NBA Trade Deadline 2020: One trade every team should make

Atlanta Hawks: Evan Turner and own 31-50 protected 2022 second-rounder for the Chicago Bulls’ Thaddeus Young and Denzel Valentine

Reason for Atlanta: Atlanta employs plenty of young talent but lacks proven vets, which Trae Young is reportedly unhappy about. John Collins is best as a small-ball center, but he has no switchable, defensive-minded big beside him. Dewayne Dedmon was great in that role last year, and there are plenty of players who would be better. Thaddeus Young could fill that role quite well, be a stable veteran mentor and help fix one of the worst defenses in the league. He has a longer contract than probably desired, but Atlanta will have tons of cap freedom coming up with plenty of expiring deals, and who are they going to sign, really? They aren’t getting max players until they’re a good team, and Young will purely help make the team better. They have so many young, developing players that adding other second-rounders probably wouldn’t help for the future. The outgoing pick would not be a huge loss.

Reason for Chicago: Thad Young is unhappy, and there was talk of trading him in December. His numbers aren’t great, and he’s not nearly good enough to fetch good young players, picks and cap relief. Cap relief is probably the best they can do. Young is buried behind Lauri Markkanen, which won’t be a problem in Atlanta, as he can start and play consistent minutes there. Turner will give Chicago an expiring contract, which may well be the best they can get. The second-rounder is a sweetener that likely wouldn’t convey, but it still would be a positive asset.