Sixers dream free agent targets: Thaddeus Young
Thaddeus Young has only $6 million of his contract guaranteed next season. If the Bulls decide to clear cap space, which seems likely, then he could be free to leave. He’s the ideal backup “center” for Philadelphia — especially if Ben Simmons is no longer on the roster.
In Young, the Sixers would get a talented defender with the strength to guard fives and the quickness to guard threes. He can check Joel Embiid just as successfully as he can check LeBron James, and would help replace some (if not all) of the versatility lost with Simmons’ inevitable departure.
The Sixers would also get a lot out of Young offensively. He’s a gifted passer who can push the ball up court in transition, or facilitate out of the post. In five-out groups without Embiid, he can function as a legitimate playmaking hub. When on the floor with Embiid, he can shoot well enough to survive.
Chicago was notoriously bad at using Young’s skill set to its full effect, especially once Nikola Vucevic arrived. Young can probably seek out a better fit and a bigger role than what Philadelphia can offer. Embiid dominates the post and compresses the defense, and Young does his best work in that area of the floor. Even so, the Sixers’ ability to contend and Young’s prior relationship with the city make a reunion possible. He would feast in the non-Embiid minutes, and still bring enough defensively to close a lot of games. Poor fit and all, Young averaged 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 55.9 percent shooting for the Bulls last season. He was on my unofficial Sixth Man of the Year ballot.