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I think he has exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Is he the perfect 4 in today’s game? Can shoot the three, run the floor, rebound a little, defend multiple positions. You could make an argument we should make every effort to keep him. Not sure what that price tag would be?

The counter to that:
You will never develop TJ Leaf.
What we really need is a solid two way wing who has size.
Is what we are seeing now the standard contract year aberration?
Does a big money contract make sense for a 30 year old guy?

What does everyone think?

I think we keep him as long as the price tag isn't crazy or the demanded length of contract is too long without team options or low 2nd or 3rd year guarantees. Leaf will get his 2nd unit minutes if not this year then next. I'm not a big believer in the theory that Sabonis must start with Turner and am quite happy with Sabonis and Leaf getting 2nd unit minutes behind Turner and Young. I think it'll be Leaf and not Sabonis who eventually pushes Thad to the 2nd unit unless Turner evolves into a 4 where he played as a rookie.

He's got a player option for nearly 14 million on the table for next year... while he could become a free agent, I could see him just as easily picking up that option. 14 mil could definitely be more than he's able to make annually with a new contract.

Thad is a very under the radar guy that does a lot of the dirty work. Leaf clearly isn't ready yet to handle his role, so I think you've gotta look to re-sign Thad if he doesn't pick up that option. Not doing so leaves us very, very thin down low.

He's been huge as a locker room presence. I think we keep him unless someone really overpays, which I just don't expect to happen.

There might be a team out there that is willing to toss him 18+ mil a year for a couple of years or something.

Miller4ever wrote:There might be a team out there that is willing to toss him 18+ mil a year for a couple of years or something.

I think we'd go 18 with team option for 2nd and maybe even 3rd.

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Wizop wrote:

Miller4ever wrote:There might be a team out there that is willing to toss him 18+ mil a year for a couple of years or something.

I think we'd go 18 with team option for 2nd and maybe even 3rd.

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Cold 18 mil be spent better than on Thad Young?

Could you get a guy like Luc Richard Aba Moute for half the money? Take that savings and add Mario Herzonja or Marcus Smart? Would a guy like Trevor Ariza make sense? The Celtics didn’t get sentimental with three of their most important guys (Bradley, Crowder, Thomas)

I would be surprised if he is here next year, but it would be a pleasant surprise.

8305 wrote:

Wizop wrote:

Miller4ever wrote:There might be a team out there that is willing to toss him 18+ mil a year for a couple of years or something.

I think we'd go 18 with team option for 2nd and maybe even 3rd.

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Cold 18 mil be spent better than on Thad Young?

Could you get a guy like Luc Richard Aba Moute for half the money? Take that savings and add Mario Herzonja or Marcus Smart? Would a guy like Trevor Ariza make sense? The Celtics didn’t get sentimental with three of their most important guys (Bradley, Crowder, Thomas)

if guys like Luc are under 10, Thad should opt in at 14. keeping a leader isn't just sentiment though. chemistry matters.

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I like him a lot, but also believe we need to move on from him because Turner/Sabonis is the future and he impedes that a bit.

I'd like to sign a role player to bring the same intangibles and be a versatile wing defender who gets lots of deflections, guards multiple positions etc... but in a more clearly defined role off the bench to allow Turner/Sabonis to blossom in the starting lineup. My current target is Jerami Grant from OKC to essentially replace Thad next season. A younger/cheaper option that fits the age range of our core.

Still wish the best to Thad I think he'd be a really nice fit in either Portland or Utah next to guys like Gobert or Nurkic I think you'd really see him shine. I have never really liked the fit with a more perimeter center like Turner.

if Turner and Sabonis start, maybe Leaf and Ike will be ready for second unit minutes ... but I'm not ready to move on from Thad unless he opts out and gets a big offer.

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I like Thad as both a player and a person would love to keep him on as our third big for the next season or two. Is there anyone out there that wishes we would have kept LeVert?

8305 wrote:I think he has exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Is he the perfect 4 in today’s game? Can shoot the three, run the floor, rebound a little, defend multiple positions. You could make an argument we should make every effort to keep him. Not sure what that price tag would be?

The counter to that:
You will never develop TJ Leaf.
What we really need is a solid two way wing who has size.
Is what we are seeing now the standard contract year aberration?
Does a big money contract make sense for a 30 year old guy?

What does everyone think?

He's an important piece for us this season, but I just don't see him as a fit going forward and I hope he's not back next year.

