Pacers Player Review: Thaddeus Young doesn’t get enough credit

After giving up a first-round pick for Young in 2016, he went on to be one of the Indiana Pacers’ best and most consistent players.

Heading into the offseason with no starting power forward, the Indiana Pacers draft day acquisition of Thaddeus Young was a good move for a team trying to get smaller and faster. After a year of Lavoy Allen, C.J. Miles and Myles Turner sharing the starting duty at the 4, Young was a breath of fresh air for the Pacers in 2016-17.

Young was a welcomed presence, especially on the defensive end. He was always good for a few easy buckets around the rim per game. His season did not go perfectly, however. He suffered a wrist injury in early February, causing him to miss eight games. The Pacers’ play in that time showed just how important Young was; they went 2-6 in that stretch, giving up 110 or more in each loss.

Young was basically the 2016-17 version of 2015-16 Ian Mahinmi: his stats will not pop off the page, but he makes his presence known and he is a difference maker.

Significant Digits

1.5

The amount of steals Young had per game, which was just slightly (.06) behind Paul George for the team’s lead. This stat exemplifies how good Young was on defense all year. He had a knack for getting his hands on the ball, whether it be by jumping in passing lanes or poking it away from his man.

52.7%

Young’s field goal percentage on the year, also just slightly behind the team’s leader (Kevin Seraphin). Had Thaddeus realized he was not a good three-point shooter earlier on, he may own that team lead. Young led the team in two-point percentage at 55.7.

Efficiency is always something to prioritize. Young missed some easy ones around the bucket here and there, but for the most part he was finishing when he was supposed to. Some of those finishes were more fun than others.

Thaddeus Young’s Season Summed up in One Archer GIF

If you followed the Indiana Pacers, you needed a sense of humor. Laugh so you don’t cry. And what’s funnier than Archer? Nothing. Nothing is the answer.

Sweatin’ Bullets

Sweatin’ Bullets is an 8p9s tradition started by Jonny Auping in which we offer standalone facts, observations, and commentary, often devoid of context or fairness.

• True: Thaddeus Young shot 38 percent from three-point range this season. Also true: Thaddeus Young made one 3-pointer (on 15 attempts) from Jan. 26 to the end of the regular season. Stop calling him a “stretch four.”
• He was terrible from the free throw line. In his 12 NBA seasons, Young has never shot worse from the line at 52.3 percent. This season he also recorded his second lowest attempts (86) and makes (45).
• 2016-17 was Young’s second best year in regards to VORP–Value over Replacement Player–at 2.0. Spell it with me: D-I-F-F-E-R-E-N-C-E M-A-K-E-R.
• Young committed a career-low 61 shooting fouls. Maybe it shows he’s a more disciplined defender. Maybe it’s just random.

One Key Question

Will Thaddeus Young be traded in the offseason?

The Situation: The true big question that surrounds the Pacers this summer is whether or not Paul George will be traded. If George is moved, it is fair to assume the Pacers will move expensive veterans — like Young — in order to rebuild and give the players a chance to win elsewhere.

Best-case Scenario: If George is not traded: Young remains with the team either in a starter role or as a super sub. If George is traded: Young fetches a mid-first round pick or multiple rotation players.

Worst-case Scenario: If George is not traded: Young is traded. I don’t think it would be smart for a team trying to win to trade away Young. If George is traded: Pacers get a poor return for Young, meaning either a late first or the worst end of a player swap.

Next: Everything that could happen Paul George this summer

Prediction: I think the Pacers will trade George, meaning I think Young is moved as well. As the free agency market dries up, a team building towards the top will part ways with a useful asset or two in exchange for Young’s services.