Brooklyn Nets: Renting With The Option To Buy

By Steve Krebs | Feb 20, 2015

Jan 1, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Thaddeus Young (33) looks to pass in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Target Center. Sacramento Kings win 110-107. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

In a shocking turn of events, the Brooklyn Nets made some waves at the 2015 NBA trade deadline by acquiring Thaddeus Young from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett in a one-on-one trade.

KG chose to waive his no-trade clause, and return back to his original stomping grounds, so to speak. Garnett was drafted by Minnesota with the fifth pick in the 1995 draft, right out of Farragut Academy H.S. in Chicago at the tender age of 19. There he flourished for 12 seasons, torpedoing his way into the hearts of fans, and earning the nickname, “The Big Ticket.”

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Brooklyn is going to lose a real general on the floor, and the kind of locker room presence any team would welcome with open arms. Though, that is most likely the only loss. Not only is Young 12 years KG’s junior, but there is an opportunity to possibly become a building block for the future.

Over the last 30 days Young is averaging 16-6-3, on 48 percent shooting from the field, with 1.7 steals in 37 minutes per game. Garnett is barely producing a quarter of that with 5-5-1, in only 17 minutes each contest. Obviously this is a tale of two individuals on completely different career paths. Luckily, Brooklyn is on the winning side of this.

What Does The Acquisition Of Thaddeus Young Mean For the Brooklyn Nets This Season?

Gives Brooklyn a real threat from the power forward position, as his quickness creates an advantage over other fours in the league.
The Nets can elect to run Thad at the small forward position as well, adding a ton of size on both sides of the ball.
The starting five just got a huge shot in the arm from a scoring standpoint, as stated before, 10 more points per game than Garnett.
Less minutes for Brook Lopez, means a lower risk of injury, the Nets do not have to overexert the oft-injured feet of the seven-footer.
With this move, Brooklyn has greatly improved their chances of finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, and advancing to the playoffs.

Is There Any Reason For Thaddeus Young To Stay Beyond This Season?

If the Brooklyn Nets were successful in moving Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson, and Deron Williams before next season, I think Thad would have every reason to stay.

Not only would the Nets be building around the youthful core of Mason Plumlee, Jarret Jack, and Thaddeus Young, but they would also have a bunch of cash to add even more talent.

Salaries owed next season:

Brook Lopez – $16,744,219

Deron Williams – $22,331,135

Joe Johnson – $24,894,863

It’s going to take a bunch of maneuvering within the current roster to make Brooklyn an enticing destination, but it is definitely a possibility. The Nets have solid opportunity to make the most out of what has been an atrocious season, now it is up to them to do their diligence in hopes of avoiding minimal success in the 2015-16 campaign.

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