NBA Intel: Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Caris LeVert, Khris Middleton, Wizards, Grizzlies, OKC

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

With just over two weeks until the end of the regular season, some teams are making vacation plans as they head to the lottery, while others are gearing up for the playoffs or a Play-In appearance to continue their season.

In the meantime, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on Atlanta’s direction looking ahead, including Trae Young’s future as he’s eligible for extension talks this summer, Caris LeVert’s free agency plans, Dyson Daniels’ case for Defensive Player of the Year and Clint Capela’s future.

Wizards forward Khris Middleton also discussed his Bucks legacy and Washington's future, while teammate Justin Champagnie explained how he nearly quit basketball before earning a four-year contract this season. Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer discussed his welcome to the NBA moment trash-talking with Kevin Durant, playing for UConn’s Dan Hurley, and life as a two-way player behind the scenes.

Lastly, updates on the Oklahoma City Thunder are all included below.

Trae Young: ‘It’s hard to determine the future’​

You must be registered for see images attach

Atlanta Hawks four-time All-Star Trae Young recently became the first NBA player since Russell Westbrook in 2019 to reach 1,500 points and 750 assists in a single season and also leads the league in total clutch time points (152), assists (36), and threes made (17).

In a retooling season for the Hawks, which included significant roster changes at the trade deadline, Young has focused on hastening the development of Atlanta's young core while leading the league in assists per game (11.4).

Recently, Young spoke with HoopsHype to discuss the impact of new swingman Caris LeVert, Jalen Johnson’s potential All-Star trajectory, sharing the backcourt with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Dyson Daniels, the development of No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, the direction of the franchise, and the possibility of a contract extension this offseason.

What’s it been like being the leader on this team with young guys around you in Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher?

Trae Young: It’s not new territory for me. People probably know that this isn’t the first time I’ve been a part of a team with young guys and where they wanted me to lead. I think this is really what they wanted me to do this year. Not focus on the wins and losses. It’s more about how I can bring the young guys along and build them up and build their confidence up as much as possible.

What impact has Caris LeVert brought to the Hawks since the trade?

TY: Caris has brought a big impact for us. He’s a great player and a smart player who brings a lot of scoring. Anytime you can add a guy who’s been in the league for a long time and who knows the little things that matter in NBA games, that’s important to have.

When you looked at Jalen Johnson’s trajectory when he was playing, what growth did you see in his game, and where could he ultimately be down the line?

TY: For Jalen, the sky’s the limit. I think it’s more about making sure he’s healthy and on the court. You can see what he can do. He can fly around, jump, and pass, and he’s gotten better at shooting. The ceiling is the sky. He has a big ceiling. He’s just got to be healthy and on the court.

How has it been for you playing with Dyson Daniels, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, in the backcourt?

TY: It’s been fun building a rapport with Dyson. He’s a great young player who’s a smart player. Our games are very mirrored, like opposite, in a long of ways, and I feel like that’s where we can help each other when we’re on the court with each other. I look forward to continuing to build with him because he’s got a bright future for sure.

What have you seen from Zaccharie Risacher in his rookie season?

TY: Risacher is getting more confident. I think that’s the thing as a rookie. You come in with wide eyes and a wide mindset, being a fan of the guys you’re going up against. There wasn’t much difference in my game between my rookie year and second year, but I think it’s the confidence. That’s what he’s doing, and you can see it right now. He’s continuing to build confidence every game. That doesn’t mean he’s going to play great every night, but he’s definitely building his confidence.

Big picture for you as the leader after an active trade deadline, what do you see for the direction of the franchise where it is now and where it could be going?

TY: It’s hard to determine the future. I’m so stuck in the moment right now and focusing on what they wanted me to do this year by trying to build these young guys and give them confidence. I’m focused on that and not focusing on the end result. At the end of the day, focus on getting better every day and letting the results come as they go.

You have the possibility of doing an extension this summer. Have you thought about that at all and what it could be?

TY: Yeah. I’m still stuck in the moment right now and not really focusing on that right now. I know it’s going to come. People will be asking questions here. I’m just focusing on this team, building these young guys, and giving them confidence. At the end of the year, everything else will be discussed.

Caris LeVert: ‘I’d love to re-sign here’​

You must be registered for see images attach

According to Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder, Caris LeVert has been a welcomed addition following the trade deadline, bringing needed intangibles and offensive scoring punch.

“He’s the kind of guy who makes your team better in the locker room,” Snyder explained to HoopsHype. “His ability to score is unique. I think that’s something for our team to have a secondary playmaker and scorer to go along with Trae Young. You’ve seen Caris fill that role, and he’s been efficient doing it.”

