Rival execs expect Atlanta Hawks star to ‘push’ for trade
Some rival executives believe Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young could want out soon.
“Competing executives don’t believe the team will move Trae Young this offseason, wrote Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report on June 14. “Though some anticipate the guard may eventually push for a trade.”
This is a bit of a role reversal from earlier rumors that the Hawks front office was given the green light to trade Young, a misconstrued version of comments made ownership about letting the front office do what was needed with the roster. What most retellings of that interaction always leave out is Hawks governor Tony Ressler also professing his love for Young.
“Trae is an incredible player,” Ressler told ‘Dukes and Bell’ in March. “If you’re asking me am I’m a fan of Trae Young, he’s extraordinary. ”
Pincus’ note on the team not making Young available this offseason was a salient one with Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports noting that the Hawks are “open to conversations about all” of the players on the roster other than the two-time All-Star.
Young averaged 26.2 points, 10.2 assists, and 3.0 rebounds this past season.
He led the NBA in total assists for the second year in a row. His three-point efficiency waned, dropping to 33.5% which is the second-lowest mark of his career. But he is just one year removed from shooting better than 82% from deep and has already vowed to get back to those ways.
Young has also made it clear that he wants to win a title with the Hawks, leaving little doubt in a tweet following the Denver Nuggets winning the first championship in franchise history.
“We next,” the Hawks star tweeted on June 12.
His friend, Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. previously said Young was “jealous” the former was in the Finals while he has only reached a Conference Finals to his name which came two seasons ago.
Before the season even began, pundits predicted that Young could be the next star to demand a trade, per Bleacher Report NBA insider Chris Haynes in December. Going into the second year of a five-year, $215 million contract, the Hawks don’t have to rush anything unless Young pushes for it but that does not appear to be the case right now.
Former Atlanta Hawks HC declines offer to join rival Mavericks
The Hawks hired Quin Snyder during the season, much like his predecessor Nate McMillan was elevated into the role ahead of that run to the 2020-21 Eastern Conference Finals. Snyder was hired despite planning to take time off after stepping away from the Jazz.
Now, McMillan is looking to take some time out to recharge.
“McMillan is taking at least a year off from coaching,” wrote Haynes on June 16. “He politely declined the opportunity to join the Dallas Mavericks’ coaching staff to spend time with family.”
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McMillan and Young were not perceived to have had a good relationship but Young has pushed back against that idea noting their run to the ECF would have been impossible without them having a good relationship. Young also said that he contacted his former head coach after the change and plans on staying in contact with him going forward.