The Sixers' Thaddeus Young will become a free agent this summer, and the Nets' head coach Avery Johnson thinks that should get a lot of attention.

“If (Young) didn’t have the type of year he’s had, I don’t think the (76ers) would be a playoff team,” Johnson said. “He’s kind of the MVP of the team.”

The Sixers are likely to extend an offer sheet to Young and try to match whatever any other team offers him, but are in a tough spot because he plays behind Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala and their big contracts. Both Brand and Iguodala are under contract through the 2012-13 season.

Young’s not on the level of New Jersey’s 2012 target, Dwight Howard, but he’s the type of versatile forward the Nets are missing, and thought they were getting with Travis Outlaw.