LeVert recently sat down with HoopsHype and discussed his mindset going from the top team in the East to Atlanta, reuniting with Kenny Atkinson, Jarrett Allen, and DeMarre Carroll in Cleveland, what’s allowed him to thrive more in Atlanta, his free agency future, and more.

What went through your mind when you were traded from the top team in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to the Atlanta Hawks?

Caris LeVert: I didn’t really think about it negatively at all, honestly. It was more so an opportunity for me. In Cleveland, I was playing a certain role. Here, I can play more like myself. I looked at it like that.

What was it like reuniting with Kenny Atkinson, Jarrett Allen, DeMarre Carroll, Jordan Ott, and Trevor Hendry as part of a Nets reunion in Cleveland, and how much success they contributed?

CL: It was cool. It was a full circle moment, especially with DeMarre Carroll after I played with him and then him coaching me. It was cool to see his maturation and his development. It’s like me and Jarrett Allen. I think we’re two completely different players than when we were in Brooklyn. I think Kenny has a different style of coaching now compared to when he was with Brooklyn. It’s cool to see how life works.

What’s allowed you to thrive more individually since arriving here in Atlanta?

CL: I’ve been efficient all year. I was shooting 40 percent from three in Cleveland. I was first in plus-minus for part of the year in Cleveland as well. It’s really the same thing. It's just more volume here.

Being a veteran on this team at 30, how do you try to help the younger core going forward?

CL: It’s about getting better every day and having them see the big picture and not get caught up in wins, losses, missed shots, and made shots. It’s more about the process of getting better each day and each possession out on the floor while having your mind in the right atmosphere and not getting too consumed in the results.

You mentioned having more of an opportunity here in Atlanta. When you look at free agency, what will you be looking for?

CL: We’ll see. I love this situation that I’m in right now. I love this team. The staff has welcomed me with open arms. I didn’t really know Quin (Snyder) previously before coming here. Obviously, I’ve admired his style from afar for a long time. Antonio (Lang), Ekpe Udoh, and Ron Nored on the staff I’ve had relationships with, so I feel pretty comfortable here. Like I always tell them, I’d love to re-sign here. My focus right now is the rest of the season and making the playoffs. It’s definitely something I’d want.

With that in mind, you’re towards the top of the Play-In Tournament right now. What are your thoughts as presently constructed, and what you’re striving for toward the end of the season?

LeVert: We’re striving to play our best basketball as that time comes, which is here and now. We play well in spurts, but I think overall, we’re playing good basketball. Guys are playing confidently, so I like where we’re at right now.

Dyson Daniels on DPOY: ‘I feel like it’s a big man’s award’​

You must be registered for see images attach

Dyson Daniels has enjoyed a breakout season with the Atlanta Hawks after being acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent Dejounte Murray to New Orleans.

The Australian guard, who leads the NBA in steals per game this season (3.1), recently sat down with HoopsHype to discuss which players he modeled his defensive game after, where he should be in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, what helped him thrive in Atlanta after leaving New Orleans, and what the future holds for Atlanta’s young core, including Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher.

Who have you studied on defense to help model your game after?

Dyson Daniels: I watched a lot of Marcus Smart when he won Defensive Player of the Year. In my early stages, when I was in New Orleans, I watched Jaden McDaniels and how he uses his length. If you go way back, I looked at Michael Jordan, who was really good with his hands. I like to play defense my way, be in the gaps, and defend one-on-one. There are a lot of good defenders in the league nowadays. Some of the guys go a bit more unnoticed, like Lu Dort. He’s another player I watch as well.

It’s rare when a guard wins Defensive Player of the Year, so where do you feel you are in the conversation, and what’s your case?

DD: I feel like it’s a big man’s award. If you look at the big men in the NBA today, usually the past few years, it’s been a big man in that conversation who protects the rim and gets blocks. Obviously, before Wemby (Victor Wembanyama) went down, he was the frontrunner for the award. I think I do a little bit of everything on the floor. I protect the rim as a guard. I get steals. I defend well one-on-one and contest shots. I don’t want to talk about it too much. I let the people see it for themselves.

What’s been the difference for you here in Atlanta compared to New Orleans?

DD: Confidence. Coach Quin has instilled confidence in me to play freely and be myself. My teammates have given me confidence as well. It’s just that my mindset has changed. I’ve come in wanting to be more aggressive and play more freely without any restrictions. I think it’s been more that my mindset has changed rather than anything between the two organizations.

As part of the young core with Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher, what do you see for this group now and in the future?

