I'm not sure how credible Brian Windhorst is, but reportedly the Raptors are interested in Thad Young.
http://thebrooklyngame.com/report-toronto-raptors-targeting-thaddeus-young/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitterSpeaking with a Toronto-based radio station, ESPN Insider Brian Windhorst noted that the Toronto Raptors have been “pretty aggressive” in the trade market, and cited Nets forward Thaddeus Young as one of the players the team was pursuing.
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Both the Nets and Raptors are over the cap, so the teams would need to match salaries to make any potential deal work. That likely means that one of Cory Joseph (making $7 million per annum through 2018-19) or Patrick Patterson (a little over $6 million through next season) would have to be included in the deal, plus another player or two on a smaller deal.
Along with owning all of their own first-round picks, the Raptors have two extra first-rounders: they own the less favorable first-rounder between the Knicks & Nuggets (two likely lottery teams), and a first-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers that should convey this season. As Windhorst notes, it’s unlikely that they would trade the Knicks/Nuggets pick for anything that’s not a blockbuster deal, but if the team is intent on contending now, they might be willing to part with future assets.
Young's rebounding is inflated this year because he's playing next to Lopez and nobody else on the Nets is a good rebounder except for Thomas Robinson. With that said, he's having a very solid season. If he's traded, that really strengthens the chance of the Nets finishing as a bottom 3 team in the league.
Tough call for Brooklyn. They're already unlikely to attract quality free agents this summer, but trading away a solid piece in Young would only hurt those chances. It would also make Brook Lopez unhappy since there would literally have nothing but scrubs left on that roster. But I think that this is how they need to approach their rebuild - forget where the picks owed to the Celtics land, and build patiently by acquiring draft picks, young players, and absorbing bad contracts for assets.
If I'm Brooklyn, my initial asking price is high, such as:
In addition to the Clippers 1st round pick, and possibly a future 2nd rounder. Brooklyn gets a much needed upgrade at PG with Joseph. Waive Larkin, who is flat out terrible. It is not reasonable to ask for the Knicks pick, nor more than one 1st rounder, as Thad Young is simply not worth that.
I'm not sure why the Raptors are interested in Young. I don't see him putting the Raptors over the top against Cleveland. Doesn't fit all that well next to Valanciunas nor Biyombo. Maybe they plan on playing Young off the bench at C for a small ball lineup.
If I'm the Raptors, I'd balk and offer Patterson, Delon Wright, and a pair of 2nd rounders. Not sure what the Nets say to that offer. The Nets also don't currently have a GM (see next post).