This is the type of report I hoped and expected to hear about Thompson's work ethic. If Reggie is true to his word that they guys who push the ball down the floor will get minutes, then we should expect to see JT earn minutes rapidly. One facet that he brings immediately is his amazing ability to run the floor and even lead the break at his size. The PF position apparently has to make a lot of adjustments in this new offense, so his willingness to study the playbook overtime also bodes well. The kid's been underestimated his entire career and has done nothing but improve by leaps and bounds since he was a several-inches-smaller barely-recruited high school kid.
The other guys at our spot I wouldn't have minded seeing picked was Speights. He's potentially similar to JT in a lot of ways while being a more explosive athlete, but the rap on him is that he lacks consistent effort on the court and is lazy off the court. Whatever their respective potentials are, I think JT is a lot more likely to reach his. He's only one year older than Speights, but seems to be much further ahead than that in "getting it."
By the way, doesn't matter much but where does Amick get 10.7 as JT's rebounding average last year, while all the official sites list 12.1?