F DeShaun "The Diesel" Thomas (Panathinaikos - Greece)

[MD Buckeye]

Congrats DeShaun!!!

 

[DZ83CK]

Glad DT got drafted. Hope he is able to make their roster and see some action for the Spurs.

 

[Dryden]

Congrats DT. Glad he landed with a good org.

 

[Bestbuck36]

DT steps into a really good situation if he works hard. Ginobili pretty much sucked in the playoffs. Thomas can come in and basically take over for Ginobili there

 

[Dryden]

DT steps into a really good situation if he works hard. Ginobili pretty much sucked in the playoffs. Thomas can come in and basically take over for Ginobili there

Diesel is going to need to bring defense to see time in Popovich's rotation. Ginobili was generally a very good defender against teams that did not have two ball handlers.

 

[Buckskin86]

NBA draft: Long night for Ohio State's Thomas ends with 58th pick by Spurs

Deshaun Thomas said he spent the evening with about 15 of 20 members of his family, ?the family who?s been in my circle since day one.? They tried to keep him calm while the hours passed without his name being called.
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2013

Deshaun Thomas sat through 57 of the 60 picks in the NBA draft last night before hearing his name called, rescued from his anxiety shortly after midnight by the San Antonio Spurs.
?Yes, it was the longest night of my life,? Thomas said when reached about 1 a.m. today at his Indianapolis hotel, his base of operations since leaving Ohio State in April to train for the draft.
?But it happened. The Spurs picked me and it?s a great blessing for them to pick me. I?m ready to start my journey and be as successful as I can and help the organization out and get ready to keep following my dream.?
Thomas did not immediately know when he is due in San Antonio, but it will be soon. He likely will play on the Spurs? entry in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League, which starts July 12.
Thomas said he spent the evening with about 15 of 20 members of his family, ?the family who?s been in my circle since day one.? They tried to keep him calm while the hours passed without his name being called.
?They just said be patient, (someone is) going to call. The Lord is going to make that call for you, so just be patient and don?t worry, just relax,? Thomas said. ?On the 58th pick, the Spurs hit me up and that was just a blessing.?
Thomas worked out for 13 NBA teams in a span of 23 days, finishing Wednesday. He worked out with the Spurs on June 21 and left with a good feeling.
?It felt great when I worked out for them, real special,? he said. ?Just sitting around with them, they?ve got great coaches and they believe in players and they make players better. When I left, they told me things to key on to be a good player in the league and things I need to do.?

cont...

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/06/28/0628-ohio-state-thomas-nba-draft.html

 

[TexasBuck]

Pretty funny that DeShaun ends up getting drafted by the team he refused to give his phone number to. I guess playing hard to get works in the NBA.

 

[LitlBuck]

The funny thing about DeShaun is he's the type of defender that has given LeBron some issues. A big body, not that quick laterally, but able to hold his own in the paint (Boris Diaw, Draymond Green).

I think DeShaun's poor defense has been exaggerated a bit, as he did a solid job last year, including guarding centers. He seems like a San Antonio type pick. IMO.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Re: Former Ohio State star Deshaun Thomas refuses to give NBA team his phone number at combine
By Jason Lloyd Published: May 16, 2013

CHICAGO: If the San Antonio Spurs choose Deshaun Thomas in next month?s NBA draft, they might have a hard time reaching him to tell him. That?s because when the Spurs asked the former Ohio State star for his phone number Wednesday night, he refused to give it to them.

Thomas said teams asked him plenty of difficult and interesting questions during his interview process at the combine. But the most interesting, he said, was the fact the Spurs? first question was for his cell phone number and his e-mail address. He gave them the e-mail, but not the phone number.

?I can?t go around giving it out to everyone,? Thomas said Thursday with a laugh. ?Now if they want to draft me, I?d be happy to give it to them.?

Pretty funny that DeShaun ends up getting drafted by the team he refused to give his phone number to. I guess playing hard to get works in the NBA.

I'm sure the Spurs have his phone number now.

:tongue2:

 

[Buckskin86]

Published: June 29, 2013
Thomas? dream to be drafted comes true
Greg Jones | High school sports editor

FORT WAYNE ? Deshaun Thomas always had the dream to be drafted by an NBA team.

The dream stayed with the Fort Wayne native through his days at Northwood Middle School and into Bishop Luers and the last three years at Ohio State.

