Sacrificing a starting role on a team that had made consecutive postseason runs was a factor Thaddeus Young had to accept when choosing to leave the Indiana Pacers for Chicago in free agency.
Young, now in his 13th season in the league, had already logged 230 games as a reserve player in his career. Doing so again in Chicago was never going to be an issue. That’s what made him the perfect offseason signing: a veteran who could play with both Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter while allowing the young combination to remain in the starting lineup together.