If you don't feel bad for James Young after this...

[tarheelsxxiii]

I wonder if we should merge this with The Walking Dead thread? 

Poor guy...

[The_Truth]

Why would you feel bad? He is 20 and making a lot of money doing what he loves to do...

[chambers]

He's still the youngest kid on the team.
Think of it like he's staying in college another year and might get some spot minutes if we trade Turner or Bradley.
Kids got two more years before we think about letting him walk.

He's been disappointing, but that's because the expectations of him were probably too high.
If he was age 23 or 24 he'd definitely be solid bust material but he's far far away from us giving up on his potential just yet.
He's still a boy and is slowly learning while he becomes a man in the NBA. It will make him a tough SOB if he gets through it all.

[The One]

That's tough, but it's his time to grind now.  Pay your dues, son.


From the Celtics' point of view, you can't give up on him now.  He's too young plus he's the first of the Nets' four draft picks.  Would be good to see, when all the dust settles, if that was the most lopsided trade in NBA history.

[slamtheking]

feel bad for him?  why?

Kid is given an opportunity to have a free education at Kentucky regardless of his academic qualifications for no other reason than he plays a kid's game better than most people his age. 

Kid chooses to turn that down after one year and apply for a job that's just playing the same kid's game but for an annual salary that most people won't earn in one year.  He's the one the decided he's ready to work that job for a living. 

Even if he doesn't succeed at this profession, he'll have earned enough money, if properly managed, over the life of that contract to live comfortably while never having to hold down a real job.  OR, he would have enough money to bankroll working a low-paying job that he enjoys doing knowing that the new job will not have to support him financially.  OR, he could go back to school and earn a degree and not have to worry about having the money to pay for it since he'll more than be able to afford it.

no sympathy here.

[Rosco917]

I understand he's a young kid, but it's time to think about nothing but basketball. He needs to take advantage of the opportunity he's been given. Stop thinking about dancing, dating, and fooling around.

This is his second year, many of the players he was drafted with are beginning to make impacts. Him going back to the D league is not a good sign, especially on a rebuilding Celtic team in need. It sends a negative impression around the league. If he doesn't watch out, he'll be looking at the "bust" handle.

No, I don't feel bad for him, I'm rooting for him to take the next step.

[Evantime34]

He will get his chance this year. We have a strong need for wing shooting and have a lack of quality at the 3.

I still think he has a chance to be good, he just needs to keep working on his defense and improve his handle/off the ball movement.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Yeah, I can see how frustrating it is for James, but it's hard to get minutes ahead of Marcus, IT4, Bradley.

Draftin RJ Hunter, who plays basically the same position as he does also doesn't help. Especially when it looks like Hunter can do a lot more than shoot.

[positivitize]

James Young is a future All Star.


I just have a feeling in my gut.

[footey]

First, let me say that the video of James Young interviewing the other players makes him seem like a nice guy, having fun. I read nothing else into it.

That being said, you can pick up certain personality traits about players pretty quickly.  The more intensive, focused players (Smart, Rozier, Hunter) just seem to have better DNA to play NBA ball successfully then the guys who are easy going by nature (Olynyk, Young).  James Young has great talent; he has a really nice shooting stroke.  He could be a poor man's Ray Allen, if only he had Ray's drive to be great.  Alas, it does not appear to be the case.  Few have that quality.