Pivotal roles for former Longhorns

Big men could be key for their teams when NBA restarts

AUSTIN — All this week, players, coaches and staffers from 22 NBA teams have been funneling into Orlando, Fla. They’re all there for the official restart of a season suspended back in March as playing sports became untenable amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Among those traveling to the Disney World “bubble” are a number of former Longhorns. Recent graduates such as Orlando second-year big man Mo Bamba and Brooklyn third-year center Jarrett Allen will try to help guide their respective franchises into the 16-team playoff field. Others, such as banged-up Spur LaMarcus Aldridge (shoulder surgery) and Nets star Kevin Durant (Achilles), will have to watch from home.

Here’s a look at a handful of Texas Exes who could play an important role once the NBA season resumes July 30.

P.J. Tucker, Houston

Back in February, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey decided to lean all the way into his ultra-small-ball ideology by trading away center Clint Capela. The plan was to bring in rangy 3and-D wing Robert Covington and position the 6-foot-5 Tucker at center.

The decision to place a comically undersized 35-year-old, one 14 years removed from his days at Texas, was maybe the most intriguing move of the entire prepandemic season. Tucker is the definition of hard-nosed and is a dogged defender who almost always fights above his weight class.

But will he be able to slow down Lakers star Anthony Davis? Will he grow weary guarding Denver point-center Nikola Jokic for four quarters? Can Tucker do enough to outmaneuver someone who stands 7-1 with a 7-9 wingspan, such as Utah big man Rudy Gobert?

For at least a few weeks, Tucker might just be the most fascinating man in Orlando.

Myles Turner, Indiana

Indiana was one of the more surprising teams through March. Despite getting only 13 games from a still-recovering Victor Oladipo, the Pacers enter Orlando in a tie for fifth place in the East with a 39-26 record.

But Oladipo (knee) won’t make the trip to Disney World. In his absence, Turner is going to have to be a more productive and consistent source of offense.

A one-and-done lottery pick in 2015, Turner’s numbers have fallen off in his fifth campaign. His shooting percentages have all fallen, and his scoring average has dipped from 13.3 to 11.8, though he did put up 14.2 points per game on 52 percent shooting in five March games before the shutdown.

For the Pacers to survive a firstround matchup with a team such as Boston or Miami, Turner is going to have to grow more confident as a scorer and a shooter while retaining his defensive identity.

Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn

No Durant. No Kyrie Irving. No Spencer Dinwiddie. No DeAndre Jordan.

That doesn’t leave much for the Nets, currently in possession of the No. 7 seed in the East, six games ahead of ninth-place Washington. But this could be Allen’s best shot to prove to Durant and Irving that he can be part of a team with title aspirations.

Efficiency has been a hallmark of Allen’s game at the pro level. He’s averaging 14.9 points on 64.6 percent shooting, 13.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes.

But now he’s likely to receive far more playing time and attention given the dearth of roster options.

Mo Bamba, Orlando

Orlando (30-35) has a solid hold on one of the East’s final two spots, with Washington (24-40) and Charlotte (23-42) slim shots to knock out the Magic and/or Nets.

Still, the Magic can’t afford to slip. And Bamba’s prodigious size and developing 3-point stroke could help them do just that.

The No. 6 pick in the 2018 draft following one season at Texas, Bamba has been limited to just 14.2 minutes per game this season. But his per-36 numbers — 13.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 1.5 3-pointers — are encouraging.

If the 22-year-old can maintain that sort of production in increased minutes, it could unlock some potent new lineup combinations for a Magic team that will be without versatile big man Jonathan Issac.

Jaxson Hayes, New Orleans

Hayes emerged as a surprising lottery pick after one strong year at Texas. And though he’s been overshadowed by another Pelicans rookie named Zion, the 6-11 Hayes has produced a few highlight plays of his own in limited minutes.

He played sparingly in February and March, averaging just 7.1 minutes per game in 10 appearances. But he’s capable of breaking out for a surprise monster outing — such as the 14 points, five boards, four steals and four blocks Hayes put up in a 3-point loss to the Clippers.

If New Orleans is going to leapfrog both Memphis and Portland for the West’s final playoff spot, Hayes might need to break out a few more times.

Pacers big man and Texas-ex Myles Turner, left, was averaging 14.2 points in five games in March before the shutdown.

Will the Rockets’ 6-foot-5 P.J. Tucker, right, a Texas-ex, be able to hold his own against much bigger players in the post?