NC State NBA Training Camp Update

NBA Training Camp began a couple of days ago, and 3 former NC State basketball players started camp on an NBA roster.  Here is snap shot of where each player stands in Training Camp.

T.J. Warren

Last season T.J. Warren finished his rookie season strong.  After the All-Star break he saw his minutes and points both more than double.  He earned All-NBA Summer League 1st Team honors, averaging 19 points a game in July.  He is looking to carry that momentum into this season, and through a couple of days of Training Camp, it looks like it hasn’t worn off yet.  According to his head coach, he is the most improved player on the team.

Hornacek: “If I had to pick one guy (tough because a lot of guys have gotten better), I would pick TJ Warren.” https://t.co/vCpJh5VyaR

— #WeArePHX (@Suns) September 28, 2015

One of the reasons Hornacek might feel that way is due to how dominant he’s been in intrasquad pickup games.

Speaking of rave-worthy, T.J. Warren has apparently been killing it in the intrasquad pickup games over the last month. The team actually kept a tally of how many wins each player had in those games. The second-year forward won that contest, telling me later that it was “23 or something.” When Bledsoe was asked about the team’s offensive outlook, he replied, “We’ve got a lot of confident guys – and we’ve got Tony Buckets.” (NBA)

2014-15 Stats

40 games played/1 game started/15.4 minutes per game/6.1 points per game/2.1 rebounds per game/52.8% field goal percentage

Contract Details

Warren is entering the final year of his 2-year $3.99 million dollar contract.  He will earn $2.04 million this year, and the team does have an option on Warren for the following two seasons.

Lorenzo Brown 

Lorenzo Brown enters the Timberwolves Training Camp with a partially guaranteed contract.  The details of Zo’s contract are murky, but it did guarantee him a spot at Training Camp.  Brown played really well in the Summer League in July, averaging 14.2 points per game.  After the T-Wolves waived Anthony Bennett last week, Brown’s odds of finding a spot on the roster got a little bit better.  For whatever reason, Brown didn’t take place in player interviews at the Timberwolves Media Day today.  Brown is in a crowded situation, having to prove he belongs on a roster that has Ricky Rubio, Tyus Jones and Andre Miller.

Brown is entering his third NBA season.  For more details of Brown’s first two seasons, click here.

2014-15 Stats

55 games played/7 games started/3.4 points/2.4 assists/1.8 rebounds

Contract Details

If the Timberwolves decide to keep him on the roster, Brown is due $947,276 in 2015-16.

J.J. Hickson

J.J. Hickson is entering his third season with the Denver Nuggets, and his 8th season overall in the NBA.  Last year Hickson played in 73 games for the Nuggets primarily in a reserve roll.  Even though Hickson has started in over half of the games he has played in over his career, it looks like he has settled into a reserve roll in Denver.

2014-15 Stats

73 games played/8 games started/19.3 minutes/7.6 points/6.1 rebounds

Contract Details

Hickson is entering the final year of a 3-year $16.1 million dollar contract that he signed back in 2013.  He is set to earn $5.6 million this season.