Report: Trae Young could be next up to request a trade
The Atlanta Hawks have hit a roadblock. After starting 7-3, they have gone 9-13, including 3-6 over their last nine with losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls and the Orlando Magic. Star guard Trae Young has allegedly had drama with head coach Nate McMillan, and now could possibly be the next big star to request a trade if the Hawks flame out in the postseason, per Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
“Rival executives in attendance at the NBA’s annual G League Winter Showcase are of the belief that Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young could be the next player on a rookie max extension to request a trade if the team doesn’t make inroads come postseason time,” Haynes wrote.
This report comes days after then-president of operations Travis Schlenk got downgraded to an advisory role, with general manager Landry Fields, whom Haynes wrote has a “great relationship” with Young, taking over for Schlenk.
“How the Hawks shape the roster around Young under general manager Landry Fields, the newly appointed front-office chief, will be monitored closely,” Haynes wrote. “A source told B/R that Young and Fields meet routinely and have a great relationship. Fields has the green light from ownership to do what’s necessary to acquire upgrades, but the hard part is executing.”
Young is averaging 27.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 29 games this season. His efficiency has taken a considerable step back, posting career lows in field goal percentage (.411) and 3-point percentage (30.7) on similar volume, sporting a 54.9 true-shooting percentage, which would the second-worst mark of his career.
After making the Eastern Conference Finals in 2020-21, Young struggled against the sturdy Miami Heat defense a year ago in the first round, getting bounced in five games. And even after acquiring guard Dejounte Murray in the offseason, the Hawks rest at 16-16. They’re tied with the aforementioned Heat and Indiana Pacers for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and sit two games ahead of the Toronto Raptors and three ahead of the Bulls, while sitting two behind the red-hot New York Knicks.
A first-round matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers would likely net an unlikely outcome for Atlanta, who are No. 19 in offense and No. 17 in defense. John Collins, who’s seemingly been involved in trade rumors for years now, is likely the next one to go before Young if he truly wants out.
I’m not sure the perfect destination for Young, who’s operated in a near-heliocentric offense with an exceptionally high usage rate throughout the inception of his career. But Young, who’s under contract through 2026-27 (with a 15 percent trade kicker), will likely still have ample demand throughout the league — especially if said team has a formidable defense around them.
But it’s also worth noting that Murray, Onyeka Okongwu and Bogdan Bogdanovic are under contract through 2023-24; De’Andre Hunter, Collins and rookie AJ Griffin are the only others on contract through 2024-25. Their futures need to be assessed and planned before thinking about trading Trae Young. Though, in the end, it might not be their choice in the end. Only time will tell.
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