Jermainevent wrote:I like Thad as both a player and a person would love to keep him on as our third big for the next season or two. Is there anyone out there that wishes we would have kept LeVert?

shades of the Hill trade post mortem. no way to know who we would've picked. Lavert was Nets choice.

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Thad does 2 things for us right now:

1) He's our best guy for defending the 3/4 combo forwards who are so popular in the league right now, all while being a good fit offensively with the main guys.

2) He's the acknowledged locker room leader for an overachieving team. As we fans know from recent experience, team chemistry can be a tricky and fragile thing. Why does leadership from the likes of PG and Monta fail, but leadership from Thad apparently succeeds? Or maybe the whole "leadership" thing is overrated and Thad's effect this season is just incidental? I mean, Thad wasn't seen as a leader at his previous stops, or even just last season with the Pacers.

For (1), I think the Pacers don't have another guy right now who can replace what Thad does. Maybe GR3 when he comes back from injury, but he's more a 2/3 than a 3/4. Ideally we'd want a combo forward who's more a 3 than a 4, unlike Thad who's more of a 4. Maybe Ben Moore on the Ants could develop into that guy some day, but as of right now the Pacers don't have anyone. So unless something changes, I think the Pacers need Thad for a while yet.

For (2), in the short term, it would be nice to have Thad stick around, but at some point you'd expect leadership to transfer to one of the younger players. Oladipo seems the obvious candidate, and certainly it seems he has both the ability and willingness to take on a stronger leadership role. If Thad leaves, more of that veteran leadership would of necessity fall on Dipo. Not every player reacts well to that mantle though (PG didn't for example, though he liked talking about being a leader).

I would be ok if Thad decides to opt in for another year. I wouldn't mind either if he opts out and then the Pacers re-sign him to a reasonable deal with an eye on Thad eventually transitioning to a bench role. If Thad opts out and gets a big offer though, say more than $15m per at 3 years or more, then I think the Pacers should pass.

Thad Young is actually a very good piece to have around, especially if a team has playoff aspirations.

It's not a bad thing at all if he opts in next season. And if he opts out, I'd like to see the Pacers try to sign him to a long term deal on a reasonable price, with the goal of him eventually transiting to a David West kind of role when the youngsters all start hitting their primes

He's currently our best all around big man and one of the most impactful players on the Pacers. However, I think keeping him around would be bad asset management. He's definitely good enough to significantly improve some of the upper echelon teams and therefore could bring us some good assets (either picks or young prospects) in return. The Pacers are rebuilding - keeping Thad around just so we could win a few more games in the playoffs would NOT be smart.

Jstock12 wrote:The Pacers are rebuilding - keeping Thad around just so we could win a few more games in the playoffs would NOT be smart.

are you suggesting trading him before the deadline? wouldn't that be tanking? I can't imagine that.

also, don't overlook the big money difference of home playoff games. winning a playoff series is a big deal.

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Wizop wrote:

Jstock12 wrote:The Pacers are rebuilding - keeping Thad around just so we could win a few more games in the playoffs would NOT be smart.

are you suggesting trading him before the deadline? wouldn't that be tanking? I can't imagine that.

also, don't overlook the big money difference of home playoff games. winning a playoff series is a big deal.

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If we can get a good package for him - for sure. That's just good NBA team/asset management, in my opinion. And judging from the way Thad has been playing this season, I think we can definitely get something valuable in return. And I don't really think it's tanking. Tanking is intentionally losing to get a high pick. This move would let us acquire assets WHILE trying to win. I think we would still be good enough to make the playoffs, even without Thad. I think Domas would step up and fill that hole adequately with extended minutes. Leaf is there too - he might not be completely ready just yet, but every single minute on the NBA floor is valuable for him. We shouldn't desperately be trying to win every single game. We need to be thinking about the bigger picture and the long-term future of this team. That's the only way you can build a contender.

P.S. I think Thad would also appreciate a legit shot at winning a championship.

Jstock12 wrote:We need to be thinking about the bigger picture and the long-term future of this team. That's the only way you can build a contender.

P.S. I think Thad would also appreciate a legit shot at winning a championship.

well we're stinking it up against Detroit. if we can't defend any better than this, I'll have to reduce my expectations.

as for Thad wanting a ring, he can certainly opt out and take a pay cut like David West. would he pull a PG though and not tell management he wants to leave?

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