Thaddeus Young Drew Interest From 76ers, Pelicans, Celtics Before Joining Suns

The Toronto Raptors traded Young to the Brooklyn Nets at the NBA trade deadline. The Nets waived Young, allowing the veteran to sign with the Suns. 

“Before agreeing to join the Suns, Young received interest from several teams, including the 76ers, Pelicans, and Celtics, who ended up trading for Xavier Tillman, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote. “Young is expected to earn a consistent role off the bench for the Suns at the backup four and five positions.”

Young is averaging 5.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks this season while shooting 62.1% from the field, 16.7% from beyond the arc and 41.7% from the free-throw line. 

Young, 35, has career averages of 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Sixers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Nets, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Raptors. He’s been in the NBA since 2007. 

A Georgia Tech product, Young has appeared in 57 playoff games with the Sixers, Nets, Pacers and Raptors. He has career postseason averages of 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks. 

The Suns are 33-22 on the season. They are in sixth place in the Western Conference standings. With All-Stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal leading the way, Phoenix is 12th in the NBA in points per game (117.6).

The Suns have zero championships in franchise history. It will be fascinating to see if Durant, Booker and Beal can lead the team to the title this season under first-year head coach Frank Vogel, who won the 2020 title with the Los Angeles Lakers at the Walt Disney World bubble.