In a twist that could increase the chances of a blockbuster trade to land the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls have reportedly spoken with BYU's Kevin Young about their vacant head coaching position. Notably, Young was AJ Dybantsa's head coach with the Cougars.
Sure, the chances of a massive deal like this happening are remote, but it's not hard to connect the dots.
The Washington Wizards, owners of the No. 1 pick this summer, haven't yet shut the door on a potential trade down. Neither have the Utah Jazz, who control the second overall selection. And Chicago has been linked with a possible trade up from No. 4 already, with eyes presumably on Dybantsa.
Young is a qualified candidate, regardless of his ties to Dybantsa. But hiring him certainly wouldn't hurt if the Bulls are determined to bring the 19-year-old to the Windy City.
Chicago Bulls, BYU's Kevin Young have spoken about head coaching job
Kevin Young is just the latest to be linked with the Bulls vacancy.
The Miami Heat's Chris Quinn, Minnesota's Micah Nori, Oklahoma City's Dave Bliss, Cleveland's Johnnie Bryant and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter are among the names connected to the job as vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham looks to make his first major hire.
Young is an intriguing option, though, for several reasons.
After spending time as an assistant and head coach in the G League, the 44-year-old got his first NBA job with the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2020, he joined the Phoenix Suns, where he became the lead assistant from 2021 to 2024 before moving to the college ranks.
Young interviewed for NBA head coaching jobs with the Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets, among others, before moving to Provo.
Hiring Young would boost Bulls odds at landing Dybantsa, No. 1 pick
Admittedly, this scenario would require a lot of things to fall into place.
First, Washington would legitimately have to be open to moving down. At this point, those rumors may be more conjecture and posturing than anything else.
Second, Graham would need to be willing to give away some truly valuable assets. To tempt the Wizards, it would take at least the Nos. 4 and 15 picks, plus future selections — likely more than just one.
The Bulls would have to weigh the pros and cons. By all accounts, Dybantsa is a generational prospect, and there's no guarantee Chicago would have another chance to land someone of his stature. However, giving up multiple draft picks at the beginning of a long-term rebuild would put a dent in Graham's resources.
As someone with experience developing budding talent, Young would be a solid choice to replace Billy Donovan. If he also gives the Bulls a better chance of acquiring Dybantsa, all the better.
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