Raptors’ Winners and Losers after hectic start to 2022-23 season

Loser: Thad Young

When Young was retained in the early stages of free agency alongside Chris Boucher, the expectation was that both of them would become ever-present fixtures in the rotation. While a healthy Boucher look ready to get back on track, Young has not delivered.

Young was a healthy scratch against Miami despite the fact that Toronto went 10 players deep in the rotation and gave names like Khem Birch and Malachi Flynn some run. We’re unsure as to why Young has suddenly been axed in such dramatic fashion, given how important he was to last year’s team.

Thad Young hasn’t played well for the Toronto Raptors.

While Young has indeed started slow on both ends, the Raptors benefitted from his ability to defend, rebound, and hit some key shots when needed. In the Saturday loss against Miami, it was Young who played a part in starting a massive rally by the bench in the third quarter.

Given what a solid player Young has been in his career, he will undoubtedly make a return to the rotation at some point. Having said that, Nurse is not going to do that until he sees that Young has shrugged this start off and gotten back on the proverbial horse.