NBA Trade Deadline: 15 best NBA players who could be available

14. Thaddeus Young — San Antonio Spurs

Sometimes there are stars that are going to come in and be a star at the deadline, and there are players who are coming in to play a very specific role. More players fall into the latter category. Thaddeus Young is a player that has been traded multiple times in his career after a successful start with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was eventually traded to the Timberwolves, Nets, and Pacers before he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls. After two seasons, he said he was blindsided by a deal to the San Antonio Spurs.

Young has said he wants to be traded to a contender. He’s making $14 million this season, which is a contract that isn’t that difficult to move in today’s NBA landscape. A contender will absolutely be in on Young this trade deadline. He’s one of the few players that is almost guaranteed to move. He wants to move and the team could use the assets to move forward.

Young isn’t having the best season, but he is someone with a proven track record. He’s 33 years old, so he is getting up there in age, but he has a few quality seasons left. He’s also an expiring contract, so if it doesn’t work there is a clean break at the end of the season. There is very little risk in making a Young trade work.

There is talk that Young might not get traded and a buyout could be in the works. The Spurs are focusing on the future and not really using him correctly. It’s no offense to him, it’s just where the Spurs are looking to go. So, Young could go to someone for free, or he could get the Spurs some assets.