It was even there through the seemingly endless wait during the NBA draft into the late hours Thursday night and into Friday morning.

Thomas? dream was finally realized when the San Antonio Spurs picked the small forward in the second round with the 58th pick.

?It was tough to see the first round go by and your name not called; then into the second round, and your name was still not called,? Thomas said. ?It was tough watching it that way. You are watching it patiently, and then your name is finally called, and it felt like a relief.

?It was really weird to see my name come across that board, and to get drafted by such a good organization.?

There were only two more picks in the draft after Thomas.

?It is an opportunity to keep fulfilling my dream,? Thomas said. ?I was thinking about all the hard work I have put into my game.?

cont...

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130629/SPORTS20/306299986/1008/SPORTS

Former Buckeye Deshaun Thomas happy for NBA chance
Jun. 29, 2013
Written by
Stephen J. Nesbitt
Indianapolis Star

COLUMBUS ? Deshaun Thomas has always had a shooter?s touch.

The 2010 IndyStar Mr. Basketball spent the past month flying from city to city for pre-draft workouts, displaying that silky stroke.

On Thursday, Thomas finally took a rest and patiently waited for an NBA team to find a spot for his 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame.

?Getting drafted is getting drafted,? the lefty said after a workout with the Indiana Pacers on June 13. ?That?s one of the greatest compliments. Hopefully you land at the right spot and you land on the right team.?

Thomas realized his lifelong ambition when he was taken in the second round, 58th overall, by the San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio just finished runner-up to the Miami Heat in the race for an NBA championship.

?After today, I need to work even harder,? Thomas said after the pick was announced. ?This opportunity means a lot to me. I have believed in myself all along.

?There are a lot of people who have dreamed of being in this situation but have given up because it became too much work. I didn?t give up. Now my goal is to stay in the league for a long time.?

cont..

http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.co...ormer-Buckeye-Deshaun-Thomas-happy-NBA-chance

NBA draft: Former Buckeye Thomas finally gets call from Spurs
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH SATURDAY JUNE 29, 2013

It will be good for both parties when Deshaun Thomas gets to San Antonio and the Spurs can speak to him face to face.
Clearly, phone communication between them continues to be difficult.
When Thomas, a former Ohio State forward, interviewed with Spurs officials in May at the NBA predraft combine in Chicago, they parted ways by telling Thomas that he didn?t have to give them his cellphone number, but ?
So Thomas, apparently surprised by the spur-of-the-moment request, offered only his email address and joked that they could have the phone number if they drafted him.
Well, they did, shortly after midnight yesterday, with the 58th and third-to-last selection in the NBA draft.
But when they tried to call him, they couldn?t reach him.
Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, speaking to San Antonio media afterward, said he had spoken with the Spurs? first-round choice, Livio Jean-Charles of France, ?but because Deshaun wouldn?t give us his cell number, we weren?t able to call him.?
He was joking. Kind of.
Thomas was in his hotel suite in Indianapolis, where he has been living since leaving Columbus in April, taking photos of the 15 to 20 family members sharing draft night with him. ?And my phone was dying,? he said after being reached on the phone about 1 a.m. yesterday.
?Then I saw on TV (that San Antonio had picked him). I was charging my phone up, and I saw I had a missed call from their area code. So I called them back.?
All?s well that ends well.
?They said they were glad I?m going to be with the Spurs,? Thomas said, ?and they?re going to try to make me as successful as possible and get me better as a player.?
Thomas? agent, J.R. Hensley, said Thomas is expected to report to San Antonio by July 8 and practice with other players on the Spurs? team in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Games are scheduled July 12-22.

cont...

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/con...keye-thomas-finally-gets-call-from-spurs.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhlzXGVIGkw"]Deshaun Thomas Drafted By San Antonio Spurs - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Oy35FoTdY"]Deshaun Thomas Interview After Being Drafted By San Antonio Spurs - YouTube[/ame]

 

[greyscarlet]

Very happy for mr Thomas, about the best situation he could be in. He has turned into a hard worker and if he continues, could really thrive in the nba. He easily could have put the spurs over the top in the finals with his scoring ability and his much improved defense. Game after game last year I recall thinking how well he's improved defensively. Matta and popovich actually seem like similar coaches so that transition may be very fluid as well.

Best of luck.