DD: We’ve got a really good core of young guys who are going to develop and become really good players. If you look down the list, we’ve got big wings and young bigs of guys who are starting to get playing time this year and develop into roles we’ll use with them into the future. I’m excited to see where we could take this team.

Clint Capela’s free agency future​

You must be registered for see images

Following the departures of former Hawks core members Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter at the trade deadline, a veteran big man is expected to depart from Atlanta this summer.

After being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline, the early expectation is Hawks center Clint Capela will sign elsewhere in unrestricted free agency this summer, league sources told HoopsHype.

Capela, who’s been Trae Young’s pick-and-roll partner and Atlanta’s starting center for the better part of five seasons, was recently diagnosed with a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand and will be re-evaluated in approximately two or three weeks.

As a starter earlier this season, the 30-year-old center averaged 9.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in 41 games.

Khris Middleton: ‘I think this team could definitely be a playoff team’​

You must be registered for see images

Following a 122-103 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, veteran swingman Khris Middleton sat alongside rookie guard Keyshawn George to discuss and demonstrate techniques on moves the rookie guard worked on during the game.

Other Wizards, such as No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr, who praised Middleton as a leader by example, and forward Justin Champagnie, who said he’s learned how to be more poised under pressure when things aren’t going the best, are among the many youngsters who’ve sought Middleton’s guidance.

After Middleton chatted with George, the 33-year-old champion and three-time All-Star sat down with HoopsHype at MSG to discuss what lessons he and Marcus Smart have tried to share with Washington’s young core, his thoughts on Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly, his Milwaukee Bucks legacy, the future of the Wizards, his $33.35 million player option, and more.

How have you tried to mentor the young Wizards core since arriving?

Khris Middleton: I talk to them about daily habits, competing, and going through the process. I’m not really trying to tell them what to do, but helping them figure it out and giving them advice along the way. I try to encourage them.

Who are some of the young guys who’ve sought your guidance?

KM: All of them. They’re trying to get a feel for the game. Sometimes, we’re in a rough stretch, so what are some things we should be looking at? Or what am I looking at during situations when I’m on the court in different actions? We talk about basketball and try to figure out how to get on the same page and elevate everyone’s game.

What have you learned about the young core, including Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly?

KM: I’ve learned how skillful they are for their age. These are first and second-year players with confidence. They have all the intangibles, like how quickly they pick up on things. The results haven’t shown, but I think they play at a high level.

Has it helped to have Marcus Smart here with you as a fellow veteran?

KM: For sure. Smart’s another guy who’s been through a lot of the same stuff I have. He’s been on Team USA, been to the NBA Finals, been on All-Defensive Teams, and won Defensive Player of the Year. He’s made a lot of deep playoff runs and been on a lot of great basketball teams, and he’s a great player himself. Having a guy like him who understands some of the stuff that I see and communicates things he sees has been huge, and it’s great for the young guys.

When you look back on your legacy, which included a championship, what comes to mind when you think of Milwaukee?

KM: It’s something similar to this. We were a young team that was able to build our way into a championship. We saw what it took and knew how hard it was to literally start in last place and finish as the No. 1 team. I’ll remember that road and what it took along that journey, and hopefully, I can help these guys with that journey.

After the trade from Milwaukee, did you still want to show you can score and make clutch shots? What feelings did you have?

KM: I’m always going to have the utmost confidence in myself, but work like I’m one of the worst players. I don’t like using the phrase chip on my shoulder, but there is a bit of confidence in me wherever I go and a belief in myself that I can get back to where I was.

If you’re here next season in Washington, what do you foresee with this young core?

KM: I think this team could definitely be a playoff team. I think we had a stretch recently where we were competing against some of the playoff teams in some games, where we won some games and lost some others. I think if you give us a full offseason and give us a full season together, with the improvement of the young core, which is going to be huge, I think they can take a big step because of the way they work, how talented they are, and how smart they are.

What else would you like to accomplish in your career, having already won a championship and been an All-Star?

KM: I want to do everything more and as many times as I can before I retire.

Justin Champagnie: ‘I probably thought about quitting like three or four times’​

You must be registered for see images attach

After beginning the season as a two-way player, forward Justin Champagnie has become a bright spot for the Washington Wizards in a rebuilding season for the franchise and signed a four-year, $10 million deal, including $1.8 million guaranteed for the rest of this season.

Champagnie has already played roughly as many games this season as the previous three seasons combined in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Wizards.

