Last season, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young snapped a 49-year leaguewide drought. He led the NBA in total assists and total points becoming the first to do so since Tiny Archibald in 1973. The campaign ended in Young’s first All-NBA selection of his career. Young has proven his worth as a franchise cornerstone.
The Hawks won 24 games a season before Young’s arrival and 49 games in his first two seasons combined.
They’ve averaged 42 wins in the last two years.
It is Young’s stature as one of the best young cornerstones in the NBA that has forced the Hawks’ hand in getting back into contention for at least the Eastern Conference crown sonner rather than later.
Atlanta Hawks ‘One-man offense’ Trae Young considered among NBA’s best young building blocks
Bleacher Report polled their writers to come up with a list of players drafted between 2017 and 2021. The panel took the 20 biggest names from those classes and ranked them. Young ranked fourth behind Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and Ja Morant. He checked in just ahead of Zion Williamson and Ja Morant.
Andy Bailey broke down Young’s ranking.
He acknowledges the Hawks point guard’s supreme offensive prowess. But not before addressing the most common gripe.
“It’s fair to wonder about Trae Young’s defense. With his height (6’1”) and slight frame, there’s a chance he’s never a plus on that end. But overemphasis there might actually be causing people to underrate Trae overall. Offensively, he’s off to one of the most absurd starts to a career we’ve ever seen.”
For anyone that is unsure of Young’s ability, consider he went into Madison Square Garden and the Wells Fargo Center for his first two playoff series and quieted the crowd.
He also managed to pull off this nutmeg in an exhibition game.
I hope y’all ready…🤫❄️💯
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) August 1, 2022
we’ll see y’all soon🤍 pic.twitter.com/Twvk4fEwaS
It’s not all sizzle for Young, there is plenty of steak.
“Young has totaled 7,076 points and 2,544 assists in his 280 career games. Oscar Robertson is the only player in league history to match or exceed both marks in his first 280 games. And this isn’t just empty-calorie production for Young. Over the last three seasons, his team is plus-1.1 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor and minus-4.7 when he’s off.”
The Hawks’ offensive swing whenever Young has sat in the past was another leading factor in their need to upgrade his supporting cast.
Bailey makes clear what that should look like and the Hawks are following the plan accordingly.
“He’s a bona fide, one-man offense, with incredible vision and passing ability, way-beyond-the-three-point-line range and a creative floater package in the lane. Surround him with decent shooting, and you’re almost guaranteed to have a good offense.”
But we saw the Hawks try the all-offense approach and it failed.
“Now, if you can find players who combine that with gritty defense to cover for Young’s shortcomings there, you have the makings of a contender.”
Enter, Dejounte Murray who, when added to De’Andre Hunter on the perimeter and Clint Capela in the paint, gives the Hawks a pretty formidable defensive triumvirate. The Hawks also have options to get as many as five two-way players on the floor at once with Murray at point guard.
It took a lot of resources to build this group and it is going to take a lot more to keep it together.
The Hawks ownership and front office have been willing to spend to the extent that they have so fat because they recognized Young was one of the best young stars to build around long ago.