At times, we’ve all got to cut our losses. Even NBA teams need to do the same. Sometimes, a team needs to recognize that it’s time to move on from their current core. It’s not always an easy decision, but at times, it can be the right one.
Some teams will refuse to rebuild anyway. Look at the Chicago Bulls. Fans wanted this team to blow up their core at this year’s deadline. It didn’t happen. Now, it’s beginning to look like the Bulls are going to insist on staying the course.
Are the Atlanta Hawks going to make the same insistence? It’s hard to say. There have been whispers that the Hawks could look to make major changes soon. Could they start by sending Trae Young to the Bulls?
The Trade Proposal
Atlanta Hawks Receive: G Lonzo Ball, G/F Alex Caruso, F Patrick Williams, 2027 First-Round Pick (CHI), 2029 First-Round Pick (CHI)
Chicago Bulls Receive: G Trae Young
On the other hand, nobody wants to give up on something too quickly. Who knows? In time, it could have worked. Nobody wants to be left wondering whether they should have stuck something out. This is a fine line to walk.
Are we sure the Bulls can’t get it together? There’s a lot of talent on this roster. The Bulls have no proof of concept – this core has been widely unsuccessful to date. That doesn’t mean that they can’t find success. If the Bulls aren’t ready to give up on this group, that’s their right.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks & Chicago Bulls Updates
This is not a black-and-white situation. There’s no right or wrong way to approach this. The same holds true for the Hawks. If this front office feels like they’ve got problems, they could trade Young and start over. Is this a fair return for him?
Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
Why would the Hawks move Young? It could be that he creates some cultural problems. It’s been speculated that Young is a locker room liability. More broadly, he’s one of the worst defensive players in the NBA. The Hawks could be looking to make a culture change soon.
This deal would be a great way to do it. Suddenly, the Hawks would have one of the best defensive rosters in the NBA. A backcourt of Dejounte Murray and Caruso would be perhaps the most disruptive in the NBA. When healthy, Williams is an ace on that end of the floor as well. If the Hawks want to prioritize stopping power, they could like this deal.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks & Chicago Bulls Updates
Meanwhile, they’re landing a pair of first-round picks for Young as well. That’s about as much as they’re likely to get. There’s concern around the league that Young isn’t the type of player that a team can build a contender around. Should the Bulls take a risk on him?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
The Bulls do this deal if they’re stubborn. This team may not be willing to admit defeat. In that event, they need to trade for a point guard. After all, Lonzo Ball is out for the year – and his entire career’s outlook is murky.
In fact, we don’t know how this team would look if Ball had been healthy. The Bulls could use a playmaker. There’s a lot of offensive talent on this team, but the Bulls’ best players are scorers first. DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic are both talented passers, but neither is a primary playmaker. Young is. In fact, he’s one of the best passers in the entire league.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks & Chicago Bulls Updates
Would the Bulls be able to defend a traffic cone? No. At the same time, they’d have one of the best offensive rosters in basketball. If the Bulls want to go all-in on offense, adding Young could make them a dangerous team. Otherwise, they may want to consider cutting their losses.
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