Thaddeus Young Opts out of Nets Contract: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
Forward Thaddeus Young has decided to test his value on the free-agent market, opting out of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets after the team acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in February.
General manager Billy King confirmed the decision to Rod Boone of Newsday.
In 28 games with the Nets this past season (20 starts), Young averaged 13.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 29.6 minutes per game. For the season, the 27-year-old averaged 14.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest. Brooklyn acquired Young in the deal that sent Kevin Garnett back to the team that drafted him, the Timberwolves.
Though his numbers were down from what he posted with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2013-14 season (17.9 points, 6.0 rebounds per game), retaining Young—along with center Brook Lopez—was thought to be a top priority this offseason, as Tim Bontemps of the New York Post noted.
While the Nets appear to be stuck in NBA purgatory—they aren't good enough to win a title, and they aren't bad enough to draft a franchise-changing player—they still managed to make the postseason and give the Atlanta Hawks a tough series. If they were ever going to remain competitive without making sweeping changes this offseason, keeping Young was a must.
That he has opted out and could sign elsewhere may be the first of a few developments that result in the Nets cleaning out some of their high-priced players, like Joe Johnson and Deron Williams, this offseason.
