There is no question the Chicago Bulls fanbase must’ve been grinding their teeth watching the Brooklyn Nets set the NBA offseason on fire. In the space of minutes, it was announced they would be landing two of the biggest fish in free agency in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. For a team that has been jilted time and again, the sting never goes away. So it was hard not to feel bad for Thaddeus Young when he became their first prominent acquisition.
The 30-year old comes over from the rival Indiana Pacers, rejoining his old teammate Zach Lavine. Nobody who sees him will say Young is a star. He isn’t. That doesn’t mean he’s not good. The guy may not change games himself but he offers a critical dimension to this roster that it’s currently missing. That being a tough, rugged playing style and a wealth of experience.
He’s every bit of 6’8 and is one of the best defending power forwards in the league. Last season he held a 3.9 rating for defensive win shares. The only PF with a higher mark than that was Giannis Antetokounmpo (5.5). Pretty good company to keep. Young will make life harder in the paint for opponents and has the length to give them problems on the perimeter as well.
Chicago Bulls should get tougher with Thaddeus Young
The smart thing for teams to do is sign players who fit their style. Jim Boylen made it clear last season when he was promoted to head coach that he wants his team to be tough, gritty, and work hard. Young fits that mold. He should be good for about 12 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes every night off the bench. He’ll also get a couple of steals and the occasional block too.
He’s also adept at running the pick-and-roll, which will serve to give Lavine and Coby White some opportunities to create more offense. Nobody is going to say this move will suddenly put the Bulls over the top in the Eastern Conference. However, it adds much-needed tenacity and savvy to a young roster with high upside. This doesn’t mean the team is done adding either.
They have enough cap space for more moves to help improve their depth. Something that was a persistent problem last year.
