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Monday, December 9, 2013

Thaddeus Young's plan amid trade rumors involving Houston's Omer Asik: 'Keep focused'

(Associated Press)


Thaddeus Young said he has not given too much thought to the trade rumors that surfaced over the weekend.

The Sixers were listed as a potential landing spot for Houston forward Omer Asik, an ESPN.com report by Marc Stein said. The Rockets, according to multiple reports, are trying to move Asik by Dec. 19, and Stein’s report said Young would be the return in any deal involving Asik.

“It is what it is. Just taking it day by day,” Young said, after the Sixers’ morning shootaround Monday. “I’m not worried about a trade or anything like that. It’s a business. If it happens, it happens. I just have to live with it, keep moving on it. At the end of the day, I’m here. I’m ready. I’m focused. I’m ready to go out here and think about the game tonight.”

“Not hard to keep focused. It’s basketball. It’s our job. It’s how we make our living. It’s how we make our money. It’s how we feed our families. At the end of the day, it is what it is if it happens. There’s nothing I can do about it. I definitely love Philly and want to continue being here. If they see fit to trade me, hey, my time is up. I have to move on.”

Young is in his seventh season with the Sixers, who drafted him 12th overall in 2007. Averaging 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds, the 6-8, 230-pound forward is making $8.6 million this season. He’s slotted to earn $9.1 million in 2014-15, with a player option of $9.7 million for the 2015-16 season.


Figuring out the financials would be key in any deal for Asik, the 27-year-old Turkish center. The 7-foot, 255-pounder, averaging 4.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, is earning $5.2 million this season, but his three-year deal is backloaded for its final season. He is due to make $14.9 million in 2014-15. While the Sixers would be able to absorb that cap hit, taking on Asik would significantly limit their involvement in the offseason free-agent market.

Asik was acquired by the Rockets from Chicago last season in a deal facilitated by Sam Hinkie, the Sixers GM who, at the time, was a Houston executive. Asik, a DNP for the Rockets since the trade talks began swirling, has not played since Dec. 2, missing three straight games.

For Young, he said staying focused amid trade talks comes with maturity.

“It comes with the growth. I’m in my seventh season. There’s been trade talks about me being traded the last couple years,” Young said. “You just have to keep playing. You can’t focus on that. You keep playing, keep doing what got you here and keep doing what made you a name in this league – and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

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2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

First of all get's your facts straight. Having Asik would not keep us from having cap space for max talent. Young isn't a expiring Asik making more, but his cap hold won't be what he will actually make. Even if it was we still have enough for a max free agent. I hate when people write articles who don't understand cap.

December 10, 2013 at 12:10 AM 
Blogger Unknown said...

I hate when people dont read articles correctly. Cheeze...he said THE SIXERS would be limited in cap space in the offseason, not the Rockets.

"While the Sixers would be able to absorb that cap hit, taking on Asik would significantly limit their involvement in the offseason free-agent market."

December 11, 2013 at 6:08 PM 

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