Thaddeus Young has long been one of the most underappreciated role players in the whole NBA. He was one of the most underrated players in his two-year stint with the Chicago Bulls and has made a name for himself as a hustle and energy guy throughout his 15 year NBA career. With this in mind, many thought he would have been a perfect fit for the San Antonio Spurs this season.
Young was part of the deal that sent DeMar DeRozan to the Chicago Bulls this past summer. For many, this signaled that the Spurs were hitting the reset button. That seems to be the case as San Antonio has been playing their young players while relegating the veteran power forward to just 15.6 minutes per game this year. Recently, Young made it clear that the situation was not ideal for him in San Antonio. As a result, Thaddeus Young has become a hot trade commodity within the past couple of days. With this in mind, there are a few teams that could greatly benefit from the former NBA Hustle Award winner.
Potential Destinations for Thaddeus Young
Spot #1:Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have been hit hard with the injury bug this season. They are still waiting for Jamal Murray to return and Michael Porter is now going to miss the rest of the year due to back surgery. The Nuggets recently succumbed to a six-game losing streak thanks in large part to their MVP, Nikola Jokic, suffering a sprained wrist. As a result, Denver is currently sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture.
Thaddeus Young would be a massive boost to this team’s morale and also add a valuable veteran presence. A presence who would be willing to do the dirty work and work well with a Nuggets’ second unit in desperate need of some reinforcements. Considering San Antonio is valuing getting young talent experience right now, a package centered around Bol Bol and a pick or two could get the job done.
Spot #2: Phoenix Suns
At this point in Young’s career, it is very possible that he wants to be on a contender. What better team than arguably the hottest one in the league right now? The Phoenix Suns just lost to the Golden State Warriors. However, they were on a franchise-record, 18 game winning streak before said contest. Thaddeus Young could easily insert into the Suns’ rotation without disrupting too many key players’ minutes.
He would add another dimension to an already solid Suns’ defense and be able to assist them on the glass. He holds a career average of 5.9 total rebounds per game and the Suns currently rank 16th in the league in team rebounding. Realistically, Phoenix would probably have to give up one of the young guys they like such as Cameron Payne, but they could still get a deal done with draft picks involved. After all, the Spurs seem to be in rebuild mode so picks are going to be very valuable to their front office.
Spot #3: Los Angeles Clippers
Sticking with the contender talk, another suitable destination would be the Los Angeles Clippers. Like Phoenix, he would assist with the boards as Los Angeles is ranked 22nd in team rebounding. Not to mention, Young would be a perfect fit with the Clippers and fit right into their gritty defensive culture. The Clippers have done a great job incorporating other role players who provide hustle and energy into their rotation. They would do the same with Thaddeus Young. A deal centering around picks and someone like Luke Kennard could entice San Antonio.
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