The Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young are reportedly working on a plan to trade the superstar guard, with the Washington Wizards being floated as a potential destination.
That would work out wonderfully for the Bulls, as a Young acquisition would make the Wizards an ideal landing spot for Nikola Vucevic.
Atlanta has appeared ready to move on from Young since last offseason, when it declined to offer the four-time All-Star a contract extension. It's totally fair to wonder why the Wizards would want to add a ball-dominant guard to their young core, but that's a different story.
Assuming Washington does decide to add Young, Chicago Executive VP of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas must sneak in and convince the Wizards that his 35-year-old center is an ideal add along with him.
Bulls can piggyback off a Trae Young trade, deal Vucevic to Wizards
Washington is building an intriguing young roster, even if it hasn't translated to wins quite yet. Center Alex Sarr (20 years old), guard Tre Johnson (19), wing Kyshawn George (22), guard Bub Carrington (20) and wing Bilal Coulibaly (20) are all among the team's leaders in minutes. Sarr, George and Carrington are second, third and fourth in scoring, respectively.
Veteran C.J. McCollum leads the Wiz in points per game -- and it's the 34-year-old who's at the center of the Young rumors.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Washington is a "legitimate potential trade destination" in a deal centered around McCollum's expiring contract.
Young's fit on the young Wizards (pun intended) is questionable at best, but if they do decide to take the blockbuster swing, it would signal a readiness to move on from the tanking phase of their rebuild. If that's the case, acquiring Vucevic would be a solid move.
Sarr's ideal frontcourt partner would be a big man who can stretch the floor. Vucevic would play that role swimmingly. He's also a capable playmaker, which would only enhance what the team's youthful group can do as scorers.
He would be an extraordinarily cheap, low-risk addition for the Wizards. Karnišovas should (key word there) be willing to accept any compensation for an aging center that isn't long for his franchise. Washington has a horde of second-round picks that should interest the Bulls.
If the Wizards bring Young to D.C., Chicago should make sure Vucevic goes with him. If the Hawks don't consummate a deal with Washington ... well, Vucevic should go to D.C. anyway.