3 Toronto Raptors who have earned spots on 2022-23 squad
By Mike Luciano
2. Thad Young
Young’s skill set might be ideal for what Nurse wants to do on both sides of the ball, but some fans weren’t thrilled by the trade that saw them part with Goran Dragic. Not only is Young a 33-year-old power forward on a team packed to the gills with power forwards, but he’s a free agent at the end of this year.
Young might not be getting the volume of shots he’s received at other stops in his career, but he’s emerged as a solid rebounder, surprising 3-point shooter, and above-average communicator on defense. Young has already started closing games for Toronto, and he keyed a tremendous bench performance in a win against Denver.
Thad Young makes a ton of sense for the Toronto Raptors.
Young doesn’t have a championship, meaning that Toronto will need to factor in the possibility of him leaving for a lesser deal on a team with better title odds. Young has the potential to be the veteran glue guy that this team needs, and that should be reflected in any contract offer they make.
The impact of having a veteran like Young to provide stability to a second unit and mentor a talented cast of young players can’t be understated. While Dragic may have been an incongruous fit, Young has shown that he is gelling with the squad on and off the court. That’s worth a two-year deal in the offseason.