I gotta ask one question about James Young?
How athletic is he? Because he's hard to see his athleticism as he doesn't attack the rim that much.
Is he more athletic than Pierce at the same age?
That's pretty hard to answer, since I can't find Pierce's combine numbers anywhere. Even if I could Pierce didn't come out of college until after his Junior season of college ball. With James Young being, young for his class James Young is the same age now as Pierce was during his rookie season at Kansas.
On a random site that doesn't seem reputable, they listed Pierce's highest vertical at 38 inches. According to Forsberg's first article on Young his current vertical is 38.5.
Paul Pierce's best athletic asset has always been his strength. It's unlikely Young will ever match that.