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Thaddeus Young opts into final year of his contract with the Indiana Pacers

By Ben Gibson

DENVER, CO - APRIL 3: Thaddeus Young #21 of the Indiana Pacers gets introduced before the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 3: Thaddeus Young #21 of the Indiana Pacers gets introduced before the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Thaddeus Young reportedly is opting into the final year of his contract with the Indiana Pacers. He is owed $13.7 million this upcoming season.

Thaddeus Young and the Indiana Pacers are sticking together as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that he is opting into the final season of his contract.

Young, for his part, wanted a longer contract with the Indiana Pacers. The team, however, preferred paying him for one more season and then reevaluating the situation a year from now.

Young averaged 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists a game with Indiana while shooting 50.5% from the floor. Young served as the glue that held Indiana’s defense together over the past two seasons while rarely needing the ball in his hands to be effective.

Young proved the versatile-nature of his game in the playoffs as he shut down Kevin Love while switching assignments and taking on LeBron James at times during the series with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As we’ve seen in recent seasons, Kevin Pritchard likes flexibility. The Pacers let C.J. Miles go as he wanted (and received) a longer deal with the Toronto Raptors while signing Bojan Bogdanovic for more money, but fewer years, and a chance to waive him if needed. Darren Collison had a similar situation with his contract.

While the Pacers wanted Young around for at least one more season — according to one source they turned down a trade offer for him in the last week — there is no guarantee that Young is with the Pacers to finish the season. His $13.7 is only for one more season, making his contract attractive as well as his play on the court.

With Young opting in, the Pacers options are limited in free agency unless the make considers waiving Al Jefferson or reevaluate their positions on Bogdanovic and Collison.

Next: Please, no: Why the Pacers shouldn’t sign Rodney Hood

For now though, Thaddeus Young remains on the Indiana Pacers roster as the explore their options with the remaining cap room.

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