Chicago Bulls: Maurice Harkless trade still on the radar?

A very possible move that the Chicago Bulls could make at the 2020 trade deadline is dealing out forward Thaddeus Young to the Clippers for Mo Harkless.

Two players that the Chicago Bulls haven’t made the best use of constantly appear in the midst of NBA trade discussions and rumors entering the 2020 deadline. On Feb. 6, the 2020 trade deadline could see a number of NBA veterans change teams. Even after a tumultuous 2019 free agency cycle that saw so many players switch teams, the 2020 deadline could still have a big impact with a lot of trade activity.

However, those two aforementioned Bulls players that could be on the move for the upcoming deadline are shooting guard Denzel Valentine and forward Thaddeus Young. Valentine is getting little to no playing time on an injured and thinning Bulls rotation under head coach Jim Boylen and Young is getting one of the smallest roles of his lengthy NBA career.

According to a Bleacher Report piece finding ways that the Los Angeles Clippers can best upgrade their roster alongside the superstar forward duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Young could be on their radar for the deadline. The idea would be for the Clippers to trade the former Portland Trail Blazers wing Maurice Harkless to the Bulls for a return of Young.

The thoughts that Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report had on the potential Young-Harkless trade package were brief but to the point.

"Another possibility for Harkless and considerations, one NBA source suggested, could be Thaddeus Young of the Chicago Bulls, who has $34.6 million of his $40.6 million guaranteed through the 2021-22 season."

In that possible trade deal, the Bulls could land a more reliable wing capable of playing in a three-and-D role while small forward Otto Porter Jr. recovers from his foot fracture this year. Harkless is having a down season so far, but he can still bring a lot of value to the table at a position of need for the Bulls.

So far this season, Harkless is averaging 5.5 points per game 4.0 rebounds, and one assist while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. He thrived more in a more significant role in Portland than he is with limited minutes off the bench with the Clippers.

Meanwhile, Young is averaging 9.0 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from beyond the arc. His play picked up of late as the Bulls are giving him a bigger role off the bench in the place of a number of injured big men.

The Bulls head into what could be a lopsided Jan. 20 Central Division showdown against the Milwaukee Bucks with a record of 16-28. If they keep racking up the losses during this difficult January schedule, then John Paxson and Gar Forman could make them sellers at this year’s trade deadline.