As has been the case all summer, where there's trade rumors, there's mention of our beloved 76ers. On Monday ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves are showing interest in acquiring Thaddeus Young as a replacement for Kevin Love if he is ultimately moved to Cleveland in a Wiggins-centered trade. Today Liberty Baller's Derek Bodner wrote a very nice piece outlining all the potential assets the Sixers could go after in such a trade, including future trade picks and/or some young guys from the TWolves. Definitely worth a read. In summary Derek see's the most likely assets to be had as future 1st round picks that the Cavs got from the Griz, picks with strange protections that almost guarantee they are not conveyed unless they are lottery picks. Note also that since Wiggins signed his contract recently, any trade involving him (and thus perhaps Thad) cannot proceed for 30 days from the signing.
Obviously Hinkie loves collecting draft picks at this point in the rebuild, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him go that same route in moving Thad. And with Thad's player option after this year, we don't have a ton of leverage with moving him, so don't be surprised to see him leave for a return package not commensurate with your love for Thad. And seriously, how much do you love Thad??Dude has played BALLED for us for years, has been the good soldier through this whole rebuild, and has found himself in the unfortunate role of Last Man Standing during the demolition project that Hinkie et al. have unleashed on our squad. PLus, he seems like a really good dude. I mean check out the shit he is posting on Twitter?
Father/Son day while @Mrs__Young21 put final touches on her business #foreveryoungbeautybar ….. pic.twitter.com/3kSGBPrHq2
— Thad Young (@yungsmoove21) July 26, 2014
Boss. How can you not love this guy?
The Sixers are not going to be able to keep Thad, so they should definitely move him for assets now while they still can, even if it is to that frozen wasteland up in Minny. But here's hoping that once Thad's free agency comes, he lands on a contender. Strikes me that Thad would be phenomenal filling the lane for the Thunder or a similar squad, and he definitely has earned a chance at playing for a ring.
