Thaddeus Young's 'Focus Is on Playing for the Bulls' Amid Clippers Trade Rumors

Chicago Bulls veteran Thaddeus Young is a natural trade target for contending teams, especially given Chicago's struggles in a disappointing season.

The Bulls are just 16-29 and 3.5 games back of the Brooklyn Nets for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, and Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reported in late December that the Clippers were "looking at" Young.

But for the time being, he remains committed to the Bulls.

"I'm just playing basketball. I'm a Chicago Bull. Whatever happens, happens. I understand it's a business," Young told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. "If I'm traded, I'm traded and have to go to the next city. If I'm not, then I'm here with my brothers, here with my teammates, and ready to fight."

Young, 31, is having one of his more disappointing seasons in recent memory, averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three in 22.4 minutes per game. He's started just one contest. 

His points, rebounds and minutes per game are all his lowest marks since his rookie season, while his shooting percentage is the worst mark of his career. As Johnson noted, "Young's playing time was so low that his camp last month conveyed to management his desire to play more."

Recent injuries to Wendell Carter Jr. and Daniel Gafford have seen those minutes increase. But if the Bulls are unable to make any headway in the postseason picture before February's deadline, moving off Young—and the $27.6 million total he's due the next two seasons following the 2019-20 campaign—in exchange for draft assets would make sense. 

The Clippers continue to come up as a suitor. Per Johnson: "A league source previously confirmed to NBC Sports Chicago that the Clippers' interest in Young is legitimate, which was first reported by the Los Angeles Times. A Clippers scout attended a recent Bulls game despite the fact the teams don't meet again until April."

Despite his comments, Young would probably prefer a situation with a contender, where he was able to garner more minutes. But for the time being, he remains focused on turning a disappointing season for the Bulls around.

"We're very upset we keep losing games," he said. "It's hard to win in this league. We have to understand that as a team. We have to face the hardness of the game and take advantage of the opportunities we do have. We need to play harder than other teams. We can play great for 38-40 minutes. But there's an eight-minute span that can be detrimental to our team."