-Thad Young looks like he's trying too hard now. He wasn't good the previous game and he was gawdawful this game. He's trying to step up and failing miserably. Just not ready to make the next leap. Should never play 40+ minutes this year unless the letters OT are involved.
This is probably why you shouldn't critique a player based on a boxscore.
I disagree with every statement you made there.
He took 15 shots last night. He was averaging 15 shots per game in his last 4. He wasn't "trying to step up", he was playing his typical role. He just missed shots.
And he did not "fail miserably" last game. He put up 19 pts/4 with a steal and got to the line 4 times. Sure, he "only" shot 39%, but he ignited our run in the second half.
And there's no way you can make a determination of how many minutes he should play the entire year based on 1 game. With the way he's growing, he's going to be deserving of heavy minutes. Even when he's not scoring, with his defense and "ability to score without plays being run for him", he's almost always going to be more valuable on the court than Willie Green, Kareem Rush or Royal Ivey, the players who would primarily be replacing him. He absolutely will be deserving of 40 minutes at times, and may already be.
Other than that, I agree 100% with your post 
Thad was not taking bad shots, but he missed a few in fairly close and was off on his outside shot. This entire team has missed a ton of close in shots which looks like hte team is collectively playing with a tight sphincter. Brand has taken 12 or more boards in every game except last night and Sacto (blow-out), so his rebounding has been stellar.
The Brand and Miller combo does not work, it did not work 5-6 years ago and it does not work now. Iggy is a high-level complimentary player. In a half-court offense that executes he will look fine, and he is a beast on the break. This team has a poor half-court offense and rarely gets on the break, and no matter how big his contract is, Iggy can't simply take over a game. His skills enhance the team within the game, they do not carry the team. Also, next summer if he is here he goes to Mark Price's school too. Still, I think it is not that hard to make Iggy fit into most teams, but when most of the offense is half-court one-on-one stuff, he is not that good.
As far as a shooting big man goes, I think this team would look a lot better offensively with Jason Smith playing. His shot looked great in the summer league and he has a sweet stroke in general. If he was not hurt you could field a 4 big-man rotation without Sammy and have better floor spacing. Smith would be a nice bridge to Speights maturation process. Sure, Smith is no great shakes defensively, but he blocks some shots and can run the floor. It's not like the defense could be any worse anyway, at least the offense would be better. I saw them run a pick and roll with Sammy and Miller last night where Sammy popped out wide open from about 15 ft. Miller looked at him and knew a pass would be useless, so he drove and made a lay-up, using more of his sizable butt than any quickness of course. Sammy is basically useless with the ball in his hands. Not that he is any kind of savior, but this team misses Smith.
Thad and Speights both look good even when they are not hitting shots. Speights actually looks pretty fundamentally sound for his experience level and his maturation will be fun to watch. Moving Miller and Sammy need to be the primary personnel moves that are made this year. Miller is not a fit and is declining, and Sammy can be replaced with what we have plus getting back a decent, short-term vet big man as part of the return.
But until this team is taught defined roles that fit the different personnel packages and develop the ability to execute a real game plan on a consistent basis, they are stuck deep in the mud.
