Remember the name Jaycee Carroll.
He’s the kid added late to the Raptor summer league team, combo guard out of Utah State who made a pretty bold statement with 14 points in about four minutes of Saturday’s game.
I have no idea if he can stick in the NBA but the kid killed playing for New Jersey in Orlando and is starting to turn some heads.
Including, according to my man Dave D down in Newark, that of Nets honcho Rod Thorn.
“If he can play some combo guard, at the end of the day – if he can be a 1 for a few minutes a night – I think he is (an NBA player),” Thorn said. “He’s giving up size at the two-guard. But he’s a very competitive kid, and he has a real quick release. He’ll make some shots. But whether he can guard those guys will be the key. If he improves his ball-handling … we played him a lot at the point, and he did a nice job. He got pressed a lot but did a nice job. So that’s the key. But with his makeup, the way he’s put together, he looks like a player.”
The Big Kitchen is back.
John Thomas, one of the all-time good Raptors, is playing for Milwaukee.
He’s an interesting dude. Took a couple of years off to travel and work in a sports agency, caught up with him about three years ago in Minnesota when he was playing that defunct summer league. No idea if he’s still got game but he’s exactly the kind of zany story you find in these summer leagues.
And toss in Pape Sow (Dallas), P.J. Tucker (Memphis) and Jelani McCoy (Denver) and you’ve got four-fifths of an ex-Raptor injured/inactive list team that should be able to kick some summer league butt.
I understand the logic of Joey playing big summer league minutes, but there was never any doubt that he would rack up some big numbers. As long as he has a clear physical edge Graham will always put up numbers and it’s only easier for him when he’s got a green light.
His problems at the NBA level come when he’s playing against guys nearly as strong or nearly as quick, or when he has to pick his spots offensively. Those conditions create confusion and hesitation, in other words: Bad Joey.
Graham’s best bet for NBA success is to be a starter on a terrible team. He would get numbers for sure, but his ability to put up stats in ideal circumstances aren’t his problem, and putting up stats in summer league won’t solve them.
Two things jump out at me. First, Jawai dominates the paint- a revolutionary concept in today’s NBA, where posts camp on the perimeter and hoist jump shots. Of course, NBA fours and fives are bigger than those in the NBL, but Jawai should be okay.
Second, I love how he sets picks. Many of Jawai’s points came from setting screens on-and-off the ball. Point guard Jose Calderon could have a field day finding him on pick-and-rolls to the basket or pick-and-pop plays.
Look for the Australian to have a nice career. And Raptor fans won’t curse and think what could’ve been with Iguodala when they watch him. In some respects, without playing a minute in the NBA, Jawai is already far ahead of Araujo.
Toronto Raptors assistant general manager Maurizio Gherardini will be at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens this week. He provides a brief synopsis of the strengths and weaknesses of Canada’s competition:
I’m not sure if it is because the franchise is the only one not located in the USA, or if it is because people consider the Toronto Raptors to still be in some sort of post-Vince Carter rebuilding era; but it’s time to WAKE UP people. Stop sleeping on the Toronto Raptors. There has been a lot of attention and media coverage over the past few weeks on the blockbuster trade that sent Indiana Pacers big man Jermaine O’Neal to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for point guard T.J. Ford. Unfortunately the majority of the attention has been focused on the fact that a big name player and former perennial all-star is being moved, and not enough attention on the fact that if O’Neal is as healthy as he claims to be lately, this makes the Toronto Raptors an immediate and legitimate contender in the East!
I expect Carroll to put up bigger numbers in game 2 and the rest of the games for the Raptors. He had a solid game off the bench with a bunch of guys that he hadn’t even really practiced with in game 1. So Jaycee is going to get a ton of exposure especially if he plans to play in Rocky Mtn. Revue after Vegas like his agent, Brad Ames has already confirmed to us.
So as kids and adults of all ages and sizes were looking up to Moon this weekend for his skill, strength and tenacity, who exactly did Moon look up to as he was making his way up to the pro-basketball ranks?
“I looked up to Scottie Pippin. Everybody loved the Bulls during the ’90s so I looked up to Pippin,” said Moon. “I patterned my game after Pippin. He’s why I play the way I play and why I wear the jersey I’m wearing.”
When Moon considers for a second that people look up to him like he looked up to Pippin, it brings a smile to his face. Moon is, after all, new to this whole NBA thing and the charm of meeting a fan hasn’t grown old yet. For Moon, it probably never will.
“It makes me feel good to come and visit little communities like this and give back to the kids,” he said. “It’s always great.”
In his off-season right now, Moon isn’t resting on his laurels for what’s ahead in the coming season.
“I’m just working out and working hard,” he said. “We got some new additions to the team so I’m looking forward to training camp and getting back.”
One of the additions Moon speaks of is the big news that Jermaine O’Neal, the 29-year-old American forward acquired from the Indiana Pacers earlier this month, is heading north to join Canada’s only NBA team.
Moon said he can’t wait for next season to start with the way the team’s roster is looking.
“I’m loving it. They’re bringing another rebounding machine and a big defensive presence that everybody knows Jermaine is for,” said Moon. “I’ve never played on the same side of the ball with him. I’m glad he’s on my team.”
“With him and Chris Bosh, we can be unstoppable.”
The 6-foot-7, 185-pound Joel averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and helped lead Alabama State to the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season title last year. And while that adds up to a pretty solid collegiate career, Joel freely admits that he wouldn’t be with the Raptors if it weren’t for his brother.
But that hasn’t hurt his confidence.
“I feel like I do deserve to be here. As far as playing with the other guys, I feel like I belong.” His coach at ASU, Lewis Jackson, agrees.
“This is a well-deserved opportunity for Joel,” said Jackson to the Alabama State University website. “He spent a lot of time in the off-season working on ball handling and shooting. And now it’s paying off.”
“Joel has a really long frame and he plays with great effort,” added Jackson. “He can match-up at several positions and guard almost any on the court. There are always opportunities for players who work as hard as Joel.”
And while the Summer League may still be a long way from the NBA – it’s more likely to reveal who can’t play in the Association, rather than who can – it’s no walk in the park either.
“[We've] had lots of two-a-days. It’s a great experience … but I’m tired,” noted Joel.
“I haven’t been able to enjoy Vegas. The most I’ve seen is looking out my window.”
Joel and the rest of the Summer League Raptors have spent most of their time running through basic drills and running offensive and defensive plays with head coach Sam Mitchell and the rest of the Raptors’ coaching staff.
“A lot shooting drills. A lot practice.”
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Hey where are all the Jaycee Carroll pictures? Some NBA team needs to sign him to a 3 year $3 million contract. He is a stud and he isn’t a knucklehead off the court that would make a franchise look bad. He is great!!
johns last blog post..Jaycee Carroll plays with Toronto Raptors in Vegas
Well, he does grace our front page today.
Shhh…
Don’t tell anyone but, Jaycee Carroll shoots like Michael Jordan, hustles and is tough like John Stockton, has a nose for the game like Larry Bird, and has the character of a Tim Duncan
If nobody says anything maybe Jerry Sloan and the Jazz will land him here in Utah.