at tomorrow and Wednesday’s virtual career fair. #Youcanbeanythingyouwanttobe pic.twitter.com/a7wH80YW2g
— Thad Young (@yungsmoove21) November 16, 2020
🔷 Meet Reform Ventures’ Thad Young:
Along with being an NBA star, Thad Young (@yungsmoove21) started his own VC firm called Reform Ventures in 2017.
Since then, the firm has landed stakes in tech giants like Lyft and Coinbase.
More: https://t.co/4O4dJinxTX pic.twitter.com/s0SVM4z93H
— Business Insider (@businessinsider) November 13, 2020