New Spurs forward Thaddeus Young appears to be staying put in San Antonio for the time being. The Suns continue to be intrigued by the versatile veteran, but an immediate move is “doubtful,” per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Twitter link).
Young was sent to the Spurs from Chicago in the sign-and-trade package that netted the Bulls pricey small forward DeMar DeRozan during the 2021 offseason. The 33-year-old Young enjoyed a stellar year with the Bulls in 2020/21, averaging 12.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 4.3 APG while logging time at the small forward, power forward, and center positions for a Chicago team in desperate need of his veteran leadership, passing skills, and defensive savvy.
There’s more out of the Southwest Division:
- With longtime leaders DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills and Rudy Gay now all gone from the Spurs‘ roster, the club’s young players have developed a strong bond together, writes Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “The Spurs do a great job of picking people who have great personalities off the court,” said 22-year-old shooting guard Lonnie Walker. “We all hang out every other day, going out to eat, doing something as a team… As we continue to build that trust, it starts to lead onto the court, knowing what each other can do, knowing what each other can’t do, what we should be better at.”
- When Rockets center Christian Wood first inked a three-year, $41MM deal with Houston in the 2020 offseason, he was not anticipating that he’d soon find himself on a rebuilding roster. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle details how Wood continues to look on the bright side of his new situation. At the time, the club still sported then-All-Star guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook, along with veteran power forward P.J. Tucker. Now all those players have moved on. Westbrook was subsequently traded to the Wizards later in the 2020 offseason (and has now been rerouted to the Lakers), while Harden forced his way onto the Nets and Tucker was sent to the 2021 title-winning Bucks. “I know what we’re trying to build and develop,” Wood said. “I’m looking ahead at the future at what this team has to offer. I know we have a bunch of young talent. I said before, we’re not going to go in try to be the No. 1 seed or No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. But we’re going to try to play every game like it’s our last.”
- Though they could play together, defensive-oriented 6’8″ Grizzlies bench big men Brandon Clarke and Xavier Tillman Sr. seem poised to compete with each other to carve out rotation roles in Memphis, writes Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian. Herrington suggests that Tillman may have an edge edge over Clarke in the eventual rotation, thanks in part to his solid shooting and half-court passing acumen.
Wood is still in a great situation if he manages to stay healthy this season, and the next. His contract was only for 3 years, so he will still be just 27 when it expires.
If he continues to improve between now and then he could be one of the top free agents in 2023, although the Rockets will be in good shape by then to re-sign him.
Must be hard to develope your game and stay motivated when the team and front office will do everything to lose. Bet he is looking forward to spending his prime in a tank and circling his next game against AD on the calender
Why would they? Just because people like you think so? Everything that could go wrong for this team last season did go wrong. They wisely tanked and got themselves another star to replace Harden.
Now they have one of the best young groups of players in the entire NBA. They’re only going to get better and better. Just wait and see.
How many guys in their prime decided to stay with the rebiulding team and upped their game?
Even though they wont let John Wall play for some reason, I actually think they’re pretty decent at the least, assuming certain guys play
They are starting Kevin Porter Jr at PG, that’s why John Wall isn’t playing. Although they could use Wall as the backup PG, but there’s no real point in doing that. They want Porter and Green to develop chemistry in the backcourt together.
I would have started all 3 with either Tate or Martin at the 4, and then Theis or Wood at the 5
Thad Young for Dario Saric, Chandler Hutchinson and a second round pick
Suns could really do with someone like Young who offers versatility and some more veteran leadership
More than Saric? Saric motivates Ayton, the key player. A team leader, who the Suns a carrying despite a year-long injury.
Young certainly would not hurt though, a pretty smart guy James Jones would appreciate.
Spurs just let Hutchinson go. They are not trading for him.
Thad Young fits what has been a long time need for the Spurs at the 4, and he and McDermott should be a good tandem in different lineups for them