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Indiana Pacers Love/Hate Series: Thaddeus Young

By Aaron Eamer

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 25: Thaddeus Young #21 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs between the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers on April 25, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 25: Thaddeus Young #21 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs between the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers on April 25, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Thaddeus Young Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 27: Thaddeus Young #21 of the Indiana Pacers looks to the basket against Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 27, 2018, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 114-112. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Thaddeus Young’s projected role this coming season

As you might expect from the previous two pages, you can expect more of the same from Thad.

The Indiana Pacers have become a better, more exciting team over the last year and Thaddeus Young hasn’t needed to change much to be a part of that. He’s been able to fit into both systems with little issue. With the Pacers adding suitable bench pieces rather than tearing things up following their first-round playoff exit, it looks like Indiana are comfortable with what they’ve got, and why not?

In a year though, will they be as comfortable with what Thaddeus Young might want to stay in Indianapolis? Maybe not.

In our love section you may have noticed Thad’s PER being right on par with 2017, I’ll include this again below.

Thaddeus Young Advanced Stats for Indiana
Thaddeus Young Advanced Stats for Indiana /

Well, with PER, is 14.8 good? It’s average.

PER is a Player Efficiency Rating, how do we calculate this? Well, it gets complex so take a look at the link included.

In the short of it all, a player with a 15 PER rating is considered average. The most average player in the NBA over the last year was Dwyane Wade with his rating dead-on 15.

As we noted previously, Thaddeus Young is playing for a contract this year and as with any player he’s looking for the biggest deal possible. Will a team, or more specifically, the Pacers, be looking to pay $13 million per year for average?

At the moment, Serge Ibaka is earning a hefty amount more to be further below average but Marcus Morris is only a couple of decimals behind Young and Morris and is earning a whole stack less over in Boston. Interestingly, Morris is a free agent in 2019 as well so the two will be competing with one another more than just on the court over the next year.

The Pacers will be comfortable in rolling with Young as the starter for the season, but Thad will have to show a little something more for that big deal in a year’s time.

dark. Next. JJ Redick reports that he nearly joined the Indiana Pacers

It’ll be interesting to see if he can show that veteran presence to justify whatever his price tag might be in what is recently a volatile free agent market. But Thad will be as useful and consistent as ever this season, and that is incredibly valuable for the squad. It will be interesting to see if his role changes much, but Thad should be a regular contributor for the Indiana Pacers this season, and fans should be happy about that.

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