Pelicans tried to keep Dyson Daniels out of Dejounte Murray trade

Mayor Harrell and Knox, the CEO of the Seattle Sports Commission, are envisioning a future where Sonics players become role models and inspire youth to not only participate in basketball, but dream. Seattle has a long history of producing NBA talent, including Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Paolo Banchero and Dejounte Murray. Barry thinks the Sonics can help inspire others. “How do you dream bigger if you don’t see it in front of you?” Barry asked. “I was thinking if I never went to Golden State games as a kid to watch Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond, how much of my devotion and love of the game would have been depleted by not having the touch, the autograph, the memories? The impact can’t be overstated. “There’s almost 20 years of kids in Seattle who never saw one game in their city of LeBron James, one of the greatest players who ever played. Twenty years of kids, and parents for that matter, who haven’t had that community, that environment, that experience. It hurts.” -via New York Times / November 15, 2024

And yet, against the injury-riddled Pelicans, who’ve had similarly rough fortune, it didn’t matter. OKC still ran their pockets in a 106-88 win to improve to 10-2, matching its best start since the 2011-12 season. Granted, injury-riddled is an understatement. A printed version of New Orleans’ roster comes with a complimentary cast. Most of its competent guards — including CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray — watched Wednesday night’s game in street clothes.  But the Thunder has been tasked with resembling the shape of its No. 1 defense, disruptive and annoying, without its two best defenders: center Chet Holmgren and Caruso, who missed Wednesday with hip soreness.  “It just makes us play harder because we know what we’re missing,” forward Jalen Williams said of Caruso’s absence. -via The Oklahoman / November 14, 2024

Shams Charania: Another injury blow to New Orleans: Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado is expected to miss six weeks due to a hamstring injury, sources told ESPN. New Orleans is now without Alvarado, Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Jordan Hawkins. -via x.com / November 12, 2024

Hawks coach Quin Snyder talked about this topic and how it applied to Daniels before the season. It’s worked out almost exactly as he said then. “I think a lot of it is situational,” Snyder said. “Usually guys are more confident when they can anticipate that they’re going to have a shot. If you get the ball and then you want to decide, (in) that moment, your conscious mind takes you out of rhythm. Especially for younger guys, if they’re concerned about whether the ball is going to go in or not, that’s not the best thing. It’s more than a green light. It’s understanding situational shooting, knowing that it’s not only a green light but you have to take that shot. It’s important for you to shoot that whether you make or miss.” -via New York Times / November 15, 2024

StatMuse: Dyson Daniels tonight: 28 PTS 7 AST 6 STL (!!) Averaging 3+ SPG over the first 10 games of the season. pic.x.com/S0eKbfXlWf -via Twitter @statmuse / November 12, 2024

Snyder will sometimes open quarters with Young as far from the action as possible, leaving the paint empty for the likes of Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher to see the floor. “When I am off the ball, guys are worried about me and they’re connected to me and on my body,” Young said. “So it allows teammates to have a lot of space to go and create for themselves and others too.” -via New York Times / November 11, 2024