With Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and Coby White, the Chicago Bulls have an impressive core of young stars on their roster. Still, Chicago has been lacking a real x-factor since the fall of Derrick Rose in 2016.
In a recent trade proposal by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, they could take a major step forward in the East by acquiring star point guard John Wall for Otto Porter Jr. and Thaddeus Young.
If the Bulls want to add premium talent (albeit at a premium salary) without giving up any of their core young players, Wall could be a realistic trade target.
The 30-year-old guard should be back to his former self after not playing for nearly two full years following an Achilles injury. While he’s owed $85.6 million over the next two years (with a $47.4 million player option in 2022-23), he was putting up 20.7 points, 8.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game the last time he was healthy.
In exchange, the Wizards get some cap flexibility to build around Bradley Beal, as well as a pair of solid two-way veterans.
For the Wizards, this would merely be a salary dump with Porter on an expiring $28.5 million player option. Both he and Young could serve as rotation members for a season, and the Wizards would have the option to buy out the latter’s $14.2 million salary for just $6 million if they so choose in 2021-22.
John Wall has yet to return to his All-Star form since the 2017-18 season, but reports have described good things regarding his return. If he’s even a portion of the player he was at his peak, it could go a long way in helping the Bulls finally become a playoff contender.
But are they willing to take the risk? With an enormous contract, questions about his leadership, and troubling injury history, Wall isn’t exactly the type of guy teams go head over heels for. It will be a tough decision, to say the least, and not one we can expect the Bulls to make in haste.
