Point of order: If the player excercises the option, he plays for the year at that salary; if he declines the option, he becomes a free agent.
I don't think Morey signed Dwight Howard based on the premises of asking Howard to wait two years for a 3rd star before the team becomes a true contender. He will keep an eye toward free agency, but likely only as a secondary matter. If Morey thinks that the team gets significant help now (which Young may not be in Morey's view), he is not going to forego it because he might possibly land Aldridge in free agency 2 years from now. In fact, I'd bet that Morey is most likely looking at trading for a star player threatening to leave as a free agent (like what happened with Melo in Denver and Dwight in Orlando) than he is looking at a straight up signing.
I don't disagree, but in my opinion: Keeping Asik + Playing Jones More + Options for 2015 free agency > Thadeus Young
Well the problem here is Thad Young costs money....money you'll should've used to pay Tjones/Parsons/Lin. Not only that this year the draft class is deep and extremely star heavy. So IMHO if Morey is able to trade Asik for a lottery pick (your current scenario to getting Young), it would be better for him to use the lottery pick himself and get a potential star on the cheap for the next 5 years (3 years rookie scale+1st extension). That lottery pick+the cap room to keep one of our own players instead of Young is way more valuable IMHo than Thad Young.
I don't think the Rockets want to bet their future on whether this kid decides to become a free agent one year early. I'm intrigued, though. He'd give the Rockets a lot of options, but I'm guessing that third year will scare Morey away. The other stuff from Stein is fairly predictable. Of course the Rockets want to ship Asik to a EC non contender. Of course they want either a high pick or a young asset (preferably on a one or two year deal).
Probably Harden, at least late. As crazy as that sounds, Lebron doesn't move much off the ball, he just sort of floats between the post and three point line and Harden hasn't done too bad a job of it in the past.
thad young is not an elite defender, he is average at best. remember, he defends bench players and name one "star" sf/pf that comes off the bench? he guards no name and do an ok job at it...
Didn't you read my post? Philly isn't gonna give you a lottery pick AND Young for Omer Asik, even if they did I'd rather have two picks than Young. Young's making a lot of money, to the tune of 8M a year so you're basically paying him Asik money, except instead of playing a position of need he plays a position of strength, there's a lot of guys you can find like in the SF, PF and SG spots who could be had for the cheap and give you pretty much what Thad Young gives you. I mean for example we have Omri Casspi on a vet min contract, and while he doesn't have as much potential as Young, as a hybrid 3/4/2 he also doesn't cost 8M to play. It's different with Cs because decent starter quality centers are hard to find, guys like Thad Youn on the other hand are a dime a dozen.
I am not saying Thad Young is the final answer but there is a reason he is paid that kind of money. Currently he is averaging 15 and 7. Millsap who is 15-17 and 7 player is paid 9 and worth up to 11 million.... market price Omri Casspi never scored more than 10 ppg and 4-5 rpg player Those are harder to find for cheap. Guys that can hold their own position in the starting line up while scoring. Casspi can't do that against elite or regular starters for long.
If the 76ers want to increase their chances of getting Wiggins, then they should trade Thaddeus to us for Asik.
