The plates – Josh Okogie Enters free agency after successful 2022-23 season in Phoenix… More on this week’s #ProJackets report.
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Okogie entered free agency after a successful season.
Josh Okogie He became a free agent for the Phoenix Suns at the end of the 2022-23 season, and rumors are already swirling about which team he might land with.
Bright Side of the Sun (covers Phoenix Sun)…
Josh Okogie is the most obvious rebounder, if the Suns can keep him. He’s just 25 years old and is the Suns’ best perimeter defender and has started the last 25 games of the regular season, averaging 11 points (39% shooting, 37% three), 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals and .9 blocks in just under 29 minutes per game. The team started 15-10 with a tough 6’5” Okogie versus either Torrey Craig (7-10 in 17 games) or Kevin Durant (8-0 in 8 games) in the first half.
Unfortunately, many other teams can see the same thing in the Sun, and everyone else can give it more money. The Suns can only offer Okogee up to a 20% raise, which is only $2.2 million per year. As usual under the new, current and previous CBAs, teams do not acquire ‘bird rights’ on players until they have played 2+ years under the same contract. Okogie is only signed for one year, so a 20% raise is about as much as the Suns can offer.
Your best hope is for the teams to get past Okogie thanks to their impressive playoff performance (4.3 points on 38% shooting, 14% on threes). He came off the bench in the first round because Torrey Craig had the best season and playoff experience of the entire season, and in the second round he lost his spot to first rounders Terrence Ross and TJ Warren.
From ARoyalPain.com (covers the Sacramento Kings)…
Current Phoenix Suns member Josh Okogie plays for the Nigerian national team while Mike Brown coaches them for the 2020 Olympics. Brown has been Okogee’s coach for a short time, so he’s low on this list. But they made a connection in Tokyo, and as a result, Brown Okogin is now entering free agency.
The 24-year-old forward is a roving player who values defense. Okogie averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.8 steals this season. Although the offense does not have a big place in the game, he is not responsible. He had five game explosions of over 20 points, proving his jump shot isn’t as bad as his stats suggest.
If Josh Okogie can find his three-pointer more consistent, he will be a fantastic piece on this Kings team. His defense can be valuable to any team, especially on this Kings team that could use some defensive wing depth on the cheap.
From TheSmokingCuban.com (covers the Dallas Mavericks)…
This may not be the most recognizable name on the list, but Josh Okogie is one of the most underrated defenders in the NBA. His ability to stay in front of opposing players on the perimeter is second to none in the league.
A YouTube search for “Josh Okogie defensive highlights” turns up tons of highlights, all of which show Okogie tripping ball handlers, getting into passing lanes and running to get in front of his man. Some of Okogie’s best defensive highlights have come with Kyrie Irving, so the star point guard no doubt has a lot of respect for the young wing.
Okogie spent this past season with the Phoenix Suns and rekindled his career a bit. He faded with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but his scoring and defensive prowess earned him a regular spot in the Suns rotation.
Because of this, Phoenix may want to keep Okogie, but he will be an unrestricted free agent, meaning he will have complete freedom to choose which team he joins next.
Adding the 6’3 Okogee to the rotation would be great, and he could start for the Mavericks. A lineup of Irving, Okogie, Luka Doncic, Josh Green and Maxi Kleber is small but can run and will have some solid defenders at each position.
Being pinched by Josh Okogie at the point guard position allows him to take on the toughest matchups every night. Plus, at just 24 years old, the young guard still has plenty of room to grow.
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George-Aden paces Kuwait club for the league title
Marcus George-Hunt Kuwait Club scored 37 points in the last quarter performance with a score of 95-85 in the second game of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL)-Gulf Region final series. Last week, they ended their unbeaten run in the competition by winning the opening trophy at the Khalifa Sports City Arena.
Kuwait club Manama and Shabab Al Ahly-Dubai will take part in the last eight of the WASL next month, where they will join West Asian teams Al Riyadh, Gorgan and the winner of the match between Beirut Club and Zobah.
Read more from GDOnline.com
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