3. New Orleans Pelicans
Finding the right trade partner for the Chicago Bulls to send Young out of the Windy City could be the difference between actually keeping this rebuild on the right path or coming closer to blowing it all up. Obviously if John Paxson and Gar Forman are starting to see their seats heat up this season, then they’re likely to make a move that both helps this team win now and not blow up the rebuild.
Mortgaging the future of the Bulls is a bad idea all-around since there’s not a name on the trade block at the moment that makes the most out of the trade chips available for GarPax. Front office executives have the tendency to do that when they’re in a tough spot, but the Reinsdorfs should make sure that isn’t an occurrence with the Bulls.
The New Orleans Pelicans are starting to heat up out West right now, and they have a number of trade chips that can match salaries with Bulls players like Young. Former Duke Blue Devils shooting guard J.J. Redick and former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball are just two good examples of the trade chips the Pelicans are working with.
And with the fellow former Duke standout and rookie sensation forward Zion Williamson set to make his NBA debut on Jan. 22 against the San Antonio Spurs, the Pelicans could really use some help around him. Building a solid supporting cast for the Pelicans could be accomplished by landing Young and another defensive stopper like 6-foot-4 point guard Kris Dunn.