Tag: Tre Jones

Tre Jones says teaming with fellow Duke players on Pelicans would be ‘extremely fun’

With a host of former Duke Blue Devils setting up camp in New Orleans, 2020 NBA Draft prospect Tre Jones is excited about possibly joining.

Rather unintentionally, the New Orleans Pelicans became a landing zone for Duke Blue Devils in recent years. An influx of Blue Devils last off-season, though, brought attention to “The Brotherhood” forming in New Orleans.

Already rostering Frank Jackson after drafting him and Jahlil Okafor after signing him in free agency, the Pelicans first added to their list of Blue Devils at the top by making Trajan Langdon the general manager in May.

Then came a slew of moves to the roster that quickly led to more former Durham residents setting up camp in the Big Easy. Trading for Brandon Ingram, drafting Zion Williamson and signing JJ Redick in a span of only a few weeks quickly added to the Blue Devils.

With the growing Blue Devil connections within the franchise, other Duke players and prospects have taken notice. In his media interview for the 2020 NBA Draft Combine, Duke’s Tre Jones spoke about the Pelicans and the group of Duke alums on the roster and in the front office.

“I actually know all of them. Most of them I know really well. JJ’s the oldest one, but after that, they’re all around my age. One of them obviously I played with.

“It would be extremely fun to be able to connect with those guys, to be able to play on the same team as them, and hopefully win games with those guys. Having Trajan Langdon in the front office would be amazing. It would be a Brotherhood Connect down there. Being able to play with those type of guys would be amazing. It would be a good connection, for sure.”

Jones teamed up alongside Williamson and though he did not play with any of Ingram, Jackson, Redick or Okafor, it is commonplace for Duke alums to return to campus for games and workouts in the offseason.

By most parties, Jones is considered a late first- or early second-round prospect. The Pelicans have a handful of second-round picks this season at No. 39 and No. 42. He could potentially be in the Pelicans range, but whether he fits a need is another question.

With a host of guards on the roster, ironically, Jones would likely only make sense on the roster if the team did not bring back Jackson, a restricted free agent.

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NBA players react on social media to the season restart opener

Whether it was the pre-game social justice display, or the gameplay, players were very happy to see NBA back in action.

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The NBA season restart tipped off Thursday night as the Utah Jazz matched up against the New Orleans Pelicans at HP Field House at the Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida.

The evening began with the players and coaches each taking the court in “Black Lives Matter” warm-up shirts. Players and coaches then locked arms while the NBA played a public service announcement about systemic racism. Eventually, the referees joined the players and coaches to take a knee during the playing of the national anthem to protest racism.

The pre-game ceremonies were praised on social media ahead of the start of the contest as social injustices and racism have become front and center worldwide. The stated goal of the season restart is to take collective action to combat systematic racial inequalities and promote social justice as players raise awareness for key issues.

Following the symbolic gesture, the NBA officially resumed the 2019-20 season. Fittingly, after becoming the first player publicly to test positive for the coronavirus, Jazz center Rudy Gobert scored the first basket of the season restart. Quickly after, Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson converted an And-1 attempt on the other end of the floor.

Whether it was the social justice display prior to the start of the game, or the gameplay between the two teams, players around the NBA were very happy to see league back in action.

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Daniel Oturu, a former Cretin-Derham …

Daniel Oturu, a former Cretin-Derham Hall star, will start the interview process with NBA teams next week. Since the spring, Oturu has trained with former AAU teammate and Duke point guard Tre Jones. Oturu and the Jones brothers (also Tyus Jones) are represented by Kevin Bradbury, an agent for BDA Sports. “Every day we’re getting more information on the status of the coronavirus and how it’s impacting people,” Oturu said. “I just have to continue to work and show [teams] who I am as a person and a basketball player.”

Tre Jones, Daniel Oturu are training together for the NBA Draft

Both Jones and Oturu have reportedly signed with BDA Sports for professional representation ahead of the NBA Draft

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Former Duke Blue Devils guard Tre Jones and former Minnesota Golden Gophers center Daniel Oturu have been training together ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Darren Wolfson of KSTP-TV in Minneapolis captured a photo of the two players, along with Tre Holloman and Curtis Jones, in the gym running scrimmages. Jones and Oturu will travel to continue draft preparations this week at the P3 training facility in Santa Barbara, California.

