#MCM- Thaddeus Young, PF, Brooklyn Nets
@Hoover__26 February 29
Before we begin, allow me to take you back to last week’s #MCM. Jrue Holiday was a Philadelphia 76er, and some people thought he could be the future of the organization. However, the Sixers managed to trade Holiday for another prospect. Well, I bring this up because Thaddeus Young was also, at one point in time, stuck playing for the Sixers (the NBA’s cross between death row and a temp agency). And, he too was eventually dealt to another team (despite managing to play for them for seven seasons, which was the most among active 76ers at the time). Young, something of a promising stretch-4 with a strong rebounding game and elite potential, was shipped to the Timberwolves for Luc Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved, and a Cleveland draft pick in 2014. He then bounced to Brooklyn in exchange for a Kevin Garnett homecoming (which is an awful deal on paper, but KG has done wonders mentoring KAT, or so I’ve heard). Now in a place where he really fits, Young has really come into his own as a player.
Over his last five games, Young has played like a man possessed. He is averaging 3 steals per game in that stretch (including a game of 7), to go along with 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 36.8 minutes per game. On the season, he may be averaging 0.3 points and 0.2 rebounds per game more than that, but the passing and defensive stats are well over his season averages. He has been putting up strong usage numbers, having taken at least ten shots in 11 of his last 12 games, and averaging a 21.9 usage percentage for the year (basketball-reference.com). That makes him a very valuable play in both season long and daily formats, and allows him to put up consistent numbers on a daily basis.
Young hasn’t taken as many threes this season, attempting only 0.6 long range shots per game, but he certainly has the ability to knock them down if necessary. In his best year from deep, he averaged nearly 35% from behind the arc. He also, at one point, averaged over 5 three pointers attempted per game. Brooklyn has used him as more of an inside-out player, playing him almost exclusively at the 4 spot (as opposed to seeing more minutes at the 3 in Philly) and allowing him to set his career high in rebounds per game.
Thaddeus Young is another Sixers product that has survived the Philadelphia organization, and gone on to achieve exponentially improving fantasy greatness. Young, this week’s #MCM, figures to continue to be a dominant force in both real and fake basketball.
Over his last five games, Young has played like a man possessed. He is averaging 3 steals per game in that stretch (including a game of 7), to go along with 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 36.8 minutes per game. On the season, he may be averaging 0.3 points and 0.2 rebounds per game more than that, but the passing and defensive stats are well over his season averages. He has been putting up strong usage numbers, having taken at least ten shots in 11 of his last 12 games, and averaging a 21.9 usage percentage for the year (basketball-reference.com). That makes him a very valuable play in both season long and daily formats, and allows him to put up consistent numbers on a daily basis.
Young hasn’t taken as many threes this season, attempting only 0.6 long range shots per game, but he certainly has the ability to knock them down if necessary. In his best year from deep, he averaged nearly 35% from behind the arc. He also, at one point, averaged over 5 three pointers attempted per game. Brooklyn has used him as more of an inside-out player, playing him almost exclusively at the 4 spot (as opposed to seeing more minutes at the 3 in Philly) and allowing him to set his career high in rebounds per game.
Thaddeus Young is another Sixers product that has survived the Philadelphia organization, and gone on to achieve exponentially improving fantasy greatness. Young, this week’s #MCM, figures to continue to be a dominant force in both real and fake basketball.