Best and Worst Landing Spots for NBA Trade Targets

Best fit: San Antonio Spurs

Since Young landed in Atlanta in 2018, the Hawks have yet to rank better than 18th in defensive efficiency. There’s a legitimate question of whether it’s possible field even an average offense with him at the helm, which might be why teams reportedly prefer Dejounte Murray as a trade target.

If anyone can make the defensive end work with Young, though, it just might be the 7’4″ alien who just electrified the Alamo City as a rookie. Victor Wembanyama’s unique blend of size, length, mobility and instincts should make him an annual Defensive Player of the Year candidate—and the potentially perfect on-court partner for Young.

Wembanyama, meanwhile, would immensely benefit from playing alongside an offensive force like Young, who’s one of only two players holding career averages north of 25 points and nine assists. The Spurs were legitimately competitive when Wembanyama played with Tre Jones (plus-4.3 net rating), who feels like the definition of an average point guard. Swap in Young, a three-time All-Star with one of the Association’s sharpest offensive skill sets, and San Antonio could be a playoff participant as soon as next season.

Worst fit: Detroit Pistons

The Pistons, who just posted their fifth consecutive losing record (this one featuring a franchise-worst .171 winning percentage), are seemingly overeager to escape the bottom of the standings. They were mentioned as a “wild card” suitor for Young, with multiple executives telling B/R’s Eric Pincus they “need to do something” this summer.

That something shouldn’t involve bringing Young to the Motor City. He couldn’t solve their talent deficiencies. If anything, the huge number of offensive touches he’d command might stall the development of franchise centerpiece Cade Cunningham (and, if he somehow wasn’t involved in the trade, Jaden Ivey, too).

The Pistons, who are clearly nowhere near contention, don’t have the personnel to mask Young’s limitations or enhance his strengths. Their defense is already dreadful (25th in efficiency), and they don’t have enough shooting (26th in true shooting percentage) to pull any defensive attention away from Young.

Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on X, @ZachBuckleyNBA.