“I never really got an opportunity to go out there, play my full game and be myself,” Champagnie told HoopsHype. “I think this year they’ve allowed me to be myself, play my game, and they trust in what I do. It’s been a big confidence boost and has made me feel better knowing that I can be at this level and shine at this level.”

While Champagnie was shuttling back and forth between the G League for much of the past three seasons, he seriously contemplated whether he’d ever stick in the NBA.

“To be honest with you, I probably thought about quitting three or four times,” Champagnie explained. “I always told myself no matter what happens, stay grounded, remember where you came from, keep doing what you’re doing, and let it be what it’s going to be.”

After contemplating quitting the NBA dream and going overseas, this was a make-or-break campaign for the 23-year-old forward in his fourth and final season of two-way eligibility.

Champagnie has risen to the occasion, starting 22 of 53 games and averaging 7.8 points on 49.5 percent shooting from the field and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc with 5.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 19.9 minutes per game.

The Brooklyn native has carved out an NBA niche by being a spot-up corner shooter, crashing the boards, and bringing energy on defense for the Wizards this season, and he hopes beyond for years to come.

“I’ve got four years to continue to prove why you deserve another four years,” Champagnie told HoopsHype. “I’m always thinking about the next opportunity and thinking about ways I can get better, impact my game, and show I’m worth a lot.”

Cam Spencer: ‘As a two-way player, your schedule is changing by the hour at times’​

You must be registered for see images attach

After winning an NCAA title with the UConn Huskies under Dan Hurley, Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer had a welcome to the NBA moment when he recently scored a career-high 16 points and trash-talked briefly with Kevin Durant in a 120-118 win.

Recently, Spencer spoke with HoopsHype over the phone to discuss his interaction with Durant, life behind the scenes as a two-way player in the NBA, his college journey with Loyola University Maryland, Rutgers, and UConn, including what he learned under Hurley. Plus, Spencer discussed his new business venture Chillshark, which is being targeted to teams like the Grizzlies and Warriors, and his Spencer Brothers foundation with Warriors guard Pat Spencer.

When you were at Loyola University Maryland, did you have the NBA as a dream in mind, or were you thinking overseas?

Cam Spencer: I tried to definitely stay in the present, but you know, I've always had high goals and high standards for myself, so the NBA was always the dream. I only had the one offered to go to Loyola, and that was the opportunity I was given. I just tried to make the most of that, and I always had the end goal of making it to the NBA and playing in the NBA for a while. I tried to get better every day as a player. Loyola gave me a great opportunity to play, and the NBA was always the goal, no matter where I was.

When you went from Loyola to Rutgers to UConn, was there ever a moment of doubt or a low point where you questioned whether the dream would become a reality?

CS: I’d say at Rutgers, I got the opportunity to match up more against NBA guys that were in the mock drafts, and scouts obviously had their eye on our games a little bit more than then when we were at Loyola, so based on those matchups and playing against other NBA projected guys, I always felt like I could definitely play and hold my own and play well in those games. I would say at Rutgers, it really started to kick in that the NBA could be a possibility.

After going to UConn, what’s your best Dan Hurley story?

CS: With him, it's not one that stands out. I would say the consistency of his preparation and his intensity every day. He was the same guy with that same championship mindset every single day, whether it was a shootaround, a film session, a practice, or whatever we were doing. He was leading in a championship way, and I don't know if there's one story that really can just show people who he is. I would say it’s the consistency of everyday work ethic.

How did Hurley help you prepare for the NBA at UConn as a coach?

CS: I grew a ton as a player under coach Hurley. The way he taught us the game. You see a lot of UConn guys and the guys that were there last year or a couple of years ago that are in the NBA now. They all know how to play the game at a high level from an IQ standpoint. I think he does a good job of recognizing a player's strengths and weaknesses. He's definitely going to help you develop those weaknesses so that we can eventually make it to the NBA and have long careers. His development of his players, both on and off the court, is next level.

How did having the chance to play on an NCAA title team and having a featured role at UConn help you land in the NBA with the Grizzlies?

CS: A ton. That was one of the best things about the culture that coach Hurley created at UConn. There were guys he pointed out, like Andre Jackson Jr., who didn't fill up the stat sheet like an NBA player. I think he averaged six points and five assists per game, but the way he impacted winning was the reason that he got to the NBA. We had a culture and a team that understood it wasn't about me. It was about we and how you could help the team win. From that, everybody starts watching you, and everybody has success from there, so put winning at the forefront, and the rest will take care of itself for everybody individually.

In your NBA rookie season, has anything surprised you?

