Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said that developing lottery pick Scoot Henderson into a top-level point guard is a “personal” project, he told The Athletic’s David Aldridge.
“It’s personal for me,” said Billups, the 2004 Finals MVP. “‘Cause I just remember myself being that dude, third pick in the draft. The expectations. I want to give Scoot what I needed at the time. I can do that. I’ve done everything he wants to do in this league. I struggled mightily early, which I don’t see that happening with him.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- The Timberwolves had some pre-draft discussions about a possible Karl-Anthony Towns trade, Ian Begley of SNY TV said on ESPN’s Zach Lowe podcast (hat tip to RealGM). “There were talks between the Timberwolves and other teams before the draft and Towns’ name came up,” Begley said. “I don’t know how aggressive the Timberwolves were with Towns, if at all.” Towns is entering the first year of his four-year super max extension.
- Jazz summer league coach and developmental assistant Evan Bradds said he’s been pushing second-year swingman Johnny Juzang hard, Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune writes. Juzang had a high efficient 26-point outing in the team’s second Summer League game. “I want him to succeed, and I think over the [past] year, we were able to build a good relationship,” Bradds said. “I think if you ask him, he would want to be coached hard. So if you tell me you want me to coach hard, I’m gonna coach you hard, no matter what — when you’re good, when you’re bad. Even during the game, we get a little heated, and that’s OK, that’s part of it.” Juzang is an unrestricted free agent after the Jazz pulled their qualifying offer.
- Second-round pick Hunter Tyson was a standout for the Nuggets in the Summer League, Matt Schubert of the Denver Post writes. Tyson averaged 20.8 points in five games and made half of his 3-point attempts. He also averaged 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
Scoot under Billups is perfect.
Hope he can help him be a better shooter, better playmaker and better defender.
I think ideally they would’ve gone young and let Billups take his time developing Scoot and a young side.
Would’ve loved to have seen, Simons for OG
Scoot Sharpe OG Grant Nurkic
And continue going younger.
What has Billups accomplished as a coach?
Everything he has said he is doing, or wants to do hasn’t happened, or anything close to it for almost 3 seasons now.
Not calling him a failure, but I honestly have no clue about his ability without some proof of concept.
Good player, but as a coach Billups hasn’t the body evidence
He’s done just as much as Terry Stotts did before him except he had CJ McCollum.
And in fairness to him he’s done well developing Simons. Dame also had his career best season under Billups even as he’s gotten older.
It’s hard to judge Billups performance considering the lack of direction and support from the front office. Dame asked for veterans and win now players but got young guys like Thybulle and Reddish. I blame the front office way more so than Billups for the lack of success. That’s why I’d like to see them go young and give Billups another couple years to see what he can do in terms of developing young talent with a clear direction.
I guess I was wrong about Tyson
Coach the damn team Chauncey. That’s your project, not to mention your job, as HC. Scoot and his teammates need a coach, not a BFF.
Chauncey Billups hasn’t shown much ability as a coach, and I am not sure Scoot is a future Jason Kid, Magic Johnson-type talent. We’ll see like with all draft picks…
Chauncey is speaking too far into the future, be nice to hear about the reality of now from the current losing coach that hasn’t shown any mettle as a coach in this league yet.
Apparently, the Jazz offered Juzang another two-way contract to replace the one they rescinded? Not sure the details or if that’s true. I’ll have to ask one of the Jazz beat writers. Juzang also had some good SL games. Guess we’ll see if that means he takes that two-way contract or goes overseas, perhaps.
Yes, I think they only withdrew the qualifying offer for cap-related reasons. By all accounts, they’d be happy to have him back on another two-way.
He seems to have gotten better, so a two-way contract is good for both parties.