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Pacers don’t pick up Joe Young’s team option, making him a free agent

By Ben Gibson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 05: Joe Young #3 of the Indiana Pacers leads teammates to the floor during a game against the Washington Wizards at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Wizards won 111-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 05: Joe Young #3 of the Indiana Pacers leads teammates to the floor during a game against the Washington Wizards at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Wizards won 111-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Joe Young’s hustle was hard to knock, but the Indiana Pacers said they were ready to move on by not picking up his option on Friday, making him a free agent.

It finally felt like Joe Young figured out a role for himself in the NBA, but the Indiana Pacers decided to part ways with the three-year veteran on Friday. The team chose not to pick up the team option on his contract, which owed Young $1.6 million in the upcoming season.

Adrian Wojnarowski reported the news for ESPN.

While he only averaged 3.4 points on 39.9 percent shooting for his career, he started to find his 3-point stroke this season. His average of 21.7 percent from the first two seasons gave way to a 37.9 percent average. His field goal percentage improved to 43 percent as well.

By finding his shot, Young no longer was just a body on the floor in his limited minutes. Darren Collison’s injury opened the door for Joe to get more time and over 11 games he shot 45.7 percent from deep (but still only shot 42.1 percent from the floor) while average 5.7 points in just over 16 minutes a game.

But once Darren Collison returned, Young saw fewer and fewer opportunities. He only played in 5 of Indiana’s last 22 games and only saw the floor once during the playoffs.

Young’s best game of his career game this season when he scored 20 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He scored 20 points on 7 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 4 from deep. Unfortunately, Indiana didn’t get the win because the starters — sans Victor Oladipo — didn’t show up that night.

Young might have been turning a corner in his career, but he was still an expendable option for the Pacers. Once they drafted Aaron Holiday, however, his fate was all but sealed. Even if Darren Collison and Cory Joseph leave a season from now, the Pacers already shifted their attention to Edmond Sumner.

One of my favorite moments with Young came two seasons when he scuffled with Brandon Jennings at the end of a game with the New York Knicks and both were tossed. That wasn’t the moment, though. That came when Nate McMillan put Young on Jennings the next time the teams met, obviously as a bit of a troll.

Next: Pacers free agency options

It’s unclear if Young will end up with another team, in the G-League, or overseas at this point, but when he is willing to sleep on the gym floor to get more practice in, it’s hard to see in basketball career being over just yet.

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