The Toronto Raptors are 2-2 in the 2022-23 season as they were beaten 109-105 by the Brooklyn Nets before a loss against the Heat that was avenged. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined for 57 points in the Brooklyn game and managed just to edge out Nick Nurse’s team. It was still a spirited performance from the Raptors.
Pascal Siakam was superb, dropping a triple-double with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. In the process, he became the first Raptor in history with multiple 30-point triple-doubles. Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes also showed up, but the bench let them down that night.
Thad Young was disappointing once again, putting up zero points, one rebound, and one assist in six minutes on the floor. Fans are still hoping that the veteran finds his rhythm soon, as he is a vital part of the rotation.
A recent article from NBC Sports named Young as a potential trade candidate for the Raptors, with the argument being that the team has a plethora of choices at forward and Young lacks tons of guaranteed money in his deal. Do they realize that trading away Young makes zero sense for Toronto?
Thad has entered the chat 👀 @yungsmoove21 pic.twitter.com/K8o9kq9pPi
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 23, 2022
Toronto Raptors vet Thaddeus Young will not be traded.
While Young might have disappointed in the first few games of the season, one should not forget his contributions for the Raptors in the previous campaign. He had averaged 6.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 18.3 minutes of action, while shooting an impressive 39.5 percent from three.
Young was a big reason behind the Raptors’ great end to the regular season, as they exceeded expectations and clinched the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. The 34-year-old’s performances ended up earning him a two-year, $16 million extension.
He is still a good player who can give you 15 solid minutes off the bench and contribute on both ends of the court. Young being used as a potential trade piece would not make a lot of sense. At 34 years of age, his value is not very high. What player would Toronto even get back in a trade?
Young is a calming influence who you can depend on to be in the ear of the Raptors’ youngsters consistently. Even if he’s not playing, he’s worth keeping around this bunch. Even though a Chris Boucher trade remains just as unlikely, at least he’s a younger asset that can bring back a bigger return.
Thad Young on Barnes: "Scottie's an amazing basketball player and I don't even think he knows it. He's so young and he's just scratching the surface."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) October 18, 2022
Young definitely brings more value to the Raptors on and off the court than simply reading the box scores would indicate. The Raptors will likely make some trades soon, but expect Young to stay locked in as a member of this team for the next two years.