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Atlanta Hawks: Would Team USA have been better with Trae Young?

By Joshua Buckhalter

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 16: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter at Moda Center on January 16, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 16: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter at Moda Center on January 16, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks are in the middle of a critical offseason, but they aren’t off our minds. As Team USA gears up for the Tokyo Olympics they’ve been stuck in neutral, falling to 0-2 in exhibitions after bad losses to non-powerhouses in Nigeria and Australia. Some have pointed to the makeup of the roster and the absence of LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, etc.

But what about Trae Young? No, he isn’t a previous gold medalist like any of those guys. But he was a finalist for the roster and might have been a better fit than what they currently have.

After voicing his disappointment over not being named a finalist last ahead of what were supposed to be the 2020 Olympic Games, Young was one of 15 additions to 42 initial selections to the Team USA Men’s Basketball roster.

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young might have been a better fit for Team USA than some others on the roster

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His run with the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals might have complicated things, but it wouldn’t have kept him from participating.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, as well as Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, and forward Khris Middleton are all slated to be late arrivals for the Summer Games as they play out the NBA Finals.

International basketball is different from the NBA in a multitude of ways.

For one, they are already past calling the offensive foul on “unnatural actions” during jump shots and just allow the action to continue. No jump balls are called after a held ball among other differences that make an impact on the pace of play.

There is also a focus on more team-oriented basketball and less of the iso-style that has been prevalent in the NBA for so long before teams stateside began emphasizing ball movement too.

At the head of the Team USA attack is Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers, who has put up terrific numbers. He’s averaging 18 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 52.9 percent from outside. He’s doing fine for himself in the lead-up to his first Olympics. But at what cost?

Lillard, who’s averaging 2.5 assists through two games, finished seventh among qualifiers in isolation possessions during the regular season (sixth if you count James Harden’s two entries) with 4.9 per game. His Blazers had the fewest passes and assists in the league this season.

Young was down the list a ways with fewer than half that amount.

The Hawks weren’t a great passing team, but Young was a far better facilitator than Lillard was this season, averaging 9.4 dimes per contest. That’s 1.4 more than in Lillard’s best season.

Young’s usage was higher than any season Lillard has had. But you can’t deny the impact of the latter’s one-on-one style is having so far on the rhythm of this squad. Nor the impact Nate McMillan had on Young in regards to being a playmaker first. That’s exactly what it has seemed like Team USA has needed.

So why was Young left off of the roster?

Experience might be the first thing that comes to mind. This is, after all, the third-oldest Olympic squad being the 1992 and 1996 gold medal winners. Except, while several of the participants have been finalists several times, there are quite a few first-timers.

Perhaps it has something to do with his former head coach, Lloyd Pierce being on first-time Team USA Head Coach Gregg Popovich’s staff.

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This isn’t to lay all of the blame at the feet of Lillard by any means. There are lots of things going wrong for Coach Pop and the gang at the moment. And there is still time to get it all corrected ahead of the actual Olympics. In the end, Young isn’t there. But there’s a good chance he’d be making a positive impact if were.

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