Young denies asking Sixers to trade him
Despite rumored trade request earlier in the week, Thad Young says he just wants to help the Sixers.
THAD YOUNG has been the ultimate pro since being drafted out of Georgia Tech with the 12th overall pick of the 2007 NBA draft.
Whether he was in the starting lineup or being asked to come off the bench, he handled it all the same way: whatever it takes to help the team.
So when word came out on Thursday that Young had requested that the Sixers trade him, it was somewhat surprising. But in true Young fashion, he said it wasn't a trade request, but rather a discussion between his agent, Jim Tanner, and Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie.
"All my agent did was just ask how we can make it better," said Young, who entered last night's game against Brooklyn averaging a career-best 15.8 points a game. "How can I be better for the team? We talked a lot of situations and options."
Maybe it was a reaction to Young's name being bandied about as part of the rumored trade with the Houston Rockets that could have brought defensive-minded Omer Asik to the Sixers. That deal fell through on Thursday.
An unidentified source said to be close to Young was quoted by LibertyBallers.com as saying, "Thad is ready to leave Philly. He isn't with the whole tanking thing. He just wants them to do the trade if they are. He hates waiting. [Playing] for a contender would be great, because the Sixers definitely aren't making the playoffs this year."
A call by the Daily News to Tanner's office at Tandem Sports and Entertainment seeking comment on the situation was not returned.
"It happens," Young said of the discussion between Tanner and Hinkie. "It's part of basketball. That's over with. I'm here, 110 percent ready to go tonight and ready to play."