Thaddeus Young
2019-20 Salary: $12.9 million
Thaddeus Young has long been known as one of the more solid and consistent players in the league. He’s not going to set the world on fire with any one of his skills, but he’s well-rounded, great defensively and a sound veteran.
When some Jazz fans were considering Derrick Favors replacements, Thad Young was a guy who frequently came up thanks to his ability to defend both in the post and out to the perimeter, and his improved three-point shot. He certainly has a determination and effort befitting Quin Snyder squads, so he should be a nice fit from that standpoint.
Not to mention, he’d help fill the size void the Jazz are currently dealing with and would bring a higher IQ and defensive ability to Utah’s second unit than anyone can provide currently. As a true power forward, he’d fit nicely with both a strictly reserve group and a combination of starters, while providing the Jazz with excellent versatility against various opponents. Not to mention, as a former teammate of Bojan Bogdanovic’s, he could be a great chemistry fit as well.
Why the Bulls MIGHT do it:
Thad Young was a magnificent piece in Indiana the past three seasons as the ultimate glue guy, but his fit in Chicago has been awkward at best. His numbers have dipped significantly from a year ago as he’s being under and poorly utilized in his new home in the Windy City.
And with the Bulls struggling so mightily this season, they may rethink their addition of the veteran Young and instead look to add more youth and future assets. The Bulls thought that perhaps the veteran presence of Thad and Tomas Satoransky could help them nab a playoff spot in the East, but thus far they haven’t even been competitive.
Infusing Dante Exum’s defense and effort into an often inconsistent Chicago squad could make more sense for a young team than continuing to not get enough out of Thad. The Bulls need to make changes and Young is easily the most appealing guy on the roster for the Jazz that Chicago may actually be willing to move. The one negative would be the length and amount of his contract, but if he was able to replicate his play in Indiana in Utah as a reserve, he’d be an incredible spark for an often sputtering Jazz squad.