Chicago Bulls players who were spectacular in 2021: Thaddeus Young
The lone player on this list that is not currently a member of the Bulls’ roster is the veteran forward Thaddeus Young. As one of the most efficient and productive players on the Bulls roster last season, Donovan really found a way to make Young a magnificent part of this rotation. In fact, Young was one of the best reserve players in the East last season.
He also innovated his game in a way that made him a completely different version of himself on the offensive end of the floor. Young became a true threat in the dribble-hand-off and screen-and-roll game. For the first time in his career, Young averaged more than four assists per game.
This all came while he got back up to averaging around a dozen points per game, six rebounds, one steal, and one block. What was truly impressive about Young’s play last season, though, was the fact that he was so efficient. He registered a career-best 3.3 box plus/minus and 20.3 player efficiency rating last season.
Young was definitely one of the more unfortunate casualties of all the moves the Bulls’ front office made during the offseason. But it looks like trading Young was a necessary casualty for the Bulls to get this roster to the point it’s at now. Trading Young to the San Antonio Spurs was how the Bulls got one of their biggest pieces of the current roster.
If the Bulls would do it all over again, I still think Karnisovas and Eversley would trade Young. It was a shame to see him go, but it’s good to see him still playing at peak efficiency with the Spurs this season.