 

[DZ83CK]

DT may have improved on D from when he started at OSU, but that doesn't make him a capable defender at the NBA level. He still had 2-3 poor plays every game on defense (coming over late and picking up blocking fouls 1-2 times per game and giving up straight line drives 1-2 times per game) while they were trying to protect him and give him the easiest assignments they could most of the time.

Selfishly, I wish DT would've stayed at OSU because I don't think it's going to work out for him at the NBA level - I don't think an extra year would've made him any more athletic so I still doubt it would've made a difference for him re: the NBA, but my attitude is why not be a star for an extra year in college, etch your name in OSU history with a scoring record, and try to help your team win a title rather than be a fairly anonymous grunt at (likely) obscure pro ball - but alas, there aren't many Mike Doss types out there. I hope he manages to latch on with the Spurs somehow.

 

[Buckeyefrankmp]

DT may have improved on D from when he started at OSU, but that doesn't make him a capable defender at the NBA level. He still had 2-3 poor plays every game on defense (coming over late and picking up blocking fouls 1-2 times per game and giving up straight line drives 1-2 times per game) while they were trying to protect him and give him the easiest assignments they could most of the time.

I really don't watch NBA games that much. I am not a good judge on what makes a capable NBA defender. What does a capable defender do in the NBA?

 

[Jaxbuck]

What does a capable defender do in the NBA?

Fall down and act hurt a lot.

 

[billmac91]

DT may have improved on D from when he started at OSU, but that doesn't make him a capable defender at the NBA level. He still had 2-3 poor plays every game on defense (coming over late and picking up blocking fouls 1-2 times per game and giving up straight line drives 1-2 times per game) while they were trying to protect him and give him the easiest assignments they could most of the time.

Selfishly, I wish DT would've stayed at OSU because I don't think it's going to work out for him at the NBA level - I don't think an extra year would've made him any more athletic so I still doubt it would've made a difference for him re: the NBA, but my attitude is why not be a star for an extra year in college, etch your name in OSU history with a scoring record, and try to help your team win a title rather than be a fairly anonymous grunt at (likely) obscure pro ball - but alas, there aren't many Mike Doss types out there. I hope he manages to latch on with the Spurs somehow.

I think people are really putting too much emphasis on his defense. He'll be fine. Matt Bonnor averaged 15 MPG for the Spurs during the regular season and he isn't exactly a defensive stalwart.

The NBA has become so analytically driven, teams find ways to create and exploit match-ups they like. Even if Thomas is the worst defender in the league, if Popovich see's a guy on the opposition that he's comfortable to let shoot, Thomas can be hidden on that player. Or you even get weird cross matches you're comfortable with like a pudgy PF/C in Boris Diaw giving LeBron 6 feet to shoot until he enters the paint at which point he throws his body on him.

That's why you had guys like Harrison Barnes guarding Kosta Koufos, David West guarding Shane Battier, Gary Neal guarding Mike Miller.

It's all about match-ups and where you can exploit a team. If Popovich see's a guy on the court who can not score, he will have zero issue putting an offensive weapon in Thomas out there. And if said player with no offensive game wants to try and take advantage of Thomas's lack of defensive ability, Pop will be more than willing to let him try.

I think Thomas ends up taking the minutes Matt Bonnor was getting. Bonnor played in the second unit and typically defended back-up 4's and even 5's who have no offensive game. The real key for DeShaun will be taking good shots. If he starts launching low percentage shots early in shot clocks he'll find his way to the bench real quick. The flip-side however, is he is the rare guy on a second unit who you're comfortable with taking a shot deep in the clock when one needs to be forced up.

I like his game offensive game a lot in the NBA though. He'll be tough for smaller guys to handle because he has a back to the basket game and can grind on the block, and he'll step out all day long when a bigger 4 tries to check him. He has a good handle for his size and is a good passer when he wants to be.

I think San Antonio got a perfect player for their second unit.

Keep in mind Gary Neal was a gunner in college that no one thought had a chance in the NBA. Not a good enough ball handler to play point and too small to play the 2G. His defense was poor as well. Popovich utilizes Neal to his advantage all the time. He just sticks him on the worst offensive wing or the jump shooter and lets Gray kill teams on secondary breaks when he gets his open looks. I think the thing you'll see out of San Antonio is an EXPLOSIVE offensive second unit that struggles a bit defensively. But again, Pop will take his chances against your limited offensive guys who provide defense/reboudning against his limited defenders who can put the ball in the hoop. His percentages are probably better for big runs and being ahead in the +/- game for second units.