Both Jones and Oturu have reportedly signed with BDA Sports for professional representation ahead of the NBA Draft. Each year, it is often common that players within the same agency will work out together during the pre-draft process.

Jones said previously this summer that he has also been staying active preparing for the NBA Draft and has been working out with his brothers, Tyus and Jadee. He is projected to be a second-round pick in the latest 2020 Rookie Wire NBA Mock Draft.

Jones averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 29 games last season with the Blue Devils. In addition to earning ACC Player of the Year honors, Jones was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

On the other hand, Oturu averaged 20.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 31 games this season with the Golden Gophers. Oturu finished second in the Big Ten in scoring and led the conference in both rebounding and blocks, respectively.

Oturu is also projected to be a second-round pick.

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Twenty-four of the NBA’s 30 teams have …

Twenty-four of the NBA’s 30 teams have contacted Cretin-Derham Hall for background checks on Daniel Oturu, the former Raiders star who is leaving the Gophers after his sophomore season to turn professional. The 6-10, 240-pound Oturu will be represented by Bill Duffy, who also will represent point guard Tre Jones from Apple Valley via Duke.

2020 NBA Draft: Nets’ 5 best options in first round

The Brooklyn Nets are projected to have the 20th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, though that could change if the league manages to resume play.

It feels like it’s only a matter of time before the 2020 NBA Draft is pushed back. The 2020 Draft Lottery and Combine have both been delayed, and with the league making progress toward continuing the 2019-20 season in some form, it seems reasonable to expect this year’s draft won’t take place on its originally scheduled date.

Since there hasn’t been official word yet on anything, NBA front offices have to be prepared to make decisions regarding this year’s draft class soon. The Brooklyn Nets have picks from the Philadelphia 76ers — which is projected at No. 20 right now — and the Denver Nuggets — projected at No. 55.

Now, the Nets could use one or both of the picks to make a move for a veteran. But if they elect to use their pick, they should have some solid options.

Here are the five players who are the best fit for the Nets in this year’s draft at No. 20, based on mock draft projections:

5. Jalen Smith | Maryland | Forward

Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
STATS: 15.5 PPG | 10.5 RPG | 36.8 3-PT%

Marc Berman of the New York Post has “Kevin Durant’s win-now Nets” taking Smith because he can provide instant help off the bench. Smith certainly has talent and offers something neither DeAndre Jordan or Jarrett Allen can with his 3-point shooting.

But with those two bigs in front of him, and the Nets looking for veterans more so than young guys, he doesn’t seem like the best fit.

Now, if the Nets decide to include Allen in a package to get a third star, then Smith would climb up this list. At that point, he’d be a great fit for Brooklyn.

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Tre Jones has been preparing for the NBA Draft with his brothers

Jones has been busy during the pre-draft process by staying in the gym with his two brothers.

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With the NBA Draft Combine postponed indefinitely, prospects have been left in a bit of a grey area with the status of the NBA Draft influx due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Players have been forced to stay active without the comforts of hitting traditional practice facilities but some have been fortunate to find empty gyms or workout areas nearby. Duke Blue Devils guard Tre Jones said that he has been staying active preparing for the NBA Draft and has been working out with his brothers, Tyus and Jadee.

Of course, Tyus is currently with the Memphis Grizzlies and also played at Duke under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Jadee played at Furman for two seasons and eventually became a coach at Apple Valley High School in Minnesota.

In an interview with Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated, the reigning ACC Player of the Year detailed his workouts with his two brothers and how he has been staying in shape.

I’m able to work out with my oldest brother, Jadee. I’m able to work out with him and stay in shape. I almost go through workouts like I’m getting ready for the Draft Combine. I think I lucked out here being able to work out with Tyus for a while and now I’m able to work out with Jadee like it’s a normal offseason like I’m preparing for the next season.

I’m getting up early every morning and then we’re able to find the gym and go in there before anyone is up. We’re able to get our weight room workout, our strength and conditioning workout and we’re also able to get out on the court.

Jones averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 29 games last season with the Blue Devils. In addition to earning ACC Player of the Year honors, Jones was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

He has been touted as a strong leader on the court after ranking in the top 10 with 1.9 assists in transition, according to Synergy. Jones is projected to be the No. 22 pick in the latest 2020 Rookie Wire Mock Draft.

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