Do the Brooklyn Nets Have a Keeper with Thaddeus Young?
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Brooklyn Nets upgraded when they swapped Kevin Garnett for Thaddeus Young. Now, we're finding out why.
Most of the national attention from the deal went to K.G. returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and rightfully so. That's become one of the best storylines of the season. But when we get to talking about actual basketball, it's hard to argue against the trade from the Nets' side.
Young has averaged 13.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per game during his first 11 contests in the shades of black and white, finally entering the starting lineup last week. He's given the Nets a much-needed infusion of athleticism, a forward who's capable of handling the ball, creating and scoring around the rim and (lately) shooting from long range.
Still, the newest Net has made a point to help his unfamiliar teammates in other ways.
Brooklyn lost a man who reconfigured the decibel scale when it dealt K.G. So, the normal-volumed Young feels as if he needs to talk, unknowingly stepping in for some of what the Nets lost.
"No, no," protested Young when asked if he was easing his way into the locker room. "I would think with me coming to this team as being a guy who's in his eighth year—we all respect one another...We all want to win games so there's no problems with anybody. Everybody wants somebody to say something."
When the Nets traded Garnett for Young, they didn't just acquire more talent. They also gave themselves a chance at an improved future.
Future: It's a term that's almost taken on a curse word-like aura in Nets circles. You don't want to mention Brooklyn's future to any fan of the team—at least, if you value your own life.
That's because the Nets don't have one. There isn't much hope over the next few years.
Joe Johnson's bloated contract will be around for the next couple seasons. Deron Williams will be in Brooklyn for two more years after this one. Brook Lopez can pick up a player option this offseason, but if he doesn't, the Nets will either be goaded into giving him a long-term deal or will have to watch him walk for nothing while the team remains without enough cap flexibility to make an ensuing move.
Even with all their losing, the 25-38 Nets are going to end up with a first-round pick at the end of the draft this year (since the Atlanta Hawks have the right to swap picks), likely unable to select a player who can make any sort of immediate impact.
We can scroll down the list of future picks to find out that of the three first-rounders Brooklyn should get in 2016, 2017 and 2018, two of them head to the Boston Celtics unprotected. The other could go to Boston if a pick swap is favorable for Danny Ainge and crew.
Seriously, do not say the "f-word" around the Nets. Mention the future at your own risk.
Flipping KG for Thad, who becomes a free agent during the summer of 2016, is actually a subtle improvement for the next few years, though.
It feels like Young has been around forever, but in reality, his surname still describes him quite well. At only 26 years old, he can actually stick around and help down the line.
The Nets have had interest in him for some time, too. Back when he was general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, current Nets GM Billy King actually once drafted Young. Then, there are the floating rumors that Brooklyn had tried to acquire Young in the past.
After beginning his Nets career on the bench, the former Timberwolf and 76er has started the past three games for Brooklyn, a stretch over which he's averaged 14.7 points and 5.3 rebounds on 45 percent shooting. And he's actually picked up his game in his 11 total contests.
Never known as a shooter, he's sunk a three in 10 straight games with the Nets. He's 11 of 20 from long range since coming over in the deal.
How's that for a small sample size, you t-test abiders?
Young didn't improve his shot. He's just hot and happens to be taking open shots. But playing well is something that can sustain a guy who's found success in the past, especially with the jolt of unexpected athleticism and activity he adds to the roster.
The eighth-year vet has strong hands and uses them to snag a bunch of steals from the power forward spot, part of why coach Lionel Hollins likes what his new starter can do within the defense.
Mason Plumlee was too jumpy to play the 4. Mirza Teletovic too unaware. Garnett, even though he slotted at power forward often, too slow-footed.
Young now becomes "the guy," one of the Nets only players who can both create his own offense on occasion and work within a system of other players. But transitioning into a new scheme during the middle of the season is no easy task.
"The good news is some of the plays we run here, we were running in Minnesota," Young said of the transition to his new team. "So, it makes it a little bit better to adjust."
There's also the side of basketball fans probably don't consider enough. When a player gets traded, his whole life picks up and moves to another city. It's as if the old man from Up were to attach a bundle of balloons to your house but completely against your will.
"I'd say the hardest part is just getting acclimated to the long drives and stuff before the games, just going back and forth to the practices...and stuff like that," Young said of the post-trade commute.
It's a total and complete lifestyle change. Young, though, has been able to persevere.
He's fit into Hollins' schemes on both sides, something few Nets can say honestly in 2015. And if the organization is sticking with Hollins beyond this season, it would make sense for it to acquire some players he can use in ways he's comfortable.
The Nets coach isn't the type of schemer, especially offensively, who will take the skill sets provided to him and mend a system around them. No, those talents have to adopt to him. And that's worked for Hollins before. He did, after all, post a .587 winning percentage and make a Western Conference Finals appearance with the Memphis Grizzlies. But it doesn't seem like this roster is worthy of his fit.
In his defense, of course, the Nets probably wouldn't be winning much with anyone.
Williams has become slower and inefficient. Lopez still struggles as a defender, though his scoring impact has been overlooked and his rebound ability much improved. Johnson is relatively inconsistent. Jarrett Jack is an on-and-off decision-maker.
The Nets don't really make sense. But Young, somehow, does. And on a team that has a chaotic roster that yields helter-skelter results, simply "making sense" sounds pretty darn comforting.
Fred Katz averaged almost one point per game in fifth grade but maintains that his per-36-minute numbers were astonishing. Find more of his work on ESPN's TrueHoop Network at ClipperBlog. Follow him on Twitter at @FredKatz.
All quotes obtained firsthand. Unless otherwise noted, all statistics are current as of March 12 and are courtesy of Basketball-Reference and NBA.com.
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