CS: I would say I'm not too surprised with anything. I'm lucky to have my older brother Pat, who's been around the NBA for three or four years. I’ve been following his journey, and he's given me the inside scoop on how the NBA is run. I feel like I had a real advantage over some of the other guys and knew what to expect.

You had your welcome to the NBA moment when you had a big game against the Suns, and you were talking to Kevin Durant. What was that moment like for you, and what was said?

CS: I can't say what we said. Trash-talking always stays on the court. I'm a competitor. I obviously have a lot of respect for KD and what he’s accomplished. In the heat of the moment, I'm a competitor. I'm not going to back down from anyone. I’m going to go to war with my guys every day of the week. We were just trying to win. You don't really care who you're playing against. I definitely respect him a lot, but I'm not in the NBA to make friends. I'm trying to win and help our team win in any way that I can.

Since that game, what’s it been like since then now that you’ve had more consistent rotation minutes?

CS: It's been great. As a competitor, you want to get as many minutes as you can to help contribute to winning for the team. It’s the NBA, so guys are in and out of the rotation. It's cliché, but you do have to control what you can control a lot of times. With injuries and moving pieces, sometimes you get 20 minutes a game, and sometimes you get none or five minutes where the team needs a spark, so you really have to control what you can. You continue to work hard, control your attitude, and be ready when your number is called.

Is there anything about life on the two-way contract going back and forth that would be interesting to shed light on for readers who don't know as much about that process?

CS: As a two-way player, your schedule is changing by the hour at times. You will literally be on a road trip, maybe going to practice or planning to go to practice, and then you get a call, and you have to leave the city within an hour to get back to the Grizzlies from being with the Hustle (Memphis’ G League affiliate). You play in the Hustle game for 30 minutes, then come back up top, and maybe you only get a few minutes. It’s a lot of just staying ready for your opportunities when they come, and that's a lot of the NBA, especially on the two-way contract.

You and your brother, Pat Spencer, are part of a business venture called Chillshark. What’s the product do, and what’s the long-term goal?

CS: It started with my brother and his high school teammate that he kept in touch with over the years, who came to him with the idea. As athletes, we’re big cold plungers and love that for our recovery. His buddy’s name is Keegan O'Connor. He started a company called Chillshark, and it's pretty much a chiller that makes any bathtub at home a cold plunge. It chills the water, and we have an app with the product as well that chills the water over a period of time, so you can make any bathtub a cold plunge.

Do you use Chillshark, and if so, what's it best used for?

CS: Yeah. We just launched the Kickstarter recently. We're trying to raise funds. We have a prototype made. I was able to see it when I was in San Antonio. Keegan and I met up, and the product looked great. We're in the process of gathering funds to manufacture them and make some more. We're trying to target some NBA teams, like the Grizzlies and the Warriors, being a couple of them. We're on the road traveling a bunch, and cold plunges are not necessarily available at times. We always have to order ice and things like that, so it'll be great for at-home people, typical daily people who use it for their bathtubs, and also for people who travel on the road a lot who can take it with them and cold plunge on the road.

Would you ever take this on Shark Tank?

CS: We haven't talked about that. We like to think of the big picture and set high golds and stuff like that. We haven't talked about going on Shark Tank, but as entrepreneurial as Pat (Spencer), myself, and Keegan are, we definitely watch a lot of Shark Tank, and that’d be a pretty cool idea if we could get on there, that would be great.

You and Pat also have the Spencer Brothers Foundation. What does that entail, and what are you working on now?

CS: At the end of 2024, we had the idea of starting our foundation. My brother and I grew up 10-15 minutes from the Naval Academy. We sponsored midshipmen where we were home away from home for those guys, and they became like brothers and great role models for us. The military always had a special place in our hearts. As soon as we could, we wanted to use our platform to give back to those guys, so we started the Spencer Brothers Foundation. One of the big things we're doing this year and every year is we're going to do a big golf and poker event, which is August 7-8 of this upcoming year. It's a big outing to raise some funds and then have them go to the military, veterans, and their families in whatever way we can help them.

Oklahoma City Thunder lose multiple scouts to college GM jobs​

You must be registered for see images attach

With the NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal window open through April 22, the Oklahoma City Thunder have lost multiple scouts to college general manager jobs.

Thunder amateur scout Corey Evans is expected to be named general manager of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, league sources told HoopsHype. Before joining Oklahoma City, Evans was a national recruiting analyst for Rivals.

Thunder scout Andrew Slater has also left Oklahoma City to take the general manager job at NC State after making a name for himself as a recruiting analyst at the high school level.

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Intel: Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Caris LeVert, Khris Middleton, Wizards, Grizzlies, OKC

Continue reading...