With Phoenix trying to trade Jae Crowder, Cam Johnson is starting at power forward in training camp, Suns coach Monty Williams said Thursday.
He averaged career highs in field goal percentage , 3-point percentage and free throw shooting last season. Crowder shot 39.9% from the field. A streaky shooter from 3, Crowder made 34.8% of his launches from deep.
However, Crowder, a team leader who started all 80 games he played last season counting the playoffs, is a better rebounder and defender than Johnson. "Defensively is where I told him he has to draw the line in the sand," Williams said."He's guarding smaller guys or some will be dynamic guys that he's got to guard. Conversely, I think about those guys having to guard him. That's something that is exciting when you think about how that could open up our offense." Crowder was third on the team in rebounding at 5.3 boards a game while Johnson averaged 4.1. With his size, versatility and basketball IQ, Crowder has guarded a variety of players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan.He spent all summer in the weight room, is happy at 221 pounds, but now a starter, Johnson must raise his level of play on the boards and on defense. "That's going to have to be a huge focus of mine is to rebound a lot better than I have," Johnson said."And guard, be a lot more physical. That's where I'm going to have to elevate my game a lot because in that first unit, we have guys who can score the ball. We have guys who can play out of pick-and-roll. So I'm going to have to contribute in as many as ways as I can." Williams has known Morgan Cato for years as she worked for the NBA before Suns General Manager James Jones hired her as an assistant general manager in June."She called me up on a number of occasions already, which has really been good for me," Williams said."The collaboration is something that I have a great appreciation for already, but I've known her a long time. She's top shelf in every area and I think when you have high-level people like that around you that are high level in their vocation, you can't help but get better. I look forward to that partnership with her and James." Cato was an NBA associate vice president. An African-American, she is the first woman of color in an NBA assistant GM position. During Monday's media day, Williams said Jones, Cato and himself came together to address the findings in the Robert Sarver investigation. "To have her here and have her expertise and another set of eyes on the things that we do, it's been tremendous," Williams said."James and I have both been blown away." Cato worked for the NBA for nearly 10 years in a number of positions such as business and league operations, career development, recruiting and college relations. The Brooklyn native is a graduate of Stony Brook University and Harvard Business School’s Executive track. Now he has it across the board as evidenced in ESPN ranking him 10th on its list of top 100 players going into the 2022-23 season. "I can't just say those groups don't matter to no one when I feel like they got me rated too high," Booker said."Those rankings don't mean anything. Last time it meant something was high school. That's when I used to check up on rankings.""Too high as in when they used to put me in the 30s and the 40s and 50s," Booker said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
White Sox' Michael Kopech Unlikely to Pitch Again This SeasonWhite Sox starter Michael Kopech’s 2022 season appears to be over.
Read more »
Deandre Ayton says he hasn’t talked to Monty Williams since playoff lossPhoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton says he and Coach Monty Williams haven’t spoken to each other since their playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Read more »
Cavaliers Interested In Trading For Jae CrowderCavaliers Interested In Trading For Jae Crowder - RealGM Wiretap
Read more »
Monty Williams prefers Jae Crowder's situation resolved before Phoenix Suns season openerWith Phoenix looking to trade Jae Crowder, Suns coach Monty Williams said he'd like someone in before Oct. 19 season opener against Dallas.
Read more »
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker doesn't see Monty Williams-Deandre Ayton being a distractionPHOENIX — Devin Booker nodded his head when being asked about Deandre Ayton saying he and Monty Williams haven't spoken since Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals Phoenix lost to Dallas.
Read more »
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker doesn't see Monty Williams-Deandre Ayton being a distractionDevin Booker doesn't see Monty Williams and Deandre Ayton being a distraction.
Read more »