The Junkyard Dog returns.
DeMarre Carroll will be back in Atlanta on Wednesday. The former Hawks forward will play his first game in the city since he signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Raptors as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
Carroll’s return will be welcomed by some of his former teammates. However, it would seem, not by all of them.
When asked for his thoughts about facing his former teammate, Jeff Teague stared straight ahead.
“I don’t really care,” is all he said Tuesday.
When then asked for a memory of playing with Carroll, Teague was nearly as succinct.
“He played well here when he was here. He had a really good year last year.”
Later in the day, Carroll was asked about Teague’s comments by members of the Toronto media.
“Nothing surprises me about Jeff,” Carroll told reporters when asked he if was surprised the comment. “Jeff is one of those guys who comes in, does his work and goes home. Not surprised by Jeff. But like he said, it’s another game. That’s how I’m going to look at them, like another game. It’s a great opportunity for me and my team to go in there and get a road win and make a statement.”
One Hawks player who will be glad to see Carroll is Paul Millsap. The two played together with the Jazz before playing the two past two seasons with the Hawks. Both became unrestricted free agents this summer. The Hawks could afford to keep one. Millsap got a three-year, $59 million dollar contract. Carroll got a call from Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer wishing him well. Carroll quickly agreed to a deal on the first day of free agency that made him the highest-paid Raptors player.
Millsap and Carroll bonded as teammates — locker neighbors in Philips Arena — and most recently their shared experience of free agency.
“That’s my guy,” Millsap said. “That’s my brother. It’s going to be good to see him here, especially in front of this crowd. They loved DeMarre.
“Me and him, we keep in contact all the time. Like brothers do. About his situation. About my situation.”
Carroll joined the Hawks on a two-year, $5 million contract. He was a bargain for that price as a member of the starting lineup for two seasons. He played his way into the lucrative contract, especially in his final season and the Hawks’ playoff run to the Eastern Conference finals.
For the Raptors, Carroll is averaging 13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.9 steals in 35.8 minutes. He ranks third on the team in scoring behind DeMar DeRozan (21.2 points) and Kyle Lowry (20.7). Carroll missed three games with a sore right heel earlier this month. The Raptors were 1-2 without him. He has scored a season-high 21 points twice. He has averaged 14.0 points, while shooting 10-of-24 from 3-point range, over the past five games.
Carroll was indeed a fan favorite in Atlanta. He took his nickname north of the border, but found it needed a revision. Jerome Williams built his legacy in Toronto around the moniker Junkyard Dog. Hence, Carroll became Junkyard Dog 2.0.
“He’s got such a good energy about him, it’ll be good to see DeMarre,” Budenholzer said of the reunion. “Once the ball goes up, I’m sure it will be very competitive. He’s a great competitor. Like we’ve said a lot of times, we are happy for him and his success. He did a lot for us here.”
The Hawks (12-8) host the Raptors (11-7) in an important early-season matchup in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors lead the Atlantic Division. The Hawks are second in the Southeast Division. The two teams are percentage points apart for the fifth and sixth positions in the conference.
So when the game tips, the reunion will be about just basketball.
“Just like any other thing,” Millsap said of playing against Carroll in a conference game. “Just like when he was on the team, and we went at it one-on-one when we were on opposing teams in practices. Continue to have that mentality. Just go at it.”
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