Chicago Bulls: Where is Thaddeus Young?

The Chicago Bulls are in the midst of figuring out who exactly they are as a team. From top to bottom it has already proven to be quite the learning process.

That is fine. The goal was never to be competing this season. Instead, it is to build something able to compete in the coming years. Keeping the long-term goal in mind is crucial for fans who are already growing very frustrated.

While keeping that in mind, there is a question that must be asked after the team’s most recent stretch of games. Where exactly is Thaddeus Young, or what is going on with him?

Prior to the deadline, it was arguable Young was the team’s second-best player on the season. At worst he would be ranked as the third-best player. Now, he remains a starter but seems to have disappeared from a team that held onto him prior to the deadline despite his value on the trade market.

Prior to the NBA all-star break, Young was averaging 25.3 minutes per game. Over the team’s last five games his minutes are down to 20.4 per game. So, what gives?

It’s understandable if fits in the rotation have been an issue, but would he remain in the starting lineup if that were the case? I don’t see why he would. Part of the reason he was inserted into the starting five was because of how he fits next to Nikola Vucevic as opposed to how Lauri Markkanen fit next to Vucevic.

Another interesting thing, Young is still third on the team in assists over the last five. This despite being seventh on the team in minutes per game over that stretch. One of the Bulls biggest issues lately is the lack of a true point guard.

The Chicago Bulls need playmaking and Young is very good at that for his position. Whether it comes from a switch to the bench or different utilization of him as a starter, Young needs to make more of an impact for this Bulls team if they are going to start winning games.

Over the last five, he is averaging 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game in his 20 minutes of action. If the rotational fit is the issue, it might be time to consider a new starting five to avoid the slow starts this team has gotten off to recently.