Remember when Thaddeus Young was a long-term fixture in Philly and presided over a dream-realm known as Cheesesteakia? Those were the good old days. Now, Young is a veteran journeyman being passed from team to team, playing well enough to stick around for a few years, but never really entering the plans of any team as a long-term starting power forward. Cheesesteakia has been without a king for half a decade now.
I don’t think that Bulls are the right place for Young. They don’t really have a use for him, because they’re not making the playoffs and they have younger guys who need the playing time. I guess his job is to…mentor Wendell Carter Jr.? And sometimes hit some shots? That’s not a big enough role for a guy who has shown himself to be a versatile scorer ala LeBron James 0.5.
Here’s the situation: Philadelphia is performing below expectations. They’re looking at being trapped under the Al Horford and Tobias Harris contracts for a long time with just second-round exits to show for it. There’s gotta be a way to get Young back in Philly. I’m not saying that the Bulls have to be the sacrificial lambs who do the Sixers a solid by taking on some long-term dead money but…that’s exactly what I’m saying.
Swap Tobes for Young, throw some picks at the Bulls to thank them for their service, maybe send Kris Dunn back to the Sixers so the talent disparity between sides isn’t too big, and the Sixers are well on their way to being able to properly build up their team with shooters thanks to the additional cap space. Meanwhile, a core of LaVine, Markkanen, and Tobes should totally make the playoffs in the East next season.
And with Young back in Philly where he belongs, he can once again assume the throne of Cheesesteakia, a land forgotten, but not conquered. Let the magic power of the cheesesteak guide you!