NBA Rumors: Thaddeus Young Finalizing Suns Contract After Being Waived by Nets

Free-agent forward Thaddeus Young is finalizing a contract with the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Young, who was traded from the Toronto Raptors to the Brooklyn Nets along with guard Dennis Schröder in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie ahead of last week's NBA trade deadline, was subsequently waived by the Nets.

Once the deal with Phoenix becomes official, the 35-year-old Young will be set to play for his eighth different NBA team over the course of a 17-year career.

Young appeared in 23 games this season for the Raptors and started six of them. In 15.2 minutes per contest, he averaged 5.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists, while shooting 62.1 percent from the field.

Originally, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Young with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. He was a double-digit scorer and big-time contributor for much of his career, although his role has lessened over the past three seasons.

His last season with significant production came in 2020-21 with the Chicago Bulls when Young averaged 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 68 games.

Over the entirety of his career, Young has appeared in 1,162 regular-season games, and he boasts averages of 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals.

The 6'8" forward could be an important addition for a Suns team that lost much of its depth since trading for Kevin Durant last season and Bradley Beal during the offseason.

Durant, Beal, Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon and Jusuf Nurkić are the only players on the team to average double digits in scoring and to play at least 20 minutes per game this season.

Outside of Durant, Nurkić and Drew Eubanks, the Suns don't have much in terms of reliable frontcourt players either, meaning there should be a fairly substantial role available to Young.

The Suns entered the season as one of the NBA's top championship contenders, and while they are only sixth in the Western Conference with a 31-22 record, they are undoubtedly still a threat to go the distance.

Beal and Booker missing time due to injury contributed to a slower-than-expected start, but the Suns have won 12 of their past 16 games, and they are rounding into form.

Young has never won a championship or even played in the NBA Finals during his career, but the Suns offer him perhaps the best opportunity he has ever had to do so.