4. Thaddeus Young posts a career best in win shares
While the Pacers probably have veteran forward Thaddeus Young more starts than he will get with the Chicago Bulls this season, his value could be more pivotal here than it was there. The Pacers were thin at one point last season on the wing and at forward due to various injuries, so Young got a lot of starts compared to the rest of his NBA career.
Young sits in the midst of the top Bulls players this year in career win shares (just shy of 60). But a potential big leap in wins this coming season for the Bulls could see Young come close to topping his previous season-high at 7.4. Last season he came close to matching that mark with the Pacers. He finished last season with 6.9 win shares.
The Bulls are deeper than the Pacers through and through this season. This specific bold prediction traces back to a bigger overarching point that the Bulls have a better supporting cast this season that could content for a playoff spot in the East and push their competition in the Central Division much better.
Young is a perfect with the Bulls this season and making him the first key signing in free agency was a good way to go. If the Bulls continue to struggle with wing depth, he could be getting looks at the three especially if he’s still shooting from downtown at a good clip. Basketball Reference projects Young to finish out with .120 win shares per 48 minutes which would put him in the top half of his career numbers in that season stat category.